The next day Ella received a message as she checked the phone she had hidden in her bathroom. It was from Nick, 'Have appointed a lawyer for you. The papers are ready and need your signature. Meet me soon.' She wished she could go with the plan but it had to be delayed for now. She replied back 'Can't meet now. But soon.'
After a few moments she messaged again 'Thank you Nick.' Saying that she sighed and took a shower to head for the day. Since her appearance in front of the entire parlor, the news had spread around the whole city of the throne being claimed soon. The city had awaited with baited breaths to welcome their heir and it was only a matter of time after Ella would be hunted as a wanted personality.
Dressed in a formal wear Ella headed to the parlor to find the expected gazes on her but she ignored all of them and went to her goal.
"I need to talk to you."
"Now? I'm busy Ella."
"My work is also important."
Her friend Daisy sighed and excused herself by calling up someone else to attend the reception on her behalf. She took Ella and entered an empty hall which to talk to her friend.
"What is it?"
"I need the minutes of the meetings held and recorded for the past two years of my absence. And six months before the party two years ago will also do." She answered thoughtfully.
"You do know that it won't be easy."
"I know. But I still want it."
Daisy sighed heavily to which her friend exclaimed, "You sigh too much! It's just some books and records that I'm asking for."
"Ella the minutes of the meetings are only available for the reference of the members. And you are not one."
Ella narrowed her eyes at that, when Daisy added, "Not yet."
"You are saying that the members can view the records but not the throne herself? The whole corporation is revolving around the throne and the legacy." Ella's voice increased with each word she spoke. Evidently her friend was scared looking at her, which made Ella calm herself down and try a different approach.
"I'm sorry for lashing out. It's just I've been tired with everything and now you are denying access to something that I should have... I don't know what to believe, who to trust, it's suffocating me within." Ella said desperately.
"Hey! It's alright, I get it. I'm here for you for any help you need," Daisy consoled her friend by hugging her. She continued, "But you know I can't do anything without the orders from the CEO. I'll just ask him."
She turned to ask about that to her boss, but Ella interrupted, "No! Um, I don't want to bother him. He told he would be in an important meeting and I didn't want to disturb him unnecessarily."
"Really? Strange, I thought he didn't have any important meetings today."
"It must be an emergency one."
"I'm sorry Ella. I can't give you access without the permission. I might lose my job!"
"I understand. It's okay. I'll wait." Ella smiled at her friend and continued, "You should resume your work. I'll wait in the palace."
Daisy hugged her friend again and said, "Thanks for understanding Ella." She waved at Daisy in response with an easy smile on her face. As soon as the door closed with a thud, her smile dropped, Ella counted for ten seconds after which she exited the hall towards the stairs up which was clearly not the way to the palace. With determined steps she reached the automated door of the Records room she was well aware of and showed the ID, which recorded as Daisy Collins to be accessing the room.
Though she had tricked her friend, it was all for a reasonable reason; that's what she reasoned herself. The Records room was practically a library for the Palace and its operations with its own studies and ideas evaluated and implemented by the ancestors of the throne. Taking in the surroundings of the room she heard the door to be clicking close after she entered. Not much was changed from the time she had left it away as she walked through the long hallway of stored books arranged in an array in descending manner. Starting from the present year and further proceeding through the previous ones. She took out the records she needed to inquire about and picked them to the rectangular table located in the corner to the wall, with no chair. Clearly the room was made in such a way that the viewers would only enter for reference basis and not any unnecessary snooping around.
As though she cared about that! Keeping the books on one side of the table, she took out her heels and freed the tightness around her waist by unhooking the skirt. Planting herself on the other end of the table cross-legged such that she leaned against the wall, it hid her entirely behind a row of records from afar. Going through all the books she was feeling quite tiresome that she craved a couple cups of coffee along with it; but she knew some things cannot be availed always.
The meetings that took place for the past two years weren't too eventful save for the members complaining that no new decisions are being formed and the meetings are such a waste of time. Such fools, thought Ella. The Legacy did have its rules to follow through but it can always be bended if taken necessary precaution. She knew it well because that was what her great grandfather had done during his reign. Her great-grandfather was posed with a situation where his father was indisposed with his drinking, and he was in a dire situation of needing extra supply of food for his people which necessitated the approval of the throne. To carry that out with his incompetent father was becoming increasingly difficult; hence he had influenced the regular supplier to employ and supply directly to the public. That didn't require any approval from the throne as he managed of transferring the authority to those who were not bound by any rules. Shortly after his heroic move, the throne was handed to him at a very young age, with the approval of the government and the public. He was the youngest heir among the Kings' to lead the throne.