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C H A P T E R   E I G H T E E N

"Be stubborn and persist, and trust yourself on what you love. You have to trust what you love."

- Carolee Schneemann

Henri was the first to speak.

"Your Majesty!" His eyes grew darker. "You were supposed to read from the placards! There was nothing on it about inviting the Ambers, I had written them all!"

Henri turned to Lady Emmeline in exasperation.

"Is there any way to take another interview, or at least, remove a few lines?"

"We don't cheat our people." Lady Emmeline shook her head. "It's too late for another interview, this had to be done before the coronation ball, and the shorthands have already given their notes to the press to print as we speak." I looked around and realised that in fact all the notes were being printed by the press, right here in the sitting room. Copies and copies of what the shorthands wrote were being printed for the press to publish in their articles.

I didn't maintain eye contact. "I was doing what I had to. Surely you've heard about the protests that were being yelled the first time I visited! They hated me so much, this will help!"

"No it will not!" This was the very first time I ever heard Henri yell. "Do you realise what you just did? You printed an entire invitation to an Amber village! Imagine what everyone would think of you now? You just became Queen for goodness sake!"

"I don't care what anyone thinks of me, especially the Ivories." I shot back. The guards began to usher the crew and press out, along with Lady Emmeline.

"Believe it or not, you are Ivory now!" He took a step closer, venom in his voice. "You're supposed to follow the council's instruction, instructions that have been thought upon, not blatantly take a stupid risk just to get your image fixed. It's what we're all here for!"

"You don't understand!" I screamed. The Ambers were why I chose the throne. Why I chose to give up my life and everything I had. It was all for them. "I was an Amber once, Henri! I know their pain. I want to help them! Just like how you would help a motherless child! You know the suffering firsthand, you'd want to do something, anything, to help who you can!"

"Take Her Majesty to her chamber at once." His expression was stoic now, but his eyes were dangerously stil. "She needs to rest and fix what she has done."

"I don't need rest!" I crossed my arms. "I do not regret any of this, I am not going to even decline their invitation. If the Ivories think less of me, let them be! I am their ruler, I am their Queen! I'm supposed to be saving them, not dividing them!"

"ENOUGH!" Henri roared. His emotions finally being let through his mask. "If I hear you using your title as a threat once again, I shall ask Patrik to cancel any sort of Amber celebrations or privileges, you understand?"

Once upon a time, I thought Patrick was a good man until he fired Olive for debts. Once upon a time, I thought Henri was a good man too, until he showed where his true intentions lie. It was never with me. It was for his Kin.

●・○・●・○・●

Once I reached the safety of my chamber, I bolted the door and drowned myself in sorrows. The tears kept running down, like a tap with no faucet. Funnily enough, I didn't know why I was crying. My head was a tornado of emotions, from not being able to save the Ambers of EastFox Village, the rebel attack and Don's plight to the mystery behind Eddelynne Cassida.

I was drowning, and there was no one to pull me up.

I needed to breathe, but the air was being sucked away.

"Willow!" Pierre's muffled voice banged on the door. "Willow, please! Open the door!"

I rubbed my eyes and wiped the tears away as I got up to unbolt the door. Pierre stood there, panting. "Willow!" He rushed in closing the door again. "I heard screaming! Was there another rebel attack? Did they kidnap anybody? Where's the box!"

I couldn't take it anymore and let out a silly set of giggles. "There's no rebel attack." I sniffed, smiling slightly. I rubbed my tears on my sleeve. "The box is fine."

"And you?"

"Huh?"

"You? Are you fine?"

I shook my head, sniffling. "Not really." I croaked. "I have a lot going on"

Pierre stood there silently, "What do you mean?"

I sniffed again. "The past few days were rough, Pierre. The happiest day of my life was the worst. People died while I was being rejoiced, then the Ambers of EastFox village started protesting and there was nothing I could do about so I ran away, and then Don's interview just reminded me of how much I have to cope with now. The judgements, the scrutiny. He was sent to work on the coast, I could have done something about it, but I didn't. I didn't and I don't know why!"

The emotions were overwhelming, it felt like I was being strangled. All I could see and feel was numbness.

