Chapter 3

“WELCOME!”, the others chorused.

And both of them sat on the two vacant chairs.

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They sat, and were revealed to be; a dark-skinned guy on a long noble garment; his names was Tom, and a lady putting on black cloak, which had a hood to cover her head; she took off the cloak, and shows her face; she had black lipsticks, and was fair skinned; her name was Cerci. Tom was in his mid-30s, while Cerci; late 20s.

It was like Olivia, Judith, and Cerci had something in common that triggers their style of dressing and choosing of colors. Olivia uses red, Judith uses blue, and Cerci uses black.

“We’re sorry for breaking the rule by not attending three meetings,” Cerci apologized, while Tom added, “we travelled far east, but we’re back now”

“it’s good to have you back”, Eleanor said with a slight smile on her face.

“But sadly, we have a common issue to attend to; an urgent one”, Jack said.

King Hudson sighs; he knew he would be the topic of the night, so he spoke quickly, “I apologize for what I did… and I’m willing to pay for it… but do not alter her memory”

Jack chuckles softly, and replied, “We won’t alter her memory…”

“We’ll make her death quicker”, Olivia added. This echoed in the King ears and he turned to her direction, and yells back,

“How dare you!”

“on this table, we’re equal, and we will decide… she could tell anyone”, Olivia retorted back sharply.

Eleanor scoffs and yells at Olivia, “My sister wouldn’t tell anyone, and even if she does… you won’t be able to lay a finger on her… you’ll have to go through me, and I’m gonna stop you”

“Dare me…”, Olivia said as she stood up, leaving her position, Eleanor also did the same, and both stood right in front of each other.

“Ladies!”, Lois yells.

Olivia gasps and said sternly,

“Back off Eleanor”

Eleanor shakes her head in disagreement, while Tom said,

“This will be a collective decision… both of you should sit at once”

“He’s right”, Wayne commented

Eleanor grins and reluctantly sat back on her seat, while Olivia also went back to hers. King Hudson looked worried; he was about to speak, but Wayne said,

“We will vote…”, he clears his throat, “If you support that she should be spared, raise your right hand… Hudson, your vote won’t count, cause it’s your mistake, and I’m not voting too”

Judith, Eleanor, Baron, Blake, Lois, Emily, and Cerci raised their right hands. They had gotten the majority already, so Alcott, and Tom also raised their hands reluctantly. Jack slowly raised his hand too, and Olivia grins angrily, but she had to raise her right hand as well.

King Hudson heaved a sigh of relief, but Wayne said, “We still need to decide if her memory should be altered. If you support memory alteration, raise your right hand.

Jack, Olivia, Baron, Tom, Cerci, and Alcott raised their right hands; six of them supported memory alteration, while Judith, Eleanor, Blake, Lois, and Emily didn’t support.

Wayne and King Hudson were not allowed to vote; therefore, it was decided, “Her memory shall be manipulated”, Wayne said, while Jack smiled.

“Something else we have to talk about?”, Tom asked, and the King answered, “Yes… about the war with Hudderham”

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(EMILY’S HOUSE)

Harry was inside; he had cleaned the house. It was squeakily clean and he was waiting Emily’s arrival, cause it was now dark outside. But an idea struck his mind. He went into her room, and began to walk silently, like someone was around; but no one was.

He went towards a small wooden box; beside the wooden drawer which had ornaments of different kinds. He was about to open the wooden box, when he thought to himself,

“What could be in this thing? Should I open it…?”, He wondered, and finally decided to open the box.

As soon as he did, what he saw surprised him. The box was filled with potions and elixirs in small glass bottles. He exclaims, and the door flung open, it was just too late for him to drop it. Emily saw him holding one of the elixirs. His mouth was wide open; he knew he had gotten into trouble. He just trespassed, and would definitely be thrown out that night.

.

Emily slowly closed the door behind her; and he drops the elixir.

Harry stood up, but Emily locked the door behind herself, and this got Harry even terrified; making him swallow spit in his mouth. Seeing her fight earlier made him sure he would get his portion of spanking.

She didn’t look angry; but only surprised, and scared that he might know what kind of person she was. She stammered, saying,

“Why… why did you open that… box?”, she pointed at it.

Harry replies immediately, “I’m sorry, I have trespassed… I should probably leave now”

Harry knowing the kind of person she was would be catastrophic for her, and even him. If he reveals it to the public, or if he gets killed by the organization, or his memory gets altered, and then affect his mind and sense of reasoning; he could become a lunatic.

“No, I can’t let you leave… you’ll be in danger if you leave”, she said.

“What do you mean I’ll be in danger. I trespassed, and saw the flavors you use on your skin… I shouldn’t have”, Harry apologized.

Emily exclaims and heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that he didn’t know what it was. She moved closer to him, and said, “It’s alright… you didn’t trespass yet, but next time, don’t check it… please”

Harry nodded with a smile, and she held his hands; Harry was surprised. She looked into his eyes, and moved closer, then whispered into his ear,

“Disgusting…”, she chuckles softly, while he also laughed, “clean yourself even more, and dress like a noble from now on; you’re not just my cleaner, but you’re my tool; you’ll do whatever I ask you to do, anytime, and anywhere… even if I ask you to help me make rich nobles jealous by kissing me… be prepared for anything, and everything”

.

She went towards her bed, and as Harry was about to leave the room, she quickly thought to herself, “I need to keep him close, so I can always watch him”

“Wait”, she said aloud to him.

He turns back, while she continued,

“Change your clothes, and come back here… you’ll sleep over here on the floor, next to the bed; that’s your punishment for tonight’s mistake”, she said.

He was reluctant, but the look on her face made him nod, and then he went out of the room to get another outfit.

Emily smiles, and said to herself, “When he’s asleep, I’ll have to scan through his mind to confirm If he knows what it is… and if he does, I’ll have to protect him, I can’t lose my new friend”

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(THE PALACE)

(THE KING’S CHAMBERS)

King Hudson was in a casual outfit, and with him was his wife; Alice. You must’ve been wondering, ‘do they have a child?’. Yes, they do. Two children; a boy and a girl, and they were twins. They were just 14 years; Prince Maxwell, and Princess Hana.

But right now, the king and his wife had their privacy; he was speaking to her with a pale look,

“I wish… I wish I could change what has happened; but I’m helpless… I was supported by more to let you live; while the decision now made is to wipe your memory of what I told you, and…”

“shh”, she shushed him and said, “It’s fine… if it’s for the best, I’ll gladly accept that”

Hudson sighs, and replied, “No… no, I can’t let them do this to you”

“If they do, it could have diverse effects; effects that could make you not be you anymore… you could end up being a living dead”, he completed.

Alice gasps, while Hudson held her hands, and said;

“I promise… I won’t let this happen… I will do everything in my power to stop them… even if it means fighting against the others… I will protect you”