Beyond Her Beauty

CHAPTER 47 (Stay √)

Finally the daunting task was nearly over. “Perhaps our country is flawed, but we cannot deny its strength. My fear is that, without change, that strength will become stagnant. And I love our country too much to let that happen. I hope too much to let that happen.”

I swallowed, grateful that at least it was over now. “Thank you everyone for your time,” I said, and turned slightly toward the royal family.

It was bad. Kaden’s face was stony again like he used to before, like the way he’d looked when Liezel was caned. The queen averted her eyes, looking disappointed. The king, however, stared me down. He didn't like me at all. I mean the King — I feel he wants me to leave.

Without so much as a blink, he focused on me. “And how do you suggest we eliminate the castes?” he challenged. “Just suddenly take them all away?”

“Oh … I don’t know.”

“And you don’t think that would cause riots? Allow for rebels to take advantage of people's confusion huh?”

I hadn’t thought this part through. All I could process was how unfair it all was. How unfair the royal and the low land people.

“I think the creation caused a decent amount of confusion, and we managed that. In fact”—I reached into my pile of books—“I have a description here.”

I started looking for the right page in GEORGE’s diary.

“Are we off?” he bellowed.

“Yes, Majesty,” someone called.

I looked up and saw that all the lights that usually indicated that the cameras were on had gone dim. In some gesture I’d missed, the king had shut down the Report. He doesn't want to publicize my speech after all.

The king stood. “Point them to the ground.” Each camera was aimed to the floor.

He stormed over to me and ripped the diary from my hands. Everything was ruined and wasted in just a fast blink. I can see Selena chuckling secretly. Seeing me like this.

“Where did you get this?” he yelled.

“Father, stop!” Kaden jogged up nervously.

“Where did she get this? Answer me!”

Kaden confessed. “From me. We were looking up what NIGHT PARTY was. He wrote about it in the diaries, and I thought she’d like to read more. I handed the book to her and let her read it.”

“You bastard,” the king spat. “I knew I should have made you read these sooner. You’re completely lost. You have no clue of the duty you have! This is a private property for us, only for royals!”

The King said, I FELT that I'm not going to be part of their family then.

.

“She leaves tonight,” King Clarkson ordered. “I’ve had enough of her. She's out of this elite selection. We're done with her.”

Oh, no…...

I tried to shrink down, distance myself from the king as much as I could without being obvious. I tried not to even breathe too loudly since I'm so disappointed. I turned my head toward the girls, for some reason focusing on Selena. I expected to see her still smiling, but she was zipped off. The king had never been like this. And I'm the only person who makes him mad at this point.

“You can’t send her home. That’s my choice, and I say she stays,” Kaden responded calmly.

My heart reacted. A mix of nervous and thrilled.

“Kaden Fliere’s Smith, I am the king of Milléa, and I say—”

“Could you stop being the king for five minutes and just be my father?” Kaden yelled. “This is my choice. You gotta make yours, and I want to make mine. No one else is leaving without my say so!”

But Kaden was mad at me last night. And I make him mad over and over. Yet he still fights for me?

I saw Natalie lean in to Elise. They both looked like they were shaking.

“KARMILLA, take this back to where it belongs,” he said, shoving the book in her hand. She stood there, nodding her head but not moving. “Kaden, I need to see you in my office.”

I watched Kaden; and maybe I only imagined it, but it looked like panic flickered briefly behind his eyes.

“Or,” the king offered, “I could simply talk to her.” He gestured over to me.

“No,” Kaden said quickly, holding up a hand in protest. “That won’t be necessary. Ladies,” he added, turning to us, “why don’t you all head upstairs? We’ll have dinner sent to you tonight.” He paused. “Lils, maybe you should go ahead and collect your things. Just in case.”

The king smiled, an eerie action after his recent explosion. “Excellent idea. After you, son.”

I looked at Kaden, who seemed defeated. I felt ashamed. Kaden opened his mouth to say something, but in the end he shook his head and walked away.

Kriesha was wringing her hands, looking after Kaden. I couldn’t blame her. Something about all of this seemed menacing.

“Smith?” Queen KARMILLA said quietly. “What about the other matter?”

“What?” he asked in irritation.

“The news?” she reminded him.

“Oh, yes.” He walked back toward us. I was close enough that I decided to retreat into my chair, afraid of being out there alone again. King Clarkson’s voice was steady and calm. “Natalie, we didn’t want to tell you before the Report, but we’ve received some bad news.”

“Bad news?” she asked, fiddling with her necklace, already too anxious.

The king came closer. “Yes. I’m very sorry for your loss, but it appears the rebels took your sister this morning.”

“What?” she whispered.

“Her remains were found this afternoon. We’re sorry.” To his credit, there was something close to sympathy in his voice, though it sounded more like training than genuine emotion.

He quickly returned to Kaden, escorting him forcefully out the door as Natalie broke into an ear-shattering scream. The queen rushed over to her, smoothing her hair and trying to calm her down. Selena, never too sisterly, quietly left the room, with an overwhelmed Elise close behind. Kriesha stayed and tried to comfort Natalie, but once it was clear that she couldn’t do much, she left as well. The queen told Natalie there would be guards with her parents for good measure and that she would be able to leave for the funeral if she wanted to, holding on to her the whole time.

Everything had gotten so dark so quickly, I found myself frozen in my seat.

When the hand appeared in front of my face, I was so startled, I shied away.

“I won’t hurt you,” Jayson said. “Just want to help you up.” His lapel pin shimmered, reflecting the light.

I gave him my hand, surprised by how shaky my legs were.

“He must love you very much,” Jayson said once I had my footing.

I couldn’t look at him. “What makes you say that?”

Jayson sighed. “I’ve known Kaden since he was a child. He’s never stood up to his father like that.”

“Until now.” he looked at me once.

Jayson walked away then, talking to the crew about keeping all that they had heard tonight quiet.

I went to Natalie. It wasn’t like I knew everything about her, but I was sure she loved her sister the way I loved May; and I couldn’t imagine the ache she must be feeling.

“Natalie, I’m so sorry,” I whispered. She nodded. That was the most she could manage.