The Crown

VII

Jacques came almost as soon as the line went dead. Not that I was complaining. I was so terrified that I literally pounced on him. I didn't want to leave his side, seriously. Soon, some other dudes walked in on the scene and he led me out of there. I was surprised to see that I was walking. But that was the only bodily function I was performing. I didn't talk, I could barely breathe and all I thought of was

Someone tried to kill me...

As we walked through the palace gardens, Jacques tried to distract me by talking about other things. Truth be told, I really wanted to be distracted, but my mind wouldn't let me. I wanted to run, I wanted to scream... but my legs wouldn't cooperate and my throat wouldn't make a single noise. Was this how true horror felt like? My heart was beating a mile a minute and I wasn't sure if I was breathing anymore. I finally let out the words "someone tried to kill me" it was barely above a whisper but somehow Jacques managed to catch every word. We stopped walking. "Look Peggy"

"Why didn't he?" I interjected, looking into those blue pools of his. "Why didn't he kill me. It makes no sense. I was asleep. Everything was perfect so why didn't he?"

Jacques sighed, running his hand through his disheveled blond hair. "I don't know why. He was probably alarmed by something... or" he suddenly stopped, looking at her. "Or he what?" I asked, almost breathlessly. "Or he was trying to scare you"

"If that was his intention, he has definitely succeeded. I am not sleeping in that room again"

"Your uncle said the same thing. The next day, he was dead" he said with a far off look. I widened my eyes. Why on earth had I thought I would live to see my coronation day? I don't even think I'll make it to my crown princess ceremony. Not at this rate. "Of course, there will be changes. They're changing everything now.. I'm not even your husband anymore"

That brought me back to reality. I had completely forgotten about that. See, the thing was I and Jacques were really good friends and we cared for each other.... So much that we mistook it for love and when we found out that we were betrothed, we begged for a wedding. Now I know that that sounded silly and a waste of money... but surprisingly only aunt Claire and uncle Devan frowned on the idea. And so we were married in the Edendale abbey. It was a small, quiet wedding and the public didn't know about it. Thinking on it now, I realized that we were really silly, very silly.

Well at least our marriage was terminated now.

"Why?" I asked, out of curiosity. "They found better suitors for us both. Mine was related to the royal family in England, tying some treaty of sort. I don't know yours though" he said. "I don't know about you Eight, but I prefer to marry my best friend than an entire stranger" I said. He chuckled. "You still remember that?" He asked in confusion. "Of course I remember how many goals I won that day. Who could honestly forget?"

"Oh how I bragged that day" he shuddered.

"And how I scored that day. Eight goals!"

"I'm better at soccer now. I bet I could beat you"

"Boy please... don't let me give you another nickname"

He chuckled. We talked about random things until my stomach growled. We headed back to the castle and I was feeling so much better than I was.

"What's on earth were you doing there in such a state of undress?! Outside , with HIM?! do you know how that will look on a newspaper?!" Grandma Matilde screamed when she spotted me. Honestly, I'm glad that she cared about my reputation more than my life. Note the sarcasm here. "With all due respect ma'am, she was attacked in her own room, her life is at risk so I do not think you should be concerned about her reputation." Jacques said calmly as he stood beside me. "Know your place Mr Kensington" she stated, coming closer. "You have no right to speak to me in such a manner. Remember, you are not to be married anymore" she looked at him for a while, before turning to me. "You are safe now, anyway. We have put new measures in place"

.

.

.

.

"That is it? Peggy was attacked and that is the new arrangement. She should leave the country!"

"Claire, no good would come out of it if she left. The people would immediately suspect that something is wrong and we wouldn't want that"

"Well something is wrong. Why should we hide that?!"

"You don't get it. If a man is not safe in the Edendale castle, then where in this country is he safe in? That is how the people will think"

"Well it's the bloody truth! She found a gun, a rifle in fact, in her BED! do you wake up with rifles in your bed?!l

I sighed as they continued their banter. Aunt Claire was right... but something told me my killer would follow me anywhere. Unless.... "Can I abdicate?"

All the faces in the room turned pale as they screamed "NO"

I sighed again as they continued to argue. No one even asked me if I was comfortable with the new arrangements. I wasn't going to leave that room though. That's for sure. I don't want to wake up with a bullet in my chest. But I don't want Jack following me around all the time. It will get annoying. I got up and moved  to the window. What would Uncle Devan do? Probably look for the culprit and let him know he's onto them.....That's not such a bad idea. "I want to remain in the room. Also Jacques shouldn't follow me everywhere.... But I also want you openly investigating" I said, loud enough for anyone to hear. Aunt Claire's face softened as she approached me. "Peggy..."

"We must discourage him, aunt. It's the only way. If he knows we're onto him..."

"He'll stop" Aunt March finished for me. I gave her a weak smile. "But he may not. He may just be careful" aunt Claire said as she sat beside me on the windowsill. "We're already looking for him and I'm sure he knows" she added, "but that didn't stop him". I sighed again. Everyone except aunt Claire left soon, after telling me that I was safe. I could tell that they didn't believe what they were saying. "I'm scared Aunt" I whispered as soon as the door was closed. She hugged me, stroking my hair. She sighed softly before saying, "you can't trust anyone here Peggy. No one. Not everyone wants to see you on that throne"

"Believe me, I know"

"Nothing makes sense..... I have no idea why they want you to remain here.... I'll stay in your room from now on. They're wrong. The person trying to kill you is in the castle.. and he's bloody brilliant"

Soo.....dun dun dun the real drama begins. Sorry for the short chapter though. I wanted to leave y'all at a cliffhanger.

Anyways, I hope you're enjoying the book.