Spelled

Chapter Six

Charlene's POV:

Why did Father have to be gone? Or, more directly, why did I have to deal with the crooks that have been caught? There must have been four already and it wasn't even noon.

"Princess Charlene?" a soldier addressed me as he bowed at my feet.

"Yes?" I responded dully, knowing it was the announcement of another crook.

"We've another fugitive for you to judge her fate. Do you wish for me to send them in?" 

Not really, I thought. Wait, did he say 'her'? "Is this a woman?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Send them right in."

"Yes, You Highness."

The informant scurried out and just a second or so after his leave, a very attractive young woman entered, a soldier, Marcus, following her inside. When the woman failed to bow before me, Marcus kicked the back of her legs, forcing her into a kneeling position. When she recovered, the young lady looked up at me with a terrible fire in her eyes. Turmoil, heartbreak, hardships, and no regret.

I looked down at her, "What's your name," and for some reason, I couldn't help but add, "dear?"

She looked at me oddly, most likely surprised I called her 'dear'. Recovering quickly, she responded, "Jessica Lockhart."

My eyes widened, "Please excuse me for a moment," I hopped up from my chair and fled the back door into my personal study, where I had left the journal Mother left me. Opening it and flipping it to the first page, I scanned the names of people I had to find until my eyes landed on 'Jessica Lockhart'. I did a happy dance inside and elegantly sashayed back to Jessica.

Holding my head high, I spoke with stern authority, "I sentence you to be my lady until I release you."

"But Princess-" I cut of Marcus with a wave of my right hand.

"Yes, I know I haven't heard your crime, but I feel that it would be appropriate for you to be taken under my care.

I saw a rueful smile grow on Jessica's face as tears slid down her cheeks in quick succession of one another. I flicked my gaze to Marcus, "Please inform the guard that I will hear no more defenses today. We will begin again tomorrow at first fugitive. Anyone else caught tonight should be sent to the dungeons."

Marcus's jaw dropped and he blinked several times before saying, "As you wish, Your Highness," He left my presence.

I offered my hand to Jessica, "Come, my dear. I believe we have a lot to talk about.