After a long night with the ladies and lots of chatter and laughter, Heaven went back home to sleep in her bed after such a long time. There was no place like home, and having her mother sleep next to her made it all better.
Her mother caressed her cheek. "How fast you have grown." She said, sounding sad. "You have been through a lot."
Heaven smiled at her.
"I want you to be happy now. Don't worry about me or your father. We have had many beautiful years together and if it is meant to be then we will have many more." She said.
Heaven nodded. "Everything is going to be alright." She didn't know whether she was telling herself or her mother.
Holding each other's hands, both went to sleep.
When the morning came, Heaven woke up alone in her bed. Her mother was gone. Instead, she found Kate preparing a bath.
"Kate." Oh, she had missed her, but Kate didn't even know about her absence.
Her mother told her of how they kept her absence a secret. They told everyone that she was sick and only Lydia, Ylva, and Kate could enter her room and tend to her. Lydia and Ylva already knew the truth, but they had to manipulate Kate to fit into the plan. Heaven felt bad looking at her innocent handmaiden.
"My Lady. I didn't mean to wake you but Her Majesty, the Queen told me to prepare a bath for you."
Heaven sat up. "You didn't wake me." She said, getting out of bed.
She stretched her limbs before looking at the hot water in the tub. Kate added some more water and then dipped her hand. "I think it is good now."
Heaven slid out of her nightgown, and Kate turned away, knowing she liked some privacy. Then she stepped into the tub and relaxed in the lukewarm water. Kate turned back around and helped her wash her hair. Heaven remembered what Zamiel's fingers felt like in her hair. She wished he could help her again.
After the bath, she had breakfast in her garden. She was slowly getting her appetite back and managed to empty her plate. Then she just sat with her cup of tea and enjoyed the peace for a while.
Everything seemed to be back in place, except for her grandparents. At least her grandmother was safe, but she wondered what her grandfather would do next. He would have to come up with another clever plan, or he could act recklessly. She would let Zamiel deal with him. Right now, she wanted to forget that her grandfather existed for a while.
Heaven left her room with a new spirit. Her grandfather's evil scheme had put her dreams on hold, but now she would go back to living her normal life. She would go back to her theoretical and practical lessons and continue to pursue her dreams.
Her father was in a meeting when she went to find him. She didn't want to interrupt, so she waited patiently outside until he finished.
Once the meeting ended, the door to the room opened and men flooded out. Lincoln was the first to notice her.
"Your Highness." He came up to her. "I am glad you are back and you are back at the right time."
"Thank you. What is happening?" she asked.
"The King of Haresh declared war against us." He said.
"Why?"
"Leaders are building empires now. Soon there will be no kingdoms. There is more war going on now than ever." He explained.
That didn't sound good. Would this mean that there could be more war declarations against them?
"Now is your chance." He told her. "General Kian had been looking for you. Him and his father are the ones to impress."
Heaven nodded, feeling nervous. This was a big war, and she felt like she didn't have enough knowledge yet to be of great help.
Lincoln noticed her worry. "Most people fail the first time. That is what we learn from."
Heaven smiled at him. "Thank you. I'll try my best."
"I know you will. I look forward to seeing what you come up with."
If she was going to take this as a learning experience, then she was curious to see what she could come up with as well. It was time to put what she had learned into practice.
Lincoln wished her luck and left. Heaven went to see her father. She had expected him to look troubled but he sat relaxed in his chair.
"I am glad to not see you worried, Your Majesty." Heaven spoke.
He looked up at her and smirked. "It is useless to worry about the inevitable and the unknown." He said, and she felt like it was meant for her.
"I am not worried." She told him.
"Good, because you will be participating in the war."
Heaven was surprised her father was letting her participate. She thought she would have to nag him. It would be a cowardly move to plan a war and not take part in it.
"We only have three days left?" He said.
What?! Lincoln left out that part.
"How can we plan a war in three days?" She asked.
"It is the King of Haresh's strategy. He had planned for a long time but he gave us a short notice. If we don't go out to fight him, he will come here and take over."
It seemed like this King didn't want to play fair.
Her father leaned over the table. "I used some tricks of my own. I have all the information we need." He told her.
Heaven nodded. Since that sneaky King was using his own dirty tricks, her father had used his demon forces. She knew he had demons working for him in secret.
"Remember, as a leader, you need to have the right people by your side. There is nothing you can do alone no matter how strong you are." He told her, standing up.
He walked around the table. "People you can trust and even those you can't. The important thing is to know who is the one to trust or not."
Heaven was confused by her father's sudden lecture. He came to stand in front of her. "You used to be so eager to quickly become a leader. Ignoring to follow the steps and what I say." He smiled. "That is part of being young, I guess. We want to do so many things at the same time. To see that you are being careful now, makes me realize how much you have matured so fast."
Heaven realized that her absence had made her parents all emotional. It was harder for them than she imagines.
"It is good to grow." She said. "You make it sound like a bad thing, father."
He smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. It was a different gesture than what she was used to. He usually put his hand on his soldier's shoulders."We are only young and foolish for a while. We should enjoy that part of our lives."
"I have enjoyed enough and I don't miss being foolish. I am already foolish enough." She assured him.
He chuckled and drew her into his arms. Heaven hugged her father back. He was making her emotional, too.
"I have missed you, daughter. My days felt dark without you."
"I miss you too." She said.
He held her for a while, then pulled back as if controlling himself. "I am guessing you have a lot to do." He said.
Yes. She had a war to plan.
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