"Now there's my coronation ball tomorrow." I continued. "And seeing me people so distressed while I am celebrating makes me feel guilty, I was made Queen for them, yet I can't do anything for them! No one will let me!"

Pierre continued standing there, listening until I ended my rant.

It felt nice to be heard. I was suppressed by the rules set by the Ivories my entire childhood, no-one cared about me or the problems I had been going through. I couldn't speak, and even if I did, no one would be there to listen. Right now, I felt some solace being in Pierres listening presence.

"I had an interview just a while ago." I admitted, sitting down on my bed. Pierre sat down beside me. "I invited the Ambers."

I was waiting for a reaction, but there wasn't any. I looked up to Pierre to find that he was still waiting for me to go on, so I did. "Henri didn't like it, he said that I was just supposed to follow the council's demands and not risk it like I did. He was more worried about my image than anything else."

I crossed my arms, my knees kept brushing against Pierre's. "Growing up, I always knew how Ivories were. Ruthless, merciless, controlling. When I was preparing to be queen, I thought it all changed, that really it was just the circumstances forcing them to be this way. At least I wished that it was. But it wasn't. First Patrik introduced me to his second face, and now, so did Henri."

I didn't have anything else to say. Pierre slowly picked up his finger and placed it under my chin, dragging my face up to look at his. Then he began. "You know, when I found out Papa was going to choose Lucas to be his heir. I was heartbroken. My entire childhood, I had spent trying to make him proud, while Lucas did nothing. I worked hard to get a scholarship to the best private schools, I always helped Papa whenever he was strategizing war plans or making new laws. I was there."

His finger pulled away from my chin. "But Papa always favoured the law over his family. By law Lucas was his heir, and so papa made it that way. It felt like all I did to please him was just waste. Slowly, my bond with my father had been strained to the limit that I couldn't even bear to look at him. He chose my brother over me. He chose the law over the right choice. Lucas would never be able to rule an Entire kingdom by himself. Not without me, and he knows that too."

He chuckled lightly. "That's the thing about twins, you can't do anything without the other." His eyes held heavy nostalgia.

"By that time, I gave up. I started sneaking into Amber villages and towns, Pretending to be one of them. I started making new friends and it felt like my problems were being washed away. The Ambers were like a community, they always had each other, like how Lucas and I once did. I get why you did what you did, if I was in your place, I'd do the same. The Ambers I remember gave me what my family could not. They accepted me when my own father could not. But when Lucas was announced to be Heir, they noticed the similarities and deduced I was his brother."

I frowned. "Did they stop accepting you after that?"

"Yes." He sighed, frowning himself. "But it was because of fear, not judgement. What I'm trying to say is, the council may dictate everything for you, but at the end of the day, you're Queen not them. You should fight for what you believe in, don't give up. Don't be like me. "

I didn't know whether he was talking about abandoning his childhood Amber friends or giving up the crown for his twin.

The tears gradually stopped and so did the sobs. "It isn't allowed." I muttered bitterly. "I'm Queen, I'm supposed to be leading my people, setting an example, I can't just be so reckless! I might get overthrown! Henri was right." My rambles didn't stop. "I just... I just thought I could fix this on my own. I want to help them, Pierre, I don't want them to hate me. I want to solve their problems, not add on to them! I was so stupid! I shouldn't have risked myself like that."

"Ah." Pierre finally smiled. "But there are risks that are best left dead and there are risks worth taking."

I let the words sink in. This was a risk I have to take, just like the risk I'm taking with Eddelynne and the Rebels. Soon I felt the breath of hope fill my lungs, and I was finally able to breathe again. "How is it that you're always so wise?" I teased, bumping his shoulder with mine.

"Probably because you bring out the wise in me." he winked back, while I laughed. My heart was beating much faster, but it wasn't the number of beats that bothered me, it was the direction it was beating to.

"Willow!" There was another bang on the door. "Willow, it's me, Lucas!"

I looked at Pierre before getting up to unlock the door, I swore I almost heard him mutter, "He's always had such bad timings."

When I swung the door halfway, Lucas walked in hastily. "Maman was asking for you, before she heard the yelling! What's going on- Why is he here?" When Lucas caught Pierre's gaze, his voice hardened. "What are both of you doing in a bolted chamber, alone?"

