Chapter 6: watch your back
Zuri's POV
The next day, I went down for breakfast and Emily was there. I could see the way she stared at my injured knuckles and wrist.
I paid no attention to her whatsoever as I kept my whole attention glued to the newspaper I was holding.
"Good morning" she murmured and sat down.
"How are you feeling, Emily?" I asked without taking my eyes off of the news paper.
"Better than you. Shouldn't you be in a clinic or something?" She asked me and pointed at my wrist.
I dropped the newspaper on the table and stared at my wrist like I was just seeing it for the first time too.
hmm...I was so used to the pain, I barely acknowledged it.
I shrugged and answered my sister's question.
"Hmm, I guess. Shall we eat breakfast, little sister?"
"You eat breakfast in your part of the palace, King Zuri or at least, that is what you've done the past week. Which brings me to my question? Why is his majesty gracing poor little me with his presence?" Emily asked and poured a glass of water for herself even though she was supposed to let someone else do it for her.
I looked at her and I kept a blank face.
"Can't a king have breakfast with his baby sister without some ulterior motive?"
She blinked. "Is that a trick question?" She asked me.
I was about to say something snarky when we heard a scream. it was pru's voice.
I smiled and I stopped myself from yelling mission accomplished…at last, I get to deal with one menace since the white knight was a kid behind a mask and therefore I was forbidden to punish her but Agent Shoemaker was fair game.
Emily looked at me but I kept my eyes glued to the paper I picked up from the table.
"What did you do?" She accused me even before Pru entered the dining room looking like a drenched chicken.
"Nothing" I said with a smile.
"You son of a bitch! You glued my hair to a pillow!" Pru yelled and pointed at me.
"Did I? That doesn't sound like me, diplomat but hey, you can always go back to your country and there is no need for name calling. It's so childish"
"Says the man that glued my hair!" Pru yelled and grabbed the bread knife on the table but she hardly made two steps when she was suddenly restrained by royal guards that somehow materialized from thin air.
"Attempting to kill a reigning monarch, isn't that punishable by death?" I asked and crossed my legs.
"It's a bread knife!" Pru yelled
"I beg to differ but I am in a charitable mood, so how about I just lock you up for a few hours instead" I told her.
"You won't get away with this" Pru looked like she was about to burst into flames.
"You are still not getting the point" I stood up and moved closer to her to whisper to her "I get away with everything. I am king"
As the guards led Pru away she turned to me with a smile on her face like I didn't just grounded her like a little child and she said "Watch your back, oh king. We would hate for something to happen to it"
I shrugged and sat back down.
"I always do" I told her.
As soon as Pru left Emily turned and she locked her gaze on me like dart. I tried to ignore her but it was inevitable.
"What?" I asked and started eating the food in front of me
"You glued her hair" she murmured flatly. It wasn't even a question.
"You can't prove it" I said and took a bite of the bread in front of me.
"It's time like this that I am very grateful I didn't grow up with you. You would have glued my hair, among other mischievous things"
"Or I would have been the best brother you have ever had (then I chuckled) I guess we would never know" I said and kept eating.
We were almost done with breakfast when an older man entered the dinning room holding a document. He didn't approach us but simply stood by the corner.
"What is it, Winston?" I asked without looking up.
"I will wait until you are done with breakfast, your majesty" Winton turned to Emily and he said.
"I am Winston Duke, the king's special advisor, your royal highness"
"More like a persistent staph infection I can't get rid of" I murmured inaudibly.
"That's not very nice, king Zuri. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Winston" Emily told Winston.
I grabbed the napkin and dabbed my mouth before I dropped it on the table.
"You are right, sister…he is more like a toe fungus because I can't get rid of him"
"I just need you to sign the document, sir and you won't see this face lurking…I promise" Winston waved the document in the air.
"Just bring the document, Winston. Let's make a Deal, if i sign off on the stupid celebration to commence tomorrow and I don't get to see your face for the rest of the day" I grabbed the document and signed it.
"What celebration?" Emily was suddenly curious but I ignored her.
"...and get someone to walk Emily through her duty during the House of lords convention in the morning, Winston"
"I am sorry, what?" Emily almost choked on her food.
I looked at her and I tried to calm her nerves.
"Oh don't worry! It's nothing you can't handle. Just smile, sit still and look pretty, and keep your mouth shut and when the whole tedious affair is over, shake a couple of hands and call it a day" I explained the best way I know.
"I think the people are happy to have a princess, sir" Winston chipped in.
I exhaled. Like I said…a persistent foot fungus.
"Why are you still here?" I asked him and he smiled, picked up the document and left the room.
"What celebration are we having?"
I stood up and for a second, I thought I was going to leave without answering her question but then i surprised myself by saying "It's our father's One year death anniversary, Emily"
"What killed Father, Zuri?"
I looked at her.
I would rather be anywhere else but there with her.
"What else? Death killed him"