Princess for brother

Chapter 5

George was carefully preparing for the party, like a general preparing for a decisive battle. He knew that this event could be a turning point in his plans for the Kembel family. The palace was bustling with activity: servants scurried to and fro, decorating the halls with flowers and ribbons, cooks conjured fine dishes in the kitchens, and cupbearers uncorked bottles of rare wines.

There was a sense of grandiose anticipation in the air, but also a faint sense of unease. Ashley watched the preparations with detached curiosity. She couldn't tell if it was George's over — affability that was making her uneasy, or Travis's intense gazethat seemed to warn her of danger.

Travis, on the other hand, saw the party as just another step in George's pursuit of his unknown goals. He tried to keep his guard up, carefully watching his "friend" ' s every move. It wasn't just the possible threats to Ashley that worried him, but also the way his sister was slowly succumbing to George's charms.

Meanwhile, George paid special attention to details: he personally chose the menu, supervised the design of the hall, gave instructions to the musicians. There was a fire of excitement in his eyes — he felt that he was getting closer to the goal, and this gave him strength and confidence.

The day of the party arrived unexpectedly quickly. The palace shone like a jewel in the setting sun. The guests began to arrive one by one — high-ranking lords and ladies, influential merchants, and skilled artisans. Each of them came not just for the holiday, but also for the opportunity to strengthen their positions in society, make useful acquaintances or find out the latest gossip.

Among the guests were people Ashley and Travis had known since childhood, and complete strangers. Margaret and Thomas bustled to greet the newcomers, ushering them into the halls and offering them drinks. The atmosphere was filled with whispers of conversation, the clink of glasses, and soft music.

Ashley felt uncomfortable being the center of everyone's attention. She tried to be dignified, smile at her guests, and make small talk, but deep down, she longed to be in the quiet of her room. She was disturbed by the strange looks of some of the guests, their ambiguous hints and overly interested questions.

Travis stood off to the side, occasionally engaging in conversation with the more distinguished guests. He was trying to give the impression of a friendly host, but there was a wary look in his eyes. He trusted no one but Margaret and Thomas, and even their loyalty sometimes seemed inadequate.

George shone in the center of the room. He easily started conversations, joked, told stories, and carefully watched the reactions of others. His gaze kept returning to Ashley, as if checking the effect of his words and actions.

At one point, George approached Ashley and gallantly offered her a glass of champagne."You're absolutely dazzling today, Miss Kembel," he said with a small smile.Ashley smiled politely back, but a strange sense of unease rose up inside her. She knew that George wasn't as simple as he looked, and that his compliments might only be part of a larger plan.

Meanwhile, Travis watched the scene with growing concern. He wanted to go over and get his sister away from George, but he knew that it would cause unnecessary rumors and suspicions.

As the party continued, the atmosphere became increasingly tense. The guests gradually relaxed, allowed themselves more liberties in their speech and behavior. More and more often, Ashley found herself being looked at by people she didn't like, and she felt fear and uncertainty growing inside her.

George was adept at keeping people interested by switching from one guest to another, but he always kept an eye on Ashley. He was waiting for the right moment to take the next step in his plan, and in his heart of hearts, he was sure that this evening would be the beginning of something great.

As the clock struck midnight, the party began to die down. The guests gradually dispersed, exchanging their last words and promises to meet again. Ashley felt drained and tired, as if she'd just been through an ordeal.

Travis saw off the last of the guests and returned to the room that had been so full of fun. He looked at his sister, who was sitting by the window, looking out into the night, and realized that they still had a lot of difficulties ahead of them.

Ashley turned and met her brother's gaze. In her eyes, he saw a shadow of fear and uncertainty that made his heart ache. Travis walked over to his sister and spoke softly.— We can handle this, Ashley. I promise.But deep down, he wasn't sure what he was saying. He knew that George was a dangerous opponent, and the fight ahead was going to be tough.

The palace gradually sank into silence, but the tension in the air could still be felt. The shadows of the past and the threats of the future were intertwined in a complex pattern of Kembel fateКембелов. No one knew what lay ahead for them, but one thing was clear — the quiet life was in the distant past.

Ashley closed her eyes, trying to find the strength to deal with the challenges ahead. She knew there were hard times ahead of her, but her brother was there, and that gave her hope. However, George's shadow still hung over the palace like a harbinger of trouble.

