𝑨 𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑴 𝑰𝑺 𝑨 𝑾𝑰𝑺𝑯 𝒀𝑶𝑼𝑹 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑻 𝑴𝑨𝑲𝑬𝑺

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝟒𝟖

NOTE: WHY DID THIS UPDATE TAKE SO LONG OHMYGOD IM SO SORRY IM SUCH A SLOW WRITER THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE OUT SOON I PROMISE I'LL WRITE AS FAST AS I CAN THIS IS PART ONE OF TWO FOR FAMILY DAY AND THEN ITS THE CORONATION ENJOY AHHHHHSLKDFLJFBVBS

FAMILY DAY DRESS UP TOP KAY BYE AGAIN IM SO SORRY OMFG

~~~

Delphina didn't know how much time had passed. Ben had managed to move her from a heap on the floor to the couch, where everyone shifted around until she was laying down with her head in Ella's lap, her legs in Audrey's, and Ben and Chad sitting on the floor so they could be at eye level with her if need be.

Her family refused to hang up the video call, trying to offer whatever support they could.

Everyone was talking amongst themselves, trying to figure out how to move forward, but Delphina couldn't calm herself enough to form any words.

Her own people hated her.

She hadn't even been gone two months.

A month was all it took for them to turn on her?

She had spent her whole life making a name herself and gaining their respect and all it took to undo it was one month?

Where was she supposed to go from here?

How do you save your people when your people hate your guts?

The tears began building again and Delphina squeezed her eyes shut, praying she wouldn't break down again in her aunt's lap.

"Hey..." A hand came up to stroke her cheek, catching the few tears that leaked out. Through bleary eyes, Delphina met Ben's concerned gaze as he moved a piece of hair out of her face. "Look at me. It's gonna be OK," he assured gently. Delphina only shook her head the best she could, more tears beginning to spill.

"You don't know that," she choked out. Ben sighed softly, ducking his head so he could meet her eyes, pressing his forehead against hers tenderly.

"I know that you are the most amazing girl I have ever met. And I know that you can turn anything, and I mean anything, in your favor."

"This is different," Delphina muttered. "The people of the Isle...things like loyalty and solidarity are everything to them. And they think I've just thrown it out the window. I...I don't think I can fix this, Ben." Tears began to choke up her voice again and Ben was quick to try and soothe her emotions, murmuring comforts that went in one of Delphina's ears and out the other.

"Hey," Audrey spoke up, shaking Delphina's ankle lightly. "In no way are you in this by yourself. We're gonna help you through this, Dell."

"And you've got us on the inside," Anthony reminded from the video call. "If we spread enough whispers in the right places, we can get your public image back on track in no time."

Ben didn't move from his spot next to Delphina, but turned to face the rest of the group, moving to grasp one of Delphina's hands instead. "We might be able to do some damage on our end, too. The people of the Isle watch the news for any updates on the Isle kids and the transfer program, right?" Uma and Anthony nodded simultaneously and Ben thought for a moment. "OK...What if we name Fina 'Ambassador of the Isle'? She'll be at the forefront of the movement to free the children of the Isle."

"It wouldn't go over well with the public here," Kit mused softly. "They already aren't her biggest fan. Putting her at the head of a massive social reform program? It would certainly ruffle some feathers."

"Yeah, well, the public here can get bent," Chad snarked, earning a small snort from his father and a ghost of a smile from Delphina.

"Buddy, if you're gonna be a king, you can't exactly think like that about your subjects," Kit sighed, but Audrey only shook her head with a small hum.