At my words, Chloe tried to slap me but was stopped by Jasper. He tossed her back behind my mother but lightly enough that she stayed on her feet. Only then did my mother notice that Jasper was standing next to me. She plastered on a fake smile as she addressed him.
"Prince Jasper, I did no see you there. Please forgive me for doing so. How long have you been there?" she asked with worry lacing her tone.
"Oh since you know, you slapped your own daughter." he said with a shrug and a slight smile which made me chuckle at the look on my mother's face.
My mother turned towards me as I did so. "You think this is funny?!" she shouted as she went to slap me again but Jasper's words stopped her.
"You will pay mind to how you will act in front of me, Elizabeth." Jasper said to my mother. She gasped at being addressed so informally in front of others and by a prince to boot.
"I am Queen Elizabeth and you will address me as such." my mother shouted.
"No. You used to be Queen Elizabeth. Now you are merely Elizabeth. Queen regent or Queen mother is just out of respect for your previous title. You hold no true power. Lets be honest, that is why Chloe married Edward. To save both you and Catherien. My father was not very pleased to be thrown in a costly war all for it to be utterly useless." Jasper replied.
"Whatever. I will address and act which ever way I deem fit towards my daughter. You have no say in that whats so ever." my mother huffed out.
Jasper turned to me and said, "Melia can you please go on ahead to the kitchen with Ash and Jake? Ash doesn't know the way. I will be there once I discus a few things with Elizabeth."
I agreed to his request since I knew that if I stayed any longer then I would be a bawling mess. I could see that him and the other two could sense that as well. So I quickly left the hall. As I was entering the kitchen, I could hear my mother screaming but I could not make out what she was saying.
Before long, Jasper joined us in the kitchen and we all ate our meals. The boys chatted about training and other things which I paid no mind since I was getting very tired from they days events. Jasper suggested that we all head back to the lake house and continue everything there. So we brought back extra food for the men.
I showed Jasper and Ash the extra rooms in the loft in case they wanted to stay since I knew that Jake was going to since most nights that I was here, he was too. It worried him sometimes that I would spend too much time out here alone, so to compromise I allow him to stay here at night with me as long as I get some time alone throughout the day.
After I showed them the rooms, I went into my closet and changed into a pair of comfy sweats and took off my corset. I put on a tank top under my shirt since I was not the only one here tonight. I said good night to the guys as they helped me open the dock doors. I crawled into bed after they returned to the living room and resumed their conversation. I found another box on my pillow with a note again tonight. So I picked up the small box and read the note.
For the Queen of all men. Your ship awaits.
-Jasper Ive, Prince of Braxton
P.S. Sweet dreams.
I smiled wide as I opened the white wood box to find a silver necklace with a silver ship charm. Tears welled up in my eyes at the sight of it. It was a replica of the ship I was sailing on with my father when he died. I put it on then laid down in bed. I fell asleep holding the ship between my fingers in my left hand while I reread his note over and over in my right hand.