-Kaden-

Camille excuses herself from the room and heads back upstairs with Renee in tow. Ahren looks like he wants to follow her but stays put.

"Is there anything particular you guys want for lunch?" Josie looks between Ahren and me.

Ahren stays quite but I shake my head, "No, love. Whatever was on the agenda will do."

"Okay." She kisses my cheek and then leaves the dining room.

"Ahren?" I say.

"Hmm?" He looks away from the spot he was staring at.

"I received a letter from Eadlyn just before breakfast." I tell him.

"What did she say?" He perks up at the name of our sister.

"French royal advisors held a meeting with Lady Daphne last night in secret and they have deemed the situation to take a turn for the worst in the next few days. It's going to get really bad for all royal family members and other important aristocrats. The advisors reached out to France's strongest ally to ask for refuge."

"They reached out to Illea?" Ahren catches up.

I nod, "Eadlyn wanted to extend refuge to all French royalty who want a safe haven from this mess but the Parliament has discouraged such a step as it'll put Illea at threat of insurgency too since the reason behind this uprising is still unclear."

"So Illea isn't offering refuge?" Ahren frowns.

"It is but only to Camille and you. They're labelling you family if any international concerns rise, which is the truth." I explain with a heavy heart.

"Camille will never leave her people. At least not until she gets answers." Ahren sighs.

"I have all my answers." Camille's faint voice drifts into the room. We both look up to find her in the doorway with a letter in hand and her face pale.

"Camille, what did the letter say?" Ahren is instantly out of his seat and I stand up too.

"Here." She whispers, holding out the letter to him. "I'm going back upstairs."

"What's happened now?" Josie asks, walking into the room from the kitchen door.

"It's something in this letter." Ahren replies as he holds it up and begins to read.

"Dear Camille,

I understand that you have lots of questions about why these people are revolting against the monarchy. And I owe you those answers. I wish I could have explained the past under different circumstances but this letter will have to suffice.

Camille, I understand that you dearly loved your father but in retrospect he greatly abused his powers as Prince Consort. France went to war with New Asia when you were only a little baby. Your father manipulated the board of advisors to pass a bill that allowed the French Army to forcibly recruit soldiers for the war. But his plan backfired immediately as people resisted.

So he changed tactics and instead promised everyone compensation within the next five years. The time came and went with some money paid. He kept adding extensions to the repayment time and then he died ten years ago. The people were kept at bay with little compensations from the treasury while I was still on the throne.

A few years ago the restlessness completely seized and we thought the people had forgotten but they had not. They were waiting for a new monarch to take the throne before they emerged again with full force, as we have found out last night.

Camille these people will have the blood of the men of their family in any way possible and at any cost. They won't harm the public for now but they will not hesitate to hurt the royal family. I want you to immediately leave for Illea. Illea has already accepted our request of refuge for you and Ahren.

Stay safe, Camille.

Your mother,

Daphne."

"Oh gosh." Josie has her hands pressed to her heart and she looks like she might cry any moment. I wrap an arm around her shoulders and draw her into a half hug.

"I'm going to talk to Camille." Ahren says, leaving the room.

"I can't even imagine what poor Camille is going through. Something so important that no one ever told her." Josie says, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Illea did not just extend refuge to Camille and Ahren. There's a direct order in the letter that was sent to me." I sigh.

"What?" Josie frowns, pulling away to look at me.

"Mom wants both of us home immediately regardless of whether Camille and Ahren join us or not." I break the news.

"What? But we can't leave them here. They will get hurt!" Josie exclaims.

With a sinking heart I nod, "Which is why we need to hope that Camille sees reason and agrees to leave with us because if the insurgents get to her, there will be nothing but chaos all over France as the monarchy topples."