12: Locked Up

The next day I woke up panting and covered with pillows. I sat down and roamed my eyes around the room. I dressed up and fixed myself then I went out.

"Good morning, your majesty." Sir Charles, Knight Maia, Knight Therese and Knight Stephen greeted me when I came out of my room

"Where is Zairo?" I asked when I noticed that there are only four of them

"He already left your majesty. Have you forgotten it was Knight Zairo's last day yesterday?" Knight Therese said

Then it struck me, yesterday was Zairo's last day as a knight.

How could I forget?

"I have." I said and walked to the Dining Hall but I stopped on my tracks when I saw my mother and Ezra eating and talking.

A wave of enviousness hit me and I turned back and went to the garden.

"Won't you have breakfast, your majesty?" Knight Maia asked

"I am not hungry yet." I said and busied myself looking at the view.

Damn it!

Why do I have to find out painful things on Zairo's last day?

"Ah Princess Avery, – Patrice." I corrected Sir Charles

I don't know but I started getting irritated when they call me Avery.

"Princess Patrice, Knight Zairo said before he left that you should open your bracelet." He said. I opened my bracelet and sat down on a bench.

"What happened?" he asked

'Truth revealed. Revelations too painful to accept.' I answered

"I'm here for you but if you really need someone to lean on literally, meet me at home I'll finish all my workloads or move meetings for you."

'No need. I don't want to be a distraction to you. You're a king now.'

"And you are a Queen. Cheer up. Tell me everything tomorrow, I'm free."

'Okay, Zai. Thanks.'

"Anything for you, Queen,"

'Thanks, King,' and with that our connection faded

"Your Majesty, we brought you food." Knight Maia said and they set up a picnic on the grass

"He told you didn't he?" I asked them

"Who, your Majesty?" Sir Charles asked

"Knight Zairo told you." I said and they averted their gaze

Typical Zai, he doesn't like me skipping meals or not eating at the right time.

"You should eat your majesty." Knight Therese said and I went and sat on the blanket

"Only if you'll join me." I said

They seem to hesitate but they soon took a plate and ate with me.

"Knight Zairo is right." Knight Maia said

"About what?" I asked

"You see, Your Majesty, there have been rumours in the Palace that you are mean and callous, that's why you always disappear, you don't care even if the queen gets worried." Knight Therese started

"Then Zairo stood up for you when someone told him that." Sir Charles said

"He said that they don't know the real you and they don't have the right to judge because what we all see is the Princess the Queen want us to see." Knight Stephen said

"And he is right." Knight Maia said

He did that?

"He likes acting as my Knight in shining armor." I commented then they nodded

"Avery, why didn't you invite me for picnic?" Ezra said and appeared

"Should I? You see it was set by my guards for me to eat and when I went to the Dining Hall you were having breakfast with Mother." I said and she smiled unsurely

My guards started cleaning up the plates and spoons we used then they paid respect to me before Knight Stephen and Sir Charles left

"Your mother – Mother. She is also your mother, is she not?" I asked her

"Avery, no one should – know that you are my sister? Why not? Are you contented being Lady Trinity Ezra outside this Palace? You should be Princess Trinity Ezra. It's your birth right after all you are Mother's first born." I mocked

I didn't imagine myself mocking the person I used to care for, but I guess this is how I will release my anger.

"Knight Maia, Knight Therese, can you leave us for a moment." I said and they both left Ezra and me alone here in the Garden

"Avery, you know that I don't." She said

"I knew but now I wasn't sure." I said

"I've never changed, Avery." she said

"You're still the liar who tricked me." I said and walked pass her

"I still have an ace on you, Avery." She said and I turned to her

"Then use it, I dare you use it, Ezra. Honestly, you can try and blackmail me…" I said and walked closer towards her and whispered, "But just a head's up, I know something more vicious and destructive than that. Like David and Dave." I said emphasizing each word

"Leave them out of this." she said pleading

"Then leave him alone. And we'll be fine." I warned and entered the Palace

I saw Knight Maia and Knight Therese with Knight Stephen and Sir Charles.

"Are you alright, your majesty?" They asked

"Say. What else did Knight Zairo told you?" I ask them

"Your attitude change fast." Knight Therese said

"Hates." Knight Maia answered

"Likes." Knight Stephen said

"Sleeping schedule." Sir Charles said

He said enough for them to get along with me.

"Can you bring me to his former room?" I asked and they lead me to his room.

