"But your highness, she is just but a mere maid. Why are you so protective of her?" It was sir Brandon who asked this. Alexander shot a hard glare at the man making him to stiffen for the nth time. He slowly approached Isadora and held her hand protectively.

"She might be a mere maid in your eyes and everyone else’s, but to me, she is more than a maid." He said and looked at Isadora. His gaze softened on her as she stared back at him in surprise. "To me, she is the missing puzzle in my heart that I have been looking for. She is my everything." Then his gaze sharpening back to Sir Brandon," And that is why I will not hesitate to kill anyone who lays a finger on her. You two should count yourself lucky."

Sir Brandon looked at Roselyn with a knowing expression. He knew that this guy never loved his princess at the first time. In fact, she was the one insisting about getting married to Alexander. And when the queen supported her interest, her desire and ambitions grew stronger. But Sir Brandon had watched how the prince would react everytime Roselyn was near him or when she talked to him. He would always excuse himself or say that he was too busy to talk with her.

"Nice dagger, your highness," Sir Brandon said looking at the dagger Alexander held in his hand. This was also for distracting him away from the topic at hand, and it seemed to work.

Alexander smiled at Sir Brandon. The dagger was nice indeed. He lifted it and looked at it before he threw a questioning gaze at Isadora. Isadora also looked back at him, angry and stunned. Who gave him the permission to ramage through her things. Of course he would be nosy if left in a room that he was not used to. She clenched her fists tightly at this.

"I am sure the owner of this blade is one rich fellow," Alexander said as he looked at Isadora’s face to search for a reaction but none came from her. He frowned a little at this. Did this mean that she was the rightful owner of the dagger? No! He shook his head in denial again. Was he mistaken or what? Or was she some member of a wealthy family? The train of questions he had now could only be answered by her, right now. But not in front of these useless bags of nothingness.

"Now, if you’ll excuse me," he said and dragged Isa out of the room, gripping her arm tightly. They paced through the hallways as Isadora tried to loosen his strong grip from his hand. "Where are you taking me?" She asked.

"To my room," he answered curtly and within minutes, they were in Alexander’s room, He released her hand and her small figure rested on his bed as he stood there, towering over her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Isadora asked once she was settled.

"Because I want answers Isadora. Where the hell did you get this?" He asked showing her the sheathed dagger. Isadora looked at the dagger in his hand before she shot him a hard glare.

"And who gave you permission to ramage my things?" She asked instead, now rising uo to meet his gaze. She looked like the almighty warrior that time as they gazed into each other’s eyes anticipating an answer to their questions.

"I’m sorry about that Isadora. But why are you keeping such a dangerous weapon with you. Are you planning on killing someone?" He asked.

"That dagger belonged to my mother. She got it from a royal friend, in case you want the details," she answered as cool as possible. "Give it to me now. My mother would never forgive me if I lost it."

Alexander gave her a dissatisfied look making her to swallow hard and he knew that she had lied. But he gave it to her anyways.

"Make sure to keep it sheathed forever. It injured me by just running my fingers on its edge," Alexander said scratching his back. Isadora, who was now tucking the knife safely in her blouse, nodded before her eyes shot wide open. She looked at Alexander worried making him to stare back at her in a confused expression.

"What’s with that look?" He asked, amused. "No one is ever going to touch you again now that I am here." He said proudly. But all that fell on Isadora’s deaf ears.

"Did you say that you were injured... by this dagger?" She asked, her heart beating in anticipation.

"It’s nothing to worry about beautiful. It was just a prick on the skin and that was all. See, it is fine now," he said absent mindedly showing her the place on his finger that had been pricked. But the moment Isadora laid her gaze on his finger, her heart nearly jumped out of her body.

"Alexander?" She called, fear evident in her voice. "You need to seek immediate medical attention. I will call the physician right away," she said and moved before a hand caught her waist.

"And where do you think you are going Isa? Do you think you can run away from me? Not this time at least." He said smiling sheepishly at her, and with one swift movement he yanked her back to where she stood before.

"Look Alexander, I am not trying to run away from you or something but this is serious...."

"Is it?" He asked advancing her. "Well, this is also serious Isadora." He said taking another step forward. Isadora knew that he would not listen to her. Gods! What could she do to make him understand. She slapped her forehead in frustration making Alexander to chuckle. ’Think Isa! Think,’ she said in her mind.

Alexander looked at the whole scenario amused. Was she really thinking that hard of a way to escape from him. If that was so, she was in for a big surprise. He was not going to let her slip that easily. Not when he was this aroused. Gods! He lost it and found himself capturing his lips with hers in a passionate kiss.