Royals of Illéa

Chapter 16-Back In Illea

-Josie-

Our plane takes off from a private airport outside Paris so that the insurgents don't get a whiff of Camille leaving. Ahren and Renee are on the plane with us. Camille cries for a good hour into the flight until exhausted, she falls asleep in Ahren's arms. Renee is sitting in silence. Camille isn't the only one who left family behind, after all.

Kaden and I sit some seats away to give everyone privacy. My heart clenches as I think of the whirlwind last few days. So much violence and chaos has ensued all over France.

Kaden must have sensed my emotions because from beside me he takes my hand in his and gives it a little squeeze as if to say, we're safe now.

I give him a small smile as I turn to look out the window at the dark sky and Kaden goes back to the studying the books about France's war with New Asia that he picked out from the estate's library before we left.

After Camille has slept a while, I wake her up and then with the help of Renee together we coax her into eating some food which she resists at first but ultimately gives in and agrees to have some fruit.

When we land in Angeles, Kaden and I get off the plane first to find Eadlyn, Eikko and Sir Maxon waiting for us on the runway.

Camille says hello to the men but the moment Eadlyn's arms wrap around her, she breaks down into tears.

"I'm so sorry." I hear Eadlyn whisper. Just looking at them in the tight embrace as Camille cries and Eadlyn too looked on the verge of tears, you can tell how much one queen feels the others' pain.

Without much ceremony we pile into the waiting cars and head to the palace. Camille immediately goes off to one of the guest suites with Renee and a maid to show them the way. Ahren on the other hand comes with us to meet his mother.

"You're back!" Lady America practically runs out of the Women's Room and pulls all three of us into a group hug.

"I'm going to find mom." I whisper to Kaden as I leave Lady America with her sons and head down the hallway that will lead me to a staircase to the third floor.

When I get to mom's room I knock on the door and wait for her to answer. The door is instead answered by dad whose face goes from sad to ecstatic when he sees me. Without saying hello, he pulls me into his arms.

"Josephine?" I hear mom's voice and I've barely moved out of dad's arms before mom pulls me into hers.

"We were so worried about you!" She weeps into my shoulder as I tighten my arms around her.

"I'm okay mom." I reassure her as she finally calms down and stops crying.

"Ever since Eadlyn informed everyone of what's happening in France, we've all been so scared for you all." Mom breaths heavily, still teary eyed.

I put my hands on her shoulders and hold her gaze, "Everyone's alright mom. A little scared but unhurt."

Mom pulls me into her arms again as she sighs, "I'm so glad you came back."

Lunch time comes and goes but I don't feel hungry so I decide to get some sleep since I barely slept on the flight. I'm woken up by someone rubbing my back.

"What time is it?" I mumble to which Kaden replies, "Nearly dinner time."

"I ran into your mom on the landing." Kaden tells me, "She wouldn't stop crying until your dad stepped in."

"She was crying when I saw her too." I tell him.

"She's your mother. Of course, she was worried." Kaden takes my hand in his as I give him a small smile and nod against my pillow.

"How are Camille and Ahren?" I ask.

"Camille hasn't come down from her suite. Ahren on the other hand has been taking calls on her behalf from France." Kaden replies.

We're silent for a moment before I say, "I still can't believe this is real."

"Me either." Kaden sighs, running a hand through his hair.

I sit up and swing my legs off the bed so that I'm sitting next to him. "I should get ready for dinner."

"I'll leave you to it then. See you downstairs." Kaden kisses my cheek and then stands up before walking through the connecting door into his own room.

I ring for Amarna and get ready for dinner. Thirty minutes later, I walk downstairs to find Camille pacing outside the door of the dining hall.

"Camille?" I frown.

"Hey." She sighs, smiling.

"Hi." I smile at her. "Feeling okay now?"

"Okay? Not really. Just better now that I've rested." She sighs.

"Aren't you coming inside?" I gesture towards the doors that the guards are ready to open for us.

She nods, "Let's go."

The guards pull the dining hall doors open and we walk in together. The rest of the royal family is already there, some seated, others standing around.

"Aunties!" Kerttu screams as she hops off the chair she's sitting on and throws her little arms around my legs.

"Hello, Kerttu." I laugh as I kneel down in front of her and give her a hug.

"Hello." Camille smiles at the child and holds out a hand which Kerttu enthusiastically shakes.

We all sit down and light chatter ensues throughout the meal. Once everyone's done eating, Kerttu leaves the room with her nanny since it's her bedtime and at the same time Ahren announces,

"These aren't the circumstances that we thought we'd share this with you but there's something that Camille and I want to share with you all. Kaden and Josie are already aware of this."

Ahren then announces Camille's pregnancy to the rest of the family and for a few minutes it appears that even Camille forgets about the trouble in France as everyone congratulates them and Eadlyn and Lady America progress to gush over the pregnancy, something I would have done too when I found out if it hadn't been in the middle of an uprising.

I sigh as I feel Kaden's arm wrap around my shoulders and together we watch our family celebrate this little trinket of joy in a time of heavy gloom.