"No! No! No!" I rambled. "It's not- He was just- The yelling-" I waved my hands frantically, trying to explain that what he assumed was not what it really was.

"I was just consoling her." Pierre said bluntly, his voice just as hard as Lucas' "She was upset."

I stood back and watched the two brothers eye each other with such hatred. When Pierre recounted his story, he made it sound like he and Lucas were close in the beginning. It couldn't be the fact that Lucas was heir to the throne that made Pierre despise him. It isn't enough to drive such a big wedge between them. There was something more.

"My mother is calling you." The statement was directed to me. "It would be rude to keep her waiting this long."

I was unsure if I could leave the twins alone in my chamber, but I had to check on the coronation ball arrangements. "Alright." I murmured. Shutting the door slowly on my way out.

●・○・●・○・●

"Your Majesty! We heard screaming? Is everything alright?" It was Queen Lynne who first jumped up to greet me.

"Oh it's nothing, just a misunderstanding." I lied, a skill I've now come to master. "You had called?"

"Well, of course." Queen Gisella grandly rose from her seat on the sofa. "We've selected the music, the food, the decorations and now all we need to do are the invitations. How many are you planning to invite? Hundred? Two hundred?"

"Three hundred maybe?" I said, unsure. How many people lived in EatFox village? "About those many."

"Hm." Queen Gisela stared at me. "Have you got any names? Provinces?"

"Henri has the list." I muttered reluctantly. "But if you could spare a hundred and fifty, I want to deliver them by hand."

"Why?" she almost looked outraged by this. "Why must their queen come to deliver their invitations? Have they forced you? Do they not know you have better things to do in the interests of the kingdom?"

"Of course not." I assured her. "I just want to show them that I actually do care about my people, maybe then the rebel attack may stop."

Queen Lynne beamed, while Queen Gisela just scowled. "There is nothing sharper than a sword but one's mind. Remember that."

I nodded my head solemnly, I treasured every single advice the queens have given me. They talk from experience, and I do know that somewhere along the course of my journey, I'll be needing it. Queen or not.

"Also." Queen Gisela began. "Would you like another gemstone necklace? That aquamarine is getting a bit old, don't you think?"

I looked down at the pendant and caressed it in my palms. "No, it's quite alright." I replied. "Aquamarines are my favourite."

"They are mine too." Queen Hannah popped in. "that and sapphires, blue is my favourite colour."

I looked at the Ivorial Royals sitting in my drawing room, it was easy to tell they were royals, they wore luxury and richness like a drape over their shoulders. In the same way, it was also easy to tell Ivories over Ambers. They carried themselves with an aura of grace, perfection and power. Something that no Amber could muster even if they tried.

I smiled warmly. "Is that all?"

"No." Queen Rosalie got up from her seat just as Queen Gisela went back to hers, picking up a magazine on her way. "I have just asked my seamstress to stitch three versions of the dress you can wear tomorrow, you have to look your best at all the times of the day! One for breakfast, when you're receiving your gifts, one for noon when you're delivering the letters and one for the evening ball."

"My chambermaid, June, did mention about the dress arrangements."

"Tell me what you think when you see it." Queen Rosalie requested. "I would love to know your thoughts, from one seamstress to another."

My grin almost fell. I knew nothing about professional sewing, it was all my mothers handiwork that I sold. "Of course." I gave a low curtsy and left the drawing room.

"Oh!" I turned around one last time. "Could you please thank Queen Aisha for me? For sending more security for the ball tomorrow."

"We will." Queen Hannah nodded, sitting down and conversing with Queen Lynne.

●・○・●・○・●

I was on my way upstairs, when I noticed Kaylee running up to me. "A letter for you." She pulled out an envelope. "From Sir Patrik."

I knew what this was about. I was thankful for not bumping into Henri, but at least facing the consequences indirectly was better than direct.

Hesitantly, I tore open the letter.

Your Majesty,

You are hereby suspended from taking any action on any matters until after tomorrow's coronation ball. Henri will update you on what needs to be done to fix this oversight that you have created.

Take care.

Patrick Lowe.

Head of Mithalore Royal Council.

