Sophia's point of view
Narrator
Emily, Emily, Emily ... Her Majesty's foster sister was visiting the palace that was now her home, she was about to meet her sister's brother. Then two more. God! HOW DOES IT SOUND?! Moreover, she envied the dog that she could go to all meetings with Sophia, and she could not! Apparently it was he who dragged her to the door of my mother's apartment. He was in the car during the accident and mom heard barking and scratching at the door, and soon after she found Sophia. Prince, that's what her father, King Reginald, called him.
At least Sophia can call someone "Dad", if Sophia actually inherited his character then he must have been a cool man. She was looking at four portraits now: Princess Isabella, then Sophia, her parents and the Prince. In the third, in addition to the four in the previous portrait, there were also Jackob, Edmund and Philip. I wonder if he can get along with them? The last one was the wedding portrait of Sophia's biological parents. She felt a little sorry for them, her sister killed her brother and sister-in-law. She had admired Dame Devin for so long and turned out to be a murderer who hated her sister. She tried to kill her.
I wonder what her biological family was like? She had talked to her mother and Sophia about it once. They knew that Blair, as they called her then, wondered who she was behind him, she found herself on the doorstep of her mother's house, what her biological family was like, but she had no chance of finding a biological family, I wonder what fate can be teasing. But she could ... maybe someday? She loved her mother, but how surely every adopted child was curious who gave birth to her? Where is it coming from? Why did she end up in an orphanage?
- Miss Emily! Her Majesty asks you to come to the living room and meet her brother and grandparents. They've been there for hours. - said one of the Lady Royals, snapping her out of her thoughts.
- I'm going!
- Grandparents and the princess's brother are here. Your mother said hello too.
- How am I supposed to do this so as not to make a blunder?
- Say calmly "Good morning" and give everyone a hand. Then I will explain to you how to greet at official ceremonies.
- Thank you. I don't want Sophia and Mom to be ashamed of me. I have always dreamed of palaces, but now I can see that the life of a princess is not balls, but hard work. My sister has the country on her mind.
"Your sister will be glad you understood it yourself and does not have to explain it to you."
- Thank you. Excuse me, what's your name?
- Maria. I am the Lady Royals of Queen Isabella.
On the way, Emily stopped at each painting and asked a lot of questions. Maria had a weakness for children, so she could not refuse the girl to tell about each person in the paintings. So instead of saying hello to the guests, Emily spent several hours listening to stories about her adoptive sister's family and ancestors.
- I was a friend of Isabella and Reginald, dear people. They were wonderful parents… Sophia would be as happy with them as she is with you. What happened to them ... was so unfair ... they were also great rulers, their rule was a great time. It didn't matter what family, who came from, what part of the country, everyone had the right to vote ... when Dame Devin took power ... everything changed ... Your sister has already taken steps to make it as she used to be.
- If Sophia had been here all her life, would she also have to surrender to become ruler?
- It would be pure formality. But it would be fitting if she had good grades. If she had not passed, until she was crowned queen, she would have had no power as before, and she would have had plenty of lessons. Fortunately, she has passed all the lessons in power and politics perfectly, all she needs is practice. Sophia is no lady, but she is perfectly prepared to be head of state. Your sister will rule Gardania as Crown Princess for about three years, then she will be queen.
They entered the living room. Alice was warmly welcomed by everyone, without any superiority. Everyone knew that Sophia would be very sorry if it were otherwise. They accepted that she was calling her "mom". Even her brothers started talking to her like that after a few hours, a bit because their sister felt stupid that only she among her siblings spoke to her like that. But also because they lacked someone to talk to. And also because she involuntarily began to treat them like sons. Even Jackob, who had known their parents the longest, started saying that to Alice.
"You can talk to me like that if you also talk about the Queen like that, and if most of the family don't mind."
Alice looked around and obtained silent approval among the smiles of the older family members.
- Can Elisabeth call you "grandma"? - Jackob asked.
- If you want, go ahead.
Elisabeth, called Lisa by family and friends, was the seven-year-old daughter of Jackob and his wife, Beatrice. If she were older, she would rule Gardania, not Delancy. She was the granddaughter of the Queen. Now it dawned on everyone that her life was also in danger, Dame Devin was capable of anything.
Emily and Maria entered the living room.
- Miss Emily Willows. - Maria introduced the girl.
Sister! Sister! Please don't do anything stupid!
- Good morning. Emily said.
Emily cursed and shook hands with each one. Slowly my nerves gave way. Emily talked calmly to everyone. Everyone was infatuated with my sister. I have to thank Mrs. Maria, I asked her to give her some tips. Delancy came in, everyone noticed her immediately.
- Delancy, though for us. Grandma Mirelle said.
- Journalists ... they ... asked ... I'm not like her. - said my cousin with tears in her eyes.
I knew perfectly well what it was about. They suggested that she would do the same as her mother.
- I'm sorry ... they have to be disposed of!
- But journalists are stubborn! Grandma Blair said. - ABOUT! Mirelle our husbands!
WHAT TO DO? I KNOW!
