The Rise

George immediately stopped making the coffee and widened his hands on the kitchen counter with his back facing Leon. He starts to chuckle and his body shakes as he chuckles more and more.

"You know, part of me wants to kill you right now, but part me is relieved - that I don't have to end things with Layla." said George as he turns around. This time he wasn't laughing, but was looking at Leon from the top of his eyes with a menacing stare.

"But I ignored her, made her cry and suspected her when she did nothing wrong. I hurt her for no reason and that's on you even if you did try to make things right. It may not be today, or tomorrow, or next year, but our paths will cross again - and when they do, I'll be sure to repay the debt. Get out of my house." said George coldly.

Leon looked down and away, thinking of words to say, but left without saying anything. On his way out he was greeted again by the paparazzi, but this time he didn't cover his face or lower his head. He walked straight ahead without flinching until he got into his car and left.

Meanwhile a meeting between Hilda Cottonwood and a royalist who was coerced by Gideon to talk, was occurring. They sat on a ebony bench in an emptied public hall that was part of the parliamentary building. The bench was directly facing a large marble statue of Hilda Cottonwood in which she had one hand behind her back and another brought forward, palms facing upward as if she were explaining something. The plaque at the bottom in silver letters read:

"Hilda Cottonwood

As recognition for her diplomatic services for the nation and innovation in public affairs."

The royalist was leaning on his t.h.i.g.hs with his elbows. His hands were intertwined in front of him as he fidgeted with them. He tried his best to not look at Hilda directly, neither her flesh nor her statue. She sat with upright posture admiring the statue. The perimeter of the hall was secured by several secret service agents. Hilda usually didn't leave her home, but when she did, she was always escorted like royalty by Gideon's men.

"Did you have to bring me out here in front that thing. I've already said I'll talk, you don't have to keep intimidating me" said Vero, the royalist

"It's not for you, it's for me. Here was the last time I met Phillip Hunt. It was many years ago, you may have never heard of him." she said

"I've heard." he said quickly

"The man nearly took my kingdom from right beneath me. Of all the powerful men and women I've met, there are only two that when I looked into their eyes, I felt fear. One of them was Phillip, neither of them was your little prince Thomas." she said turning around towards Vero

"I get it, you took care of Phillip, so Thomas is child's play. Are you going to ask me the questions you came here to ask or will we just reminisce?" said Vero still looking away from Hilda and fiddling

"The media fiasco." said Hilda demanding answers

"We don't know everything, but it's his way of exerting pressure on you to get what he wants from the election." said Vero

"Since his puppet principle and minister are gone, he's trying to stop me from choosing a winner through some sham media pressure." concluded Hilda

"Yes, as far as we know. The pressure should directly affect the Prime Minster." said Vero

"Why the election? There's no way Thomas will get Sinclair into the shadow council and even if he did, what does it mean?" said Hilda

"It was never about getting Sinclair into the shadow council, it was about proving that he could. You would never allow a royal into the council, but Thomas found a way to bypass that. If he's able to land a few punches on the untouchable Hilda, it would prove you were weak." said Vero

"So the royalists won't side with Thomas until he wins?" asked Hilda

"I've never met you in my life, but the one thing I've always felt towards you was fear. Maybe some believe in the ideals of the council, but what about those who don't. The only reason they stay in line, the one thing that unifies them, is the fear of Hilda Cottonwood. What happens when Thomas takes that away?" said Vero.

Hilda smiles.

"You weren't caught by Gideon, were you? You gave yourself up willingly, you're a convoy for the royalists. Well you've successfully reached me, what do you have to say?" said Hilda

"The reason you have all the royalist names is most likely because Thomas is responsible for leaking them slowly. It's his plan B if he can't win the election. To pressure you into lashing out at us and forcing us to follow Thomas' orders, no matter what happens. I'm here to tell you, the royalists won't budge until the election is sorted. But if you press us, we will have no choice." said Vero

"What an absolutely ridiculous stance." she said smiling

"The only royalists that have gone against you are the minister, Lance and principal Earl, the rest of us haven't done anything." said Vero

"Not yet. You've just admitted the royalists will side with a traitor. And now that you're exposed you're trying to buy time." she said

"The way we see it is that we won't side with Thomas until he holds up his part of his deal and proves he's fit to take over. Why would we pledge allegiance to a mutineer who can't even touch the reigning queen? We would be handing our lives over to an incompetent person. We set the rules, Thomas is trying to weasel out of it and we won't bend. If you defeat Thomas, then one of us will be made an example of and we deserve that for our failed coup, but if you come after us all now, then we'll have no choice but to side with Thomas. Even if you're able to drag him down after we follow the rest of his plan, then we were going to lose anyway. Our names are out there, we're deep in this and we're only trying to play our cards right. You of all people should understand that." said Vero pleadingly.

Hilda leans back and looks up at her statue staying silent. She then calls one of the agents with the wave of her hand. He quickly went to Hilda waiting attentively for orders.

"Take him home and secure the house. He is not to make any calls or leave the house until the end of the election." she ordered and then immediately stood up

"Wait, what? Why?!" he called to an indifferent Hilda.

Hilda simply looked down at him, both the flesh and the statue, with cold eyes. She then walked away ignoring his appeals.