So ended a party that was supposed to be just the beginning of something new, but at the same time brought with it new fears and doubts. The Kembels were at a crossroads, and no one knew where their fate would take them next.

The atmosphere in Kembel Palace was getting hotter by the day. George's party left behind not only pleasant memories of sumptuous treats and refined conversations, but also a bitter aftertaste of disbelief and fear. Ashley found herself increasingly unable to understand George's true intentions, and Travis became increasingly convinced that their family's peace of mind was in real danger.

Ashley spent her days thinking, trying to sort out her feelings. On the one hand, she felt a strange attraction to George, and his attention flattered her and excited her imagination. On the other hand, the wariness in Travis's eyes and her own vague misgivings were bothering her. "Maybe I'm just being too sensitive? Or does my brother really see things that I don't? She wondered as she strolled through the shady alleys of the palace garden.

Meanwhile, Travis kept trying to figure out what was really behind George's courtesy. He watched his behavior closely, trying to find any clues that would confirm his suspicions. Travis knew that Ashley wasn't ready to listen to his warnings just yet, and that made him feel powerless and annoyed.

The tension between the siblings grew with each passing day. Their conversations were increasingly turning into arguments, and their glances into silent reproaches. Ashley felt that Travis was too protective of her, leaving no room for personal choice and independence. Travis, on the other hand, thought that his sister was too flippant to realize the full extent of the danger that George posed.

One evening, as the sun was sinking toward the horizon, turning the sky a deep purple, Travis broke down and told Ashley his concerns directly."Don't you see that George is dangerous?" His attention to you is only part of a larger plan, the purpose of which I don't yet know. But I feel like he's not who he says he is.

Ashley looked at her brother with a puzzled and slightly offended expression.— Why do you always try to protect me like I'm a helpless doll?" I can make my own decisions and take responsibility for them.

Travis clenched his fists, trying to control his anger."Because you're all I have left!" I can't lose you like I lost my parents.

Her brother's words pierced Ashley's heart. She realized how deep his feelings were and how much he feared for her. But at the same time, she couldn't give up her desire to sort out her own feelings and make a decision on her own.

"I understand your concern," she said softly, " but let me see for myself what's going on. I have to learn to live without my parents, and that includes making decisions without your interference.

Travis looked at his sister, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He knew he couldn't convince her right now, but he was determined not to give up trying to protect Ashley from a possible threat.

George watched the conflict unfold between his brother and sister closely. He could see their relationship becoming increasingly strained, and he knew that this could play into his hands. A new plan was already forming in his mind, one that could use the differences in the Kembel family to his advantage.

As the days passed, the atmosphere in the palace became increasingly heavy. Ashley and Travis talked less and less, lost in their own thoughts and emotions. George continued his search, moving cautiously toward Ashley, watching her every move carefully.

One evening, when the palace was dark and the candlelight was reflected in the windows, George approached Ashley, who was sitting alone in the garden. His voice was soft and persuasive."Ashley, I can see how much you're suffering from the conflict with your brother. Maybe I can help you figure out what's going on.

Ashley looked up at George. In his gaze, she saw something that made her heart beat faster-interest mixed with something dark and mysterious. She knew she had to be careful, but at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder where this conversation was going.

— What do you mean?" — What is it? " she asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

George leaned a little closer, and his whisper was almost intimate."I can see that Travis doesn't trust me, but I really want to help your family. Perhaps if you will be honest with me, we can find a way out of this impasse.

Ashley felt fear and curiosity warring inside her. She knew she was standing on the edge of a precipice, but she couldn't bring herself to back down.

Meanwhile, Travis, who had been watching the conversation unnoticed from the shadows of the trees, clenched his fists in frustration. He knew that George was getting closer, but Ashley didn't seem to notice the danger looming over her.

I have to protect her, no matter what it takes, Travis thought, looking at his sister and George. There was determination in his eyes, but in the back of his mind, he already had a premonition that there were new challenges and dangers ahead of them.

So the conflict between Travis and Ashley grew, and George waited patiently for his chance, like a predator preparing for a decisive leap. Kembel Palace, once a symbol of family warmth and comfort, now seemed like a battleground for power, love, and survival. No one knew how this game would end, but one thing was clear — a quiet life remained in the distant past, and ahead of the Kembelovs are waiting for difficult tests.