A/N: The order of the chapters was messed up (not much) but I had missed this chapter while uploading the chapter after this. It is fixed now so please read this before going through the next chapter. My apologies for the inconvenience~
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With everyone gone, the only people left in the meeting room were the king, queen and her—the princess who was caught on her way to escape.
''Your Majesty,'' Queen Alexandra stood beside Amara as she looked at the king pleadingly, who in turn glanced at his wife helplessly.
''Do you think I stopped her here to punish her, my dear?"
''You did not?"
''You did not?"
Both Amara and the queen spoke up at the same time.
The king looked at the both of them wordlessly for a while and with a small shake of his head, he spoke, ''I need to inform you of something else, Amara.''
Amara waited but after a long while of waiting, no words came.
''You have grown into a sensible young woman...'' The king paused again.
''I know, father. I amaze myself sometimes too. But let us focus on what is important,'' With the officials gone, both father and daughter had dropped the formal titles.
Queen Alexandra covered her mouth with her palm as she giggled at Amara's words, ''I would not deny that as well.''
The atmosphere lightened and the king straightened up on his throne.
King Callahan sent a fleeting gaze towards his daughter before he looked away.
Amara's skin tingled with a hint of discomfort. It always happened when things were about to go wrong. In recent days, she had felt this way when Leah demanded to go to the nightclub and she had agreed while suppressing this feeling that there would be chaos. It had happened again on cruise which led to Leah harassing a youngster with her breakup tale. It had happened when she had worn Sybella's dress that barely touched her thighs. Worse, it was happening now. And the nagging feeling was even stronger than it had been back then.
''I have arranged for a new bodyguard for you.''
Amara's lips parted, ''But why?"
She instinctively touched her arm where the wound she had received from the nightclub still remained. But she had made sure to cover it. She had never once worn anything that revealed it since the moment she stepped her foot in here.
''James made a mistake,'' the king looked at her calmly, ''And you tried to hide it.''
''Did he...?" Amara's brows tugged together. Did James confess about everything that happened even when she had reminded him not to?
''Yes, he did. But this arrangement was in process even before that. And I was in dark about the events that transpired in New York.''
''Father, did you send more people to keep an eye on me? We had it decided that I will only have James by my side...''
''And I will not go back on my word, princess,'' he said, his voice way softer this time, ''I only sent James for your protection but just because you are in New York does not mean nobody recognizes you. Your brother's friend happened to be there in the nightclub that night.''
Amara took a deep breath, ''Regardless of it, James had been by my side for a long time now. He has never made a mistake before.''
''I am not asking for your opinion, Amara. It's a royal order.''
''Father...''
Queen Alexandra stepped forward, ''Your Majesty...''
The king glanced at her solemnly, ''I don't want you to back her up on all her wilful requests.''
She sighed and turned to Amara, ''My dear one, you should be tired after such a long journey. Why don't you go back and get some rest first? We can discuss this later.''
Amara stepped back and curtsied to the both of them. Before she left, she looked at her father with a clear gaze, ''Father, I don't want James to be fired because of this single mistake he made. And I don't need a new bodyguard. In the worst case scenario, if you still persist in firing him, then this princess will try to learn self defense for protecting myself,'' her neck seemed to have fallen limp to the side as she spoke.
''You... Do you know what you are saying?"
''I am just suggesting that I should start learning martial arts so father doesn't have to worry about hiring a new bodyguard for me. It does not matter that I haven't run a lap or two since I was young. I will learn how to fight, despite the bruises I might accumulate in the process...''
''Oh, my pitiful dear...'' Queen Alexandra bit the corner of her handkerchief, seemingly trying to hold her tears back.
''Moreover, hiring bodyguards is not cheap at all. If I learn to protect myself, you can save that money and put it in the royal treasury. The state treasurer would be over the moon.''
''Do you think this country is so poor that we need to save money by cutting off a princess's protection expenses?" The king questioned.
''Drop by drop turns into an ocean, father. This princess will find myself worthy if I can save even a penny and contribute it to the country's greater cause.''
''Such a wise and understanding princess,'' Queen Alexandra sighed, ''Your Majesty, I feel distressed to see the princess in this plight. Maybe...''
''You both...'' The King closed his eyes, inhaled a deep breath and looked at Amara, ''Are you threatening me?"
''A threat. I dare... not,'' Amara tilted her head to the side.
''You dare. You obviously dare,'' The king nodded, ''Fine. If you won't accept it the easy way, then we will go around it to get it done.''
Amara's eyelid twitched slightly.