Chapter Seventy-Nine: Jaw Dropping

The entirely of my week was spent with me going to and from the many engagements which had been planned, I didn’t even have the time to take a breath before it was onto the next task on my never-ending list. I would wake in the morning, barley have time to eat before I was out of the door and onto the first task, I’d be on my feet for the rest of the day, my dinner being served to me in the car on the way to my next engagement. Through this entire week, I’d only seen Max late at night where we’d share one word before, I fell to sleep from pure exhaustion. I couldn’t deny that I missed him, he would tell me how busy he also was as he was now taking charge of the arrangements for my coronation which is being held tomorrow.

That fact should have me shaking in my boots due to how daunting it all sounded, but the only good thing which had come from me being this tired is not having the energy to worry. I have so much more on my mind all day, that the coronation has slipped my mind on many occasions, the only time it returns is when the people who I visit ask me about it.

But also, something which has had to be put on the back burner this week was the case of Griffin, I knew I had said when I sat down with the guys and Griffin that I would need to take a step back as to not raise any eyebrows that I knew more than people would like. But I didn’t mean to be forced to take a step back due to how rushed off my feet I was!

On the days I hadn’t returned home close to midnight, Griffin would use the tunnels and come sit with me in my room until Max returned. This did annoy Max a little where I could see the jealousy in his eyes when he’d walk in and me and Griffin would be laughing about something ridiculous. But after I assured him that nothing would ever happen between Griffin and me ever again, he knows the score and wouldn’t even try it, he didn’t seem worried.

I was now sat in the car on the way home from my last engagement of the week, the sky was almost black due to it being the middle of winter. I had been awake since 4am so could only sit with my head on the cold glass of the window and try my hardest not to fall asleep. But the longer the car ride took and the sound of the engine acting as white noise, I feel my eyes getting heavier and heavier with each second.

“We will be arriving at the palace in two minutes ma’am.” Macauley announces which sort of caused me to jump from the sudden noise but do turn to look at him with a smile telling myself I needed to wake up.

I have not told a single person how tired I have been, I want them to see I can take all of this on the chin and keep moving forward as Queen. All of that would be thrown out of the window if I was seen asleep pulling into the castle! With that in mind, I sit up straight and tell my eyes to not dare attempt to close.

As like Macauley had said, we soon arrive in the palace which as always, was lit up with those same dazzling lights, but in my mind, my feet began to ache even more than before telling me they did not want to walk another step. I had been on my feet the entire day; I was sent to visit one of the largest and most respected packs around where most of my day was spent walking miles and speaking with so many people. It was lovely and I throughly enjoyed it, but my feet hated me in this moment.

“If I may ma’am, I can see how tired you truly are from the extremely long week of engagements that you have undertook. Would it be possible for me to aid you arriving in the palace?” Macaulay asks as the driver slowly pulls around to the same steps where to me in this moment, resembled Mount Everest!

“Are you sure, I don’t want you to feel as though you have to.” I say wanting nothing more than to take him up on his offer to give my legs a break, but he has been by my side through everything this week, he’s had to walk the same amount of me and may be feeling the same!

“I am more than sure ma’am; it is my job as one of your guards to ensure you are safe and well whilst getting on with your business. If I allowed you to step out of this car and collapse on the floor due to exhaustion, I would not be doing my job.” Macaulay smiled that same kind smile as always, I simply smile right back thanking him as he opens up his door but waits with his back to me.

Sliding over to the car door, I wrap my legs around his torso with my arms around his neck to ensure I didn’t fall. Before long, I was being carried into the palace, each person sending me a smile as I passed.

“I can only assume that you would like to head to your bedroom ma’am.” Macaulay says once we entered the lobby, I didn’t even have to speak before he heads towards the huge staircase which led to my bedroom.

But before Macaulay could even place his foot on the fist step, a male's voice from behind us calls my name. It wasn’t a voice I was familiar with, so turning my head around to find the owner, I spot a man perhaps in his early sixties, dressed in a very posh but old looking suit, his hair beginning to go grey but a kind smile on his lips as he stood with his hands placed behind his back.

