Evolution of a Queen

Breakfast Disaster

James’s POV

“Prince James?” I had just finished putting on my shoes when there was a timid knock on my door.

“Yes? Come in,” I call out.

A young lady in a maid’s uniform walked in and curtsied, “Good morning, your majesty. I’m here to guide you to breakfast.”

“Thank you,” I smiled at her and motioned for her to lead the way. I felt like I was at the top of the world right now. I had chosen my future wife, and I was going to tell her whole family today. It was perfect because she would have my protection; no one would be able to harm her anymore.

When I arrived at the breakfast hall, only the Queen and Princess Seriah were there. They both held worried faces and didn’t notice that I had arrived.

“Should I go fetch her mother?” Seriah anxiously looked at the Queen.

“No. Your father said he wanted to see her this morning. You going to fetch her while he is there will only make things worse for her. Stay here and look like nothing’s wrong. Don’t worry Prince James when he arrives.”

“Okay,” Princess Seriah slumped back in her chair.

I quietly walked back out so that they didn’t know that I had heard everything. After waiting for a minute outside, I swung the doors open wider and offered a hello to them. They both startled and turned my way.

“Good morning Prince James. You sure have a lot of energy this morning,” Princess Seriah smiled kindly at me as I sat down next to her.

“And why wouldn’t I?” I grin at them, “I have chosen my wife. That means I can go back home earlier. My parents will be thrilled when I return with her.”

“Isn’t it too early, James?” The Queen anxiously grabbed my hands, “As a mother, I don’t want my children to leave from my side too early.”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty, She will be happy with me.”

“Good morning, mother, Seriah,” We all turned when we heard the quiet voice by the door.

Lilly stood at the door with her head bowed, and her hands clasped in front of her. Suddenly, as if she was pushed, she lurched forward and fell to the ground. Princess Seriah immediately leaped forward to help her stand up.

“You’re so clumsy, Lilly. Don’t tell me you’re wearing heels again,” Seriah laughed as Lilly stood up, but you could tell it was forced, “Let me talk to your maids again, and they will take your heels away.”

“Leave her,” King Patton shoved the door open wider, “It’s her fault if she can’t walk properly. Sit so we can start breakfast. I have important meetings today.”

Princess Seriah quickly ushers Lilly towards her seat and sits down. Lilly hesitantly takes the place by her parents. 

I looked Lilly up and down and noticed that she was pale and hunched over. Her father did something to her, but I still couldn’t figure out what it was.

“Prince James, I heard you talking with my Queen earlier. Who did you choose to be your wife?” King Patton knitted his hands together and rested them on the table.

“After talking to both of them, I chose Princess Lilly to be my wife,” I smirk when I see the dumbfounded look on the King’s face.

“What?” The King stood up in a rage, “Why did you choose this weak, useless girl when you could have someone better?”

“Father please don’t speak of Lilly that way!” Princess Seriah sounded desperate.

“Silence! Prince James give me your reasoning,” King Patton glared at me. If looks could kill, I would be six feet under already.

I stood up and glared back at the King, “I don’t have to give you any reason. You are my vessel state, not the other way around. Princess Lilly will be my wife and my Queen.”

“I forbid it!” The King pulled Lilly up from her chair by grabbing her arm, “You are not to marry the Prince, do you understand me?”

Lilly whimpered and weakly nodded.

“Seriah is to marry him. You are just a useless piece of trash. Go back to your room and wait for me there. We will discuss this later.” The King threw her to the floor and laughed at her attempts to get to the door and stand up at the same time.

“Father I can’t marry the Prince,” Seriah held her head high as she said this.

“You can, and you will. You have no choice in the matter.” King Patton picked up his fork and started eating his breakfast.

“No, I cannot marry him, father. I am already engaged to someone else, someone who I love and who loves me.”

This stilled the King, “I never approved of an engagement you are lying to me. Don’t make me angry, Seriah.”

“I am engaged. He asked for my hand in front of his whole country. I said, yes. Even the church saw it, so in the eyes of God, I am engaged.”

“How dare you go behind my back Seriah. You were the favorite, so why do you betray me?” The King looked hurt.

“Maybe if you treated the twins equally this wouldn’t have happened Charles,” The Queen, who had stayed silent, finally spoke up. She held no emotion on her face so no one could tell what she was thinking.

“Enough!” King Patton banged his hands on the table as he stood up again, “Seriah follow me. We will have this discussion now with your sister. You will see what happens when you go against me.”

“No, father, this needs to stop!” Princess Seriah cried and tried begging the King to stop as he dragged her out of the room.

“I’m sorry, James, but I think it would be best if you returned to your room. I will have your breakfast sent up to you,” The Queen looked at me apologetically and walked out. 

 I sat there for a little bit, trying to comprehend what had just happened. I was shocked that the King was so against me marrying Lilly. After a while, I got worried about Lilly and raced towards her room. When I got there, however, I heard loud banging come from her room and what sounded like Lilly crying out in pain. 

I ran to her door and knocked on the door, “Lilly what’s going on in there?” For a moment there was no sound at all. Then the door opened just enough for the small body of Seriah to slip through. She had tears running down her face and her eyes were grief-stricken.  

“James you have to leave right now,” She gently pushed me away from Lilly’s door, “It’s not safe for you to be here.”

“I can protect myself. Lilly is obviously in trouble,” I wrench my arm out of her grasp and hurry towards the door.

“James!” Seriah sounded desperate, “It’s not safe for Lilly if you enter there right now. You’ll only make things worse for her if you go in there. If you want her to survive then you need to stay out of there!” 

I heave a sigh, “I think it’s high time I find out what’s been going on around here. Tell me what’s been going on.” 

Seriah looks away as if she was debating something, “Ok but we have to go somewhere private where guards and other staff can’t hear us talk.” I nodded and led her back to my room.

“Now talk.” I said as soon as the door closed 

“My dad has been beating Lilly since we were little,” Seriah starts crying even harder, “I messed up today and she gets punished. It wasn’t her fault that I don’t want to be with you.” 

I was stunned into silence. It suddenly all made sense. It now made sense why she always did what her father wanted her to do. She would get punished if she didn’t listen. It made sense why she wouldn’t open up easily, her father didn’t want her to be with me so he would hit her if she didn’t do what he wanted. Now I knew why she always had that dull look in her eyes. Her father broke her and she was giving up on herself and her future. 

“That bastard! Why is he doing this to her?”

Princess Seriah looked down, “I don’t know. It started with him slapping her when she was in trouble and just progressed from there. I don’t know why he hates her so much and I never had. Maybe if I had been stronger I would’ve been able to stop him a long time ago.”

I punched the wall in my anger, “I didn’t come all the way here to come back with a broken wife. I chose her before I even came here. From now on I will protect her. She is my light and I will become her savior!”