Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Arriving in Court

Taking a deep breath, Camelia mentally prepared herself for what was too come and she prayed that her husband would be returned to her soon; she feared what was too come if that didn't happen. 

Already there were whispers that had reached her that Dolores and some other members of Cristiano's family moving to steal his position and holdings while he was hostage. 

It was clear that the emperor had made the right decision to move her and the boys to the capital away from all of that; the last thing anyone close to Cristiano wanted to see was his wife and sons murdered in a power grab. 

Smoothing out her purple dress, Camelia tried to ease her mind about what was about to happen; she had never been to court before and it worried her. 

The beautiful flower necklace that surrounded her neck had been a gift from the emperor and his wife for her wedding to Cristiano and Camelia thought best that she wore it now. 

The doors to the room before her opened and Camelia tried her best to bury her worries about what was going on, there had been no new news about what was happening with Cristiano since she had left home. 

"Presenting Lady Camelia Aveiro... and her sons, Cristiano Junior and Mateo Aveiro," the announcer called before Camelia entered the room, she stared ahead at the emperor and his wife trying to ignore the stairs of the court as she walked. 

Her sons were led in behind her with her maids, they were everything to Camelia right now and she wasn't going to let anything happen to them. 

The court seemed quiet as they admired Cristiano's second wife, she seemed a lot prettier than his last wife and she had secured him two heirs when his first wife had cheated on him and tried to pass off her bastard as his.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Camelia greeted bowing down low, she kept her eyes low and she wanted nothing more than to rest but that could wait until she had spoken with the emperor. 

Everyone watched as Emperor Carlo got to his feet and moved away from his throne, they weren't sure where the woman stood in his favour especially since she had been Cristiano's mistress before becoming his wife. 

"My Lady. It is a pleasure to meet you at last," Emperor Carlo greeted smiling, he couldn't believe what had happened to Cristiano but he was determined to get him back for the sack of his wife and sons. 

They didn't deserve to lose Cristiano so soon after everything had started to work out, there was no way that it could end before they had a chance to be happy. 

Empress Mariann slowly got to her feet, she had heard much about Lady Camelia and she was a lot happier with Cristiano's second choice of wife. 

It had appalled her that Dolores had encouraged Cristiano to marry Catalina when his heart clearly belonged to someone else; the political marriage had worked out horribly with Catalina cheating on her husband with his brother. 

The two boys that had arrived with Camelia looked so much like their father and Empress Mariann knew that her husband had made the right call in inviting Camelia to court when he had. 

Already there was news that Katia and her husband had laid claim to the main house, they thought they could just come in and take what they wanted; anyone could have guessed what they would have done if Camelia and the boys had been there when they had arrived. 

The Aveiro family had become greedy because of Cristiano's success and Emperor Carlo was going to ensure that they weren't able to claim anything that rightfully belonged to Camelia and her sons. 

Everything was going to work out and the Emperor was determined to bring Cristiano home safely.

***

Stepping into the apartment where she would be staying for the remainder of her stay in the capital, Camelia peeked around knowing that she couldn't wait for all of this to be over. 

She had no idea when she would see home again and she doubted that it would be any time soon, Camelia could only pray that they found Cristiano soon; she feared what might happen to him if they didn't. 

"Mama," Junior whispered walking over to his mother, he didn't like how everyone seemed to watch them and even standing in this place didn't feel right. 

He wanted to go home and he was sure that his father would be expecting them to be there waiting for him when he returned from his trip and then he would spend all his time with him and Mateo. 

"I want to go home," Junior whimpered as Camelia wrapped him in her arms, she held him close while Jorge sorted everything out; he had made the trip with Camelia and the boys, it was his duty to keep them safe. 

Camelia hadn't told Junior why they had been summoned to court, the last thing that she wanted to do was frightened her son with the news his father was a hostage right now. 

The court had been abuzz with the news that Cristiano had been captured and everyone was trying to guess when the ransom note would be sent demanding Palma's freedom in exchange for the prize General's life. 

"I know baby. But we need to stay here until your papa arrives," Camelia whispered trying to sooth him, she had no idea if they would see Cristiano again but she wasn't going to let her fears control her. 

The people who had taken her husband would pay for what they had done, Emperor Carlo had promised her so and Camelia just hoped that they would find him soon. 

There was no telling what they could be doing to Cristiano right now and Camelia just prayed that he would be home to see their third child born; she didn't want to do this without him.

***

Ignoring the whispers around him, Cristiano stared down at the severed stump where his hand had once been; the pain had stopped but he still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he had lost his hand. 

This was not something that he had prepared for and right now he was thankful that he hadn't bleed to death; Cristiano just wanted to make it home to his wife and children. 

He was sure that he wouldn't be forgotten by the Empire and they would send someone to rescue him soon, Cristiano was already making retirement plans; he would settle down away from court and relax with Camelia and the boys. 

It was just something that he could do that would grate on Carson's nerves, Cristiano was going to do everything that he wanted with his sons. 

Emperor Carlo had already gifted him enough lands and titles that would provide for him and his family for the rest of his life and Cristiano would probably be granted more when he returned home. 

Peeking over at Carson, Cristiano wondered if the man had any idea what he was actually doing; there was no way he could win this and one slip up would be too many. 

Him and his wife would be executed for what they had done, there would be no one to plead their case and Cristiano was sure a lot of people would be thrilled to watch them die. 

Looking back down at his stump, Cristiano wondered how Camelia would react when she saw what her father had done to him. 

Cristiano didn't want her feeling guilty and he would do anything to get home to her and the boys before the holidays, it was meant to be their first as a family but that wasn't going to be happening if Carson and his men holding him hostage and torturing him.