Minnie's heart was racing as the guard ushered her and Gabrielle into her father's chambers and toward his study, but she kept her face calm and chin up. She didn't risk looking at Gabrielle, but she could hear the maid's measured and rhythmic breathing; doubtless she was practicing a technique of some sort to calm herself. Minnie felt an instinctive urge to comfort her somehow but could think of no way that would defy protocol, something she dare not do around her father.
Stopping at the door, the guard gave three sharp knocks on the door.
"Pardon me, Your Majesty, but Her Highness and Miss Catra are here."
King Marcus' imposing voice came from inside.
"Show them in."
Minnie listened close, trying to discern what he might be thinking or feeling, but as usual her father's voice gave nothing away. The guard opened the door and stepped aside with a polite bow.
"Your Highness, Miss."
Minnie nodded, taking care to keep her voice calm. Gabrielle was apparently too nervous to follow suit as her hesitant footsteps followed the Princess. The first thing Minnie saw was her father seated behind his desk; his perpetually stern expression was the same as ever on first glance but looking closer she could see a gravity to it that she was sure wasn't there before. Despite her determination to remain calm and collected, her self-control very nearly slipped when her gaze moved to the figure standing near the desk. It was Mortimer, his posture and expression formal at first glance, but looking closer there was a subtle smugness about him.
Taking a quick breath to steady herself, Minnie dipped into a curtsy, knowing Gabrielle was doing the same.
"You both may rise," her father said. When the two girls obeyed, the King looked between them with slightly narrowed eyes. "I have summoned you here at the request of Prince Mortimer… he has brought a concerning matter to my attention."
Minnie felt her heart begin racing even faster but kept her face calm.
"What matter is that, Father?" she asked in a respectful tone. Marcus directed his gaze to Mortimer, who stepped forward and spoke. He was doing his best to sound calm and collected as well, but there was no mistaking the air of imperviousness about him.
"As I said before, my Lord, I suspect that this servant…" Minnie could tell he was suppressing the urge to sniff. "Has been aiding Her Highness in sneaking out of the castle, enabling her to associate with a commoner of suspicious character."
Minnie felt a sense of dread, but Mortimer didn't go on and she relaxed a little. For whatever reason, Mortimer wasn't willing to risk accusing her of associating with a rebel. Most likely he believed that would be a little too much for Marcus to swallow. Immediately she drew herself up to her full height (though that still wasn't much) and allowed her indignation to show.
"I can hardly imagine how that would be possible when Miss Catra has never serviced me personally. From what I understand, she is one of the staff that has been assigned to your service, Prince Mortimer. In fact, my own personal maid came to me not an hour ago to inform me that there was a disturbing incident between you and her."
She saw her father's brow furrow with thought.
"Disturbing incident?" he murmured. "The Prince mentioned nothing of any such event to me."
"With all due respect, Sire," Minnie said, her voice still calm and respectful. "I very much doubt he would willingly disclose such a thing to you. I learned the details from Miss Catra just before the guard came to escort us here. I am sure she would be willing to offer her own testimony regarding this incident."
King Marcus hummed as he leaned back, crossing his arms.
"Hmm… then I'd best hear what she has to say." His eyes moved to Gabrielle, who looked more frightened than ever.
"Speak, girl," the King said, his eyes and voice neutral. "And speak freely."
Gabrielle curtsied once again.
"A-as you wish, Your Majesty."
She spared a quick, frightened glance at Mortimer, then at Minnie, who smiled and nodded. The maid seemed strangely buoyed up at that look, and with a still nervous and hesitant voice she gave the same account she had given Minnie. A glance at Mortimer almost made Minnie laugh… the only outward sign of his outrage was the ever-growing flush in his face and a vein throbbing in his right temple. Gabrielle had barely finished her story before he began sniping.
"This is outrageous!" he declared. "And quite suspicious that she would suddenly invent such a story. Clearly, she is fabricating this nonsense in some silly attempt to discredit me in the eyes of Princess Minerva… there are those who obstinately refuse to accept the possibility of my union with the Princess."
Minnie felt herself swell with anger at his impertinence.
"The key word here is 'possibility', my Lord. And frankly, that possibility has been growing less and less appealing the longer you remain here."
