Breaking Into Pieces

Chapter 4: Spring Break Part 2

Being High King wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Ever since he'd said goodbye to his parents, waving them off as they left for their six-month cruise, Ben felt like he hadn't had a moment to himself. If he wasn't in the throne room receiving visitors, he was in his office working. Everyone wanted a meeting or interview with the new King. Legislations, invitations, petitions, he'd lost track of all the papers that had ended up on his desk, or strewn throughout the room when he couldn't stand to sit still any longer.

He had been trained to be king, but somehow his father hadn't prepared him for this. He barely even had time to think about the Isle of the Lost, let alone start an investigation into the shipping logs and birth records.

It wasn't something he could just pass off onto anyone, either. He wasn't usually one to be suspicious of people, but after the Viewing he couldn't help but wonder if there was something more going on. For heaven's sake, there was an entire department dedicated to the Isle of the Lost! And yet, what the Fates had shown, and what the Vks revealed, shocked many of them. So all he could think was that there had to be people who didn't want him, or his parents, to really know what was going on on the Isle.

The thought was still running through his mind as he went to go over yet another document from the Side-Kicks Association when his secretary, Debora, rang to tell him he had a visitor.

"Send them in." He told her, dreading to see who'd walk through his door. His dread turned to relief, however, when a familiar dark haired girl walked in, a large bag swung over her shoulder.

"Jane," He greeted cheerfully, gesturing for her to sit down. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

She smiled back, ignoring the chairs and couch and standing in front of his desk instead. "Sadly, it's not all pleasure." She said as she reached into her bag. "While I did want to come check on you, I also brought some papers mom needs signed. Your mom is still the head of the school committee, and with her off at sea and the rest of the members scattered and unreachable with all the celebrations going on, my mom decided that as High King, you can okay the new chemistry teacher."

"Mr. Deley's gone, then?" Ben asked, with Jane nodding in response, as he took the folder from her. He scanned the form, surprise and delight spreading across his face. "Now I wish I hadn't already taken chemistry."

Jane laughed, "I'm so excited!" She told him. "I was dreading Mr. Deley's class, but I might actually pass with her teaching instead. She'll be so much better than he was."

That was an understatement. No one liked Mr. Deley, and he was one of Auradon Prep's worst teachers. Sometimes, Ben wondered how he'd even lasted for as long as he had.

Once he finished signing the papers, he handed the folder back. "Is there something else?" He asked, as he noticed Jane fidgeting with her bag's straps.

She blew out a breath. "You're not going to like it." She warned, before pulling her phone out and showing him an article.

She was right, he didn't like it.

Obviously, he knew that articles were going to be, and already were, being written about him, Audrey, and Mal, but nothing like this. Honestly, he should have expected it, but maybe he naively believed that his status and Audrey's parents would be enough to keep the worst away.

To make it worse, it wasn't even from an op-ed or tabloid. At least those were expected and would be easier to deal with. But no, it was from The Harbor Post, one of the most influential papers in Auradon.

His face darkened as he read the allegations thrown at Mal and Audrey, painting both girls as villains and himself a saint. He grabbed his phone and made a call while Jane watched. While he couldn't personally call the paper, that would just cause even more problems, he could get his press team and lawyers on it. He just hoped that the girls hadn't seen it yet.