3rd Person POV
However, that was Dagen's opinion. Queen Emily was having a rather hard time convincing her ministers that Charlotte was the right person for the job. It was not just because she was family that she seemed Charlotte worthy of the position but rather Charlotte would make a fine queen because she was good with people even when she was not killing them or commanding them on the battlefield. Emily just wished Charlotte would stop being stubborn and take her responsibilities more seriously.
“Where is the princess now?” asked one of the ministers present.
“She helped take her friend home. As you well know, she is still healing from the war. She needs time,” explained Queen Emily.
“We don't have time, if you will step down as queen and install her on the throne she cannot treat the throne with such negligence as she does her royal duties now,” another minister added.
“I hope that you are not suggesting that she be removed from office, to even think of such a thing would amount to treason,” Emily looked into the eyes of as many ministers present to convey her message properly. If they were trying to dethrone Charlotte as princess she would not have it. Charlotte had been fighting wars for her pack the second she had been allowed to and she had done them proud. She had always come back from every battlefield victorious. Emily knew that Charlotte would make a better queen than she did.
“Of course not. We simply want the princess to treat her duties seriously,” said one minister.
“When she goes into battle on our behalf when a good deal of our finest men choose to remain at home because they are scared for their lives you do not think then that she is taking her duties seriously?” quipped Queen Emily. She could not believe them; they were a bunch of ungrateful people.
She was glad that they would no longer be her headache once Charlotte assumed the throne. She just wanted to spend the rest of her life with her unborn child and her husband on a ship travelling the world. She'd had enough, she was going to compel Charlotte to take her rightful place.
****
Harlin had not told Reginald that he had accepted the invite to the soiree because Lady Lowell would be there. He wanted to surprise Reginald with the presence of Lady Lowell.
When they arrived at the soiree, they sat in a corner watching the dances. They had come in through the backdoor so that they would not be announced. Harlin hated it when he was the centre of attention at any party. He just wished he could get to blend in with the crowd but his position would not allow him to do so.
“I heard Queen Alison declare a lockdown,” someone standing not too far away from the trio was telling her friend.
The trio exchanged looks amongst themselves. Aunt Alison had not told them about this. And if there was a lockdown, why was there a party?
“It's to be effected starting next week. It's a pity though, I had a ball planned for next week,” replied her friend.
“Aunt Ali didn't mention this lockdown, you think it's because of the zombies?” quipped Charlotte.
“I'm certain it is, we do need to kill those zombies,” said Harlin.
“What do we do? I don't think we can do that now,” said Reginald. They just could not put their friend through another battle when he had barely recovered from the previous one. They also knew that they needed Harlin's skills if they stood a chance at returning alive.
“Perhaps the lockdown will help,” said Charlotte.
“The Prince! The Prince is here,” squealed the lady who had just been talking about the lockdown.
Harlin rolled his eyes. He had been discovered.
Everyone suddenly stood at attention and he was formally announced at the party and so were the twins. Harlin cringed when it was all over. Now, he was the centre of attention as every lady wanted to have a dance with him and sincerely he was in no mood to dance. His mind was on Gabriella. It had been a while since he had seen her or heard from her. He made a mental note to write to her when he was done with this party.
Now that they had been announced, Reginald was faced with a preponderance of requests to dance. He was a ladies' man and was always willing to oblige them but his eyes caught onto the figure of a delicate woman. She was standing at the far end of the hall with a glass in her hand. She looked smallish and he knew it was not the distance between them that made it appear so. His heart skipped a bit at the thought that it could be Lady Lowell. He wondered if she had divorced the man and bore a different name now.
“Prince Reginald, if you will be…”
“You ladies look lovely but there is something I must check,” he flashed them a polite smile and made his way out of the maze of women that had formed around him. He walked towards the direction of the delicate frame and the closer he got, the more she looked like Lady Lowell.
“My lady?” he tapped her shoulder and when she turned around, he could not hide the excitement on his face. Standing before him was Lady Lowell. He was at a loss for words at her beautiful face and slender body. There was also the fact that she had an exquisite fashion taste and he soaked in the details she had put into her attire.
“Prince Reginald! What a lovely surprise!” she feigned surprise upon seeing him only to bite her tongue at how stupid that had been. Of course, she had known he was here when he had been announced to the party alongside Prince Harlin.
“Indeed! It is a pleasure to see you!”