Unexpected Royal Love!

Chapter 9

I woke up, swear dripping off from my forehead. It was just a nightmare, Elly. Keep calm. I tried to convince myself. We’re in reality the war is coming, and everyone who stands against the Queen will fall. At least I can move my body now.

I was sure that I could never get rid of the numbness after Emma drugged me. I glared at the clock on the wall. It’s nearly 2 AM, and it felt like I slept for days. I stand up from the bed, glaring out of the window. The wind is crying and the trees are swinging from side to side.

My eyes catch on where a light was shining in the woods, far from the villages where the servants live. Someone is spying on the palace, but who could it be? And why would someone spy on the palace? My heart rate drop when I realised it could be soldiers, soldiers from France that monitor the palace and how they can get into the palace once the war starts.

I quickly put on a rope and made my way to Edward’s room.

“Edward?” I knocked quietly. I don’t want to wake the entire palace with my paranoid feelings. He opened the door on the first knock, pulling me inside his room.

“What’s wrong, Miss Elly?” He used his hands to wipe his eyes. For a moment, I forgot why I woke him up. His room is enormously big.

I thought my room was big, but his entire room was filled with antique furniture. The buds on the bed are gold, actual gold. The cupboards are old, dark wood with a desk bigger than my entire house back at the farm.

“Miss Elly, what’s so urgent?” he asked with a raspy voice, snapping me out of my stares.

“I was looking out of the window and saw a bright light shining towards the palace. Someone is spying on us.” I let out without thinking about how ridiculous I might sound.

“Are you sure it’s not the light from the villages you saw?” he asked, concerned. Almost looking like he believes my stupid statement.

“I think so. Well, I looked over the lake and the light by the villages was on, but this was a bright light, shining directly to the palace.” The prince shaped his hands through his messy hair. He paced back and forth a few times, making me feel unsafe and uneasy.

“It can’t be,” he said in disbelieve.

“Yes, you're right. I think I’m still a little foggy after the drug and maybe...”

“No, I meant it can’t be, as in my sister.” he moved towards the window, glaring out of it. I felt confused. His sister is dead, or so everyone was thinking.

Prince of Edward turned around to face me, a million questions playing in my eyes.

“When we were little, my sister and I would use a flashlight to find each other.

“We played as kids in the woods hide and seek, and we would always find each other by flashing a light,” he answered the question I held silently in my mind, but surely this can’t be his sister.

“Do you think?” I couldn’t answer my question. He grabs me by the hand.

“Only one way to find out.” We left the palace. My heart was beating way too fast while we search for the light.

“What of its soldiers, Edward?”

“Shoo,” he whispered. He pulled out a flashlight and flashed it twice. I can actually feel my heart jumping up and down my chest, while Edward still holds my hand.

I need to breathe. I haven’t realised I was holding up my breath. The heat is finding in my brain with the unknown, and Prince Edward’ face holds so much hope. Hope that it’s his sister, but I feel in denial.

Why would she return after all these years, now when there is a war on its way? If it is her, maybe she’s working for the enemy, spying on us.

“Edward?” I whispered again. Hoping he will let it take me back to the palace, but he kept glaring towards the woods.

Prince Edward sigh in disappointment.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t..” he turned his head back towards the woods, cutting me off from what I was about to say. A bright flashlight flashing twice.

“It’s her,” he whispered. Grabbing my hand again running towards the woods.

I tried to keep up, but my lungs fell on fire. I need to rest.

I still feel light-headed and now Edward’s sister might be alive. I tripped a few times running, but Prince Edward's powerful arms picked me up and started running again.

“Edward, I don’t think it’s your sister. Let’s just go back,” I asked while he keeps running.

“It is her, I know it’s her,” he said, out of breath. I wish for him to be right. The hope in his eyes is big and it would be a disappointment if we ran all this way and it’s not.

We finally reach the woods where we saw the flashlight, but it’s quiet, way too quiet. Prince Edward flashed his light again, and an unfamiliar face appeared in front of us.

“Sister.” Prince Edward said.

“Big brother.” She smiled, running towards him with her arms open. She is beautiful. Her long black hair hanging over her shoulders in waves. Her dark blue eyes glowing with the moon shining down, and her perfect body showing her perfect curves.

“Were, how?..” Prince Edward struggles to find words.

“No time, brother. You need to know that the Queen has no intention of obeying...” she kept quiet, turning to face me.

“Oh, this is Elly, sorry Miss Elly.”

“Oh, brother, stop with the formality.” She scowls at him. I already like her.

That’s probably why he said I remind him of her, but she looks much stronger than I. She has a fire in her, and you can see she’s fearless.

“Elly, this is Julia, my little sister.” She smiled, and I returned it with an even bigger smile.

“We need to talk in private.”

“No need, she knows.” Prince Edward tells, he must trust his little sister if he will tell her I know about the war and the Queen’s plan. I wish I knew more about her.

“Wow brother, you must like her if you will tell her secrets.”

“Yeah, almost reminding me of someone who ran away, and only showed up now.” Prince Edward answered, not really in the same context she was referring to. He almost looks pissed at her.

“I’m sorry, brother, but I needed to get away. I needed to be alive. It is so much you don’t know.” She hauled her hand through her thick, black, curly hair. I can see their brother and sister.

“Them explain to me, why did you disappear, and only making your appearance now, now when there is a war on its way.”

“That’s why I came back, brother. You need to know that The Queen uses the War to poison the entire town.

She has a plague waiting to be realised and will blame France for it.

She wants you to marry the Duchess of France and take control of France, but under her council.”

“She has no intention of keeping her promise to any of the farmers or the ones that swore elegance. She will only keep the rich and the plague will wipe out the poor.”

My eyes turned big, a massive lump growing in my throat. My Father has no idea he sold his soul to the devil, and in the process killed me and my mother and sister.

“I need to get home. I need my parents and sister to be safe,” I said unexpectedly.

“No Elly, no one can know this. We need a plan, to defeat my mother before the war starts.” Julia said, but I’m not sure it will work. The Queen is ruthless and will kill anyone standing in her way.

“You need to hide, sister. She can’t know you are still alive.” Prince Edward grabbed his sister by the shoulders.

“Brother, she sold me for s*****y. I was tortured, all because I refused to be wed to a man I never knew. She doesn’t care about us, or anyone for that matter.” Julia bent her head, looking disturbed.

“I had no idea. She told me you ran away. I thought you were dead.” Prince Edward pulled his little sister in for a hug.

“I’m very much alive, brother. I derived the worse torture a woman can endure, but I made it. I made it back to you, now you have to play your part to save the town.” She holds out her hand for me to stand closer.

“My brother trusts you, I can see that. We need your help, Elly. I know it’s a lot to ask, but we’re the only ones who can save the city.”

“And I’m here to help.” an unexpected voice answered behind us.

“Diggy.” Prince Edward calls, surprised.

“How? I thought you left, and...”

“He saved me, brother. When he left the search for me until he found me.” Julia kissed the unfamiliar man on the cheek. I choked, not knowing what’s going on.

“Miss Elly, this is the best friend I told you about. It’s actually Dwayne, but we all called him, I mean to call him Diggy.”

“Obviously, there is a lot to talk about. Meet us at the lake at 8 PM tomorrow night, and brother, you and Elly need to act normal. Mother can sense fear and lies from a mile. Please be safe.” She hugged both of us and grabbed Diggy’s hand.

“Wait, where are you staying?” Prince Edward asked, concerned.

“Just be safe brother.”