So we meet again... LOL… So I've had a good week, True Blood had a very good episode and my favourite dancers did not go home on SYTYCD… lol... I hope everyone is doing well... It's update time, so please enjoy and thank you for reading, reviewing, putting myself and my story on alert or as your favourite. Thank you
Chapter 8
BPOV
I stared at him, as his words swirled around in my head. He had to be delusional, could he not see the complications of his actions.
"Isabella, please say something?" His plead broke whatever trance I was in, but it only fuelled my fire.
"You have no right to even think of asking me that question. I am the daughter of a former slave, I never lived this life. I was not raised a princess, therefore I cannot fill that role. Why don't you look closely at my complexion, and realise the moment you tell them who I am, there will be anarchy. Which royal member would want a woman and a black woman at that, to sit on the throne?" I was beyond upset at this point.
"But you are part of me." His weak answer only caused me to fold my fists in frustration.
"And no one would care; we all see what's on the outside. And on the outside, my complexion is not like yours or theirs." His eyes roamed my body and I hoped he opened them and see what others would.
"Do you love my mother?" My question caught him off guard and he held my stare.
"Yes, more than words can express." I expected this answer, and I nodded my head.
"Well imagine what they would do to her, when the truth about everything comes out." His pale face paled even more. I realised he was living a fools world, I understood what he wanted but in the world that I live, I could never see that happening.
"Your offer would be a dream come true, if I had been raised here with you. But I cannot be something I am not. I can't be the daughter you always wanted, I can't be the princess you thought I would be. You have to accept that this is who I am."
His face dropped and I felt awful but I would not let his delusions play on my heart. I stood to leave; I had said all I could.
"It was a pleasure meeting you; I know if things had been different, I would have loved you like I was supposed to." With a deep curtsy, I turned and walked towards the door. The silence was deafening, but I was glad that he was letting me go.
"Isabella, please wait." I turned in time to see him bolt up from his seat and race over to me. As he got closer he wrapped his arms around me, squeezing as if this was indeed our final goodbye. I could not resist and wrapped my arms around his waist, giving him the biggest hug I could manage.
"Isabella…" He hesitated for a moment. "Can I ask you another question?" His hopeful eyes had me doubtful, but I nodded my head in the end.
"Would you allow me the honour of getting to know you? Not as my heir or my daughter, but maybe as my friend?" The request was simple and I did not see the harm in it.
"My king, I will think about this and I will send word of my answer soon." It was all I could or would give at the moment.
"Please, call me Charles." I agreed to it because it felt odd to address him as my king all of the time.
He nodded and opened the door. All eyes fell on us as Rose stood and rushed over to me.
"Are you alright?" I laughed at her silliness. "Yes Rosie, I am well." I was about to excuse the three of us, when there was a knock on the door and in walked Bree. She bowed and allowed us to know that breakfast was being served.
Charles turned to look at me, and then addressed her. "Bree, Isabella and company will not be joining us unfortunately. Please let the cook know, it will only be Renee and I." She nodded and turned to leave the room. But I called out to her.
"Wait…" I had dragged Rose and Emmett into this; the least I could do was treat them to a good meal. "I have changed my mind; we will stay for the morning meal." His smiled was small but he nodded as Bree ran off.
Emmett leaned close to me. "Why the change of heart Bella?"
I smiled as I answered him. "Don't tell me you're not hungry?" His face fell. "Don't say here because of me or Rose. We'll eat when we arrive home.
"Please Em, it's the least I could do." He smiled as Rose, drew closer to us.
A throat cleared behind us and Charles, along with Renee began the walk to the dining hall. We followed and I watched as they touched and cuddled and I had seen enough.
"Renee." I called out her name and they both stopped.
"If you all would be so kind to allow my mother and I a few moments to speak." Charles hesitated but he called out to Rose and Emmett and asked them to follow him, which they immediately did. Once they were gone, Renee and I stood face to face, staring down each other.
"I could not help but see how close you and the king are?" I stated causally.
"Bella, what are you talking about?" She used her annoyed voice, and it once would make me hesitant, but I pushed forward.
"I never knew you to be a woman who threw herself at a man. Who would choose said man over her daughter?" I wanted her to see what she was doing. I knew she wanted him and him, her.
"Mama, you left me to suffer through this alone. How could you?" I grabbed her shoulders and shook her a little. She batted my hands away.
"I did it for your own good. Instead of acting mature and allowing us to tell you the whole story, you ran off like a child." I did not know this woman; this was a monster, not my mother.
"Listen to yourself; do you think that I would have acted that way, if I had known from the inception who he was? But instead of being truthful to me, instead of comforting me and being my mother, you decided to be his little whore." My words were filled with venom, but I was not sorry.
"You little ungrateful cunt." I was shocked at her words. "How dare you…" But I cut her off before she could continue.
