Back at the manor, Krystal, Musa, and Cassandra were seated around the dining room table enjoying their breakfast. Krystal and Cassandra had no idea about Helia and Flora's union but Musa knew of everything.
"It has been nearly a week and there has been no news. Tell me, Musa. What did the prince say to you?" Cassandra coldly asked as she took a bite of her egg.
"Well, I can't be too sure what was said. It all happened so quickly." Musa timidly replied as she waved her fork in the air around her head to mimic a whirlwind.
"Spit it out, Musa! What did you two speak about!?" Krystal shouted.
"I think he said something along the lines of, 'Shame of me to choose a Solarian over your...sister'." Musa said with a faint smile across her lips.
Krystal started to wickedly giggle as she bounced lightly in her chair.
"Well then. I think that we should allow the prince to wallow for a bit. Let him realize what a prize that he had risked." Cassandra smirked as she returned to her breakfast.
However, as Cassandra and Krystal's forks returned to their food the doorbell rang and all three of the women shot up to answer it.
Cassandra made her way to the front of the girls and opened the door to reveal Riven dressed up in the uniform worn by the Royal Guard.
"What are you doing here?" Cassandra sneered as she looked down at Riven.
"I uh, I work for the palace now."Riven responded as he looked up at Cassandra.
"Very well, what is it that you want?" Cassandra asked once again, a little less harsh in her tone.
"The Royal Family of Linphea wish an audience with Countess Cassandra and her two daughters. The King and Queen demanded that you arrive in style." Riven smiled.
"And in style we shall be." Cassandra smirked as she and Musa ran back inside of the house. Musa smiled and winked at Riven before gently shutting the door.
At the palace, Cassandra, Musa, and Krystal walked into the throne room where they saw every courtier of the province in the room but paid them no attention as they bowed in front of King Henry, Queen Margaret, and Prince Helia. Their bow was cut short when they heard King Henry's booming voice.
"Countess, did you or did you not steal from and lie to the Queen of Linphea?"
Cassandra's head shot up and knowing that she was caught for the jewelry that was stolen from the Queen's bedchamber and the web of lies that she had woven to gain Queen Margaret's good graces.
"Speak wisely for these words may be your last." Queen Margaret said.
"A mother would do anything for the love of her daughter your highness." Cassandra nervously chuckled.
"MOTHER! How dare you lie to the royal family! Your Majesty, like you I am a victim in this whole situation." Krystal lied.
"Oh don't act so innocent!" Cassandra snapped towards Krystal.
"Are they always like this, Musa?" Queen Margaret asked.
"Worse, Your Majesty." Musa replied.
"How does she know your name Musa. I wouldn't think that you would have had anything to do with this." Cassandra whispered towards Musa.
"Of course not, mother." Musa sarcastically said towards Cassandra.
"I certainly did though." Riven chuckled as he walked up to Musa and placed his arm around her waist gaining a look of disgust from Cassandra.
"Countess Cassandra, you and your daughter are hearby stripped of their title and are to be shipped to the colonies on the next available boat. That is if someone would be crazy enough to speak up for you." King Henry announced.
Cassandra quickly turned to the full room of courtiers with a look of pleading on her face only to be met with looks of disdain, until finally a voice broke out.
"I will speak for her. After all she is my step-mother."
Cassandra recognized the voice but grew confused as she saw the room bow before the voice. Cassandra saw Musa bow as well. Cassandra turned around to see Flora in an ornate pink gown with silver floral trimming standing at the front of the throne room. Cassandra looked up and saw the small tiara that sat on top of Flora's head.
"Krystal," Helia addressed, "I don't think that you have been formally introduced to my wife."
Krystal looked up in shock at Flora standing beside Helia.
Cassandra continued to look up until she saw Flora walk towards her and Krystal with a sweet look on her face. When Flora stood in front of Cassandra, Cassandra gave Flora a reluctant curtsy and Krystal shockingly followed.
Flora turned back to the King and Queen, "I only ask that they be shown the same mercy that they have bestowed on me for the last thirteen years of my life."
The King and Queen nodded their heads and Flora smiled as she turned back to Cassandra.
"From this moment on, I will not allow myself to think about you, Krystal, or the things that you have done to me but I know that you will always remember me and have to live with what you did for the rest of your life."
"Get them out of my palace." King Henry ordered and two guards ushered Krystal and Cassandra out of the throne room and past the palace gates.
Months passed and Krystal and Cassandra were becoming accustomed to their new lives as washer women cleaning the palace linens and other fabrics that needed washing by the nobility and the clergy of the province. Krystal and Cassandra had bickered as they always had and Cassandra had a hard time getting over the fact that she was no longer of noble stature, yet the head woman of the wash had no qualms about putting either woman in their place.
Musa on the other hand, had been involved in a serious relationship with Riven that he announced his intention to marry her and she had said yes. The two were already living together in the manor with the rest of the former servants of the manor working on the farm and tending to the house. Musa, and Riven, were both happy to be rid of Cassandra and Krystal and finally have some semblance of peace and quiet, free to enjoy each other's company.
In a small study, Flora was seated in a large velvet chair by a fire reading, quietly reading a book. She flipped through the pages but was only stopped when she felt two strong arms wrap around her shoulders.
"I was reading you know." Flora giggled as she set the book down on her lap.
"I know." Helia smiled as he walked around to face Flora. Helia sat in the large chair across from Flora but Flora stood up and walked over to him to sit in his lap.
"What did I tell you about interrupting me when I was reading?" Flora slyly smiled as she wrapped her arms around Helia's neck.
"Not to do it." Helia smiled back leaning in to Flora.
"Correct, Your Highness." Flora whispered to Helia.
"I thought I told you to call me Helia." Helia brought his lips to Flora's as Flora brought herself closer to Helia.
The End! I hope that you liked the ending. If not, well, that is how it ended :) Thank you for reading and be sure to check out my other stories as well and feel free to leave comments and suggestions because they let me know what you want and help me become a better and more creative writer.