- I'll organize a press conference. We will answer your questions as long as they leave this house after the meeting!
"What if they don't leave the palace?" Edmund asked.
"Then we'll have to order the guards to get them out, to say the least." But I will do it as a last resort.
- What's going on here? Said Grandpa Donald, my father's father. - I mean, I know what happened at the coronation, but ... Journalists surrounded the entire palace!
- No ... no exaggeration ... they're just on three sides and occupying the largest balcony. - I stated in the most ironic tone I could. "At least they don't mean me, they mean Dame Devin."
- Yes, that's the only plus. Delancy added. - You wouldn't be in peace. - suddenly emotions take over - I still can't understand why they think that I could ... do to you what my mother did to your parents ?! I AM NOT! I know I've been cruel to you for a year! But I want to fix it! All my life I wanted to be like a mother…! I do not want anymore…
- Delancy, we can handle this. You are not alone with all this, and you will never be. Grandpa was saying.
- I want to talk to her! With Dame Devin! Here with all of you in peace. This will be the last meeting with Dame Devin. The next ones will be at the hearings. Or in custody. Delancy, do you want to leave? - I said.
"No ... she called me a useless child ... she wanted to blame me for everything ... she claims she killed your parents for me ... let her know I'm not grateful to her for this" favor ". I'll tell her myself. She made me act cruel to Sophia. I want to see and hear her explain why she did it. I am staying with you.
- Mom? Emily?
- We're staying.
- And Lisa?
Beatrice and my brother looked at each other.
- If we are to be together, there are no exceptions.
The prince waited for a token of consent. We all held hands for a moment.
- Okay. Bring her over.
After a while, two guards introduced my aunt. She looked at us with hatred. She really wanted me dead. Dressed in a prison uniform, handcuffed. No stuffed bun. She no longer looked royal. Nobody was able to say anything. Grandma Mirelle broke the silence. She spoke despairingly in her voice.
- Kaitlyn! How could you?! You killed your brother, sister-in-law! You wanted to kill an innocent child ?! Why?! Why did you do this to us ?!
- Mom ...
- Don't talk to me like that!
- Do you have any regrets? - Grandpa Donald asked. - Was little Sophia really going to die too?
- My only regret is that this girl survived the accident. She said pointing at me, the Prince growled. - And her stupid dog!
- What did i do to you?!
- You were born! Plus YOUR mum didn't choose me as her Lady Royals! Nobody chose me! Reginald didn't take my side either! Nobody from YOU!
She hates me because I exist… she hates everyone because they respected the decisions of my mother and the other princesses.
Suddenly she looked at Delancy.
- I was proud of you. How could you cheat on your own mother?
- Always ... I always did what you wanted ... I lived in YOUR shadow ... and when I did something really important! - Something according to MY conscience ... you called me a useless child! I never needed to be a princess. YOU just wanted revenge! YOU wanted power!
Dame Devin ignored Delancy's objection and turned to Alexandra's aunt.
- And you? Why were you helping her? You have a weakness for your goddaughter ... and Delancy ... you have a weakness for her ...
- You effectively made it difficult for me to establish a deeper relationship with her by giving her and me responsibilities so that we would not have free time at the same time! Besides meals, of course. Delancy, I'm sorry I didn't fight for you.
- My daughter won't be spending time with you ... Delancy, you are to quit being this girl's Lady Royals! - bring her overthrowing and become ruler of Gardania!
- ENOUGH! - Grandpa Christopher said. - How can you say that when you are standing in front of us in prison clothes and handcuffs?!
The lawyer enters. He is to read the charges.
- Good morning. I watched the video from the school. The princesses were telling the truth, they didn't steal the jewelry, which is of course. Necklaces were planted by Dame Devin and Brock.
- That's why he found them so quickly during the search! - I said.
- Indeed! - Added Delancy and Aunt Alexandra.
- Can we watch this video? - I asked. - And one more thing… we don't blame Delancy for making a false statement.
- Of course.
- Actually, I said I saw Sophia, Hadley, and Isla out of fear of my mother ... I'm sorry.
- Okay ... let's watch.
It was clearly seen Dame Devin and Brock putting on the jewelry.
- Gotta get Brock! Immediately! Grandma Mirelle began to lament. - Arrest him!
- Grandma! First, let him explain what this is supposed to mean.
Brock entered.
- Your Highness. - He said. - You called?
- Yes. Tell me, when there was a search in my room, you only looked at three places ... where the necklaces happened to be, as if you knew where they were ...
- Your Majesty ... I ...
- I want you to watch one rebuke.
As we played the video, Brock watched it seemingly calm.
- Please explain to me what happened there?
- Dame Devin made me do it, paid me a hundred thousand to put on my jewelry and keep silent. She threatened me that something could happen to my daughter and wife, confessed that she knew certain people who could arrange it. She said they once advised her on how to make things work out, but it was she who carried out the plan. Now I think it was a car accident that killed King Reginald and Queen Isabella.
- So my mother has contacts to the Mafia?! - Delancy shouted in shock.
