Unexpected Royal Love!

Chapter 16

As I strained to pull the brick out from the wall, a sense of exhaustion washed over me. The crackling noise it made was enough to make Diggy whisper in concern. "Miss Elly, you're making noise," he warned, his voice barely audible.

"Just... one... more... pull..." I replied, my voice filled with weariness. The brick seemed to resist my every effort, but I couldn't give up. I had to see what lay on the other side, no matter the cost.

Finally, with a final burst of strength, the brick came loose. But what I discovered beyond it was far from what I expected. Diggy’s prison cell wasn't on the ground, and neither was mine. We found ourselves suspended in mid-air, at least twelve buildings high. The wall had been an illusion, allowing the sun's rays to shine through the cracks and deceive us all along.

A wave of hopelessness washed over me, and a dull ache settled deep within my core. The realization of our predicament hit me like a ton of bricks. We were trapped, isolated from the world below, and there seemed to be no way out.

I opened my mouth to speak, to inform Diggy of my fruitless search and our dire situation. But the words caught in my throat as if the very air around us had turned heavy and suffocating. The battle was already set, and I had no clue if Prince Edward had managed to find his sister and devise a plan to outwit the enemy, without relying on the secret tunnels we had hoped to use.

The uncertainty gnawed at me, sharpening the pain and anxiety that had taken root within me. I couldn't allow myself to waver from these feelings. Instead, I had to think. I had to strategize, to find a way out of this seemingly impossible situation.

Diggy's voice trembled with anguish as he uttered those words, "What now Missy Elly?" It was evident that he had been through an ordeal, his pain palpable even in the darkness. I couldn't bear to imagine the extent of the violence inflicted upon him. But what troubled me more was the uncertainty surrounding the disappearance of the Queen's housekeeper.

Edward once told me all about Diggy and assured me of his loyalty throughout their childhood. He was a man bound by unwavering devotion to those he held dear, making it highly unlikely that he would ever betray someone he loved. But even with this knowledge, I couldn't shake the unease that lingered in the air.

The Queen's housekeeper had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a perplexing mystery that had us on edge. It was as if she had been swallowed by the shadows, erasing any evidence of her existence.

Diggy, battered and bruised, had come to me seeking answers. And though I longed to provide him with the solace he sought, I was at a loss myself. The weight of the unknown bore down upon me, igniting a fire within to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

As I embarked on this journey to unravel the mystery, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of fear and determination. Fear, for the unknown dangers that lay ahead, and determination, to bring justice to England.

Every sound seemed to echo in the silence, amplifying my anxiety. Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the sound of jingling keys, jolting me out of my thoughts. My heart raced as the door creaked open, revealing a man standing before me.

"Stand up," the man commanded, his voice stern and authoritative.

Confusion gripped me as I complied, struggling to find my voice. "What am I doing here?" I managed to utter, my words stumbling out in a hushed tone.

Without uttering a single word, the man firmly grasped my arm and guided me out of the room. We walked in silence, the weight of the unknown pressing heavily upon me. The frigid air outside only intensified the eerie atmosphere, causing a shiver to run down my spine. As we continued our journey, I couldn't help but notice the absence of any conversation or explanation from the man.

My mind raced with questions, the most pressing of which was why I found myself in this bewildering situation. However, my thoughts were abruptly interrupted when we arrived at our destination, twelve buildings down from where I had been held captive. To my astonishment, I spotted Emma waiting downstairs as we reached the final floor.

"What... why?" I stammered, struggling to comprehend her presence in this puzzling turn of events.

Emma's eyes met mine, filled with a mixture of fear and determination. It was then that she began to explain everything that had led us to this moment. She shared how she had overheard a clandestine conversation between the Queen and her own father, revealing a shocking conspiracy. Emma's father had struck a deal with the Queen, agreeing to her plans in exchange for the safety of his family and the promise of land. The Queen, desperate to contain the spreading plague, had made a solemn vow that the disease would not touch their newfound territory.

As Emma's revelations sank in, a wave of emotions washed over me. I felt anger towards those who would willingly sacrifice others for their own personal gain, but also a deep sense of gratitude towards Emma for her bravery in sharing this secret with me. Together, we now possess knowledge that could potentially change the course of our lives and the lives of countless others.

As the adrenaline coursed through my veins, my heart pounded in my chest, matching the rapid pace of my footsteps. The once confident and arrogant Emma was now as terrified as the rest of us. Her eyes darted around, scanning the dimly lit corridor for any sign of danger.

"We don't have much time," Emma whispered urgently, her voice trembling with fear. "I saw Prince Edward. He was searching for you."

"We can't leave Diggy," I interjected, my voice filled with concern. The thought of leaving behind Prince Edward's childhood friend, who had been lost for so long, was unbearable. I couldn't fathom abandoning him in this treacherous place.

Emma's brows furrowed in confusion as she tried to comprehend my words. "Who is Diggy?" she asked, her voice laced with bewilderment.

A wave of frustration washed over me. How could I expect her to understand when there was barely enough time to breathe, let alone explain the complexities of our situation? Taking a deep breath, I gathered my thoughts and tried to convey the urgency of the matter.

"It's Edward... I mean, Prince Edward's childhood friend," I stammered, my words tumbling out in a rush. "He was lost for a while, but..."

Before I could finish my sentence, I realized that time was not on our side. The distant sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor, growing louder with each passing second. Panic surged through my veins, urging me to act swiftly.

"No time to explain," I interrupted myself, my voice filled with determination. Without a moment's hesitation, I sprinted around the corner, desperately searching for a hiding spot. The guards must have heard us, and there was no doubt that they were closing in.

As I ducked behind a large wooden crate, my breath came in ragged gasps. Shadows danced on the walls, creating an eerie atmosphere that matched the unease in my heart. I pressed my trembling body against the cold, damp wall, desperately trying to blend in with my surroundings.

Silence engulfed the corridor, broken only by the soft whirring of the guards' footsteps as they passed by. Relief washed over me, but I knew that this respite was only temporary. The Queen would not give up easily, and we had to find a way to navigate this treacherous labyrinth without being discovered.