Lizabeth

"Empress?
Empress? "

I had left Calla in her bath a few moments to groom, but as I returned, she was no where to be found.

"Calla?"
"Calle." I had checked the first room, the west wing, the second bathroom and even her wardrobe. She was nowhere to be seen.

I was starting to worry.

My feet hurry to thé balcony. It was where Callaa always went to escape the harsh realities of the palace.

I see her sitting at the edge of the cement railing, looking down to the dismal abyss of darkness below her. Thick tears rested beneath her cheek. She was completely naked, shivering in the cold winds of the night.

"Empress?" I was taken aback; she was sitting so close to the edge.
I walk to meet her, sitting beside her and watching the ground below us. We must have been 1,000ft above the castle grounds.

I must not be brash, but I also knew I must be urgent. She would jump at the gentle temptation of a chilled breeze.
"It would be so easy you know? All your troubles gone in an instant. No more rules not more regulations
No more Leo"

She is still quiet, staring down into the darknrsss. I see her playing with a silver ring in her palm.

"What are you waiting for then?
Do it then Calla. This is not a scene I am privy to. Leo has been married 8 times. What makes you different than them?"

She is quiet but still looks down.

"Every girl has run.
Every girl has escaped and has left the kingdom. The problem still remains.
Leo walks away free and remains alive after they leave. The issue was not them nor was it you.
Your death will only renew an endless cycle of death with no advantages.
Just know, if you do decide to...expire, you allow Leo to win."

"I'm not allowing anything" she cursed. Good! She was speaking,

"You are Calla and not only are you taking one innocent life...you are taking two."
She pushes a hand to her belly, realizing the truth of her reality.

"You say it so calmly. Why don't you go and do it then Lizabeth. Kill him. It was your idea anyway."

I am quiet but nodded. "You don't think I've tried

She looked up to meet my eyes. "I have not been honest."

"Lizabeth... " she instantly regrets her words.

"Maybe I was wrong about you. I thought I saw a flame in you. A spark that couldn't be dimmed. But then I see you here? On the cusp of death?
You are Pathetic.
About to jump to your death because of inconveniences that can be easily fixed"

"Inconveniences I can fix? What can I do?"

"F**k Calla!
You are an empress! You have a power beyond a scope that you don't even try to grasp or explore!
Slit his throat, make a treaty, and be done!
It was so simple. But even that must be to much for you. I suppose you are only book smart Calla."

I hopped off the railing and turned back to the room. I needed to escape the cold. "Well, I guess Donatello and I will carry on without you."

She looked back at me before standing at the ledge.
She was bracing herself to do it.
I knew she wouldn't.

I watched her teeter as the breeze blew her hair wildly. I rolled my eyes before crossing my arms.

"You won't do it"

"How do you know!" She turns her face slights as not to loose her balance.

"Because Donatello is the only soul tie you have on earth. You cannot fathom a world where he is alive and you are not. You are brave Calla but you are jealous and callous.
And after all Donatello has done for you. You cheapen his legacy by taking your life." I scold her. I was purposeful with my choice in words. She couldn't be the one to take her life.
The people of Genovia still needed her.

She turns around and cries before hopping down and collapsing to the floor. I run over and hug her, pulling her into the warmth of my dress as she sobbed.
And she told me everything.

I listened as she told me about her time in Espana. I hummed when she told me of the beautiful vineyards and laughed about some girl name Laura who had two names. I cried about the charred acres and beamed as she showed me the ring Donatello had given her on the night of their union in a small cottage by the sea.

"I am sorry Lizabeth, for not telling you sooner. You are my best friend...my sister.
But I was scared...worried of what you would think of me after having promised Donatello of my allegiance to the cause.
The last thing he said was to slit his throat."

Calla giggled lazily before looking into my eyes. "You sound just like him."

She looked down at her ring and smiled. "When I left Spain, the last thing I told him I would do was slit his throat."

"So why not do it?" I asked.

"Because... I am scared. I thought I could. I was  so bold when I was in the carriage writing everything in my journal but the farther I was from Donatello, the weaker I became"

"You must not let his distance cause your weakness.
Let it strengthen you" I urged.

She nodded, staring into my eyes.
"I will kill him...I must"

Calla

I thanked Lizabeth for her company. I was in a stupor of madness well beyond my control ever since I came back from Spain.

"Empress?" It was the doctor. "Im here to—" he paused once he surveyed the environment. I guess it did look odd. Imagine walking in on the queen of Genovia and her hand maid on the floor of a balcony. I was in a completely bare in unprincipled weather conditions. It was natural he would be taken back by the scene.

"Don't you men ever knock!!" Lizabeth stood and pushed him away, forcing him to turn around into the room. She yelled at him for a few more minutes before running to fetch a blanket to cover my dignity.

She came back and threw it over my shoulders, leading me off the floor and into the warmth of the room. " You still haven't updated me about the doctor" I pried ever so nosily. 

"There are no updates to inform you of Calla" Elizabeth was very quick to answer. She was always so secretive with her love life or lack thereof.
But she could not hide her emotions.
I knew she had feelings for the doctor.

"No updates at all?"

"Nothing at all" she shrugged, walking me over to the crackling fire.

"I see" I hum, staring at the glowing logs.

The doctor tiptoes into the room, cautiously. He did not want another scathing attack from Lizabeth. "Empress there you are! Sorry for barging in on such a...intimate moment"

I stand and turn around to face him. "That is fine"

"We'll I am here to check up on your schedule and make sure the baby is well."

"Of course" I nodded. I watched him as he prepared the bed for me to lay.
He helped me sit, laying my head against the pillows.

"Before we begin." I held my hand up to stop him.

"Yes empress!"

"What is the situation between you and my friend?"

"Pardon?" He blushes.

"As your empress, I am at liberty to know"

"Of course" he nodded, clearing his throat before looking at Lizabeth. "My feelings are strong for her empress"

"Strong? How strong?" I try to contain my excitement. Although I had to mature in the span of a few months, one thing that did not change was my sentiments for love.
How wonderful their story would be!

"I am in love with her empress." The doctor shows off a lovelorn smile. He stared down Lizabeth but she was too haughty to look his way.

"Is that so?"

He nods. "But I am afraid the feelings are not reciprocated."

"Is this true?" I stare at Lizabeth but she frowns and looks away.

"I wish to attempt to whoo her and always ask for a date and she declines. Always says she is busy" he tattles.

"Do you think this date will help your quest to win her heart?" I nosily pry.

"Yes empress"

I look at Lizabeth as she blushed.

"Lizabeth, tomorrow? You are free from your duties. And the next day. Actually you have two weeks off."

"Calla!!" She gasped, enraged I would suggest something so ludicrous.

"Your excuse of business has been solved."
She would snap me in two if she could.

"Thank ...you empress" she smiles between clenched teeth.

"I live to serve!" I pat been cheek and lay down so the doctor could feel my stomach. "I want to plan the date if that is alright with you Doctor?"

"Calla" Lizabeth fumed.

"You can take the ballroom. I'll have the chefs cook the most wonderful meal! There will be candle lights and music! Oh I must hire a band!"

"Calla!" Lizabeth shouts, snapping me from my excited jubilee.

"Oh...I'm doing it again aren't I Lizabeth?"
She nodded, looking at the floor before biting her lip.  That was the downside of being a hopeless romantic. I took things way too far.

"I will be a mere leech on the wall and stay out of it" I vow before laying down so the doctor could start his examination.