I crumbled the letter, just like I had done with his previous one. I was suspended. In hindsight, I had seen this coming. I kept the tears at bay and continued walking on. I was doing the right thing, but then why did it feel so wrong?

I was being punished for my cause. I was being punished for simply trying to dissolve a barrier that can't be dissolved.

●・○・●・○・●

Immediately I ran up, but not to my chamber, to Ginger's. I kept the thought of the letter at the back of my mind, it was a problem I could think about later.

On the third knock she opened her door. "I'm really sorry, but can you-" I stopped halfway when I saw something fluttering in a cage in Ginger's room.

It was the dreadful Owl, again.

"'What are you doing with it!" I screeched, taking a few steps back. "That beast is deadly! Officer Richett said that if he caught it around here he would kill it!"

"Shh!" Ginger clasped her hand over my mouth and pulled me into her chamber. It wasn't as spacious as mine, but was still as grand as any other guest chamber. "It's wounded. I found him near your windowsill before we retreated for ball dancing, he was banging at your window like a mad thing."

I kept the distance between the cage and me to the maximum. "Why does it keep following me?" I whined. I had nothing against Owls, up until now. The fact that it was snuggling with me in my bed still sent shivers down my spine. "First in my bed, then in my carriage, now at my windowsill!"

"It is quite mysterious." Ginger murmured. "It seems to be following you, but won't let anyone else near him, look." she went closer to his cage before it began squawking and hooting very dramatically. "It was a struggle getting him in that cage you know!"

"How do you know it's a him?"

"Male owls have white throats, but females have brown ones." she stated. "Leon and I used to see many on our trips down to the southern regions."

Male or female, I don't trust owls.

But I would be lying if I said I didn't feel bad for it. You could see blood stained on its left wing. So visible on his feathery white body. "How did it get that cut?"

"It got caught under the window sill and it couldn't fly out. Someone must have closed your window without noticing the owl outside.

I hoped and prayed it wasn't my careless actions that brought this owl to its ill fate.

"I came to ask if you could call Walter and Lanying, I wanted to discuss the clue."

Ginger nodded. "What about the twins?"

"They're in my chamber." I sighed. "I left them there."

"Alone?" she asked, nervously biting her lip. Her rosy cheeks were starting to lose colour.

"Was it a mistake?" I asked, flinching. Of course it was a mistake. Those two can't even stand each other, much less breathe in the same room alone.

I was making too many mistakes today, first the announcement and then the twins.

"You know what." I started to panic. "You get Walter and Lanying, and I'll check on the twins. We'll meet up in my chamber. As for the owl, I'll try and come back later to take it to my room."

●・○・●・○・●

"What is going on?" The sight I was greeted with wasn't a pleasant one. Pierre and Lucas were on opposite sides of the room, each of their faces were scathed in bruises and blood. Their knuckles look almost fully purple with cuts and wounds. "Oh god, I hope you didn't get any blood on the sheets!" I ran up to Pierre, who was sitting on my bed breathing heavily and pushed him out.

"I let you for twenty minutes! Just twenty!" I crossed my arms. "What even went wrong?"

"We were just settling matters." Pierre replied curtly, while Lucas elaborated.

"I thought he changed." Lucas pointed at Pierre. "But he refuses to grow up. I made one mistake and now he's all over me! It wasn't even my fault to begin with"

"It wasn't just any mistake, you fool!" Pierre growled. "It cost me, Lucas! I don't care if it wasn't your fault! It isn't fair! Everyone keeps choosing you, it's always 'I pick Lucas.' or 'I want Lucas' Rarely does anyone bother about me, and when one finally does, you take her away too!"

"You don't even know the entire story, Pierre. She was hurt! She was in pain, and it was because of you!" Lucas spat. "I didn't take her away! You pushed her out!"

"I loved her!" Pierre roared. "I loved her, Lucas, and of course you just had to come and ruin everything! I still love her! I wanted to marry her, I wanted to be with her, but you've made it impossible!"

Love? Pierre had a lover? I took a few steps back. I was feeling dizzy, not just any dizzy. The same dizziness from the library.

Pierre and Lucas kept fighting, but all I could think about were the moments I shared with Pierre. From when we first talked during breakfast to our official conversation under the rain. When he apologised on my coronation day for ignoring me, the way his warmth filled me when we were dancing and how he comforted me not just half an hour ago.

