After their dinner, Ella was thinking the same thing about the app. The initiation of it proved that it was made for a particular purpose. She couldn't help but think the purpose behind it.
"What else did you find out about the app?", they were sitting in the sofa and having sodas. "Not much. Except that it looks fishy. I will find out more about it tomorrow." She nodded.
"I'm going to sleep in now." "Um, hey can I sleep with you tonight. This place actually gives me creeps." "I thought you were a tough guy."
"Well tough guys shouldn't harm animals", answered Nick.
"You ate chicken", pointed Ella. Nick muttered something under his breath, answering, "That's not an animal!", to which Ella took her cue and left to her room saying, "Doesn't make much difference. Night Nick." Nick went into his room and lied on his bed saying, "Horrible try, Nick!"
The next day Ella was up awake and off to her work, by the time Nick got up. He searched for her in the house to only come up with a plate of omelettes and toasts for him. Beside it there was a letter, he took it and read, 'Hey. Morning. Couldn't wake you up as you slept very soundly. Follow the red ribbon, starting from where you are standing'. Nick looked around the room, for any red ribbon, when he noticed that the curtains were left open and looking out at the glass, he could see a red ribbon, tied to the trunk of a tree, flying along the wind. He hurried up after eating, went through the way of the ribbon. As he reached the tree, he searched the next mark, while moving along the trees; After about twenty steps he found another ribbon flying along the wind, he followed it and found himself to be walking in less dense area of the forest, which meant he was close to the road. He went ahead until he came across the road, when he found another ribbon just at the outskirts of the forest, she was really making him dance along her moves.
It was a few minutes later when he reached her shop, he pushed the door yelling, "Found you!" The only problem was that not only Ella but all her customers were looking at him, like a crazed man. "Um, I'll take coffee?", he said, to shift the attention from him to elsewhere. Saying that he went along to sit at the front of the counter. Ella was smiling at him and passed over his coffee saying, "Always so childish." "Can't blame me, I just played the best version of 'Find Me'." He grinned at that. "Where is that strict lady of yours?", he asked. He wanted to know where she would pop out now because his eyes were sturdily watching the back of the shop, not to miss it.
"She's sleeping. Now that I have learnt a lot about baking things, she had taken her long break from it." Ella had to leave earlier this morning in order to meet her mother. While ensuring that Nick stays safely, she had not mentioned her mother about her not coming home, and she knew she would be very worried. The moment Ella reached home; she found her mother sleeping on the couch with an iron rod, through the window. Probably thinking that she was kidnapped and were going to follow here. Ell unlocked the door and went inside, when her mother came running with the rod to attack the intruder. She stopped midway, when she saw her daughter, "Ella? You are fine?", the rod forgotten and clinking on the ground, Emma went to hug her daughter. "Oh, thank the lord, For the lord is good, his mercy everlasting, and his truth endures to-"
"Mom! I'm fine", her mother went on to read all the psalms she had known her entire life right on the doorstep, while clutching her shoulders. Her plea went deaf in Emma's ears. She had to stand there until she was over, or she will have to endure with another such muttering due to bad omens!
After what felt like a lifetime, Ella was taken inside by her mother who made her sit on the sofa, while she stood there in front of her with hands on her hips, "Speak", came the cold voice of her mother. She gulped a little and told her everything that happened the last night for her to not be able to head back home. After hearing that, Emma said, "Could have given me a head-start Ella. Do you like to make me worry? Do you know what all scenarios went through my mind? I know about this pact of not reaching the other, if one is caught in something. But!" She sighed and sat in the other sofa, adjacent to her daughter. Ella knew it was her fault, but she had no other means to talk to her. She had strictly called off phones between them, as part of their security. Emma spoke then, "I'm tired. Living like this, on edge, constantly. I just don't want you to be hurt. Just leave this behind Ella. Give up the throne. It comes with too much problems." By now her mother was crying and she went to console her, crying with her too. At the time, looking at her mother's condition she realized that she had been doing this believing that it was their family's legacy, which was to be continued. But looking at her mother's crestfallen face, she couldn't will herself to continue anymore.
Maybe her father was right and she didn't belong in the corporation. That did it. She then spoke to her mother, "Okay. I'll leave the throne. Anyways it was never mine to begin with. Papa was right I am not suitable for the throne. What's the use of it, if it harms my family!"
"Sweetie, are you certain? I didn't mean to hurt you by my words."
"No, I'm certain mom. I'll do it. Soon. It's not like I can't live up the life here for us. I'll do everything to support the family. You don't have to worry about anything. I'll take care of everything." She decided, while rubbing her mother's back. "Why don't we meet Aunt Grace today?", Ella asked suddenly. Mrs. Kingsly pulled away from her daughter, looking in her eyes, "What? Suddenly?", her mother asked.
"I figured you might want to see her before we go to London for giving up the throne. After all she is your sister, Mom. She won't like it when she would know that we have been here in America and haven't met her yet." Ella tried cheering up her mood. She continued, "It will be fine! I'll take care of it. Okay!", saying that she hugged her mother once again. She was aware; her mother missed her family. It was a very hurtful two years until now and she didn't know whether she can let her endure anymore.
Presently, as she saw Nick sipping his coffee, she thought about what had happened and decided to let him know her decision. "Are you going to find out about the app?"
"I could have, if you would have given me my lappie."
"You won't need it. Use someone else's. You can find out the most. As your uncle is a part of them. You get me?", stated Ella while preparing drinks for the other customers. Was she seriously hinting on finding out about the app with inside means? Before he could confirm that, she went and came back with his phone, "Do your best. Meet me here tonight at 11. And don't worry she won't say anything", talking about Mrs. Willow.