ALEX
I had so much time with Mia and her Mother that I forgot all about the palace, well until now. Clint arrived at Mia's house with fear on his face, it was rare to see such an expression, especially with him.
"Is something wrong?" I asked him as soon as we excused ourselves from Mia and her mother's presence
"It's the King" he said and my breathe held
"What happened?" I asked firmly
"He's dying" He dropped
My heart fell at his words and guilt rushed over me. We hurried back to the palace without a word to Mia. I'll be back. I said mentally hoping she would hear me.
Entering into my Father's quarters, I saw the palace doctors and Arenila by his side. She hasn't gone? What's going on?
"Father" I squatted beside him until I could level with His face.
He was just fine the week before. What could have gone wrong?
"What's the diagnosis?" I asked the doctors
"We suspect Food poisoning your highness" The head doctor said
"What!" shock filled me as my gaze met Clint "How is this?" I asked Him
"I had all the kitchen staff interrogated and also all His maids but nothing was found. There was no suspect." He said
"That's impossible." I barked
Father's wild cough brought my attention back to him.
"Alex, my Son" he gave a faint smile
"Father....I'm sorry. I never should have left you" I said painfully as I held his hands in mine
My heart was full of regret and guilt. If only I could turn the hand of time then I could set things right.
"Leave us. I would like to speak to my son...." He coughed heavily. "In private"
Clint bowed and escorted the Doctors and Arenila out of His quarters.
"I...I...never wanted you to have a peasant for a wife because it would bring nothing but pain to you" He started
"What?" I asked confused about his words
"Your mother was one. She was never a prin...." He coughed heavily. "She was never a Princess. I met her as a maid when I was a Prince. We were friends but then our friendship extended. I got very fond of her and wanted her beside me always." He coughed again.
Each cough was like an arrow stabbed in my heart. It ached my heart
"But then, the palace rose against it. I was compulsory betrothed to the princess of Ireland. And just like you, I refused. I wanted only Erina. Regardless the noise made by the palace, I married your mother still. My Father was not impressed with my decision but spoke nothing about it. I was made King and she was Queen. She was accustomed to the affairs of the palace and was always there to make sure my decisions were the right ones. She loved the people and made sure their needs were met always. It didn't last long. The day you turned three was the day she died. Her meal was poisoned. I thought the palace had accepted her but all along her death was planned" He cried softly
Why am I knowing this now? Why did He keep this away from me
"Erina was never accepted. And when I rejected to marry Vanessa, the Princess of Ireland, they formed alliance with England making them much stronger than us. I stood alone in my decision. No one sided me." he added
Every detail of information he told me built a bridge between me and Mia. Our story doesn't have to be this way. We would work things out and Mia won't die.
"If you don't marry Arenila, we may never be a strong kingdom and could be subdued by the other kingdoms. My son, do this for me as my last wish. Build Scotland, let our Kingdom grow. Promise me you'll marry Princes......" He coughed heavily. "Promise me" he held my hand tightly
Tears fell from my eyes as my heart ached on what decision to make. I can't abandon Mia neither can I abandon my Father or the Kingdom. Why am I prince? Why wasn't I born ordinarily?
"Promise me you'll marry Arenila" He emphasised
"I.....I...I promise" I said bitterly
He sighed and released my hand. A short smile passed his face as he seized to breathe.
"Father" I called but no response. "Oh no" I shook him "Father!!!" I cried heavily realizing I've just lost him.
Why?!!! Was this what Fate had for me? This was not the plan!!!
I came out His quarters and everyone had their heads down knowing fully well what had happened. I walked sadly to my quarters as tears fell from my eyes consistently.
What do I do now?
"Your Highness" Clint called sadly
I gave no reply. "I want to know who killed my Father" I said with rage.
"Yes sire" he said.
***
A few days later, Father was cremated and my inauguration as King was forwarded. Being king was like picking up a responsibility you were never interested in. but then, this is my fate and I have to live it compulsorily.
"LONG LIVE THE KING!!!"
"LONG LIVE THE KING!!!"
"LONG LIVE THE KING!!!"
MIA
The news about the King's death brought pain to my heart and much more about how Alex would be. His inauguration as king was celebrated well. Even though the people and the palace were happy to have Him as King, that joy wasn't on His face. It was the first time I would see Alex without a smile and it was heart-breaking.
Work ended in the palace and I had plans to see Alex before I returned home. I had not seen him since he left my house. And now that He's King, things would be very different now. My heart cried and hoped all that happened would not affect us.