All this while, he had a lover. He was courting.

Their yelling only intensified, their shouts began to echo in my ears. I heard the vague sounds of struggle and things being toppled over. I couldn't see, couldn't breathe. It felt like I was drowning. This time for sure.

I covered my ears with my hands. Their fighting was getting louder by the second. My eyes were watering but I couldn't feel the tears. I was numb.

Imagine what everyone would think of you now? Henri's voice began to echo. If I hear you using your title as a threat once again, I shall ask Patrik to cancel any sort of Amber celebrations or privileges, you understand?

Save us Willow, you're our only hope. Olive's last words echoed louder.

But what echoed the loudest were the protests of EastFox village.

"Your Majesty, reduce the price of bread, my children are starving!"

"Your Majesty! My husband is training as a soldier, we can barely afford dinners!"

"Your Majesty, my son was taken away for no fault of his!"

I don't remember falling to the ground. I don't remember screaming.

You are hereby suspended from taking any action on any matters until after tomorrow's coronation ball. The words etched on Patriks last letters seemed to be screeching in my ears.

Don's become a labourer because of me. Mother and Father had to relocate their lives for me. My friends and Bree are risking their lives to help me find out more about my mother. So many favours to repay. So much pressure on my shoulders.

You took an oath as Queen to serve your kingdom, and you shall not break that oath.

I was threatened. I was deprived, I was withering away. I felt my mask slipping off, I felt my leaves falling. I broke the promise I kept to myself.

I felt the shadow of two pairs of hands on my shoulder, I felt the vibrations of my name being yelled over and over again. I felt my body limping, my head spinning.

"Pierre et Lucas! Tu lui fais peur! You're scaring her!" Ginger's frantic shriek was all it took to lose any control I had.

●・○・●・○・●

"Shh! She's waking up!" Lanyings imitations of a whisper came out to be louder than expected. The rustling of sheets and the creaking of my bed made me open my eyes a bit wider.

"Huh?" I rubbed my eyes. Everything was dark. When my vision cleared, I was shocked to the core. My chamber was destroyed.

The cupboards had fallen over, all my dresses and gowns were spread out like a tablecloth. The books on my shelf were torn apart withs escaped paper scattered across the floor board. The lamps and windows were shattered and the only thing that was salvaged was the bed.

"What happened?" My voice was sore. "Why is everything so untidy?" I looked up at the twins, their cuts and bruises were now plastered with badges, medicine and tissues. I didn't look at Pierre directly, or at least not as long as I looked at Lucas.

His betrayal pierced further than the pain.

"Willow." Ginger walked in with a wet towel and some hot tea. "Here." She placed the towel on my forehead and placed the tea in my hands.

"What happened?"I repeated again. My throat is constricted because of the soreness.

"How do you feel?" she asked instead. "Any headaches? Body ache?" The room was unnaturally silent. Walter and Lanying were at the side. Lanying looked frozen with shock while Walter put a supporting arm on her shoulder.

"Just a sore throat." I managed to croak out, sipping on my tea. "But my head is sort of dizzy."

"Your Majesty!" Henri walked in with a medic. I assumed he was from the infirmary with the badge and white coat he was wearing. "Doctor Benedict is just going to check up on you."

My hatred for Henri appeared to have vanished. I was too tired and drained to keep being mad at him. After all, all his good qualities over-weighed his bad ones. Even if he had yelled at me. What I did was wrong, just not for me.

Doctor Benedict placed his hand on my neck, and then on my forehead to check my temperature. "No fever." He murmured. He then took my hands and unclasped them, there were deep stretch marks on all sides. "No worries here, Henri. It was just a panic attack, common side effects when you just received your powers."

"My powers?" I was about to continue when I stopped. I surveyed the room again. Books laid torn apart, clothes everywhere, lamps and windows cracked. "I did this?" I asked bewildered.

Their silence was my confirmation.

"It's easy to lose control when you're overwhelmed." Doctor Benedict explained. "I'd advise you to take some rest before your party tomorrow, no stress, no pressure."