"How dare I, no how dare you…" But before I could finish, a resounding sound echoed in the hallway, as she slapped me.
I stood there holding my cheek as tears welled in my eyes. She had never, in all the eighteen years of my life, raised her hand to me. Her chested rose up and down in a violent manner and I needed to get away from her. Now that she was here, now that she had the one thing she must have wanted all these years, she was going after him, with no regard of the innocent people she would walk over along the way.
I turned and walked in the direction that I others had gone, and left her standing there. I walked to the end of the hallway, but there were two directions I could take and I knew if I took the wrong one, I would be lost. Looking back, Renee was gone and I was glad.
Sighing, I closed my eyes and tried to remember anything, but what just occurred replayed over and over in my mind. I tried to keep my tears at bay but they leaked out.
"Excuse me Miss?" A quiet voice called out to me and I opened my tear filled eyes and saw a young girl around my age staring at me.
"Are you one of the guests, his majesty is having for breakfast?" I nodded and she came closer and handed me a handkerchief.
"Pray tell, but why are you here, alone and crying." I tensed somewhat and tears flowed a little more.
"I am lost." She smiled and patted my back lightly. "Well fret not; I can get you to the dining hall." She took my head and pulled me along, she was a bubbly one and I smiled a little. As we passed a few more doors, she stopped and pulled me into a powder room.
"I was thinking maybe you would like to freshen up a little". I smiled in thanks as I wet the handkerchief and wiped my face. Once I was finished, she grabbed me by the hand and we made our way quickly and came upon a great door, being guarded by a guard.
"Aaron, this is one of the king's guest, I found her lost upstairs." He nodded and opened the door so I could enter. I turned quickly and caught the young girl by the hand.
"Thank you very much." She smile and waved me off. "What is your name?"
"Victoria." I smiled at her.
"I am Isabella." She smiled. "Well Miss Isabella, it was a pleasure." And she turned and skipped off.
Entering the dining hall, I spotted my mother and my face fell. She never looked at me or acknowledged me. Rose could tell something was wrong, but I waved her off when she asked. We ate breakfast in silence and I was glad. I needed time to think about I was going to do. I watched as the king interacted with Rose and Emmett. He seemed interested in what they had to say.
But when he spoke, there was an air of authority and he held all those within hearing, captive with his words. My mother seemed more taken in, more so than others, and I made my decision.
Clearing my throat, all eyes fell on me. "My king, if it would be no bother, I was hoping to speak with you a little more before I left?" His eyes widen in surprise and he nodded his head quickly.
"Yes, of course Isabella. Maybe we can take a walk in the garden?" I accepted and we all continued in relative silence.
Once we all had finished, Charles had encouraged Renee to give Emmett and Rose the grand tour of the castle, while he and I talked. She agreed but the look in her eyes said she would rather not. He and I made our way through a few halls and finally came upon an enormous garden. The flowers were losing their colours but they were still vibrant.
"Ah, you should see it in the spring." I turned and saw him staring at me, and I controlled my facial features, moving to walk again. We walked in absolute silence, with only the call of birds sounding here or there, stirred the air. Finally I began to speak.
"Charles, I have thought of what you have asked me. I am willing to spend time, getting to know you and you getting to know me." His whole face lit up, but I was about to bring him down.
"But there are a few things I need in return." He motioned his hands, urging me to go on.
"When I do come to spend time, Emmett and Rose will join me." He nodded.
"Also I will get here on my own, I do not wish for people to know of this as yet. And one more thing…" I paused and he leaned closer to hear me.
"Renee is to leave here and return to our village, until further notice." He looked at me as if I had gone mad.
"Isabella, why would you request that?" His tone was filled with confusion, but I would soon make him understand.
"Charles, I look at you too and you behave as though you are married. You can't continue where you left off. So in that case, as advocate for my mother, I will be honest and say that I find your relationship highly inappropriate." He face fell as he contemplated my words.
"What you speak of is true, but Renee and I have been separated for years. I was, no I am overwhelmed to finally have her with me but again your words do ring of the truth." I could see him contemplating my words and I walked away, giving him some space and time to consider, while I looked over some of the flowers in the garden.
"I will take what you have said into consideration and speak with Renee. But in the end, no matter what she says, I will do what is right by her and you."
Smiling I knew he would be true to his word. As we made our way out of the garden and through the castle, we met Rose and Emmett, with a very chatty Renee. She was excited to show them all the wonders of the castle and I could see how eager they were to leave her presence.
After I had promised the king to visit him again in a few days, we all said our farewells. Once we were on our way, my mind continued to play the entire morning over and over. My life was not mine anymore, but I promised myself then, on that lonely road from the castle, clinging to my best friend, that I would take it back.
So I know we all hate Renee at the moment. Slow chapter but trust me, it's gonna get juicy soon. Please tell me what you think about the story or the characters, and thank you for reading.
Cheltivia.
