Emergency Princess (Under Editing)

Chapter 22 | In The Balance

I pondered over what Adwoa had said about Jacob, my mind on the fritz. What on earth had she meant by 'not even him'? And the diary. I ran my fingers over the cool leathery cover, afraid to even open it to peek. My min ran in wild circles, my heart beating in my chest.

I finally made it to my room, thanking my lucky stars that Kyle and Sam weren't around, and dropped onto my bed, ready to drift back to sleep when I heard a knock on the door.

I quickly hid the diary under my bed and grumbled, "Come in!"

"Are you decent Princess?" squealed a high pitched voice. Henry.

I looked down at the SpongeBob Squarepants PJ's I'd changed into, and shrugged, pulling on a morning coat.

"More or less?" I called out.

"More or less?" he squeaked. "What do you mean by more or-"

I grew tired of the conversation and opened the door, cutting him off.

"Oh," he said simply, paling considerably.

I yawned, my adventure catching up with me.

"What's the matter Henry?" I asked. "Unless you have come to return my phone, which I still haven't forgotten about-" Here I shot him a look which caused the poor man to change colour from white to red. "Please get out."

I tried to shut the door, but he stopped me by placing a foot in the door.

"Princess Emily," he said seriously. "The King requests your presence in his study. You have thirty minutes to report to his study." After stating the king's request-which was more of a demand-he turned to leave.

"Henry wait!" I called out. He stiffened at my use of his name, and sniffled.

"Yes Princess?"

"What if I decide not to go?"

"I doubt you'll be absent."

"What makes you so sure?"

"The fate of your entire family lies in the balance."

*****

Twenty five minutes later, dressed in the simplest gown I could find and wear in my wardrobe, I stood outside the study in question, breathing heavily to calm my beating heart. Kyle and Sam, who had come to escort me, stood beside me silently offering my support.

I pushed a lock of reddish-gold hair from my sweaty face as the guard outside the door announced my presence. I walked into the study with perfect posture, determined to make a good impression after my previous, ahem...unsavoury, encounters with the King.

Looking around the tastefully furnished room, I noticed that the walls were painted a wine colour, and paintings by famous artists adorned them. I recognised a Raphael and a couple of da Vincis, thanks to Louisa's very thorough lessons on arts and conversation.

My eyes landed on the study table where a small group of people were seated. I recognised the King, Louisa, Monica, Gerard, Jacob, Kierra and...Mum?

"Mum?" I said quizzically, unsure as to whether the image I was seeing was real or I was hallucinating. The King hated her. I mean, this was a meeting about the welfare of her family and all but still....the King despised her and everything she stood for.

"Emily, it's okay," she said, holding her head up high. "Rose is coming home soon."

I ran to her, royal manners forgotten in my joy, and held on to her shirt, probably filling it with snot and tears, but I didn't care, and I doubted she did either. My sister was coming home, and that was all that mattered.