Unexpected Royal Love!

Chapter 10

Elly’s Pov

It’s almost 8 PM. Prince Edward said he will meet me at the tunnels to meet his sister and best friend, but all I can hear is the wind, and everything is pitch black in front of me. I waited a few minutes when I heard footsteps. I called Edwards’ name, but everything was still silent. My heart was beating in my throat until a familiar hand closed around my mouth before I could make a sound.

“Miss Elly.” Prince Edward whispered while he pushed me against the tunnel wall. I can hear voices outside the tunnel, while Prince Edward's hand is still in my mouth. Fear played in his eyes, while he stares into the tunnel.

“I’m sorry,” he said when the voices dissipated, along with his hand on my mouth.

“Who was that?” I whispered, not sure if it was safe to speak.

“Guards. Mother hired extra guards. I guess she is sensing something is up.” Prince Edward glared one more time before we left the tunnels.

“You think she knows your sister is alive?” Prince Edward holds my hand and is waking way too fast for my short legs.

“I don’t know, actually I don’t know anything anymore. I thought I knew my mother’s plans, but she was deceiving me as well, just like she did with the town and everyone she promised freedom and wealth.” The dinner tonight was tense. I could see how she kept glaring at me and Prince Edward, but I think we handled it, or at least I hope we did. Emma has a hawk-eye on us as well.

I don’t know who I should be afraid of most. The Queen or Emma, who poisoned me. We finally made it to the place where Julia said we should meet them. I felt a strange feeling, like something is not right. I actually felt it at dinner already. What if someone followed us? Or caught Edward’s sister and friend?

“Brother,” Julia announced behind a tree, and I could feel the tension leaving my shoulders when she came around the tree to gig her brother.

“Where is Diggy?” Prince Edward asks, waiting for him to come around the tree, but Julia’s eyes turned big. Actually, they turned frightened.

“He never showed up, brother. I don’t know where he is.” I can see the pain in Prince Edward’s eyes, almost looking like someone punched the life out of him.

“Mother knows.” he sighs, while my heart skips a beat as the words leave his mouth.

“We don’t know that yet.” Julia tried to ease the tension, but Prince Edward neither I feel convinced.

“She hired more guards at the palace. Why would she do that?”

“Brother, for all we know she did it to defend the palace from the war.” it makes sense, but Prince Edward still looks in denial.

“We don’t have much time. You need to know that. Mother intends to kill every last one of the France army, along with the once she promised wealth,” Julia revealed.

“How do you know all of this?” I asked, not sure if it’s my place to ask questions like that, but I and my family’s life is at stake here.

“That’s not important now.” she glared at me.

“Brother, you need to lead the army from the back of the tunnels, make sure you have the upper hand, and whatever plan you come up with, under no circumstances can the King of France fall. You have to protect him at all cost.” Julia explained. How will save the King of France help any of us?

“We don’t have much time, brother. Get a few of the soldiers to agree, and move forward with your plan, but remember, you cannot trust anyone. Keep as much information to yourself.” She hugged him and turn around to walk away.

“Where are you going?” Prince Edward calls after her.

“I will contact you, just keep an eye out for my light.” I can see Prince Edward has lots of questions still, so do I, but our time is limited. It’s just a matter of time before someone realises were not at the castle.

“Edward, we need to get back.” I placed my hand on his. His eyes holding so many questions.

“I’m sure she will contact you soon.” I placed my hand on his cheek while he turned to face me.

“I’m so sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen, for my mother to go back on her word with the deal she sealed with your family.” I smiled, placing my forehead against his.

“This is not your doing. No need for you to apologise.” he placed a small kiss on my lips, making my body shiver.

“Let’s go back.” I pulled him closer, grabbing his hand to walk back to the palace. He’s quite the entire walk back. I want to tell him that everything will work out, but I’m not convinced myself. The Queen has a plague waiting to be released into town, starting at the poor, and we have no knowledge of what plague it is.

“I need to know what happened to my sister, and why my mother sold her to slavery.”

“I know she rejected the marriage proposal, but still, I never thought my mother could be so heartless.” I squeezed prince Edward’s hand to ease the tension he feels, but I can see he feels unease with every second that passed..

The Queen is ruthless and will even kill her son to gain more power. We finally made it back to the palace, where we had to slip into the castle without someone seeing us.

“Please monitor the woods, and please be safe, Miss Elly.” Prince Edward kissed me on the cheek before I closed my door.

“Well, well.” I heard a familiar voice behind me, making me jump in fear.

“Emma.”

“So you claimed the Prince without us having a chance to spend time with him.” She taps her long nails on the bed. While staring at me with hateful eyes.

“It’s not what you think.” I sigh.

“Then please enlighten me,” she said in a mock tone.

“Why so you can poison me again?” she looks surprised with my statement, but I know how it was she. Who else except for the Queen will do something like that?

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb, you were in the dining room before all of us, and you were standing at my plate before we all walked into the room.” She doesn’t respond immediately. She stood up from the bed, walking closer to me.

“I have done no such thing, but we can take it up with the Queen. I’m sure she would love to hear your accusations.” her face is inches away from me, making me gasp for air.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She moved away from me when I couldn’t answer her. Julia warned us to not trust anyone, even though I so badly want to let the other girls into what’s going on, but that will only put them in danger, and Emma can not be trusted. She will run to the Queen and tell her everything just to gain her trust, even if it means putting her family in danger.

“I’m tired, please leave,” I said politely as I can. I don’t need her suspicious thoughts hanging around the room, and the less she suspects, the better.

“Just know Elly that I will keep an eye on you.” she points a finger at me. While moving out of my room.