Darkest Days

The Emperor's Letter

-*Two years later*-
I sigh and get out of bed as quietly and quickly as I can, as to not wake up my sleeping wife and Hypatia. They're so beautiful when they sleep. I walk towards the door and open it. An embellished letter is on the doorstep. I pick the letter up and open it. My eyes follow the words.

Dear Lilly, Charles,
I request a meeting in the palace at high noon. 
-The Emperor

"NO!" I unknowingly scream. "Shit... " I whisper straight after. How the hell did he remember!? Suddenly, I feel a tug on my shirt.
"What's wrong, Daddy?" I look down to see a very sleepy Hypatia rubbing her eyes. "... Nothing, Princess. Go wake Mummy up then go back to bed, alright?"
"Why?" I knelt down and put my hands on her shoulders.
"Please...?" Hypatia nodded, walking back inside. I soon followed after. I walk in the room to see Hypatia sitting on the bed, trying to wake up Lilly. I smile sadly, knowing she won't be able to wake her. That woman could sleep through a hurricane.
"STOP LAUGHING AND HELP ME!" Hypatia's yelling breaks my thoughts.
"Who, me? I wasn't laughing. Pfft." Hypatia looked me dead in the eye.
"Sh. Now help." She whined. I got on the bed and kissed Lilly, causing her eyes to flutter open. Hypatias's jaw drops to the floor in amazement. I give her the look that said 'Yea, I just did that.' In return, she gave me the death stare. I smiled jokingly.
"Hey Princess, can you back to your room?" Hypatia smiles and runs out of the room smiling. I hand Lilly the letter.
"What's this...?" She yawns, looking at the envelope worryingly.
"Just look." I say, opening letter for her. She reads it, and her face turns from worried to extremely stressed.
"No, no, no no no! I'M NOT GIVING HER UP!" I see tears welling in her eyes, so I hug her and whisper in her ear.
"He'll get her over my cold dead body." I give her the most sincere look I can. "You know if we don't go, he will come here and take her... I don't like the idea of going, but I hate the idea of losing her even more." She sadly nods in agreement.
"I don't want to give her up. I love her too much." I wipe a single tear from her cheek in an attempt to reassure her. "It's OK Honey. She's not going anywhere. Now, go to bed. We'll have to discuss this in the morning."