Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended. All credit goes to Meg Cabot and Disney. If you see something you remember from the books or films, it does not belong to me. You can't sue me, I don't have any money.
Author's note: A collection of small snippets. The next chapter should be up soon, but I'm working on it in between my exams so please expect updates to take a little while.
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Chapter 1: Charlotte
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She didn't want to look, but somehow she couldn't pull herself away. She wasn't really sure what the consequences would be if she got caught spying, but she truly feared them.
In the darkness that shrouded the rear of the aircraft she could just make out Anton, curled up on the bench seat. The older man had started out there as well, but when Anton decided to take a nap he moved to the front, turning off the lights as he went.
The flight attendant had delivered a last round of drinks just after ten and then disappeared, presumably to take a little nap of her own.
It was late. They chose the overnight flight from Genovia to San Francisco to accommodate a meeting with parliament and dinner with prime minister Motaz, she couldn't blame the queen for falling asleep. She didn't notice at first, but it caught her eye when Joe carefully removed her glasses.
She pretended not to notice and carried on with her work, but she watched from the corner of her eye as the head of security starting fishing. That was what her mother always called it: fishing. Fighting to stay awake, but losing the battle against the power of Morpheus.
Suddenly she missed her childhood, lakeside with her parents on lazy Sunday afternoons with her father and grandfather gently snoozing under the pretence of waiting for the fish to bite.
They both looked peaceful, it was something she hadn't seen since before the death of prince Philippe. She started working directly under her majesty shortly after the late king Rupert passed away, she had witnessed the palace in mourning, but his majesty's passing was expected, they had time to prepare for it. Prince Philippe should not have died, nobody had seen it coming.
The accident took place just as life started returning to normal at the palace and in the rest of Genovia. Plans for the coronation were underway, her majesty was months away from stepping down as queen…
In the week preceding the funeral sorrow shrouded the palace like a thick, black fog. Staff members walked around with dark circles under their eyes, no one slept, the palace veterans, those who had been working there since the princes were children, received grief counselling from people who were just as emotional as them.
Joe had informed the queen himself. It was said that her cries could be heard all the way down the hall. Eventually her personal physician had to be called in to sedate her...
She realised that the only other people who were still awake were the pilots, and she studied the sleeping duo a little more openly.
The head of security slept soundly, his head drooping forward, a file forgotten in his lap. She could just make out the even, rhythmic movement of his chest as he breathed deeply. Her majesty rested against his shoulder, arms wrapped around herself and her high heeled shoes still on.
It couldn't possibly be a comfortable position, but they both looked so content, like it didn't matter. They looked like an old married couple.
She'd heard the rumours, of course, whispered conversations, the occasional mention in glossy magazines…
It wasn't until she started working at the palace that she found out the truth, but like every other employee, everyone who got close enough to them to see or hear something, she would never breath a word. Some things were still sacred, even if it was fondly known as 'Genovia's worst kept secret'...
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Everyone who asked me to continue with Resignation: there may be a sequel on the way at some point over the holidays, but I'm not making any promises. I live for reviews, so please let me know what you think, good or bad, I will reply if possible.
If you like this, please take a look at my other stories as well.