Henri replied for me. "Would it be alright if she could drive about the village for fresh air?" He was asking if I could visit my parents. No doubt to fix what I had caused more than any good for me.

"I'd say rather not, but Willow is old enough to make her own choices if she has to."

I sighed. I may be old enough to make choices, but so far, I've only made the worst ones.

Doctor Benedict bowed and left the room, while Henri followed him to shut the door after. "If I could have a moment with her Majesty." He implored, as everyone began to leave the room.

"I'm sorry." I heard Pierre and Lucas murmur as they passed, but I couldn't look them in the eyes. Not after what I just heard.

And the worst part was, I didn't know why.

I didn't know why I felt so betrayed, I didn't know why I felt anything at all.

●・○・●・○・●

"I duly apologise, Your Majesty. My actions were improper." Henri spoke. "Today... hasnt been the best of days. First with the mishap with Don and then another rebel attack-"

"Another?" I immediately pushed off my blanket. "There was another rebel attack?"

"Well, not exactly. It was an attempt. One of our guards had spotted them amongst the villagers towards the east side of the castle, and just then a few gunshots were heard inside the castle, but there were no injuries or deaths. In fact, no one could even pinpoint where they heard the shots being fired from."

"Do you think there will be one tomorrow?" I bit my lip, the colour draining from my face, like the wax of a burning candle. Slowly but heavily.. "Like how it was on my coronation day?"

"Of course not!" Henri assured as he draped the blanket on top of me again. "I can confirm that the necessary security arrangements have been made."

"Using the Amber soldiers." I stated bluntly.

Hneri had no reply to this, and so continued with his apology. "I know the pressure of being Queen is immense, and not to mention the threats from the Rebels. I blew my top off, I directed my anger at you, but if you must know, I was never mad at you. It was the grief." He sighed as he took a seat at the edge of the bed, overstepping some books and broken shards of a vase.

"Grief?"

"Today is my mothers fiftieth death anniversary," he revealed. "All the other years I could manage,but this year, everything seemed to be going wrong. I suppose I was just as pressured as you are right now."

I frowned. "Henri! If you had only told me I wouldn't have done such a silly thing! God, I am so insensitive! I should have given you the day off- or have-"

"Don't be ridiculous." He chuckled. "I just wanted to ask you not to take this to heart, it was not your fault, it was mine. I got triggered and lost my composure. I can assure you it is just a one time thing, and I hope it won't affect the relationship we've built so far."

I felt bad for being angry with him at all, he was simply trying to cope with the grief while I triggered him to react. None of this was his fault, it was mine. Yet he was the one apologising.

My mouth hurt when it stretched as I smiled. "Where would I ever be without my butler?" I reached out and wrapped my arms around his old figure. "I am sorry for what I did during the interview, but I do not regret it."

"I know." Henri almost sounded comical. "When do you ever give up?"

"I'm as stubborn as an ox, at least it's what my mother used to always say."

"Well then, all the more reason I should meet her then." Henri got up from his seat. "Now that everything has been cleared up, I have a small gift for you. An apology gift."

"What gift?" I asked eagerly. My legs began to shake slightly. Gifts were my weakness, I rarely got any growing up, unless it was something mother or father had found lying around unused by anyone.

"I think the true question would be ''Who'" The door creaked open and two heads popped out from behind it. A familiar blonde and another head with a pair of foxy green eyes.

"Bree! Conroy!" I pushed the blanket off and jumped up to embrace them, but before I could take a step towards them, Henri pushed me back down on the bed.

"You have to rest!" He reprimanded. "Whatever you will be doing, it will be in the confinement of your chamber!"

Bree and Conroy instead ran to me. "Oh, Willy!" Bree pressed my face into her shoulder as she hugged me. "'We missed you!" I didn't miss the way her hands were shaking as she hugged me, or the way her body turned frigid when I embraced her back.

"I missed you too!" I returned, but my voice was muffled between the gaps of Bree's dress.

"Who knew three days could make a person miss one so much?" Conroy appeared forward, wrapping me in a rough hug. "But then again, I do have that effect on most people, or rather, ladies." his dimple grin, one that I had longed to see, appeared on his face as he winked at me.

I, of course, was used to his childish antics. "No Conroy." I folded my arms. "You can absolutely not meddle around with the maids here."

