When Newton finally found Roselyn, she was hunched in a bench, silent stiffles escaping from her lips. She was crying! He could already guess what had happened. So she just wanted to see him yet he broke her heart once again. He could not blame her though.

He took soft but silent steps and sat beside her on the bench. She was yet to notice him. It must have been painful for her, he thought.

A soft touch on her shoulders was what brought her sanity back. She lifted her face to look at him through her watery eyes. She could make out a face of a worried handsome man, one who had stood by her side all the while.

"I’m sorry," Newton said, inviting her to his embrace which she gladly accepted. He petted her hair as she turned his chest dump with her tears but he cared less, surprisingly!

For a while, Roselyn just leaned on his chest listening to his rhythmic heartbeat. It somehow brought a calming effect to her as she mellowed down in his embrace. She never knew a simple hug would affect her that much. His chest was tout and hard against her face yet it gave a comforting feel. How would it feel to run her hand on it?

"It’s okay now," he said breaking from the embrace. He held her by her face and rubbed the tears away with his thumb. Newton didn’t want to ask her what had happened. If she wanted to, she would tell him.

"I never knew loving someone would be this painful," began a broke Roselyn. "I thought being born a princess would grant me everything I wanted. But what am I now?’ she brushed a tear off.

"A disowned princess, an ugly woman in the disguise of a princess, and now a rejected lover." She smiled bitterly. "I don’t have a purpose in life anymore," she sighed.

"You got me," Newton consoled gripping her hand tightly. For a moment, he just stared at her with a mixture of emotions. He didn’t know why but his heart beat faster than usual and before he knew it, he was inching closer to her. His warm breath faned her face before she closed her eyes with parted lips. Newton just stared at her pouted lips for a while battling with his desire. No! He shouldn’t take advantage of her!

"I’ll be leaving," he said and stood facing the other way, avoiding her face all the while. And before she could say anything, he had already left.

Roselyn sat on the same place with conflicted thoughts. She was just about to let him kiss her, but he didn’t! It must have taken him a lot of self control to do that. She subconsciously touched her lips, naughty thoughts crossing her mind. Quickly brushing the thoughts aside, she decided to head to Crescia. Now that she had found a purpose in life, she needed to find her mother.

***** 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Silence reigned the entire room for a while with a stunned Isadora trying to process what Henry had just said. Though she was masking her surprise with a staged smile, she was so against the idea. Alexander was hers and hers alone. She was not willing to share him with anyone else.

"I don’t think that would be a better idea." She said.

"Why not? The two are already betrothed so it’s only natural they get married. Unless you have other plans for the prince?" Henry raised a brow.

"I think that would be a better idea." Victoria seconded. "But having the two married would mean Crescia will be left out. How about he marries the two of you?"

To that, Isadora said nothing.

"I think it’d be fine if Roselyn would be a part of this conversation. Get the princess," Victoria instructed.

"I’m sorry but I have something else to attend to. I’ll take my leave Your Majesties," Isadora excused herself leaving Henry and Victoria confused.

"Damn it!" She had thought the idea would work in her favor but they proposed Roselyn instead! How scandalous! They could have considered the fact that Crescia was strong at least.

"Get my sword," she instructed one of the knights following her closely. She was a queen after all. Anger was boiling within her and she just remembered she had knights to spar with. This was the time she regretted having killed Griffin. She would have enjoyed the pleasure of torturing him now, but he deserved death anyways. To hell with Griffin! She cursed again.

Wait! Why was she this mad? She felt like throwing everything she came across with on the floor and turn it into pieces.

Gods knew how relieved she was when she saw Jade in the training grounds. A worthy competitor was what she wanted to spar with. She was a queen after all and needed to be strong. If the citizens found out how weak she was, they wouldn’t hesitate to dethrone her despite everything she had done for them. Crescians valued power more than honor.

"Why the long face?" Jade asked on noticing her walk in.

Isadora flashed a coy smile at her. "I would like to learn some moves from my aunt. What do you think of a duel?"

"I’m in no position to challenge Her Majesty," Jade politely declined.

"I challenge you then," Isadora said getting the sword from the knight she had sent earlier. And before Jade could consent, a slash was already flying her way. Thanks to her quick reflexes, she was able to dodge on time.

"Impressive..." She commented but Isadora didn’t give her the luxury to finish. She attacked with resilience, each time aiming for a vital organ. But as experienced as Jade was, she effortlessly blocked or dodged each attack, remaining on the defensive stance as if she didn’t want to attack Isadora. This angered Isadora making her attacks even deadlier that Jade was on the verge to loose the grip of her sword.

The Isadora who was fighting right now had acted purely out of anger awakening a deep seated beast in her that seemed nowhere close to being tamed. Her attacks shifted from deadly to fatal and what would be defined as a duel turned to a fearsome battle which the winner was obvious.