An Unexpected Encounter
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Note: What's next on Lily's agenda?? Read on!!!
Chapter 16 – Sneaky Lily
The next morning…
"Your highness?"
"Huh?"
"It is nearly two in the afternoon and you're still in bed," said Fera, as she opened up Lily's long, pale white, window curtains.
As the strong rays from the sun plastered themselves against the glass windows, and across Lily's face, she winced in annoyment and turned her body to face the other side of her bedroom. She mumbled, "Fera, did you have to open the drapes?"
"I'm sorry, but you're usually out of bed by now. This is very unlike you." Fera proceeded to open the glass doors to let the fresh breeze in. "You must get up, Lily."
At hearing her name slip through Fera's mouth, Lily sat up in bed almost simultaneously. "You called me by my name! You don't know how happy that makes me!"
"The only reason I said it is because I figured that, that would be the only thing that would catch your attention right now."
Lily smiled. "Well, you were definitely right…I can't believe it's almost two. I guess it would make sense to get up."
"Yes it would. Your husband has been wanting to see you."
Damn! "Really?"
"Yes. All day, he has asked to see you, but I have told him that you have been sleeping."
"And what did he say?"
"He's worried about you. He thinks you may be ill."
Heh. This is great. I'm glad he thinks that. This buys me more time to get out of our lil deal. "I don't know what would give him an idea like that, but I guess I'll see him later on tonight for dinner…I—I have to take care of some business for now."
"Should I tell him that?"
"No. I will talk to him later…Thanks for waking me up, Fera…I can't waste too much time here." Lily got out of bed and headed to her own personal bathroom where she preceded to brush her teeth and head for a shower, while Fera began to tidy up her room.
An hour later…
"Fera?" Lily came out of the bathroom, wrapped in her white, knee-length robe while drying her hair with her towel. Hmm…I guess she must've cleaned up and left. Good…Normally, I would enjoy her company, but I need some time alone to go see Gene again…
Lily quickly picked out a pale yellow dress that bared her shoulders and had a long v-neck line. "I really need to change my wardrobe…Why does the Queen need to dress all old-fashioned anyway?" Okay girl. Get a hold of yourself! You're talkin' out loud when no one is in the room!
Knock, knock.
"Who's there," Lily asked, surprised by the few loud thumps against her door.
"It's me…OPEN UP!!"
"Oh, Jim…It's just you. Give me a sec. I'm almost done gettin' ready."
Jim sucked his teeth and groaned loudly. "HURRY UP, damn it!!"
To speed up the process, Lily decided to just scrunch her hair into spirals so that she wouldn't have Jim down her back any longer. She opened the door to find Jim in front of her with a mad expression. "What are you pissed off about?"
"I haven't seen ya all day, Lil. I don't know what you've been doing, but I've had to eat by myself in my room and I don't know what there is to do around here to entertain myself with."
"I know of plenty of things you could do," said a deep voice from behind Jim.
"He doesn't need to get involved with the things you do around here, Rume."
"Oh, let the boy have a little fun. He'll only live once. I can show him how to be a real man."
"Why you—"
"It's okay, your highness. I'll make sure to keep your brother out of trouble," said another deep voice, but this one, slightly more gentle than Rume's.
"Huh?" The man appeared, standing next to Rume. "Oh. Keet. It's just you."
"You can trust me with him. I'll be sure to take care of him and show him around…That is, if you don't mind."
"Well—Okay. Yeah. I'll take your word for it, in that he'll be okay. He's only fifteen though so I don't need him to be experiencing anythin' he shouldn't be. To me, he's still a child at heart."
"LILY!!"
"What?!"
"I'm not a little kid anymore, Lil. So stop treating me like one!"
"I'm only lookin' out for ya, Jim. I don't want ya to get yourself into a big mess."
"I know how to take care of myself. I've done so for a while now."
"I guess you have…Well then—I guess I'll see you boys later." Lily pushed her way through the three men standing in front of her and began to walk her way to the other side of the palace.
"Hey Keet, why don't you give this little squirt a tour while I talk to the Queen? I'll catch up with you in a little bit."
Jim pouted. "You think you're sooo tough. You were lucky enough to catch all of us, but if Gene—"
"Gene Starwind is none of your concern!"
"I have every right to know what you guys are up to and where Gene is!"
"Why do you care what happens to him? As I understand, he has kept you for free labor and nothing more."
"Well you're wrong! You know nothing about me!"
"Humph. You're an annoying brat. That's all I need to know. If you know what's good for you, you'll stay out of my way."
"I'm not stupid ya know. I know you want my sister. It's written all over your face…but now that I'm around, I'm gonna make sure you keep your filthy hands away from her."
"Is that so? What could a boy like you do to a man like me?"
"You'd be surprised."
Rume just roared with laughter. "Don't make me laugh, kid. Keet could you please do as you're told and quit wasting time?"
"Yes, my Lord. Come Jim. It'd be better if you remain quiet for now."
"Alright, alright." As Rume began to walk towards Lily and Jim walked alongside Keet, he turned around for one last remark, "Hey Rume…If you touch my sister…you're a dead man."
Rume just smirked and kept walking towards Lily until he finally caught up with her and grabbed her wrist to keep her from going anywhere. "You're looking better than ever. As each day passes by, you grow more beautiful."
"Oh, cut the crap Rume. What do you want?"
"You know what I want…" Rume made an attempt to kiss Lily on the lips, but she turned her head away. "Alright. Maybe not now, but soon…or I'll have your brother's head!"
Lily struggled to get her hand free until Rume loosened his grip and let her go. "You're such a jerk…you know you'll get what you want so just leave me alone!" Lily pushed away from Rume as she continued her walk to the other side of the palace.
At the prison…
"Your highness? Back already?"
"Leo? You're still here?!" Lily was shocked to see the older man still at his post.
"I haven't been here for long. I was granted a break, so that I may catch up with some sleep. I've only been here for about twenty minutes before your arrival…Are you back to see Starwind?"
"Yes…please take me to him."
Leo nodded in obedience and led Lily back to Gene's cold, dark cell, but before he allowed her in, he said, "My Queen, I fear for your safety. If you keep coming to see this man, I am afraid that he will take advantage of you and that it would be all my fault."
Lily sympathized with the older man. "Do not worry. This man is of no danger to me…or anyone else for that matter."
"I do not understand…"
"You shall know in time. Right now, I must hurry before anyone finds out I'm here."
"Of course, your highness." Leo opened the door and allowed Lily to see Gene. As usual, he closed the door to allow her some privacy, but did not stray from the entrance/exit.
"Gene? I can't see you…"
"It hasn't been a day and you're already back…Why the frequent visits?"
"Please…Come closer…I want to see you."
Huh? Gene, not feeling any need to hold back, walked towards Lily until he stood right in front of her. "Better?"
Lily couldn't help but stare at his physique. She was in awe with it ever since she first laid eyes on him, but she always found a way to snap herself out of it. She managed to stop looking at his broad chest and firm built arms, and looked up to bring her eyes to his. "Yes…much better."
"So tell me Princess, why bring me all you have and why even come see me so much?"
"It's Queen."
"What?"
"I'm a Queen, not a Princess."
"Yeah…right…Look, I've told ya—"
Lily didn't even give him a chance to finish his statement. "Is it true that you saved him?"
"Who?"
"My brother."
"Your brother?"
"Jim…did you save him?"
To be continued…
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