Unexpected Royal Love!

Chapter 17

As we cautiously made our way through the dense woods, my mind was filled with questions. The mysterious man who had helped us escape from the prison cell still lingered in my thoughts. I couldn't help but feel a mix of concern and curiosity about his identity.

"Emma," I called out softly, breaking the silence between us. We had to address this matter before it consumed my thoughts entirely.

She turned to face me, her eyes filled with a hint of worry. "Who was the man who helped you?" I asked, my voice reflecting my concern.

Emma hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's... Well, it's my brother." Her admission caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise.

Her brother? How did he have access to the prison cells? The thought swirled in my mind, demanding answers. I couldn't simply brush it off. "Your brother?" I asked, unable to conceal my confusion.

Emma sighed, her eyes casting downward. She seemed almost embarrassed as she continued, "My brother was involved in criminal activities before he turned 18. To keep him out of jail, my father made a deal with law enforcement. He arranged for my brother to fight for the Queen, as a means of redemption."

I absorbed her words, my mind racing to process the information. So her brother's past as a criminal was the reason behind his unexpected presence in the prison cells. But what compelled him to help us, to help me? I couldn't help but voice my thoughts, hoping to unravel this mysterious connection.

"But he helped you, I mean us," I started cautiously, trying to keep my tone neutral. "Why would he do that?"

Emma’s expression shifted, a mixture of pain and resignation crossing her features. "Believe me, he didn't want to. My brother and I have had a strained relationship since we were little. He has never been a friend, let alone a brother, to me."

I could sense the weight of her words and the depth of the emotions behind them. There was a complicated history between Emma and her brother, one that had left scars on both of them. Yet, despite their troubled past, he had chosen to aid us in our escape. I couldn't help but wonder why.

"Why did he help us?" I asked gently, my voice laced with genuine curiosity.

Emma’s eyes met mine, "Stop with the hundred questions, we need to focus on getting out of here," she replied, her voice tinged with urgency.

Realizing that our safety was of utmost importance, I nodded and followed her lead through the dense foliage.

Chapter 1: A Sense of Doubt

As we ventured deeper into the dark woods, a sense of unease washed over me. I couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, but something about Emma's demeanor made my heart race. It was as if she was concealing a secret, hiding something from me. I tried to push away these thoughts, not wanting to worry unnecessarily, but the nagging feeling persisted.

"Emma," I called out softly, hoping to catch her attention. However, she seemed to intentionally ignore me, her gaze fixed on the path leading to the lake ahead.

"We're heading in the wrong direction," I stated, my voice laced with concern. Yet, Emma continued to walk, her determination unwavering.

With each step we took towards the lake, my anxiety deepened. Questions began to swirl in my mind, begging for answers. Why did she allow me to leave Diggy behind? And if her brother truly was involved in criminal activities, how did he acquire keys to the prison? It didn't make sense. If he were merely a guard for the Queen, he wouldn't possess such critical access. Furthermore, no loyal guard would dare defy the Queen's orders to aid Emma in her quest.

"Emma!" I called out once more, my voice tinged with a mix of fear and desperation. However, before she could even turn around to acknowledge me, a chilling sight materialized before my eyes. The Queen's formidable guards stood before me, their imposing figures leaving me paralyzed with fear.

"What is happening?" I stammered, my voice trembling. Deep down, a sinking feeling began to take hold. I realized that this journey had been too good to be true, a trap carefully orchestrated by the conniving Queen herself. Emma had been nothing more than a pawn in her twisted game, a means to manipulate me into revealing sensitive information. How naive I had been to trust her! She may have shared my humble origins as a farm girl, but it was evident now that her true motivations were rooted in greed and self-interest. I couldn't help but question whether she genuinely cared about Prince Edward at all.

Fear and anger coursed through my veins as I stood face-to-face with the Queen's guards. The realization of their presence, coupled with the betrayal I felt from Emma, fueled a fire within me. I knew that I had to find a way to escape their clutches.

The weight of betrayal pressed heavily upon my heart as I stood there, tears streaming down my face, desperately searching for a way to escape. Emma had cunningly deceived not only me but her entire family. I had foolishly believed she was protecting them, little realizing that she had chosen her own selfish desires over the wellbeing of her loved ones.

Oh, how perfectly she would have fit the role of the Queen's ideal daughter, had she not chosen this treacherous path. The thought pained me to no end

"Emma?" My voice trembled with a mix of hope and despair as I called out her name, praying that my instincts were wrong. But, she turned around, her gaze cold and distant, and began walking towards the imposing castle. Her actions confirmed my worst fear.

As I stood there, rooted to the spot, my heart sank further, knowing that I was now at the mercy of the guards stationed before me. They seemed to revel in my anguish, their eyes gleaming with a sadistic delight as if relishing the imminent demise that awaited me.

I could feel the weight of their verdict bore down upon me as if their penetrating gazes were daggers ready to pierce my soul. My mind raced, desperately seeking an escape route, a glimmer of hope to cling onto. But the odds were stacked against me, and the walls of the castle seemed to close in, suffocating me with their oppressive presence.