Mortimer stared at her in obvious outrage, as if he couldn't fathom why she was saying this. He recovered quickly, though, and that subtle, smug expression returned to his face.
"I find it difficult, my Lady, to imagine how you can speak in this way when you have made little to no effort to show my suit any respect. Particularly by your little forays with an inferior."
Hearing him talk about Mickey that way swelled Minnie's anger into rage, and she nearly snapped back that inferior or not, Mickey was a hundred times a better prospect than him. She just managed to stop herself, remembering she needed to pretend she had no idea what he was talking about. Her father's stern voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Minerva, is this true? Have you been leaving the castle without permission or any sort of escort?"
Minnie wasn't sure if she could hear any real concern in his voice, but she took a quick, deep breath to calm her rush of nerves before speaking in a calm, unruffled voice.
"I have not forgotten your warnings, my Lord. And I fail to understand what draws Prince Mortimer to make such an accusation. Every door here is guarded… how could I possibly get past without any of them knowing?"
She watched her father's face, and when it remained suspicious, she knew her performance needed a convincing finish. Drawing herself up tall, she squared her shoulders and held her head high as she looked at Mortimer.
"And even if it were true, how exactly would you know? Unless you would presume to return your royal host's gracious hospitality by spying within his walls?"
As she had hoped, this statement made Mortimer's haughty expression drop as his anxious eyes moved to where King Marcus sat. Minnie chanced a glance toward her father as well, and her reassurance grew when she saw that his suspicious gaze had moved to Mortimer. After a moment of consideration, she decided to roll the dice.
"Yet, what concerns me even more is the quite disturbing rumors I have heard regarding you. I had hardly believed it could be true, but with your recent behavior I am no longer so sure."
Mortimer's face went red, whether more from outrage or alarm Minnie couldn't tell.
"If you think accusing me of that malarky will gain you any ground, you better rethink it!"
Marcus' voice broke in, firm and imposing with a notable touch of anger.
"Enough. Prince Mortimer, do not dare address my daughter with such disrespect again. I also placed little stock in these stories, but perhaps it was a mistake to do so."
Minnie felt her heart leap in hope, waiting with bated breath for her father to go on. If she had managed this correctly, this little exchange would be the end, if not the beginning of the end, of Mortimer's twisted games. The alarm on his face was more obvious than ever, and he made an almost amusing sight as he stumbled for an excuse.
"But… but Your Majesty, you can't possibly believe…"
"Can't I?" Marcus' eyes narrowed, a cold and almost dangerous look in them. "Think you I cannot be informed on what happens in my own castle, nor form my own opinion of it?"
Mortimer looked utterly terrified now.
"N-no, of course not, Your Majesty. I only meant, this… this must be a deliberate attempt to discredit me. And the Princess would be only too willing to believe it…"
King Marcus immediately rose to his feet. He didn't shout, but the tone of his voice and the ire in his narrowed eyes made it clear he was livid.
"Enough. My daughter is no fool, and her word holds far more weight with me than yours."
"But… but Sire…" Mortimer stammered.
"Silence," Marcus hissed. "You may consider your suit toward Princess Minerva denied. You will leave Anaheim at once, and rest assured that King William will be fully informed of your insolence and ineptitude. Get out of my sight."
Mortimer didn't dare speak another word. Visibly trembling, he gave a clumsy bow.
"I-I understand, Your Majesty. My most humble apologies to you and Her Highness."
He backed away, then once at a respectful distance he turned and all but ran from the room. Marcus glared after him until the door closed, then directed his gaze toward Minnie. There was a strange look to his eyes, something almost soft… caring, even.
"I believe I now owe an apology to you, my daughter. You may be assured I will tolerate no impudence toward you, nor any of your friends."
Minnie gazed back at him, resisting the urge to gape. A warm feeling toward her father she hadn't felt in a long time grew in her chest.
"You don't need to apologize, Father," she murmured. "Seeing him gone is all I need."
Marcus nodded, then seated himself once again.
"Then I shall not keep you."
His voice had regained its formal coolness, but Minnie's heart was singing as she curtsied.
"Thank you, Sire. I bid you good day."
It wasn't until she and the others had left her father's study that Minnie finally allowed herself to smile.