Behind the Mask

Walking on egg shells

Charles Pov

Keeping up pretenses has taken its toll. I think somehow my parents know about the letter I sent to the Silver Lotus. Which I am not sure how they would know, do to careful planning and trusting the right people. But lately, I think I might have a rat in the mix but knowing who that is is going to be tough. There was a knock on my door. “you may enter." I said loud enough to hear through the door.

"Crown Prince Charles, King Nickolas, and Queen Victoria wish to see you immediately.” My trusted right hand, Drake said.

“ Did they found out about the letter?” I asked him.

“ I am not sure, Charles, I just know it is not good.”

“ Please inform them I am on my way.” He bows and walks out of my room. I head to the throne room, where I can find my parents. When I entered, my father was standing up from his throne. At this point, I know I am in big trouble, and my right hand, Drake gave an evil smile and waved his hand goodbye, and closed the throne room door. I am not just in trouble. I am screwed!

Elizabeth Pov

I was on horseback heading to who knows where and passed through many of the towns that my parents have destroyed. My whole kingdom was like that, and there was no denying that my parents were responsible for it.

  After my break down yesterday, I made a new friend. Her name is Isabella. She is about my age, and she has that happy go lucky personality. Which I needed, she follows Leo, which she explained what happened to her apparently she lived in the same kingdom Leo did. She lost her family in the attack, which makes me wonder what happened to Leo and why he is so hell-bent on seeing my parents/ me suffer for it. But I am the one to talk. He did talk about truce while thinking about it won’t be too bad of an idea. “ Hey, Elizabeth, are you feeling better.” Isabella rode to my side to check up on me.

“ I am doing alright. It is still kind of hard to believe it. Anyway, where are we going?” I asked her. She looks at me with a sad expression on her face.

“Home,” she pointed to a castle in a distance that looked like a ruin half up and half destroyed. We entered the town. I could see burn marks on houses. It was really quiet when we rolled in. I saw a few people yesterday gather flowers, including my friend Isabella. She got down off her horse and placed flowers in a spot where a house used to stand. I got off my horse and gave my friend a side hug. 

“ They would have been proud of you. You stayed strong even when it was hard, and look who you became. Even if you can’t see them, they are right here watching you.” It was the best way I could think of to help my friend. She hugged me back.

“Thank you. I need to hear that. I was 12 when they passed away. It was not a goodbye I wished for and one that I wouldn’t wish for anyone. My father was helping King Frederick. He lost his life protecting the king, and my mother was in the palace helping Queen Ashly get everyone out. I assume she died of a boulder crushing her.” I hugged her tighter. Her parents were brave, and there was no doubt about it. I looked for Leo, and he was nowhere to be seen. 

“ Isabella, do you know where Leo went?” I asked my friend 

“ He probably went to the field. That is where he had to make difficult choices. It meant a lot to him.” She said, “Please, my friend, don’t bother him. He needs time.” she looked at me, pleading. I gave in, and we went back to our horses and followed everybody. My guess on where we were setting up camp was near the castle. 

Leo Pov  

I was in the field where I lost everything. My family, My title, and my kingdom all in one night gone. I also found the tunnel that I climbed through to escape. It is a lot smaller than I remember. Of course, I was too. A short distance away, I could see the room I escaped from. Why we chose this field was because hills are surrounding this field. What good any of that did. They knew everything about this place, which tells me someone told.

 I had to get my people to safety that night just in case they didn’t keep their word. Which by the looks of this field, I was right to do so. By a short walk around, I saw torches all around the field, which means if we stayed, we would have been trapped.  We would have died by fire or smoke. It looks like the land healed in the last 8 years. Some of it was very much overgrown but still looked like home to me. I am keeping that promise to find a way to get back my people’s land and make the Royal Family of the Golden Rose for what they did!