XLVI

(A/N: Wow, finally, I update after a century. So busy in my review for CPA exam. I hope you understand me. Someone asked me if I'm going to finish this story, of course, I'm going to finish this no matter what happen. I hope you enjoy my every update even though it takes ages. BTW, belated merry Christmas and advanced Happy New Year! This is my gift to you, I also hope to update more next days. Thank you!)

XLVI

I wanted to hide, but I was caught in action. I wanted to run, but she was standing on the door. I wanted to tell her everything because I knew the reason that she was angry to Princess Emily. Somehow, the latter almost destroyed their family when Prince Nicholas married Princess Emily, who was the ex-girlfriend of Prince Alexander.

Now, I knew why Princess Victoria walked out during the tea party at the Warden's mansion. If I were in her position, I would do the same.

"Shirley, what are you doing here?" Victoria asked again while going inside the office. I did not know if I had closed the door or I had left it opened.

I wiped my cheek to make sure that dried tears were not visible.

"I'm looking for His Highness' report for the King," I started to clean the table and put the pictures in the drawer where I had found it. "But," I sobbed, "Instead of the report, I found out...everything." I cried again when the last word slipped from my mouth.

I saw how Victoria's face changed from the curious to shock. She walked toward my place and looked at the remaining pictures on the table.

I continued, "I...I'm just searching, but..." I trailed off when she hugged me.

"Shirley," she hushed.

I didn't stop from talking. I wanted to take out all the hard feelings inside me, "Why? Why did he not tell me about them? Why?"

"Shirley," she just tapped my back.

"Your Highness," I held her shoulder and broke our hug, "is it because she's the reason I'm here?"

She immediately shook her head, "No, Shirley. Alex and Emily were old news. They never been together since they broke up. Trust me." She held the pictures and put it in the drawer, "I won't tell Alex that you saw these."

"Why? I need an explanation from him," questions were practicing inside my head and ready to fire him.

"Please, don't. Shirley, Alex loves you so much and please don't damage your relationship just because of this secret," this time, she was the one who held my shoulder, "Please."

My heart and tears exploded when I heard her last word. I thought she would help me to ease my feelings, but I experienced the otherwise. Her green eyes were so similar with his and I could also see the betrayal.

She quickly moved and cleaned the table. Princess Victoria spoke again without looking at me, "I felt too upset when Emily chose my older brother Nicholas than Alex. I saw how broken Alex was. I wanted to help him, but I had no idea at that time how to comfort a broken hearted brother. But, years after, you came." She bored her green eyes to my blue, "You helped him to get out and live another life."

I didn't notice that the table was already clean. She held my wrist and pulled me outside the office. She closed the door and made sure that it was locked.

"Don't tell him that you already know about them, trust me in this, Shirley," with that, she left me alone outside the office of my most beloved man.

-----

"Miss Woodman?" a very deep, historical yet authoritative voice called me out of the blue. I was sitting just outside the office of the King. The person in the front desk told me to wait for Diego in this area.

However, it was not Diego who called me. He was the most powerful person in this place: King Gregory. He gave me his million pound smile while looking at the envelope I held on my hands. I stood immediately and slightly put my head down.

"Y-yes, Your Highness," I said and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Is that the document I told you to bring here?" he asked while putting his hand in front of me. I looked at him with confusion on my face. Don't tell me... Without hesitation, he confidently answered the unspoken question, "Yes, I was the one who called you earlier."

My heart almost got out of my chest. I was wondering why he pretended to be Diego. Maybe, he was tricking me. No, a prestigious person like him would not do that. He might have a reason. He maybe wanted to hide his identity to keep the confidentiality of his command. Possibly, this document was so important that only he and Alexander should know about it.

With shaking hands, I slowly gave the envelope to the King's hands. His smile was like a poster to his face. I was scared. Really scared. His presence in this room made this area so small that I could not breathe. I felt so tiny and helpless.

He held the envelope and turned his back to me.

"Thank you, Miss Woodman," he silently said, "You'll get your compensation as soon as possible."

Suddenly, I was surprised, "Your Highness?"

"If you want to stay in this palace for long-term, be loyal to the most powerful," with that, he entered the biggest double-door and I got some view of a very large office.

-----

Leilanie Jayei was on the phone when the Queen entered the private living room on the third floor of the palace. The former put down the phone to give respect to the latter, although her anger was out of control.

Last night, she was humiliated by the next queen, Princess Emily. Now, I want that position more than before, she thought. But, what made her angrier, when the princess boasted about that girl whose name was Shirley. She hated Shirley more than Emily because that Shirley girl got the dream she really wanted. Marriage with Alexander.

"What made you to be here right now?" the queen asked after the maid brought two teas to the small center table. She was comfortably sitting across the fuming Leilanie.

"Emily...ugh, she told us during the tea party that Shirley Woodman is an official member of the Women Society. So it means that she is already married to Alexander," every word was very hot that it could melt an iceberg.

The Queen furrowed her eyebrow, "Married? How come?"

"Maybe they had a private wedding somewhere," she gritted her teeth, "If you don't take action for this, you know what will happen next."

"Are you threatening us?" the beautiful face of the Queen turned into sour one.

Leilanie looked down at Queen Beatrice, "Your Highness, only you, me, Alexander and the AMFA know about his involvement in our rebellion. What do you think will happen to your beloved son if the King and the public learn about this?"

"You crazy," the Queen immediately spat.

"I'm crazy, yes, but you're crazier because you teamed up with your younger son to dethrone your older son. What do you call that? Favoritism," she smiled as if she won a race, "I think you will also be dethroned if everyone will know about it."

Silence did not cease the tension between the ladies. Leilanie was an expert to play a game like this. She would do all the things just to happen what she wanted.

"What do you want, Leilanie?" Queen Beatrice whispered.

The African beauty crossed her arms on her chest, "Separate them. I don't care what you will do to that girl. The important is Alexander will be mine."

Queen Beatrice did not retort. She called one of her assistants to give her the phone. She dialed a number and it answered instantly. Leilanie just watched her smiling her victory.

"Find Shirley Woodman's family," the queen commanded and listened to the other line for like a half-minute before speaking again, "Do the necessary as long as Shirley Woodman will leave the palace soon."

She hung up and gave the phone to the assistant. She glared at Leilanie who stood up from her seat.

"Alexander is your favorite child, isn't it?" Leilanie dissed.

"Just shut up, Leilanie, don't tell everyone about the things you know," the queen ordered.

"Okay," Leilanie responded, "Just promise me that I won't see Shirley in this palace anymore."

Queen Beatrice laughed bitterly, her green eyes raged with irritation, "Of course. You acted like higher than me."

"If you and the King already die, I'll make sure that Alexander will continue his plans and I will be the next queen. Great idea, right?" she walked away, "See you later, Your Highness."

Queen Beatrice called her assistant again to give her medicine for high blood pressure. She loved her son so much that she did not want him to get married with poor girl like Shirley Woodman, but also, she did not want him to get married with an insane woman like Leilanie. However, she had no choice.

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