I opened his room and looked for something underneath his floor and voila.

I found it. I raised it and it was a box almost as high as my waist. It's not just any ordinary box but with my nickname written on it.

'Pam'

"Your Majesty is that yours?" they asked

"Your guess?" I asked and they looked at each other

"Bring this to my room, please. I just need to see if he left other clues." I said and the boys carried it and left.

"Your Majesty, if you wouldn't mind, can we ask something?" Knight Therese asked

"Sure. What is it?" I asked while still looking around

"What is your relation to Knight Zairo?" Knight Maia asked

"Hmm. He's a close friend of mine even before he came here." I answered and reached a box above his closet. It has our combined name on it.

'ZaTrice'

"Knight Maia, bring this to my room please." I said and handed Knight Maia

Then I took the small frame hanging on his wall.

"Knight Therese, bring this to my room and tell them to rest. I'll be fine." I said while handing her the frame and she followed and left.

I closed the door when I saw silhouettes on the wall in front of the door.

I heard footsteps outside the door.

"Queen Katrina we only have a couple of days before the curse awakens." mother's royal adviser said

My Mother's here?

"I know that. Avery mustn't know." Mother replied

Another secret kept from me, huh? Just how many more secrets are there? How many lies had they weaved to so call protect me?

"But your Highness, Princess Avery isn't dumb or dense. If she was able to find out that Princess Ezra is your daughter, how much more if it is about her." he reasoned out

"She just happens to eavesdrop. That child is stressing me out. Aristotle and I were able to hide it from her 13 years ago what differences does it make now." she said

13 years ago? What happened 13 years ago?

All I remember was when I met my half-sister as my cousin and the storm that strike our country and washed away the smallest town near the Palace.

I won't get answers by asking myself.

I opened my door and faced them. They didn't notice my presence

"What mustn't I know?" I asked and they both turned to me

"Avery, what did I tell you about eavesdropping?" Mother scolded

"Mother, I am the one you've been talking about. I have a right to know." I reasoned out

"Mother." I said and looked into her eyes.

"Avery, listen to me this is for you. You will go back to your room and pretend this had never happened." Mother said

"For me? Why? What is with me that you have to do my will?" I asked softly but audible to mother's ears

It was bugging me ever since I eavesdropped on the council meeting

"Avery." mother calmly called

"Mother, answer me." I pleaded

"Avery what I am doing is for your sake. Listen and everything will be alright. Go to your room now." she ordered me

"Why do you have to keep pretending?" I asked her all of a sudden and she looked at me unbelievingly

Why is the right question to ask?

"Avery, you do not defy your Queen's order." she warned me

"But mother…" I contradicted

"Is this the effect of you visit to Arcadia?" she said accusingly

"Arcadia had nothing to do with it. Stop lying and tell me the truth, Mother." I said

She slapped me and looked at me coldly. Her adviser tried to stop her but he acted too late, Mother already slapped me.

"Guards!" she called and a group of guards came to her

"Guards, lock Princess Avery to her room." mother ordered the guards

"Mother! Mother, no." I pleaded her but she didn't listen.

The guards dragged me into my room with her trailing behind.

She locked me in my room. She never did this to me before even if I was so naughty but now she locked me up because I asked questions.

I felt my palms freezing cold.

I touched the knob and tried to open it but no use.

Tears started to fall from my eyes. I am starting to lose hope.

What was wrong with my question?

Why does my own mother pretend in front of me?

Was everything a pretension?

I heard sounds outside the door.

"We are the Princess' guards and we should be the one guarding her." I heard Knight Stephen's voice outside

I heard footsteps outside my door, some faded and several didn't.

"We can only guard you from the outside, Princess. Knight Zairo said you should open your bracelet." Knight Maia said

I followed and opened my bracelet.

"Are you alright?" Zairo asked

'Physically yes and mentally no.' I answered

"What happened?" he asked

'Mother and I had a little quarrel and she locked me up in my room.' I answered and started sobbing

"Pam, listen to me. I'll get you out of there." He said

'No Zairo, don't.' I stopped him

"But you need me right now, Pam." He said

'No stay there. The councils are suspecting me.' I said

"Suspecting you? Why?"

'I told them about your Kingdom's innovations and inventions. They wanted to compete and I burst their bubbles.' I said.

"I heard you found something in my room."

'I did.'

"Open them and decode. I have to go. I'll check on you later and Patrice, please, don't close your bracelet." He said and the connection faded after I heard a beeping sound.