I had been sitting the same room for what felt like hours. Dr. Julika stopped by and finished our "chat", then left soon after.
The sun was setting. How long has it been since I was on that beach? A day? 2 days? I forgot to ask Dr. Julika how long I was out.
She told me I was in a state of starvation and asked how long since I had eaten. After I told her what happened with Prince Andere, she took notes then told me her diagnostic.
Apparently, I had used the last of my energy when rescuing Prince Andere. Later I had a cardiac arrest but they revived me. If it weren't for Prince Adrin's quick thinking I would've been dead. She said I was lucky to have lived through all that and recover so quickly.
My thoughts were interrupted by the girl from before which Prince Adrin called Kinara, which I could only assume was the young General Kinara poked her head in the door.
I stood up, "you're back!"
She only nodded in reply and motioned for me to follow her.
I got up and silently followed her out of the room.
When we were out of earshot of the busy nurses' station, she told me, "the king requests your presence, Reah."
Why would the king want to see me? I thought.
We trotted briskly down a hallway to a door that read authorized personnel only. I followed the general through the door. It was a boiler room, General Kinara walked to a wooden board and pushed aside easily. In the wall was a hole…No, a passage way. This must be the rumored secret entry to the palace! I thought.
It was night when we got out of the tunnel. The humid night air of an Aurorean summer tickled my exposed arms.
"I know this is kind of mysterious. Being randomly called by the king of your country I mean." General Kinara said as she turned to face me. I nodded in agreement.
We fell into a uniformed march two steps onto a raised outdoor corridor. White stone pillars lined the platform. The cool tones of moonlight reflecting off the polished floors.
I followed General Kinara around a corner. Straight ahead was a stairwell leading to the second floor.
We silently ascended two flights of stairs, our steps echoing into the distance. The general pushed open the door leading to another corridor. Blue moonlight streamed in giving it an eerie, mysterious feel.
We neared some double doors at the end of the hall. It stood out among the single, small, (not grand) doors. It obviously lead to where the king was waiting.
As we drew closer to the double doors I started to ponder on what had brought me to this very moment, the moment my life was sure meet its doom.
The doors were now right in front of me now. I hesitated. The general placed a hand on my shoulder. I didn't know why but it gave me the courage to open the door. It somehow felt familiar and reassuring.
General Kinara pushed the double doors wide open. She nudged me so I would move from the spot that I seemed to be glued to.
Everyone I had met, was seated. Prince Adrin, Princess Yuno, and General Kinara who stood behind me.
There were three other people in the room that I hadn't met. The woman with the braided black hair was obviously Queen Amenda, the second, and smartest queen that Aurora's ever. I recognized the man standing behind Prince Adrin's leather arm chair as the prime minister.
I froze. By the many was a figure which I assumed was King Yorius, the king who brought Aurora to its reign of peace.
The former king, King Timothy Aurora, (who this country was named after), raged war against the mainland country that ruled over our country to free it from their tyranny. King Timothy, known as General Timothy then, lead his troops against the mainland forces and miraculously won the revolution.
After the war was won, the people made him king, making this country official. King Timothy's reign was a bumpy one. Many of the country people didn't approve with the new monarchy. They lead a raid that ended up killing many palace officials including King Timothy.
King Timothy's eighteen-year-old son, Prince Yorius, defeated the rebels and imprisoned their leaders. He then seized his fathers crown from a traitor who was trying to take over the country by seducing his mother. When he was finally on the throne, King Yorius made peace throughout the land and established a royal military and had guard posts built strategically around the island. That illuminated any bandits we had left, or so I thought until recently.
The king cleared his throat and stepped into the dull yellow light. He had green hair like his daughter with a streak of gray.
He sat in a large, leather, desk chair behind a cherrywood desk. Placing his hands on the desk he began.
"you're probably wondering why I called you here. Please have a seat."
Realizing that he was talking to me, I sat in an empty chair between Prince Adrin and the queen.
"Judging by what Kinara told me about your run in with the press and company, you understand the situation," the king continued. I nodded in response.
I knew that I was somehow part of some type of scandal. I knew it wasn't what it looked like, and I knew (because the doctor and Kinara told me) that all Adrin was trying to do was help but it backfired onto everyone who was involved including me.
Now I was in the news even though I was trying to lay low. I was a runaway after all. They knew where I was, and I couldn't do anything to stop it.
"Well you see, due to our sons heroic but unplanned rescue, all of us are in a tight spot," Queen Amenda explained.
"So, we discussed how we could diffuse this unpleasant situation without making it worse and this is the only good solution we've come up with," the queen continued.
"we decided that the best thing to do is introduce you as Yuno's newly adopted daughter."