Chapter Hundred-and-Sixty-Two
**3rd Person POV**
*_The twins are doing some sort of twin thing. They are of one mind even if they behave like they are not. They are my grandchildren and I love them but they are going to get themselves in trouble here. The point is that we need to find a way for them to return home safely. Now that Napoleon is dead and Emily is queen, I believe that it is safe for them to be with you. I know that George believes they are in Hades palace so I fear it would not be long before he discovers where they are. Please let me know how I am to proceed with them._*
Emily read the letter at least five times before she could finally convince herself that it was real. She was not certain what to feel. She felt anger at first for being excluded in such an elaborate plan; she felt betrayal because it meant she was not to be trusted; but above all, she felt relief.
“Em, darling…”
“Grandmother, would you like to tell me what this is about?” Emily waved the letter at her grandmother in rage. She was relieved that the twins were safe but she was beyond furious that her grandmother had to keep it a secret from her.
“Em, love…”
“First you refuse to tell me that Regina is leaving the palace with the twins; I understand. I did my best to understand why you felt you could not include me in that decision but now you go and store the twins somewhere and I don't know about it?” Emily was so angry that all her veins stood out.
“You will keep your voice down!” shouted Lady Tristan with fervour. She dragged Emily to a room that was safer to discuss.
“When you get past your anger you will understand that this was very sensitive. I could not afford a leak. Em, you had Sandra tailing you and she was with me for years, I know how thorough she can be,” Lady Tristan said when she was sure no one was listening to them.
“Sandra. That is what this is about, huh?”
“Emily, do not be like this. You are my granddaughter…”
“You do not love me. You do not love Harriet. What you care about is your precious Marilyn and her daughter and her twins,” the anger had left Emily’s body and all that was left was the hurt.
“That is not true, Em and you know it,” returned Lady Tristan.
“You do not even see me as Queen. To you I'm just someone who is filling in the spot until little Charlotte or Reginald comes along,” replied Emily bitterly.
“That is not true, Em,” returned Lady Tristan in a pacifying tone.
“Not true? What happens if I get married? What happens if I have a child? Would you fight for my child to become the next ruler or is the throne reserved for your great-grandchildren?”
Lady Tristan looked at Emily with a lost expression. She could not understand why Emily was acting out now. She felt like something had changed Emily while she had journeyed to the underworld.
“You know, don't you? That is why the throne was never an option for me or Harriet,” Emily had tears streaming down her cheek while her grandmother looked at her with confusion.
“You knew about Sandra,” Emily's tone was accusatory but Lady Tristan remained in the dark.
“Em, I do not understand what you mean. I…”
“Do not play pretend with me. You know Sandra is our birth mother,” Emily said. She also regretted what she said the moment it left her mouth because the blank expression on her grandmother’s face told her that this was news to her.
“I… Oh my goodness! Emily! Are you alright? It must've been so hard for you. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, dear. If I had known I would have told you in… I'm sorry,” Lady Tristan hugged her granddaughter. She was relieved that Emily had finally let go of what had been troubling her.
“I do not deserve to be queen. I do not have royal blood…”
“You deserve that throne, sweetheart. You have worked hard for it and you deserve it. Sandra being your mother does not change the fact that you are a queen, okay?” quipped Lady Tristan.
“You not telling me about the twins had nothing to do with trust?” quipped Emily.
“Not at all. I was trying to protect the twins and yourself. If anything had gone wrong, George would find out that Rowan lives and things would only get messy from there,” explained Lady Tristan.
“Rowan lives? Rowan? As in Uncle Rowan? Regina's father lives?” whatever anger Emily had felt minutes ago was now replaced by happiness. Aside from the twins being safe, this was the best news she had received in a long time.
“Oh… I thought you knew when you read the letter.”
“You are keeping this a secret from me?”
“It's too late now. You know already but it's true. Rowan is alive and he's with the twins and I am guessing he wants them to return home and by home, I mean here,” said Lady Tristan.
“That is wonderful! I will arrange for…”
“You will do no such thing. I will ensure the twins get here safely but you will carry on as though you had no idea about this, okay?” quipped Lady Tristan.
“But grandmother…”
“Emily, I cannot risk the twins' location being discovered. The more people who know about this the more dangerous it gets, okay?”
“Grandmother…”
“You are queen, okay? You have matters of state to worry about. Your father was not the best king so you have a lot of work cleaning up his mess. The twins will arrive here safely and when they show up you'll act all surprised like you knew nothing and definitely had nothing to do with it, understand?
“Yes, grandmother but if you need…”
“I do not.”