“I wonder if it would be possible to have a moment of your time?” He asks his voice also on the posher side, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had some connections with Max’s family, they all sound the same.

“If you wish to speak with the Queen, you will firstly need to schedule an appointment. She has a rather tight schedule so cannot simply accept an unexpected meeting.” Macaulay explains in his guard's voice before turning back around to continue on our journey, but the man was sure to rush over to stop us once again.

“But this is a matter of urgency, I have been told that the Queen is looking into what happened that dreadful night with Master Griffin. I believe I have some vital information that will only aid the Queen before the time is gone.” He pleads walking in front of us to block Macauley from walking, where I couldn’t help but stare at the man shocked, he was very keen to speak with me.

“What is it you know, and may I ask who you are?” I ask looking the man up and down attempting to work him out, I didn’t want to speak with him if he was just going to spin me a world of lies and send me off in a direction I shouldn’t go.

“My name is Wade ma’am; I am a childhood friend of the former Queen Julia. I don’t believe standing in this lobby would be safe ma’am, there are people listening.” The man I now know as Wade whispers whilst taking a look around, but his sudden change in attitude does cause me to worry and also begin to look around myself, not that I knew what I was looking for.

“It is up to you ma’am.” Macaulay says looking up at me whilst my head sat just above his shoulder, I knew that he knew I wanted to speak with this man but also didn’t know if it would be safe. “I will remain by your side ma’am.” He explains as though he knew exactly where my mind was going, with a smile I agree not as worried if Macaulay would be there alongside me.

“Very well, follow me to an office to speak in private.” Macaulay says speaking mostly to Wade, I was still on Macauley’s back being carried everywhere.

Before long, we were walking down the long corridors of the palace before arriving in an empty office right at the back. Macaulay carrying me in, placing me down to sit on top of one of the old desks whilst walking to stand by the door to ensure no one could walk in when we didn’t want them to. As I watched Wade stood in the middle of the room, I noticed his hands were shaking slightly, this worrying me what the gravity of what I was about to be told would be.

“So, what do you need to tell me?” I say after a moment of silence, I didn’t know if he wanted me to talk first or he’d just pace up and down the room in his own head, let’s all remember that I was still exhausted!

“I have been aware of this information for countless years now but as I stated, I have been friends with Julia since we were small, so I know the kind of person that she is and what kind of people she has at her beck and call, I would be killed for sure.” He begins to ramble still looking down at the floor, I stare at him a little worried before sending that same look to Macaulay, who watched the man go up and down very suspiciously. “But when I was told that you ma’am, are finally, looking into what happened that night with Master Griffin, I know you are the only person that I can trust to tell this.” He says before quickly rushing over to me in a drastic manner, I jump a little getting further away whilst Macauley takes huge steps forward making sure this man didn’t try to hurt me.

“You’re starting to scare me Wade.” I say looking him in the face but still backing away, I mean I want to know what he knows but he’s acting very skittish.

“I’m sorry ma’am but you have to listen to me, since this night happened, everyone around simply blames Master Griffin and never took the time to look deeper and find the many inconsistencies which are right in our faces. But you have to believe me ma’am, I was there that night, and it was Julia, she was the person pulling the strings, not even Jared had a say. He was stood beside me watching as Julia went around on her dangerous path.” He says dropping the bombshell where I had to sit there and stare at him shocked, yes, I was pretty certain I knew what had happened with Julia but now to hear someone who is close to Julia tell me they were there and saw her, it was the conformation I had been looking for.

“Because Julia was friends with Jared and his mate and wanted to get revenge for what happened?” I ask wanting him to see that I had done some digging and knew some stuff, but he shakes his head at me.

“Julia and his mate were not friends; she hated that woman more than anything.” He says where my theory was soon thrown out of the window, but he was about to tell me exactly, why. “Julia only did what she did because she’s beyond obsessed with Jared.”

Where both mine and Macauley’s jaws, hit the floor.