"Worth a try." He surprisingly didn't plead further, taking a quick glance at Bree, who was scowling so hard you could almost feel pitiful to the person it was directed to.

Henri gave a final bow before leaving the room. "The twins are suspended from the coronation ball until further notice, or until you decide to invite them back in."

"I will see about it." I replied.

"So what has the Queen been up to these last three days?" Conroy sat on the bottom edge of the bed, while Bree attempted to sit on a broken sofa. Oddly, they hadn't said a word about the mess.

"Just been doing my Queenly duties." I eyed both of them suspiciously. Conroy looked like his energetic-self while Bree has a grim aura around her. "How did the both of you get here?"

"Well..." Conroy seemed to be having an internal debate. "Henri sent us a letter after your... episode. He asked that we come and visit you until after the ball ends."

"Oh." But if he got Henri's letter, it would mean he read the first print of my interview as well. The first prints were always sent to the council first and then to the people "Did anyone, by any chance, read the recent interview about the coronation ball invites?"

At this Conroy turned pale. "Everyone did, actually. And, let me tell you, no one is pleased. Patrik was moping around, yelling at everyone. Neither Katricia nor Padgette spoke a word after the interview, and almost all the maids and servants were sent home early."

Now, it was my face's turn to pale. "Sent home early! What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is..." He exaggerated some hand movements. "...that they were sent home early."

"That really clears everything up." I snapped, I felt a surge of pain on the back of my head.

"It just means that Patrik felt like they had some influence on your decisions, I'm pretty sure that now you're Ivory, he thought your support lied with them now, and not for the Ambers."

"How can he think that?" I yelled, astounded. "They raised me, I would be a Fool if I never paid my respect to them! They took me in unknowing that I was even an Ivory. I should be hated by them, but now I'm being rejoiced, what kind of lunacy is this?"

Conroy raised his hands in mock surrender. "Don't ask me! All I'm saying is, Patrik was upset at how you completely took your own decision without consulting anybody about it. Now that you're queen, you need to think twice before doing anything. You have power and control in your hands, anything could go wrong and you'd lose it all."

I bit my lip, sinking into my guilt. I was trying to help the kin who I grew up with, yet I let down the kin I belong to. My loyalties now lie with the Ivories, but it didn't mean I was going to let down the Ambers.

Bree still hadn't spoken, in fact she seemed engrossed in her own world. But something about it didn't feel right.

"Conroy?" I called. "Do you think I could talk to Bree?"

"Not even ten minutes since I've arrived and you already want to exclude me." He pouted, folding his arms. "You can talk to her, go on."

"In private." I added, pleading with my eyes. Conroy seemed to catch on to why I was asking and left the room.

"She's been like this since yesterday." He muttered as he left, something that I was meant to hear.

When the door shut, I pounced right away.

"What is it?" I cut straight to the point, before Bree could even ask. "What's bothering you?"

"It's..." She looked both ways, afraid of even saying what she had to out loud. "It's Ryke's new theory."

"Theory?" I asked, motioning Bree to come closer. My head was still throbbing, and she didn't waste any time explaining.

"He lied to everyone, Willow." Bree bit her lip, her uplifting demeanour now turned serious. "He wasn't unconscious, it was an act, he overheard everything the rebels were talking about."

"Well?" I prompted. "Tell me! We have deductions as well!"

"We?"

"I may or may not have told the other young Royals here about Eddelynne..." Oddly, I thought she'd be elated to know that we have aid.

"What?" Bree jumped up in shock. "No! No! No! This makes everything even worse! What happened to less people knowing the better?"

"I- Well... I couldn't do it on my own." I defended myself. "They really were a great help, Bree. We found so many things, we even decoded the message you found on the box!"

The colour seemed to be draining off Bree's face at the speed of light. "Oh God, Willow."

"What?" I was starting to feel fearful. "Why is this bad?"

She paced around the room, jumping over debris and glass shards. Her hands were on her pale face, while she muttered incoherent words. Finally she stopped moving and turned to face me, her eyes ladened with fear.

"It's not the box the rebels are after." Bree whispered. "It's you."

What's your favorite season?

Mine is Winter.