15 Trials and chances

Is this a joke? his father asked astonished.

No, father.

At the same time Natalie came into the palace, she walked to the servant quarters. As soon as Williams saw her, he had an idea, what if he played around a little.

Father, I am in love with Natalie.

Natalie and the king looked like they have been struck by lightning.

What! His father said recovering from the shock.

Williams, are you OK? Are... You... Sure... You... are, his father stuttered.

Natalie stood there not saying anything, it was like she had lost her sense of speech.

What game was the prince playing, she didn't understand how he could say such.

And you? The king growled at her, what are you still doing here.

Father!

Williams, I don't want to hear a word from you.

Natalie walked with brisk steps back to her room. She shut the door and placed her back at it. With her eyes closed and heart feeling like it was going to fall off her chest. Numerous thoughts starts springing up in her mind. Why can't they leave her alone?. After all they have done to her.

Surely, the royal family will be the end of her.

.... ... .... ... ... .... ... ... .....

knock knock.

Who is it? He said. Hoping it was not his father. He had never seen his father that angry before. He had left for his room as quickly as possible.

It is lily.

He sighed, relieved.

Come in.

Williams, she said as soon as she saw him.

I heard.

You should be resting, he told her.

I couldn't, I said I had an headache but it was actually not true. I didn't want to be here. She replied.

It is not your fault, lily, you were here too, in fact I should be apologizing for my father's scandalous acts.

My parent too, it was a joint act and now you are paying for it.

If she is the one you really love then go for her...

I don't love her.

But, your father said...

Forget what my father said, he caused this and I just had to.

Why did you say that then?

I don't know... Maybe I was frustrated, you know, And I was thinking of you and what you have to go through.

I said that so that my father will have to let you go. But I think might have complicated some things.

Williams, you shouldn't have. I am going to be fine. I know you are putting in efforts to stop this but there is a limit you can go.

There is no doubt that our parents see us as puppets you know... But I am not bending to their whims without a fight, he said grating his teeth.

I am sorry, I wish there is something you can do. Lily said, she had never been traumatized this way before.

You should go to sleep, tomorrow I will make sure you are sent back to your parents, he said holding her hands, it was very soft like it was made of cotton. This woman had only been kind and gentle to him. She deserve all of this. Not even the drama that was going to unfold in the palace soon.

.... ..... .... .... ..... ... ... ..... .....

Natalie eyes fluttered, she was laying on the floor with all manner of cloths scattered carelessly. She had passed out here when she was tired and her bones ached as she stood up. She tried to remember what had happened, that wasn't hard, one of the most horrible things had happened last night and it wasn't easy to forget.

I must talk to that prince, was he made,how could him complicate her life this way. She was trying to concentrate on her mission. And here he was making it more hard for her. Physically, she wasn't in chains but realized how tied up she was.

This people could say or do anything with her without her permission and it was okay.

In love with her? Ridiculous, how could that work. It didn't make sense...

She managed to get herself up, she looked at her reflection on the mirror .

Oh dear, she snuggled. I look like I have been crying all night.

She soon left her for the kitchen where she was preparing breakfast. She hadn't seen anyone all morning and it gave her time to put herself together. For some reason she hadn't seen Sebastian either. That was good. She didn't want to tell him what had happened.

He might think that she had been sneaking around, which was weird and with the prince. It was bad enough, too bad to start a new day.

Instead she saw the chief royal servant. The woman didn't say a word to her either and that morning went slow even it looked like nothing had happened.

Not until, it was almost mid day, she heard a royal servant telling the other one about what had happened.

Do you know that, the prince to be bride left this morning. The former had said.

Really, the other said listening to her.

Natalie heart sank, what if they had knew what had happened, that wouldn't be nice. She would become the object of attention and available for any sort of comments. She was expecting the mean and nasty ones.

Yes, I saw her early this morning, with her royal servants . They didn't look like everything was fine, the former said.

What do you mean, did something happen?

I think so, something had happened to make her leave so early and with the way she did.

Natalie couldn't stand it anymore, she soon left there now earshot of the gossip but she was not still save from her thoughts.

But she was grateful for one thing, they didn't know about what actually happened and the prince confessions.

.... ... ..... ..... ..... ..... ......

He felt a little at peace when lily has left, he only faced one big problem and it was not his father.

What was he going to say to Natalie, she had been there and before he could explain she had left.

He didn't see her all morning and he didn't want to look for her.

That would be suspicious, no one should know what had happened last night.

What was she thinking at the moment? He asked himself, she must have been destabilized.

She must think I hate her.

The king posed another problem but he was his father. He could handle it.

Could he?

your majesty, a royal servant came to him.

Your father request your presence.

Talk of the devil, he could run for the night but not forever. He had escape yesterday , today he would fix this...

... .... ..... .... .... ..... ..... ..... .....

Sebastian came into the garden, he had expected Natalie to be here today, but he didn't see her. Was she missing. Or had she escape from the palace without him.

Of course not, that is impossible. He said to himself. She should be in her room.

He was going to see her there.

He was right.

She was in her room but she sat there and looked like she was possessed.

Natalie, Natalie.

She look startled and sighed when she notified it was him.

Sebastian, you scared the living daylight out of me. She scolded him.

you look lost, were you hallucinating ? did you see your sister again? he teased her.

Nice joke.

I didn't see you this morning,he said noticing the disorganized room. This was unlike her, she was the most tidy person he ever saw.

She said nothing.

Did you come out this room at all? He asked her worried that she did not answer him.

Enough of the question, Sebastian. What do you want? She finally asked him.

I mean no harm, you don't look good. He said.

I am tired of everyone treating me like a kid, like i do not know my way or something. She muttered.

Why are you so angry, he asked, his frustration increasing by each passing second.

Please can you leave me alone, she told him, she said facing the floor.

Well I don't know why you are so angry since you refused to tell me. I will leave after saying what I came here for.

She looked up at him, he acted so calm even after all the spiteful things she had said.

Why was he so nice to her?

I told her.

Who?

Do I need to say it Natalie, you know walls have ears, we need to be terribly careful...

You are right but you said that you weren't going to, what changed your mind

You, he said smirking, you are quite persuasive.

I am glad I did.

i didn't tell you she agreed, did I?, he said with a serious face.

What! of course not, I celebrated too fast. She said turning her face to the ground again.

Calm down, Natalie, don't be too hard on yourself, she will agree, just give her time and like you said I will giving her reasons why life outside the palace is better than living here.

He didn't see the smile plastered on her face after he said that, he had been learning a lot.

Here she was browsing over what had happened with the prince and this man had been doing some actual work. She transfered her aggression to him while he was here to cheer her up with the news. What an irony. She didn't deserve this man.

I don't know i would have done without you Sebastian.

I don't know, I don't know.

When she had wanted to say a little" thank you"she raised up her head and saw that he was gone.

.