Chapter Sixty-nine
“Alpha Raphael has a six-year-old son. He will inherit his father's throne one day and Charlotte will be his Luna,” he said with such finality in his voice that it felt like tomorrow was the wedding.
“I want Charlotte to make her own decisions about love and I do not think it is too late for Emily. I am sure she'll find her mate or the love of her life,” I said it with my calmest yet firmest voice. I was not going to allow my uncle to ruin my daughter's future. I had not been lucky at love but Charlotte will and if she wasn't that would be her cross to bear.
“Mate? Love? Regina dear, life is not a fairytale. Look at you. You wind up with two children from a faceless man,” he said in a rather mean voice. It appeared that Uncle Napoleon’s grace was over.
“I didn't mean to upset you dear but you must understand that the fact that she'll grow up in a castle doesn't mean she is going to find Prince Charming or that her prince charming will have a castle to take her to. I know you read a lot of stories but life is different from the tales; happy endings are rare to have and when they happen it is because we create them not wait for them,” I could only sit quietly and upset as I listened to my uncle yap about fairytales.
One thing was clear to me either way. I had overstayed my welcome here.
“Regina dear, you do not have to be so purple about it. Who knows? Charlotte may grow up to love him?” His tone was patronizing and it made me want to throw up on his face.
“I do not…”
“The only way Charlotte is not getting betrothed to him is if his place on the throne is not confirmed.”
I walked back to my room in a daze. When I entered my room, I picked up Charlotte from her crib and hugged her tight. I could feel her little heart beating against my chest and one day, I was going to make sure that heart beat rapidly for someone or something she was passionate about.
“Don't worry sweetheart, you are not going to marry Alpha Raphael's son or anyone you do not want to, okay? If you do marry it will be for love and if you choose not to get married I will respect your decision,” I said, planting a kiss on her forehead. She returned my kiss with a pleasant laugh and I hugged her again. I was going to do everything in my power to protect my little one.
“Your Highness…”
“Get out Sandra and the next time you want to enter my room, you knock and wait for my response, do you hear me?” I was angry and I could not deny that it felt good to take my anger out on Sandra who looked upset that I had raised my voice at her. Well, it served her right. I knew she was Uncle Napoleon's little puppet. I also knew that the next thing she was going to do was to run off to Uncle Napoleon and rant to him about my rage.
Minutes later, there was a knock on my door.
“Come in,” I said, exhausted from my own anger.
It was Emily who walked in.
“I heard from a birdie I have to knock now,” she said with the sweetest smile that broke me. I began to cry and she hugged me till I was calm.
“A talk with father can get you in the mood,” she said with a comforting smile.
“I… I… I will not allow Charlotte to get betrothed as a baby. She's not even one yet,” I was upset and very much so.
“You have every right to be angry, dear. Can you believe my father wants me to marry Captain Thoma?” Emily quipped in an annoyed tone.
“I actually thought you guys had a thing,” I had observed that the two had some weird sexual tension around each other. Had I been wrong about that?
“Thoma is good for a good fuck but not a marriage. If he was the last man alive I would rather stay single,” she shouted and we both laughed.
“Father will not live forever; betrothals can always be broken off,” Emily whispered into my ear and my eyes widened a little in surprise.
“Harriet has been betrothed twice; the men called it off themselves and compensated Uncle Napoleon greatly. Harriet will teach little Charlotte the art of making men call it quits with you,” I knew Emily said the last part to comfort me but it was refreshing to hear. I discovered I was no longer as upset as I had been.
“Thank you,” I said, hugging her. Her words had been more than comforting.
“It is no trouble, cousin. If you ever need anything, I'm here for you, okay?” she said with a smile and we hugged once more.
She left afterwards and I found I was at peace with myself.
I picked up Charlotte from her crib again and said to her, “You've got the sweetest aunties, love.”
Emily has made me see things in a different light_ there were worse things than a betrothal but I knew one thing_ I had to make plans to leave this place. If that did not happen, I had to amass enough power at court to topple Uncle Napoleon's decisions. However, grandmother came to mind. He had branded her as insane. If he could do that to his mother, I believed he could do worse to me.
I went to bed that night thinking of the Shadowclaw pack. I wondered if Alpha Dagen had given up searching for me. My mind conjured up the last time I had seen Lord Tyler. Was he dead? Had he been able to survive? And Lady Nydia? Was she happier now that I was no longer in the palace?
