After a long chat with my dad I was being led out the prison, I told him what the next steps were and he said he was more than happy to help. As I'm walking out the prison he's being taken to where mum is, they haven't saw each other in a long time so I know how happy that will make her. As soon as I walk out the door to the dungeon where the basement is, Gray was running down the stairs his face holding relief when he saw me. Erik says he'll see me tomorrow before walking upstairs, Gray wastes no time wrapping me in a tight hug holding me there but freezes.
"You have a scent of another man on you" he kind of growls out, his arms still wrapped around me.
"Don't worry that's my dad" I smile with a roll if the eyes, he pulls away seeming to calm down a little.
"I do want to change out of these as that place was not a very nice or clean place, but before I do I want to show you something" I say taking his hand but he stops me, he shakes his head where I send him a look.
"Even if that scent is your fathers, I do not want my mate smelling like another man, you will change first" he instructs me before pulling me out the basement and towards the bedroom to change and well other things.
Once he was satisfied that I no longer smelt like someone else, even though again it was my own father! He allowed me to take him to the thing I wanted to show him, I honestly didn't know how he was going to react but it was worth a shot. I walk him through the castle smiling at the people who bow their heads, Gray just follows behind me also smiling as we went.
"Remember what I told you my love, I knew you would get so confident within yourself" he said as we went, I just send him a smile but I also have to agree.
When I first arrived here a few months ago, I would not have the confidence to walk so freely around the castle and smile at everyone. I think as I'm Queen I was kind of thrown in at the deep end, which turned out to be the thing that made me change into this person.
In no time we arrive at the door leading to the corridor of the family portraits, he sends me a confused look as the door gets opened and I take him in. Once we arrive at the portrait he gasps from surprise, tears immediately build up in his eyes as he looked. This photo was so much better, on the old one Gray looked terrified, but in this one he had a huge smile on his little face holding hands with his sister who also looked so happy. She was so incredibly cute and looked so happy and full of life, she didn't deserve to have that all taken away from her by her own father! I wonder what incredible things she could have achieved if she was given the chance to be here longer, we may never know.
"I looked into it and found out you took a family portrait before she died, I had some people do some digging in the storage and found it, she deserves to be seen and remembered" I smile looking over at Gray who was still crying.
"The officials are not going to happy about this" he cries still looking over at the photo, this makes me smile.
"Well it's a good thing me and Erik replaced them" I say which immediately makes him look over at me shocked "I told them back in the meeting I would persuade you to replace them, my persuading was very effective, we have chosen people from all different backgrounds and genders, we now have the right people to make decisions on important matters" I smile sweetly at him, I told those men back there what I was planning, they obviously didn't take me seriously!
"Thank you so much my love, honestly I have been running from those feelings about my past but when talking with you, it's really helped me slowly start to accept and move on" he smiles holding me tightly in his arms "Matilda would have loved you" he smiles as I take a look up at the little girl.
"Well I am very lovable" I joke with laugh, he immediately laughs shaking his head a little "but no, what happened to her was so awful and unjustifiable, we're gonna sure her legacy lives on and she's never forgotten" I smile as his arms tighten around me placing a kiss on the top of my head.
"So this is what you were getting up to today? When I found your note I did worry a little but I knew Erik would look after you" he smiles looking down at me.
"This and a few other things" I mutter still not wanting him to find out about the whole case I'm building, he pauses for a second before moving me around to look at his face, he places both hands on the side of my face looking at me.
"I know what you are doing, I know you did not tell me so I would not get upset but I am going to allow you to build the case on my father, I do not want you to go back to your official duties until Rupert is located and taken care of, if you and Erik are occupied doing this, I know you will be safe and it will also bring some sort of justice to Matilda" he tells me which immediately shocks me to my core, I didn't think he would be okay with this!
"I just need you to promise me you will not put yourself in danger and you will not leave these walls, do all your investigation work within the castle" he tells me which I am so down for, I'm a little worried about leaving the castle with Rupert still on the loose "you and Erik make a good team, not as good as us though, but I know with both of your smarts and your heart, you will do brilliantly working this case, most likely better than I would be able to, just keep me informed okay?" He smiles I immediately nod planting a kiss on his lips smiling, yes I have something to do!
My stomach growls reminding me I haven't ate or drank anything since dinner yesterday, I've been so busy with other things that it slipped my mind, I did this a lot back at my now brothers pack. Once I nearly fell down the stairs as I didn't eat, Kyle was not happy.
"Well that will not do, come on food now" Gray says taking my hand pulling me out the door.
I take one more look at Matilda, I'll make sure he pays for what he did to you.