The Annex

Chapter 36

Isla, Gallo and the Commander were waiting outside of the room. Isla was pacing nervously back and forth and Gallo and the Commander were having a disagreement of sorts.

"Why you make me work with him is inconceivable," Gallo whispered rather forcefully.

"Boys, this is for Cara, we're going to make her a queen. Now stop your bickering." Isla's voice was final, like a mother with her children. "Ah, there you are my dear," she said as she spotted me.

"How come you all are here," I asked, avoiding the Commander's gaze.

"To support you," Isla clapped her hands together. "Isn't it fantastic?"

"That and we have the final review with the privy council after your interview," Gallo pointed out.

"That makes more sense," I said and Isla shot him a glare. We stood in silence and waited until the door finally opened.

"Cara Vos," Caspar Duponte's voice summoned me forward.

"You got this," Isla whispered encouragingly as she gave my hand a quick squeeze.

The room was unimpressive for being the meeting place of the Court's privy council. But for me, it held an important memory. The place of my father's death. In the center of the room was a round table, the grand chair at the farthest room of the table was left empty. It must have been reserved for the King or the Queen. Settled around the table were the privy council members.

"You may have a seat," Caspar pointed to the elaborate chair. I sat down and was glad to see Lord Lasque's familiar face. It was enough to reduce the anxiety that came with what seemed like an impending interrogation.

"Help yourself," one of the women said as she gestured towards the pitcher of water and finger foods in front of me. I poured myself a glass of water, trying to still my trembling hands and took a quick sip.

"We're going to ask you to answer our questions truthfully and as fully as you can," Caspar said. "Can you agree to this?"

I nodded.

"We're going to begin by asking you some questions about your youth," the woman continued. "Our first questions will be rather to the point, and we apologize in advance for the directness of some of these questions and hope you can see how it is essential for us to know everything we need to know about your life. Our first question is in regards to your time at the Palace. As you know, most of our Candidates have been raised here in the Palace or close to the Palace. At the very least, they have been involved in Court sponsored events. When did you leave the Palace grounds and why."

"I think you all know my father, the late Lord Vos. Up until I was eight, I lived in one of the cottages by the DuPontes." I nodded towards Caspar DuPonte. I took a breath before I continued. "When I was eight, my father suffered heart failure and passed away, in this very room. My mother decided to relocate us. She didn't want to live with the constant pity and the daily reminders of my father."

"Were there further reasons," a man sitting next to Lord Lasque prodded. I made eye contact with him as I pursed my lips.

"Yes."

"Can you please share them."

"My mother blamed his death on the stress of the Court."

"Do you share your mother's belief in any part?"

"Yes." My voice was hesitant but definitive. I knew it wasn't the answer that they would want, but it was the truth. Sometimes I did blame them. If he hadn't endured so much stress from his duties at Court, he would have still been here by my side.