The Scarlet Lillie

Unveiled

Chapter 10

My carriage pulled up to the gate, which was already opened in preparation for my return. As my carriage pulled up to the palace, I pushed the prince out of my mind. I had to focus during the next hour or two.

The door opened and Philip and Max climbed out first.

"Your majesty," Philip said, holding out a hand. I accepted the offer and stepped down.

We all made our way to the main hall and then the guards stopped in front of me.

"The king is waiting for you in his study. If you would follow me, I would gladly take you there." Logan told me.

While he talked, Marcie appeared from the shadows. "I can take your cloak, my lady." She offered.

I nodded and undid the clip around my neck. After handing it over, I followed Logan to the kings' study.

Upon arriving, Logan motioned for me to wait while he knocked on the door. My fathers voice came through with the single word, "Enter," and we obliged.

"My king," Logan said as we entered the room. "You really should have had someone get the door. What if I was here to murder you?"

My father, who was sitting behind his large desk, raised an eyebrow. "Are you here to kill me?"

Logan looked shocked by the question. "Of course not, my king. I would never even think of such a thing."

My father smiled. "Then I'm fine. Relax, my friend, the next hour or so is going to feel like a long one."

While the two men talked, I gazed at my fathers study. I had never been allowed in here before- I had assumed it had something to do with the secrets- so I was quite impressed.

The study was more like a personal library, having two floors stocked with overflowing shelves. The large window behind the desk let in glorious mid-day light. In front of my fathers desk were two couches. They looked very comfortable, but I could tell that it wouldn't be if you leaned back. My home has many of these pieces of furniture to instill the idea of proper posture. Sitting in between the two couches, was a wooden table coated in dark brown paint. Lillie's sat in the center of the table in a vase I had never seen before.

"Come, Scarlet," My father said, motioning to the couches. "We have much to discuss." I nodded and took my place on the couch to my right. I sat in the center while the two men shared the one across from me.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then my father let out a sigh. "Scarlet, you understand that I love you, don't you?"

A bit confused by his opening, I nodded.

"Good. Please remember that as I explain things." He said. I waited for him to continue.

"Sixteen years and three months ago, your mother became very ill. This was, of course, during the time that she was pregnant with you. None of the doctors could figure out what was wrong, so of course we couldn't give her any medicine. I became worried; not only for my queen, but also for our unborn child.

"Then, a commoner from the outskirts of the kingdom heard of our situation. He came to the palace and told us of a rare flower called the Casablanca Lily that might be able to help the queen." Logan stood up and walked over to one of the shelves behind me, but I focused on my father.

"After asking for a description, I immediately sent my guards out to find the flower." My father continued. "They brought it back to me and I had my medics turn it into a drink. Your mother consumed the flower, and her health improved- but only for a period of time.

"The day you were born was both the most joyful and most sorrowful day of my life. The Casablanca Lily only supported your mother until you came into this world. She only lived long enough to see you. She died with a smile and your name on her lips."

I sat there for a moment trying to absorb that information. "I can't believe it..." I muttered. "But, Father, why are you so protective of me? And why do I look like this?"

Logan reappeared in front of me holding a large book in his hands. "Do you recall that kingdom we found this morning?" He asked. I nodded. "The Casablanca Lily is a rare flower that only blooms in moonlight." He sat down and handed the book to my father, who opened it and flipped through a few pages.

"This is a picture." My father said, pointing to a page. The flower was gorgeous, that much was obvious. It had white petals and the anthers in the center where a blood red. "It has the same color scheme as me..." I whispered.

"Exactly." My father confirmed. "That goes into why we are so protective.

The flower was found near the walls of Philite. The king had no knowledge of the flowers existence, but when he discovered such a flower did exist, and that it had been so close to the boundary, he wanted it back. We arranged for a meeting where he made the request, but, of course, that was out of my power. Somehow, he realized that you had lived and made the proposal that you return to the kingdom with him. Obviously, I told him no. Irritated, he tried to convince me to agree to an engagement between his eldest son and you. For the sake of peace, I did consider this. However, I could not have accepted it.

"Your mother and I had an arranged marriage. We were decided for each other when I was five and she was three. We grew up together, and, in the end, loved each other. But your mother did not want you to have to go through the same thing. Together, we agreed that when you married, it would be to the man you loved without any help from us.

"Needless to say, the king was not pleased with this. His anger grew out of control and he stormed out of my room swearing that he would have you.

"Three days later, Philite soldiers invaded the castle. Logan's father and the other guards at that time discovered them in your bedroom, trying to kidnap you." I was taken aback that he would mention Logan's father. I had never met the man, only hearing the occasional rumor.

"They killed my father." Logan said, as if reading my thoughts. "But the other guards managed to stop them."

"The king of Philte and I haven't spoken since that day. I have no intention of doing so, either, because I fear that if we do, war will break out." My father explained.

"That's why you are not allowed to go into that kingdom." Logan told me. "If you do, and you run into the wrong person, you may never come back out."