Breakfast Blues

Katherine and Charles, still hand in hand, made their way up the steps and back into the castle to go have breakfast and face the reality of their day.

"Where are we eating today?" Charles asked over his shoulder to Max who was just a few steps behind them.

"The King requested it be in the meeting room you were in last night, Your Highness," Max replied.

Charles sighed and shook his head as he said, "Wasting no time, I see." He turned to look at Katherine and continued, "I hope you got enough sleep because I have a feeling that my father will have even more to say now that he's had time to think about everything you told him yesterday when we arrived."

Katherine let out a long breath and said, "I'll get enough sleep once my mom is back."

"Then let's go get her back," Charles strongly said as he gave her hand a squeeze.

At least someone was confident that they would find her soon.

When they reached the meeting room, Charles reached for the door to open it, but Max quickly darted around him in order to get to it first. Not only did Max take his job for the royal family very seriously, but he also took pride in working for Charles, and it was evident to anyone who observed him.

"Thank you, Max," Charles said with a smile as his guard opened the door for the royal pair. Max bowed his head and kept it down as they walked into the room. Once both Katherine and Charles were inside, Max closed the door and guarded from the outside to give them privacy.

"I heard you two went for a romantic walk on the beach this morning," Marcus immediately said once the door was closed.

Katherine looked across the room and found Marcus with a mischievous smile, hand on his chin, and eyes focused on the intertwined hands of the young couple in front of him as he leaned against the back wall. Once again, Katherine found herself feeling self-conscious around him, and immediately pulled her hand away from Charles.

"No need to be shy around me," Marcus said with a chuckle as he lifted his hands in the air in a surrender stance. "I was young and flirtatious once too," he said as he winked at Katherine.

"Thank you for that image, father," Charles said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Would it have been too much to let us eat breakfast in peace before we jump right into business?" he added.

Charles did not seem to be bothered by Marcus's poking fun at him and Katherine, at least not like Katherine was.

"We can go back to peace once we get Lia back," Marcus said, the smile wiping from his face.

"That I can appreciate," Katherine immediately responded.

Marcus gestured his hands towards the seats, so Charles and Katherine sat next to each other and across from Marcus who took a seat as well. Katherine looked at him, expectantly, and waited to see what he had to say.

Before he had the chance to, Charles grabbed a plate and started to fill it with food. Both Katherine and Marcus turned and watched as he picked pastries as if he did not have a care in the world.

When he thought he had enough food, he put his plate down in front of him and looked up to notice his father staring at him with irritation. "I'm hungry," he explained right before he took a bite of a bagel.

Katherine felt a smile pull at the corners of her mouth. Once again she felt grateful for Charles who would likely act as a buffer between her and Marcus.

Having decided that she was actually hungry too, Katherine followed suit and grabbed a plate to fill with all of her cravings. Marcus turned his annoyed stare to her, and after she started to eat as well, he shook his head and rubbed his hands over his eyes.

"Alright, well now that you both are filling your stomachs, let's discuss the plan for the day," Marcus said with exasperation. "Around five this morning, I dispatched troops to Helios after letting them know what to expect from the rebels. They are heavily armed and prepared for any counter attack they might face."

"You think they still have my mom somewhere in Helios?" Katherine asked as she intently looked at Marcus.

"Between the attack on the castle and the attack on your soldiers, I would imagine they are hurting for resources and need time to recuperate. They can't have made it too far, especially with precious cargo like a former Queen. Everyone in all of Titanus knows her face and knows she was taken, so she would be difficult to hide if they did not stay underground," Marcus explained.

"So we should know by the afternoon if our soldiers have found her and the rebels, correct?" Charles inquired. He had stopped eating in an attempt to focus on what was being said.

Marcus nodded. "Yes, so we will hold off on announcing your engagement until we know more. We don't want to risk announcing that and then having the rebels realize that none of us are giving up our crowns and stepping down."

Katherine and Charles did not have to ask why they would be holding off on that announcement. Once they made it, the rebels would know that the royal families would be staying intact, and as a result, they would kill Katherine's mom and start hunting down the other royals.

They were in a race against the clock, and time was running out.

"Not only that, but after Katherine's failed raid on the rebels, there is no way they would be expecting another attack. This time, they definitely won't have time to be prepared, especially since no one in Helios knows the plan. They will not be warned ahead of time," Marcus added with an accusing glance towards Katherine.

Katherine felt her face go red with anger. It's not like it was her fault that there was a spy in her castle.

The room felt somber, and the three of them stayed quiet for a moment before Marcus cleared his throat and continued, "I spoke with Bella and Samuel about half an hour ago. I told them everything and sent them a copy of the rebel video. They are going to put Selene on a strict lockdown like you have done in Helios, Katherine, and they also are going to dispatch soldiers to help find Lia. Other than that, there's not much they can do to help."

"It's more than enough," Katherine noted. "I've never been close with their family, so I appreciate any help they are willing to offer."

"Good," Marcus said with a nod. "I suggest you two go freshen up and get camera ready. Hopefully today is a day filled with good news."

Katherine nodded her head but felt mixed emotions. Obviously getting her mother back would be good news. It would be more than good news.

However, the marriage announcement made Katherine's heart sink. It's something that should be good news, but unfortunately, the marriage would be to someone Katherine was not in love with.

But like everyone always liked to remind her, this is a day she always knew was coming, so now she had to face it. Not only that, but it was a small price to pay for getting her mother back and ensuring her safety.

After they had her back, strengthening the alliances between the lands in Titanus had to be the top priority because it was the only way Katherine could keep her and her mother safe from ever having history repeat itself.

Katherine vowed that once she had her mother back that she would never lose her again, no matter what it would cost her.