Princes In Hiding

Tea and Allies

My father came back home after dinner and while I was cleaning up. I hoped that the boys would help me with the cleaning, but their princely habits have dominated them, so they left me on my own. Florence told me that he had some errands to run in the middle of the night. I didn't ask on the specifics and just let him go.

"All by yourself, huh," my father asked. I shrugged. He looked exhausted from doing whatever he did. He sat on a dining chair and placed his laptop on the table. He began typing.

"Still not done with work," I asked him. He sighed and placed his head on his hands in frustration. It has been a long time since I last saw him this stressed. I remember seeing the same scene when mother was still in the hospital. "I'll go make you some tea," I tell him. It's probably what he needs right now.

"I'll be in the study," my father tells me before standing up and leaving. He left his laptop on the table. I would like to go through it, know more about the situation, but I decided to go against the temptation.

After a few minutes, the cup of tea was done and I made my way towards the study with it. When I got there, I hear two voices. The urge of wanting to know more creeps up on me once again, and this time, I followed it. I stayed by the door and listened closely.

"There's still nothing?" I recognize the low voice. It was Florence's. It's not a surprise to find a personal knight talking to the kingdom's Head of Security. "After all that investigation, there's still nothing," he said.

"The only lead we had killed himself in his home," my father said, "he even burned down all of the evidences in his fireplace. Everything's gone." There was a long pause before my father starts speaking again. "The princes? How are they coping with all of this," he asks Florence.

"They're princes. They were trained to hide everything that they feel," Florence replies, "but I know they're having a hard time as well. They are just teenagers after all. They just lost their mother, and forced into hiding without letting others know they are in hiding. It's honestly quite confusing." It is confusing, but if three popular boys suddenly go missing, it wouldn't take too long before students start taking it to the internet, making ridiculous theories. The rebels would know where to look.

I began to think. "Was the murder of the queen a stunt to locate the boys?" It was a grave assumption, but it is possible. The rebels don't know where the boys are. Have they figured out that the boys are not in Elpis?

I was snapped out of my thoughts when the door of the study suddenly opened. I looked up and saw Florence with a surprised expression. I hear my father laugh. "I told you she would be eavesdropping on us," he said, "She is a very curious girl." I feel my cheeks heat up, and I could see Florence smile a bit before completely leaving the room and walk away. I walked in the room and gave my father the cup of tea.

My father sat on the chair behind his desk and I sat on the chair across his. I looked around his clean office before speaking up. "What else can you tell me," I ask him, "I got the general idea of the situation, but I feel like I need to know more."

My father smiled and puts down his cup. "There's nothing much that I can tell you," he tells me, "I think the more you know, the more you'll be sucked into all of this. You are my only daughter and I'll do anything to keep you from harm." I crossed my arms, not satisfied with his answer. He sighed, knowing my gesture.

He stands up and gets a large piece of paper from a nearby table. He lays the paper on the table, and I inspect it. Printed on the paper is the map of the town. There were colored markings on it. I looked at where our house was located and saw a violet marking on it. There was another violet marking further away. I then looked at the school and see a blue marking on it. There were several other blue markings: the parks, the cafes, and the mall.

I then see three red markings on three different residential buildings that I'm not familiarized with. My fingers touch one of the red markings. It's located in a very popular part of town. "That's Harold's home," my father said. I came to the conclusion that the red markings were the boys' homes. I then see four green markings.

"What are the green ones," I ask my father.

My father smiled. "Allies," he proudly says, "We're not the only ones here." He points at the green marking near a red marking. "That's Florence's house," he says. That means, besides the people that I already know, there are three other people who knows what's going on.

"Do I know any of the other three," I ask him. Even though they are allies, I still don't trust people who I don't know. They do say that trust is a very fragile thing.

My father nodded and points at another green marking. "You may not know him personally," he starts, "but Adam, your school assistant principal, has been keeping an eye on the boys. He is also a skilled spy of Elpis." I wasn't expecting that. I remember my school's assistant principal. He has a very thin build and he rarely talks in school assemblies.

"So if we're in trouble, Mr. Adam will come running," I said. I still couldn't imagine that man being very useful in this situation. I sighed. I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

My father nodded then sighed. "I just hope it doesn't to that point," he said. He then opened one of the drawers on his desk and gets a small notepad. He begins to write something down. I was about to ask when he stopped and hands me the piece of paper to me. I looked at the paper curiously.

On the paper, there were two sets of letters and numbers. "Those are confirmation codes," he tells me, "The first code is for my comrades. It's to confirm my identity to them. The second is for the safe house across town. If you and the boys are in trouble, go there." He points at the other violet marking on the map. "Unlike the safe house, our house is isolated from the rest of the town, so it would be easy for them to track you," he says, "Our house is also the main base of information. If the enemies come here, it's game over, understand?" I nod, now feeling the gravity of situation more.

My father pats my head. "I am counting on you, Natalia," he said, "I may have not been able to protect your mother, but I will do anything to protect you."

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Author's Notes

I am sorry if you think this is a boring chapter. I just need to put these information in the story. Next chapter will be better! I promise!

Again, please point out any errors in the book. I will be glad to give a shout out in the next chapters.

Oh and guess what! WE PASSED THE 100 READS MILESTONE! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!! ❤️