Not So Royal After All (A Haylijah Short Story)

Part 6

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"Elijah, you wanted to see me?"

The Queen had entered the empty ballroom, with each step came the sound of clicking from her heels bouncing off the vacant walls. She knew what he wanted to talk about. The model from last nights show, Ms. Marshall. Ms. Marshall was undeniably beautiful yes and could have a heart of gold, but she could not bestow the title of Queen of New Orleans.

"Mother... it is about Ms. Marshall-"

"You know you cannot marry her Elijah, she is not of royal blood."

"Forcing me to marry some princess that I may never learn to love sounds better to you?"

"Of course not but-"

"And my happiness does not mean anything to you does it not?"

"But of course it does Elijah but-"

"Then why can't you see that law about whom I must marry is foolish? I want to marry whom I want, even if she is not of royalty!"

"Your father and I were engaged to be married by your grandparents, and we learned to love each other."

"Yours and fathers love was different from any other fairy tale, it was love at first sight and I believe I have had the same revelation with Ms. Marshall. And yes, I may not know her now, but I will learn more about her as time goes on mother just like what you've said. All I need is time."

The Queen could see the sadness in the prince's eyes, which broke her heart. For once her son had loved another, but he could not have her because of a law from many generations ago.

"My son, even if I allowed it, it would not settle well with the council, especially with that law. Only the king can change a law, you are not king yet and when you do become king, it shall be too late."

"Then I will find a way, someone from the council, a higher up, anyone who may believe that law is unjust shall side with me and possibly change it!"

Before another word left the Queen's mouth, the prince disappeared, her youngest child approached her mother with caution.

"Mother, there must be something you can do, you are Queen after all. The council should listen to you."

"If it was only that easy Rebekah. Unless your father left a declaration somewhere in this castle, Elijah's quest for true love is a lost cause."

But the princess had to think of something quick, she did not want her brother's happiness to be short-lived. Then an imaginary light bulb had lit in her brain. 'This should work!', the princess thought. She ran from the ballroom to the sectioned off library that had once belonged to her father and started a quest of her own.  

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