Abigail's...bodyguard?!

Micah was shocked, and he stayed that way as they went into the carriages for both royal families. He sat in the open carriage one with Katherine, Abigail and Percy, and he waved to the crowd as they went by, but his mind was on Konrad, someone who may or may not poison Abigail into hating him, thinking that she saw him with Olivia when it was actually his twin brother. How can he get her and Konrad alone so he can make him confess to what he did to her?? To them?!

The more he was lost in thought, the more his silence confused both Katherine and Percy-especially Katherine, who was making sure her secret was well hidden. She was glad that she wasn't showing yet, but in a couple more months, she's going to announce that she's going to stay at her grandparents place and hide there until it happens. Until then, she leaned back and kept playing the nice, prodigal princess, smiling and waving till the smiling hurt her cheeks.

Abigail was waving as well, but her eyes slipped over to Micah every once in a while. This morning's conversation rocked her quite a bit, and now she was going through everything about that day in her mind. She knew it was Micah she saw with that bitch, so why does her heart skip a beat when he leaned in, about to kiss her-as if he wanted to? She didn't know what to think, even when the carriages were pulled up to the castle and everyone got out.

"Abby?" Thorne asked, breaking her thoughts, making her jump a bit. "You okay?"

She nodded. Abigail didn't want to worry her brother too much. "I'm good. But I think you need to check on Percie," she said, turning to their younger brother. "I think he's about to blow up if he doesn't kiss his boyfriend."

Thorne looked over to their little brother, who was trying to be coy enough to grab Weston's hand, so they can walk inside together. He bit back a grin as he snatched his hand back as King Robert walked up behind them and placed his hands on both of the boys' shoulders. "I think we should have lunch in the gardens, don't you think?" he asked. "The daffodils and the grape hyacinths are in bloom now. Percival, can I see you in my office for a moment?"

Percy blinked, shocked at his father. His stomach started doing flipflops as he nodded and followed his father to his office. Once he closed the door behind him, he slowly sat down and gulped at his father. "What is it, father?" he asked slowly.

King Robert took a deep breath before pushing a manila folder across from him. Hands shaking, Percy took the folder and opened it.

A bill rested there, and he had to read it twice to make sure he was reading it right.

It was a LGBTQA+ bill for anyone to get married, including any royal family member.

Percy read over the bill, to make sure he was reading it correctly, and it wasn't a goddamn sick joke. "Dad..." he said, looking up at him, shocked. "Is this...what I think it is?"

Robert nodded. "Why do you think Marcella's husband haven't been here?" he said with a small smile. "He told me how the queer community's been suffering for so long, hiding themselves, not being about to have their parade in June." he explained, making Percy's head snap up after hearing those words come out of his father's mouth. Queer? Parade? "And he also told me about how they want to get married so much-they even have a law in the US about it. But there is one more reason why I'm doing this."

"Why?"

"I see the way you flinch and get upset each time these issues about the queer community affects you, and then today...seeing you with Weston..."

Oh...oh no.

Oh dear gods, no!

"I wanted to wait till Christmas-"

"I know you did. But I've been noticing the way you look at him, and it's love son. I know me and your mother had plans for you to get married and have a heir, but I can't change you for who you are. I know you're happy with Weston-I can tell."

Percy sat there, trying to figure out how to respond to that. He felt like that he'd been let out of the closet a little bit too early that he planned-was the closet door that damned transparent? "How'd you know I was gay?" he asked instead.

Robert laughed at that. "Son, me and your mother been knew you were gay, ever since you started dressing up in Katherine's dresses. I also knew because you're always sneaking boys up in your dorms."

With a nervous laugh, Percy released a breath. "So you're not...disappointed in me?" he asked slowly.

"What? No," Robert shook his head as he got up and went over to him. "I'm not disappointed. I'm disappointed that you didn't tell me, but I understand now. And don't worry-I can keep your secret till Christmas."

Percy nodded, feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He thought it was going to be bad, that his father signed an anti-hate bill against the queer community, but to know that he was going to sign one that'll let anyone get married, no matter who they loved, brought a huge smile on his face. "When will this go into effect?"

"Christmas morning. That was going to be my Christmas present to you. But don't tell your mother yet. I want it to be a surprise." Robert told him, making Percy laugh. He got up and hugged him, trying to hide the tears in his eyes, but they came down anyway.

"Thanks, dad." he whispered.

Robert patted him on the back, tears coming down his face. "You're welcome, son. You're welcome. You deserve this, all of this. And I'm sorry about everything I said."

~*~*~*~*

"Hey, Vic?" Katherine called after knocking on the door.

Victoria looked up from the baby catalog and smiled at Katherine, waving her in. "I was just about to get me something to eat," she said. "Would you like something?"

"N-No, thank you," Katherine answered as she sat down. "It's just...I'm worried about Sylvestre." she said slowly, wondering how she could pull Victoria in. "He's getting married to one of the Morettis."

"Uh huh." Victoria closed the catalog and set it aside, giving her sister-in-law her full attention. "Which one?"

"Francesca."

"Fannie's marrying Sylvestre?!" Victoria gasped, making Katherine lean back a bit at the nickname.

"You...you know Francesca too?" She thought she was the only one that knew the Moretti princess, but she guessed not.

"Of course I do! We went to high school and college together." Victoria explained with a smile before bringing back down. "You don't want them to get married, do you?" she guessed. "You're in love with Sylvestre, aren't you?"

A noise of confusion came out of Katherine's mouth. "What?! No, I'm not in love with him!" she protested. "I'm not...we're just...friends. With benefits." at the confession, her cheeks turned red and she turned to the side, glad that she threw her hair into a ponytail. "And..and I'm pregnant, Vic. With his baby."

Victoria blinked, wondering if she heard her right. "Sorry, what?"

"I'm pregnant." Katherine repeated, this time a bit lower.

The news rocked her, and the Duchess leaned back on the sofa. Katherine was pregnant...the press would go wild with this. She thought she was happy about her pregnancy, but now there were two women in the Pershing household pregnant..."What do you want to do about the press, Kat?" she asked slowly. "Do you want to make an announcement, or?"

"No! Gods no! If I did, mom and dad would kill me. I was thinking as soon as I show, I go to my grandparent's place in Leisure and wait out the rest of the months until I have the baby." Katherine answered. "But..."

"But?"

"I don't...don't know if I want to..." Katherine's voice started to falter at the thought of complications and all that-and on top of that, she didn't know if she was even ready to have a baby. "Abort it."

"Is that what you want to do?" Victoria asked sincerely. She heard of women getting abortions when they aren't ready to have a baby, or have been raped by an attacker or a family member. "This is up to you, Katherine. If you can't handle it, then you get that abortion. If you want to keep it, then goddamn it, keep it."

"Keep what?" Thorne asked as soon as he walked in. He didn't hear the whole conversation, but the way his wife was talking, it sounded serious, and somehow it involved his sister, who had her face turned and was blushing, hiding her face with her hair. "What's going on?"

"Vic," Katherine said in a weak voice, shaking her head. "Please. Not Thorne."

"Katherine...what's going on? Are you alright?"

"Sweetie...sit down." Victoria said, patting the seat next her. "I think...this requires you and me to have a long talk with Katherine here about her choices."

"Choices?" Thorne echoed as he sat down. What choices is his wife talking about? "What choices are you talking about, Vic?"

"A very important one." Victoria said sternly. "And I don't think you sister knows what will happen if she keeps or not keep her little secret, and how much of a consequence it'll be to the whole kingdom."