Cracked Facades: Beyond the shells

Alexis POV "Hey, Alex, wake up," a voice whispered, pulling me out of my sleep. I turned over, trying to ignore it. "Come on, I need you to wake up," the voice persisted. "What is it?" I groggily checked the clock on my bedside table. "It's not even morning yet – it's still 3 am." "Shhh..." My nanny Lydia silenced me. "We have some unwelcome guests in the house." I sat up in bed, my heart racing. "Who are they?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know," she replied, "but your dad messaged me and told me to take you to my family's house, away from the mansion." "But why?" I protested. "I want to see my parents." "I'm sorry, dear child," she said, "I've been told to sneak you out through the garden doors." She quickly packed some clothes and an overnight bag for me. As she finished, the sound of shattering glass echoed from downstairs. I got out of bed, ready to head out the door, while my nanny continued to prepare for our hasty departure. We made our way downstairs using the maids' staircase and exited through the garden doors to the service gate. Ruben, my dad's personal chauffeur, was waiting for us and drove us to Lydia's house. I repeatedly asked about my parents, but no one answered me, exchanging uneasy glances instead. It was a Saturday night, and I was originally supposed to attend church for the first time with Jess, Lydia's daughter and my best friend. She'd often share stories about high school with me, as I'd been homeschooled my entire life. My family, being part of a royal family, had always kept me out of the public eye due to safety concerns – I was next in line for the throne, after all. This meant I hadn't been allowed to make public appearances until I was older and ready to take the throne. However, my parents had recently agreed to let me attend church with Lydia, as I'd be turning 18 next year and needed to start socializing more. I was allowed to befriend Jess, and we'd studied together ever since. At just 17, I'd already earned both a Master's and a doctorate degree. I'm set to ascend to the throne in about 8 months, on my 18th birthday, May 31st. My identity has been kept under wraps, with only the royal council, my parents, and a select few trusted staff members aware of my appearance. While the entire country knows my name, my face remains a mystery, which has actually worked out to my advantage. Jess and I have often snuck out to the park or cinema without being recognized, and I've even attended gatherings with my aunt Cecilia without her realizing who I was, as I was always accompanied by Jess or Lydia. My dad has been grooming me to take over the family business from a young age, and I'm essentially already running things behind the scenes. This has led to tension with my aunt Cecilia, who wants to see her son appointed CEO. My dad has resisted her attempts, knowing that she and her son are power-hungry and would likely try to take control of the company. She's been trying to get close to me, but thanks to my parents' efforts to keep me hidden, she has no idea what I look like, despite having seen me multiple times. My royal lineage comes from my mum's side – she's the only surviving descendant of her family, who were tragically assassinated. She was hidden away, much like I've been, and eventually ascended to the throne, becoming the Queen. She met my dad, fell in love, and married, making him the King. However, my dad had already built a business empire from scratch, and his family is now eyeing his wealth, hoping to get their hands on it since he doesn't have a male heir. My parents, though, have always looked beyond traditional expectations, focusing on preparing me to take on our family's legacy. They love me dearly and are doing everything in their power to ensure I'm ready for the responsibility ahead. Back to the present, I recalled my parents' conversation last night, discussing how my aunt, her husband, and son have been embezzling funds from the company. It turns out they were caught by my dad's trusted assistant. Jackson Holdings is a major player in the country, operating in real estate and logistics, with a vast portfolio that includes the largest airport and nearly half of the country's buildings. We're neck-and-neck with Marshall Tech Limited, a company founded by my dad's childhood friend and closest confidant, specializing in tech and cyber security. Apparently, they thought they could get away with stealing from our massive company, but my dad's assistant exposed them. My dad was discussing with my mum how he wants to fire them, saying he only kept them on board to help his sister's family, but they've turned out to be ungrateful. I'm totally lost right now, not being home to ask my parents what's going on. I'm trying to piece together what's happening, but it's all so confusing. And no one is telling me anything. As we arrived at Lydia's home, she told me to go up to Jessica's room. On my way up, I overheard Lydia and Ruben arguing in hushed tones. "We have to tell her," Lydia said. Ruben responded, "You heard what the king said, we can't mention anything to her now. We have to wait until things settle down." "What if something's happening at the mansion right now?" Lydia said sounding scared. "Cecilia and her husband brought an army! How did they even know the king and queen were at the mansion last night and not at the palace?" "What do you mean? What did Aunt Cecilia and her husband do?" I asked, stepping out of the shadows, making my presence known. Lydia spun around, her hand on her heart, clearly startled. "You gave me a scare, dear child," she said, trying to brush it off. "Nothing's wrong, dear." I wasn't having it, though. "Don't lie to me, Lydia. What's happening?" Lydia looked at Ruben, her expression serious. "She has to know," she said. Ruben nodded in agreement, and Lydia turned to me. "I think your aunt found out about your dad's plans to cut her off, and she's taking drastic action," she explained. "She's at the mansion right now, with some men and equipment, and her husband is with her. We've already alerted the royal guards, but we're not sure if they'll arrive in time." Lydia's words spilled out in a rush. "Your dad only managed to send me a message, instructing me to get you out of the house and protect you at all costs. We have to keep you safe, dear child." I felt a lump form in my throat as I processed the news. "You mean my parents are in danger, and I'm hiding out here?" I asked, my voice shaking with tears. "I have to go back – they need my help! I'm trained, I can fight off a few mercenaries. We have to go back now, Lydia. That's a command!" Lydia and Ruben exchanged a glance, and Ruben's expression firmed. "I'm sorry, Princess. We're following the king's orders now, which override yours." I brushed my hair back, frustration and worry etched on my face. Tears welled up in my eyes as I whispered, "Mum..." Just then, Jess's voice came from the stairs. "What's happening?" she asked, her eyes bleary from sleep. She spotted me, and her expression changed. "Alex? Why are you here? What's happening?" Her gaze fell to my tear-stained face, and without hesitation, she came over and wrapped me in a hug. "It's okay, Alex," she whispered, holding me tight. I smiled through my tears – that's just Jess, always knowing exactly what to do to comfort me, even when she has no idea what's going on. I felt a bit calmer in Jess's arms, and I told her everything that was happening. She was already tearing up, and I knew it was because she loved my parents just as much as I did. They were the best people anyone could know – kind, compassionate, and truly good rulers. We were still trying to process what to do next when Ruben's phone rang. It was David, my father's P.A. I nodded at Ruben to put the call on speaker. Ruben's voice was shaky as he answered, "Yes, David?" The words that followed were like a punch to the gut: "The queen and king are dead, Ruben." Everything went black after that.