As I walked down the hallway of the Palace hoping to reach my destination soon, a lady seemed to cut my journey short. She was elegant with her coiled auburn hair that had a flower pin hold it to the side well. Her dress flowed with all pride showing off its flawlessness like a peacock taking pride with its tail. A small gold crown stood still on her hair and her hands had on gold bracelets. Her skin was spotless, she was beautiful.
For some reason I became very self-conscious and somewhat inferior by her elegance.
She's a princess. Could this be Alex's sister? He never told me about one.
"Who are you? And what is your business in this side of the palace?" she asked defensively
"I...I..um." I coughed slightly. "I'm here to see the King" I said boldly
She scoffed. "What rights do you have to walk in here and demand to see the King?" she spat
Wow.
"I have a word for him" I said coolly
I knew definitely not everyone knew my relationship with Alex and it would be foolish to say because no one would believe. A mere peasant with a King. What we had is too good to be true. It's Fantasy. Tears rolled up in my eyes as I thought.
"I see" she said. "You must be the Peasant girl that has everyone running mad in the palace, even to the death of the previous King" she emphasised wickedly
"What" I looked at her confused
What is she talking about? What does she mean by peasant girl?
"You're the reason the Previous King died. All because of your greed and selfishness to be queen, you had the Prince Alex trapped under your bosom." She paused and smiled. "Well I hope you had him well enough"
Mixed emotions rushed through my heart, I couldn't place nor understand the words she was speaking. Who exactly is she?
"Oh well, just so you know....I'm now the Queen of Scotland and Prince Alex is my King." She smiled and a scowl followed immediately. "So I hope you understand where you belong. The palace is not for people like you, was never made for your kind and will never be. If you ever thought you would ever have something with Alex, that's too bad because it's not reality but only a dream and would remain nothing but a dream. You can't have a chicken sitting amongst the tables of the eagles, it will only be fed to its eaglets" she said and walked away
Tears fell from my eye as I remained on the spot I was. What's happening? This wasn't what He promised me. This wasn't part of our plan. He never could have been playing me all along. He told me he wasn't betrothed. I turned and walked out of the palace still dumbfounded by all I heard from the lady. It's all a lie. None of what she said is true. The king didn't die because of me. No. I fell on a random bench in the marketplace as the sadness in me burst out more. I cried heavily. A nauseous sensation came in as I searched for the closest place to throw up. It came more and all I ate earlier now laid in front of me with mucus. What's wrong with me? I'm not sick. I held my mouth as the realization of what just happened set in. I can't be.....my hand held my stomach.
ALEX
"Mia was here" Clint said as he entered into my study room
"What, where is she now?" I asked with hope
I had not thought she would come find me after my inauguration.
"She left" he added
"Why?" I asked
"I have no idea" he said and paused. "Could she have met Princess Arenila?" he added
I left my room and headed to Arenila's quarters. I really hope she told Mia nothing. I planned to tell all to Mia myself and at this point in time, no advocate in needed.
"Alex, what a surprise to have you here, you barely came out of your quarters since your inauguration." She smiled
For some reason, it all felt fake. I didn't like what I was seeing. I missed Mia, her warmth, her breath, her touch. She was who I needed now. Control yourself.
"I'm here to know if you met with Mia" I stated
"Ah, so that's her name. The peasant girl." She said. "You came all the way here to know about her" she scoffed
"She's not a peasant." I emphasised. "You met with her didn't you?" I asked
"Yes I did. Why" she asked innocently
Oh no.
"What did you tell her?" I asked almost in a whisper
"Truth" she said as she walked closer to me.
"What truth?" I asked careful not to spit the fire in me.
"Our union, the bond you and I now have" she said as she placed her arms round my neck.
"Arenila, there's no bond" I stated
"It's not too late to have one" she smiled as she rubbed her nose on mine. "We used to love each other when we were younger, let's go back to that time. Let's forget our pasts and move on." She whispered.
I sighed and removed her hand gently from my neck. "I can't move on. I love her very much and that's a past I can never forget. No one can replace her in my heart" I said and walked out of her quarters.
I rode out of the palace to Mia's place. And there she was, looking really down and sad. Arenila must have spoken bitter words. What do I tell her? How do I explain all this? I've failed and I lied. Tears fell from my eyes as I couldn't bring myself the courage to approach her and I rode back to the palace.
MIA
I waited, I hoped to see him again that he'll come explain everything but he never showed up. He truly never meant all He said. And at that point, I felt my heart lock itself never to open up to such emotions again.