So, it had been decided.

A carriage was brought to them from the next town over that joined the knights and King in their return to the castle. As they made a few stops here and there, rumors of a new kind began to spread all throughout the kingdom.

That woman and child in the carriage, being escorted by the King and his men? Who were they? Where did they come from? Were they to live at the palace? Were they important guests?

Or were they a hidden secret only now being brought forth into the light?

Those questions got answered in many ways, right and wrong, as people guessed whether she was a witness in the Queen’s crimes, or a new noblewoman from a lower class that was about to become a new mistress to the King… and that the child was hers, with nowhere left to go. People began to fill in the gaps with so little information given at the start, but those who asked the ones traveling with the King didn’t get any true answers, just smiles and silence.

After all, when it had been decided that Delilah and Emeria would return to the Palace with him, he told his men to keep quiet about it, not tell a soul who Delilah truly was, that is, until they were home once more.

One could never be too careful after all.

Nobody could know she was an unknowingly lost Princess until she was within the walls of the palace, so that he could make his stance clear, in front of everyone there, that it was no rumor or joking manner.

Though… Owen didn’t want to even think about how Ariana would respond to this news. He didn’t want to think about it, but he did anyway. The closer they were to those walls where the Queen lived, the more anxious he became.

What if I can’t protect them?

What if it was wrong for me to bring them here?

But no…

He couldn’t change his mind now. It was far too late for such things.

On the trip, he’d occasionally take a moment off of his horse and ride in the carriage with them. One such situation led to Delilah falling asleep on him, her small hands clinging to his. After such a short time, she’d already grown very attached to him. And honestly, he felt the same. Those small hands, that bright smile of hers, the sparkle in her eyes when she got talking… How could he not love her? How could he not want to protect her with everything in him?

When they’d both fallen asleep, side by side in the carriage, Emeria could barely contain her grin, seeing the satisfied happy smiles they were making in their sleep. She put blankets over them both and let them get their rest until the next stop.

Before long, they reached the capital city, the one that led to the palace. Despite herself, despite knowing the city that lay outside the window, Emeria found her and her daughter to be almost perfect imitations of each other. They both leaned to the windows, to the people and shops and residences.

In her mind, Emeria was brought back ten years into her memories, feeling rather nostalgic, resting a hand absentmindedly on her abdomen. This was where she had lived for several months. This was where Delilah was conceived. This was where she’d met Owen the first time, where she learned she was pregnant, where she realized that he was ascending the throne as King. All of that was here, in this place.

Complicated feelings rose within her as she recalled each of those memories. It went unnoticed by her daughter, who stared out the window in wonder and amazement. She didn’t want to ruin this moment for her daughter, so she let the curtain on her side fall back to where it had been before, and just gazed at Delilah as she put away those old memories.

Those moments and feelings could always be unpacked later, she told herself, it’s unnecessary to do so now. There are more important things to worry about.

Things like the Queen herself.

Ten years.

It seemed to be the number for everything.

Her memories with Owen.

The last time she was in this city.

The day Owen ascended the throne.

All of those were marked at ten years…

Including the last time she’d seen the Queen’s face.

Ariana.

She pursed her lips, gaze finally wandering back out to the looming palace, slowly becoming larger in her view.

We could never be friends, Ariana. I’d never allow that.

If her and her daughter were to survive in the palace, something had to be done about the Queen and her schemes.

Before long, after pulling through the gates, the carriage pulled up in front of the palace entrance. Delilah couldn’t seem to keep her mouth closed as she stared around at everything, excited and curious. Footmen helped Emeria and Delilah out of the carriage and safely onto the ground.

Almost unconsciously, Emeria straightened her shoulders as she eyed the doorway, noticing a crowd had formed just inside, for the King’s arrival home. She grabbed Delilah’s hand in hers, feeling overwhelmingly out of place. The steps to the door even seemed daunting to her in the moment.

The pressure she was feeling… she’d forgotten what that had felt like. It had been nice forgetting it… and now it was back.

She sighed to herself and let Owen lead them up the steps with a few of the knights. It was silent save for the murmurs of the serving staff within the palace, upon their first steps into the room.

Emeria knew she and Delilah looked as if they didn’t belong. She knew, kept her eyes down, and waited. It wasn’t proper for her to speak up at this time. She tugged gently on Delilah’s hand, meeting her gaze and making sure she knew to keep quiet for now.

In unfamiliar territory, despite how grand, she listened to her mother without question.

“Gather everyone into the hall,” Owen spoke to a man who had immediately stepped forward, dressed respectfully in a higher ranked uniform. It had been in a final and commanding voice, spoken to an aide. It was the unmistakable voice of authority.

Sure, Emeria had known Owen intimately, but this left her at a loss for words. It was a new side of him, one she hadn’t seen or heard before. Suddenly, she wondered if this had been the wrong choice.

How well did she even know Owen?

She mentally shook herself. He even recalled her name after all these years. He followed her instructions to not come looking for her. He was the one that had every right to get to know Delilah, to get to be a father to his only child. It didn’t matter how little she knew of him. It didn’t even matter if he looked her way, so long as he held Delilah as his highest priority.

Owen looked back at her, all authority gone, all gentleness present, and gestured for them to follow him. So, she did, all the while feeling Queen Ariana’s glare of disdain against her backside.

This was surely going to get interesting.