Chapter 28 – Royal Chaos and a Princess's Pride
The golden-clad king stood at the threshold of the royal chamber, his expression a mixture of shock, irritation, and royal-sized disappointment. His deep voice echoed:
"Someone explain to me why there are five intruders in my palace… threatening my daughter… and why one of them is holding a sword?"
Caroline, without missing a beat, turned to the king. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, your daughter was assaulting a wounded war hero. I simply came to retrieve what's mine."
"What's yours?!" Aria barked.
Emma quickly stepped in, "She means emotionally, not… property. Although Andrew does have terrible taste in bedsheets, Your Highness."
Andrew, still on the floor, whispered to Mario, "If I disappear now, do you think anyone will notice?"
"Yes," Mario replied. "We all would. Including the angry woman with a sword."
The King raised a hand, silencing the room.
"You," he said to Andrew. "You have been brought here, honored for your bravery, given royal hospitality—and this is how you repay me? By disrespecting tradition and rejecting my daughter?"
Andrew stood slowly. Blood still stained his uniform—part of his dramatic deception—but his voice was steady. "Your Majesty, I never meant disrespect. I only sought peace after war. I wasn't prepared for… royal responsibilities of this kind."
Caroline scoffed behind him.
The king frowned. "Is that your excuse? Are my daughters not worthy?"
"No, no," Andrew said quickly. "They're beautiful. Gracious. Kind. And terrifying. But I happen to already be emotionally maimed."
Mario whispered to Liz, "It's like watching a deer explain taxes to a lion."
The King waved his hand. "Enough. This has gone too far. Guards—escort these intruders out."
But before the guards could move, Caroline stepped forward and knelt.
"Your Majesty," she said, her voice now tempered. "I ask for a formal audience. Not as a warrior, but as someone who has fought beside General Andrew. I came because I feared he was being forced into something he did not choose."
The king tilted his head, intrigued. "You ask for an audience, yet storm in with steel?"
"I ask for it now," she replied firmly. "With words, not weapons."
The King considered, his eyes narrowing. "Very well. Tomorrow morning. Formal audience. And until then, all of you will remain guests of the palace—under heavy watch."
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Guests under guard? That sounds familiar."
Caroline elbowed him. "Don't ruin this."
As the guards stepped aside, the King turned to his daughter Aria. "And you, daughter, will remain in your quarters. You've brought enough scandal into this household."
"But Father—!"
"No more."
The princess huffed and stormed out. Caroline smiled in satisfaction.
As they were escorted down the palace corridors, Emma leaned in to Andrew. "You really need to stop collecting women like rare artifacts."
"I don't collect them," Andrew muttered. "They just keep appearing."
Caroline smirked, arm brushing against his. "And now you're back in the right museum."