Inside the king''s study


    "Father, you sent for me," princess Ellen took a deep breath when she noticed that the king was indeed inside the study.


    "yes, come and take your seat," King George gesture to the empty seat. Richard and Ann already took their seat. Prince Sébastien followed the princess to the study but did not come inside, since his presence was not required.


    "I heard what happened earlier, thank you for protecting mother," Richard said. He was scared when he heard that lady Regina tried to take his mother.


    The woman had separated him once from his mother to threaten her, he could not imagine what would have happened. He did not want to lose anyone close to him in the name of fighting for the throne.


    "It is okay, but you should know that lady Regina will not just give up after a single try. You should watch your back. Especially Ann, if you are not careful she may be the sacrifice you will give in exchange for the throne," princess Ellen said.


    "I know, I will ensure to protect her," Richard said.


    "you have to, but I am afraid you might not be her match. And do not even think of giving up the throne in exchange. Grandfather and father will be disappointed. They have put in the effort, you have to make them proud," princess Ellen said.


    She knew that Richard will most likely choose Ann over the throne if he gets to it. She wanted him to have the two. Although she grew up with an evil stepmother, she considered Richard lucky.


    " I am your elder brother, " Richard said. He felt a bit embarrassed hearing princess Ellen telling him what to do.


    "I know that, but I know lady Regina better. You must not trust anyone, she has eyes everywhere," princess Ellen said.


    "I will arrange for her safety," king George said seeing that his two children were concerned about her.


    Princess Ellen did not trust her father''s arrangement. She will hate to hear that Richard fell into lady Regina''s scheme. Moreover, Ann was just a maid. Even if she did not need to continue working lady Regina''s words in the Palace still carry weight.


    "Father, I think it best if she follows me to Avalo, that way my brother will not have to worry about her," princess Ellen said after thinking for some time.


    Richard did not look happy hearing this. Although he wanted his mother to be safe he did not want her separated from him.


    " She can return after you seat on the throne and your kingdom is in your control," princess Ellen comforted him.


    "There is no need, you have your own trouble. I will take care of her," King George rejected. Princess Ellen had put Ann in charge of her father''s meal before she left. So king George has gotten used to her cooking and serving him. He did not want to part with her.


    Princess Ellen frown her brows, she did not expect her father to be the difficult one to convince. After hearing the king''s words she shook her head since she did not know what to say.


    She honestly wanted to roll her eyes. Her father was good at many things except keeping someone safe.


    "What is that look, do you think I can not even keep a person safe?" king George asked when he saw the doubt on his daughter''s face. He was a king and anybody under his protection should be safe.


    "I was your daughter, yet that woman harm me in your presence and you did nothing about it.  Wait you were not even and had the heart to send me to the camp of the injured. Perhaps the only reason I am still alive is because she never thought of killing me. Your brother could arrange for your child to be killed and later sneaked out of your Quarters without your knowledge. Tell me father do I doubt you for nothing? " princess Ellen asked. She felt relief that her father had such an important position. Who knew if lady Regina would have killed him.


    When King George had his daughter''s words, he felt embarrassed. He knew he had failed the two children before him. One was stolen and the other was maltreated in his presence.


    "I will do better," King George could only say these words. Princess Ellen was going to nod her head but an idea came to her mind.


    "The best way to keep her safe is to give her a name," princess Ellen suddenly said. Richard was confused and did not understand the meaning of the princess''s words but King George did. He raised his brows and was about to reject her but Princess Ellen beat him to it.


    " Mother asked you to marry that sneak because she thought she would treat me well. If you married her, why not the woman who has raised such a capable son. If she dies because of the favor she did our family, does this not make us ungrateful?" princess Ellen asked.


    King George looked at her, although he knew that he was indebted to Ann for how he took care of Richard but he did not want to marry another woman.


    " I am not going to marry her, " king George said. Even if Richard now understands what princess Ellen was talking about he was not sure how to react. It was strange discussing his parent''s marriage


    "Why are you rejecting it, I still have to figure a way out to convince Ann. She might not be willing," princess Ellen said.


    "What do you mean?" king George could still remember that a lot of women were willing to marry or be his mistress while he was young. He did not believe he has lost his charm. Moreover, he was a king. Ann should find it an honor to marry him. If even a maid can reject him then he did not know where to hind his head as a ma.


    "let call her and find out," princess Ellen said as she spoke walked outside the door, and asked, a guard to call Ann over. The king did not realize it but he had fallen into princess Ellen''s trap.


    Princess Ellen''s plan was really simple. The reason she suddenly wanted her father to Marry Ann, was to annoy lady Regina. The woman has killed her best friend to Marry her husband. What will be more Annoying than someone else eating the food that you have prepared with great effort?


    Sometimes death was mercy, she wanted lady Regina to watch helplessly as everything she had is taken away from her. Her title and that of her children. Princess Ellen wanted her to pay for her sins. Since years has already passed since her mother passed away there was no way princess Ellen could prove what Ann told her, but she could make her pay in her own


    Princess Ellen could not wait to see last Regina''s reaction when she finds out that a common maid took away her position.


    ....


    Our dear princess has become so scheme,  I think your heart is no longer pure? What do you think?