Chapter 9: Royal orders.

"Life is full of obstacle illusions." ~ Grant Frazier.

-

In the mist of all the sorrow and hurt, Lucia was happy.. a tad bit happy. Kyra getting married was indeed a blessing after all. Aunt Gloria smiled more, genuinely smiled more and laughed more. She wasn't so hard on Lucia. "I have a wedding to prepare for my soon to be dutchess of Acamas." She would say. Lucia loved seeing her cousin all smiles, she had moved into the royal palace a week back. Aunt Gloria could not have been anymore proud. The King had requested that the wedding that of archduke Elias and Kyra would have to wait until after Prince Alexius Nikoloudis II and Princess Amelia Joséphine Guilloux had taken place. A part of Lucia broke but it didn't matter, none of this mattered as soon as her bundle of joy is born they will move far far away...

"Lucia, i don't understand why you didn't intend on telling me that your childhood friend had impregnated you ?" She paused. "Before I had humiliated myself at the palace." She said only thinking about herself.

"Aunty, it doesn't matter." She whispered as she continued to chop the carrots for Supper. Aunt Gloria sat comfortably on the couch relaxing her legs, as she would say the society group had tired her out.

"You said the Prince-" She let out an obnoxious laugh. "I couldn't believe it, that's true worst lie you have ever told me my dear." She chuckled. Lucia remained quiet, her Aunt had tried making civil conversations with her these couple of days. Lucia thought she must have been in a rather good mood because of Kyra and tell archduke being involved. Lucia was fifteen weeks pregnant, her belly was now very much visible. She worried about the due date, it would be in late June or early July. Remembering her conversations with the Prince, he had told her his birthday was in July. It was petty of her to remember these little things.

"Aunty ?" She called softly.

"Yes dear ?" She replied with her eyes closed, she was almost taking a nap.

"Do you want the garlic in your soup?" She questioned. Her back was killing her but she wasn't going to complain. She was grateful to her aunt. Her own parents had abandoned her, they did not want her. They abandoned her at the door of a church up south of Acamas. Aunt Gloria obviously wanted to look good for the society group do she offered to take care of Lucia.

Although Lucia would always be grateful for giving her shelter, clothing, food and basic necessities even if it wasn't always as best the one's given to Kyra.

"No, garlic for today." Aunt Gloria replied.

Suddenly here was a knock on the door. Lucia wondered who could it be that this time, it certainly wasn't Khristian because Khristian had just checked up on her two hours ago.

"Dear, get the door will ya ?" Her aunt commanded. Wiping her hands with a dish towel and lowering the stove to a solid two. She went in the direction of the front door. Opening the door she was frightened beyond any resolution. What were royal guards doing in the neighborhood specifically the door.

"Evening-" One of the man in uniform greeted. She instantly became nervous.

"WHO IS IT DEAR ?" Her aunt yelled.

"It's uh the royal guards, i think they come with a message for you from Kyra-" Lucia said gloomily trying to compose how nervous she was. "You may get in, my aunt is in the dining room." She said softly giving them a warm smile, they only nodded as they made their way in. She then returned to her cooking after closing the door. She needed to finish supper earlier, her Aunt had diabetes... she needed to have her meals earlier so she could then take her medication. As much as her aunt treated badly, she would never wish anything bad upon her. Lucia cared about her Aunt, she was the only family she had and knew.

"Dear come here ?" Her aunt called. Her heart instantly started beating faster than usual.

"Just a minute Aunty, i need to serve the food so you can take you evening medication." Lucia said.

"Don't worry about that just make your way here-" Aunt Gloria said firmly. Lucia then made her way to where her aunt, was sitted having a discussion with the two men wearing their royal guard uniform, it intimidated her.

"The Prince has requested for your niece's presence at the palace." The man with a mustache said firmly.

"Has she done anything wrong ? she apologised for her behavior." Lucia was shocked to see her aunt acting concerned or was it because she needed to know when she could humiliate her.

"Not that we know of Ma'am." The second man replied fixing his striking red armour uniform.

"It is rather late and she is pregnant." HER aunt protested. Lucia was surprised, her Aunt never cared about her pregnancy and not once did she ask how she was feeling.

"The Prince said we shouldn't return without her." They said in unison. Lucia was shaking in her boots.

"Aunty, i swear I haven't done anything." Lucia wailed, she had to defend herself before her aunt said otherwise. "Sir is there anyway I could make my way there tomorrow morning, my aunt here has diabetes and she needs someone to watch her constantly, i would never forgive myself if something happened to her." She explained, she was somehow using her aunts sickness as an excuse.

"The Prince needs to see you and that's final." He replied.

She had not seen him in rather two months. She wondered what he wanted, Princess Amelia was around... this wasn't a good idea and at what time would she return. All these thoughts flooded her mind.

"Lucia go with them-" Her aunt said out of the blue. Aunty Gloria was beginning to worry, why did the Prince want to see Lucia ? Had she been mistaken ? was there certainly something going on between them ?

"Aunt please-" Lucia begged.

"No dear, you have to follow orders." Aunt Gloria said.

with that there was no turning back.

she had to go !