The Key ♕

7

Sophie's Point of View

"Oh, my princess," I pant, "I just saw..."

"Sophie, what is it?" Alice gets up from her seat to put her arm around my shoulders.

"Prince Lucas..." I try my best to stabilize my breathing.

"What?" She exclaims, concern forming in her eyes, "what did Luke do to you?"

"He didn't do anything, my princess, but I saw him in the room with another lady," I explain frantically.

A look of comprehension appears on her face and she sighs, "I told you before, Sophie, Luke is quite fond of women. Women are quite fond of him, too, although I don't know why."

"Your Majesty, the way he treated the lady," I gush, "it was so improper, even for a prince."

She smiles apologetically, "I know, Sophie. We all wish that he can change and find a woman he truly loves. Apart from that, Luke is quite a kind and shrewd person."

"I am sure that is true," I huff sarcastically.

"Sophie..."

"I apologize, your Majesty, that was disrespectful of me." I immediately express my regret.

"It's fine, Sophie. I agree Luke can be so full of himself at times."

I gasp and cover my mouth with my hands in shock as I realize the horrible things I've done to the prince.

"What is it?" Alice asks, concern returning to her expression.

"Oh, my princess," I cry, "I was so rude to Prince Lucas. What if he tells the king and queen? Will I not be able to stay your lady in waiting? My princess, I don't want to leave you."

"Sophie, calm down," Alice reassures me, "what exactly did you do?"

"I... I threw a towel in his face and called him a terrible person," I confess.

Alice draws in a sharp intake of breath, "knowing him, he must be very mad right now."

"Oh, my princess, I really don't want to leave you!"

"Don't worry, you're not going anywhere. If he tells mother and father, I will protect you."

"Thank you, princess," I say gratefully, "thank you for being so kind to me."

"Now, go back to your room and get some rest. You've had an unfortunate day today. Stop thinking about Luke."

"Your Majesty, are you sure you don't need help with the papers?" I ask.

"I'm sure. In fact, I think I'm going to get some rest, too. I'm about done with today's preparations." Alice smiles compassionately.

"Then, please excuse me, princess." I curtsy and hurry out the room, anxious to bury my head into my pillow.

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Lucas's Point of View

I decide to tell mother and father about what Sophie did to me just to see her frightened reaction. The thought of her devastated expression brings a grin to my face. Of course, if mother and father wants to kick Sophie out of the palace, I'll stop them. I'm not done toying with her just yet.

"Mother! Father!" I shout, storming into my parents' bedroom.

"What is it, honey?" Mother looks up from her book.

"What, Lucas? Make it quick, I'm busy," father mumbles.

"Alice's new lady in waiting was intolerably rude to me today. She threw a towel in my face."

"What?" Mother screams, jumping up to her feet and storming towards me. I smirk slightly, amused by her melodramatic reaction. "That is ridiculous! Richard, I told you that filthy girl is no good!"

I raise an eyebrow; mother didn't like her the first time she saw her either. "Catarina, calm down. There must be a reasonable explanation."

"I don't care," she scoffs, breathing heavily, "I am kicking that imbecile out of the palace. She should be glad I'm kind enough to not lock her up in the dungeon."

"Catarina!" Father walks over to where we are standing ferociously. "Don't ever say that again! I make the decisions, not you."

"Oh, please, Richard," mother says in a sardonic tone, "we both know that if this was another girl, you would have kicked her out by now."

What? What is mother talking about? If this was another girl?

"How many times do I have to tell you it's not because of that?" They are both screaming at the top of their lungs now.

I back up slightly, feeling a bit frightened by their unusual loud volume. They never fight, at least not about petty things like this. "Mother? Father?" I ask softly, "what are you two talking about?"

"This is none of your business, Lucas," father snaps, still glaring at mother.

"What? How is this none of my business?" Traces of anger enter my head, "I'm the one who got a towel thrown in my face."

"Richard, I want you to banish this girl from court," mother says in a calmer tone, completely disregarding what I just said.

"No," father says. I frown at his determination to keep Sophie in court.

"See, you keep on denying that this isn't about that woman, but we both know that it is!" Mother raises her voice even more.

"Catarina!" Father hollers, "shut your mouth!"

"No! I will not! I've had enough! Ever since that girl came to the palace, you-" mothers words are interrupted by the ear-piercing sound of father's hand against her cheek.

Mother immediately brings a hand up to her cheek and we both gape at him in utter astonishment. Father has never hit mother before.

"Richard... I..."

"Catarina, I'm sorry. I don't know what got to me. Please forgive me," father mutters, caressing mothers swollen cheek.

"I can't believe you hit me just to defend that girl," she shakes her head disapprovingly.

"I want you to know that I'm only keeping Sophie because this is the first time that Alice insisted on keeping someone at court. She is special to Alice, so she should be special to our whole family. Sophie is staying no matter what anyone says."

"Richard, please..." father raises his palm to stop her.

"I will ask her to apologize to Lucas in front of all of us, and we can move on. Sophie is new to the palace; there's a lot of things that she needs to learn."

Knowing that she can't change his mind, she nods reluctantly. I can tell that she is still stunned by the slap. "Mother, father, is everything alright?" My voice quivers a tiny bit.

"Everything's fine, Lucas. I'll send someone to get you later," father says, shooing me towards the door.

I know now is not a good time to ask about what they were bickering about. I saunter back to my room, wondering why Sophie means to much to my parents.

Sophie, who the hell are you and what are you doing to me and my family?