- It looks like… you have a choice, you will either cooperate with us now, or you can say goodbye to freedom, work and family for a few years. - I'm gonna use it.
- I will cooperate.
- But you won't be the Chief of Security anymore. We must entrust this position to someone else. And you have to return the hundred thousand. For one time, you fail our trust and you are discharged with disciplinary action.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
- You can go.
Brock left the room.
- Do you have contacts to the mafia? Delancy asked her mother, making a shocked and terrified face.
Dame Devin seemed to say that there was no point in pretending she didn't know what was going on.
- Yes.
- We'll deal with this later. It's time to read the charges.
- Coup d'état. Assassination of King Reginald, Queen Isabella, murder of a guard on duty, attempted murder of Princess Sophia, corruption, animal abuse, attempt to kill an animal, psychological abuse of Princess Sophia, harming others, making false statements and false accusations. Destruction of property. Cooperation with the mafia. Do you admit to the charges?
Property damage… I said about the damaged uniforms, Wickellia admitted that it was Dame Devin who made her do it.
There were minutes of silence.
- Yes. - Dame Devin couldn't pretend innocence anymore… good.
- Do you know what the risks are? Life imprisonment and, in your case, a huge fine for the victims who, I would like to remind you, come from royal families. So huge that it will involve the confiscation of all property. About a hundred years ago you would have been executed. Actually... the law still exists... we carry out executions in extreme cases... so you could face death.
- If Reginald and Isabella knew that my unborn daughter would be a better ruler than their premature baby, nothing would happen! If Isabella had chosen me as her Lady Royals, nothing would have happened! As for the mafia ... yeah ... they said how to do it ... under the pretext of taking something out of the garage, I went over there and cut the appropriate cables ... if something went wrong ... they were supposed to make sure they were dead. I even got into an affair with their boss, if I hadn't given birth to Delancy then I would have found a husband and kept trying, I wanted a daughter who could become queen, I would have wrapped her around my finger and ruled from the back seat. When they initially confirmed on ultrasound that a girl would be born, I decided to finally get rid of the King and the Queen.
- M-mom ... did you say I was the daughter of ... a mafia boss? - Delancy asked, terrified. - And don't lie!
- Yes! But you'll never know him!
- I don't want! I do not want to know him! I do not want to know you! I hate you! She screamed.
After a few minutes, Delancy began to calm down.
- Should I quit my job? - she asked
- No ... stay with me.
- But I'm the gangster's daughter!
- You are my cousin.
I hugged her.
- Is my father alive? What is it called? Where is? Delancy asked. - If he's a mafia boss you have to catch him!- Wiem… wiem… Dame Devin odpowiedz na jej pytania.
- He's alive, his name is Carl Dacarde. Also known as Sam Smith.
I gasped. Sam Smith. It is impossible. Mom looked at me in horror. My ex-foster father. My mother joined him three years after my adoption. He always bothered me a bit, I never had a good relationship with him, but my mother wanted me to have a complete family. That's an understatement! Living with him was hell. Insults at every meeting. Saying how hopeless I am. Talking to me sexually sometimes... He disappeared two years after I had to start working when I was fiveteen, actually thought fourteen. Did he know who I am?
I grab the phone and find his picture.
- Is that him?
- Yes, it's him.
- My ex-stepfather is the father of ... Delancy?
- Yes… - replies Dame Devin.
- Mom! - Delancy shouted. - Did he know Sophia was adopted by Aunt Alice?
- Not. He would tell me. I figured it out myself. And she is not your aunt!
- Since yesterday you have no right to order me! - Delancy shouted. - Do you know where he is now?!
This is too much shocking information for one hearing. I hear Delancy and Dame Devin screaming. I rest my hand on the Prince's head. I feel dizzy, dark before my eyes ... Barking ... Screams ...
- Sophie! The meeting is over! Her Highness passed out! Doctor! Let's move her to her apartment. - Aleksandra was saying.
The guards led Dame Devin out. Edmund picked up his sister and carried her to bed.
- The princess will be fine, but please pay attention to it if it happens more often. As far as I know, she slept for two hours after the prom, and before she slept all day and all night. In addition, she had three days full of shocking new information. She needs a rest. - doctor said.
- We will do it this way. Mom, aunt, has this happened before? - Edmund said.
- Not. - Alice replied, and Alexandra shook her head.
- Okay. Then let me know if he doesn't wake up for a long time or something goes wrong when he wakes up. After that, she may be weakened for a while, she needs to rest. Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
The prince on the bed barked as Sophia began to wake up. Edmund entered the bedroom of her new apartment.
- Hello Prince ... what happened? - Sophia asked.
- You passed out. All good?
- Uh ... I don't think I can get up ... can I lie down?
- Of course. Can I bring you lunch?
- Please ... What about the press conference?
- We moved. It will be in two days, and by now you need to regain your strength not to pass out again during the conference.
- Good idea. - Sophia said with a smile. - Thanks for looking, brother.
- That's what older brothers are for. - Edmund replied hugging his younger sister.