Queen Victoria had been facing the worst days of her life recently. Both the loss of her husband and Alexander’s condition had nearly drove the tears out of her head. And now, she was staring blankly at the ceiling as he sat on the king’s bed. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had slept. Her eyes had sunk and dark circles formed under them making her to look as if lifeless.

"Your majesty?" The chief physician called bringing her back to the real world. She blinked a few times before looking at the physician. "You need to let go of his hand now. We have to prepare his body for the funeral." The chief physician pleaded.

Since the king’s death, Victoria had stayed by his body’s side as if that would revive him. She even refused to eat or drink anything. Everyone in the palace was now worried about her condition. A knight knocked on the door and the chief physician called him in.

"Your Majesty? The guests have started arriving." He said.

The chief physician looked at the queen with pleading eyes and she understood she had to let go of her husband’s body. She looked at their entwined hands for the last time before she placed the cold hand on the side of the bed. She kissed his forehead one last time before she stood up startling everyone present.

"I will go and prepare to receive the guests. Tell my maid to prepare a bath for me." She said. She was determined to not let grief weaken her now. She was the only royal family member who was standing and capable of handling state affairs so she knew she had to be strong. She was a queen after all. What would the guests say when they find her in such a condition? That would be shameful of her.

"Princess Elle is looking for Her Majesty." Another knight informed as she walked through the hallway. Oh gods! Not now! She thought. If there was anyone Victoria wanted to see worried last, it was Elle. But for how long would she keep the truth away from her? She had been recently lying to her that her father and Alexander had taken a trip and would come home soon. But she could see it in Elle’s eyes that the little girl did not believe her. She had warned everyone in the palace from breathing a word to Elle but that only sharpened her curiosity. The girl had grown up to be wise at such a young age. Maybe it was time she told her the truth.

"And where is she?" She asked.

"She is in her room as you had instructed."

"Bring her to my room." Victoria said with finality. The guard bowed and branched from the group.

Elle was pacing nervously in her room. The last few days had been a hell to her. She wasn’t allowed to even step outside. Was there a war? That was the only logic reason her mother would lock her in her room. She had asked her mother about Alexander and her father’s whereabouts and her mother had said that they had gone on a journey. Elle guessed the journey meant war. That was the only thing racing in her mind now.

A knock interrupted her thoughts and she almost ran towards the door , her heart beating with anticipation. She was disappointed when she saw a knights standing there so she went back inside with dropped shoulders.

"Your Highness? The queen has asked for your presence in her room. Come with me." Elle’s face lit up at that. Did that mean Alexander and her father come. How she missed them, especially Alexander. She’ll have to pull his ears for leaving without informing him. She quickly slid into her boots and followed the knight closely. On the way, she could see that the palace was decorated in ominous colors that she didn’t like. And as they passed near the throne hall, she could hear some murmurs coming from the inside. That made her curious. Had they thrown a party to welcome her brother and father? If that was so, she was happy. She liked parties after all.

"Is there a party in the throne hall? Father and Alex are back, right?" She asked the knight curiously. The knight was taken aback by her question and he cursed silently. He wasn’t the type to sweet talk children so he didn’t know what to say. Luckily, he could see the queen’s chambers a distance away.

"Even I don’t know. You should ask Her Majesty once we arrive." He said and walked faster to avoid another question from the little girl. What looked like a ten - steps walk to him now seemed like a thousand - mile –journey. He released a silent sigh of relief once he reached the queen’s chambers.

Elle was more confused now. She had studied the knight closely and she knew he was hiding something from her. The murmurs in the hall plus the decorations added on to her fear greatly and she was now more confused than before. She could only hope for the best.

The knight knocked softly and her mother’s voice called them in. Elle rubbed her hands nervously as she entered in the room. She searched for those familiar faces that were crossing her mind but all she could see was her mother and her maid. Victoria was seated on the dresser while her maid took care of her hair. She saw Elle searching for her room in confusion and she swallowed nervously.

"Leave us." She said. The maid and the knight bowed before they trailed out of the room. Queen Victoria let her hair fall loosely on her shoulders and she stood up to face her daughter.

"Where is father and Alex, mother?" That was the first question that met Victoria, startling her. She thought she would be the one to initiate the conversation but seems she turned out to be wrong. If that was so, then it was high time that she spilled the truth. She walked the distance between the two and took Elle’s hands in hers and led her to sit on her bed. Her large eyes looked at her with curiosity making her to curse again.

"Your father," she began. "He is gone, somewhere safe."

"Will he come back?" Elle asked curiously.

"No. But he will be watching over us every day."

"Did brother go with him too?" She asked innocently. Queen Victoria was taken aback by that question. She knew it was only a matter of time before Alexander followed his father if an antidote won’t be found soon.

"No. Your brother is still here with us. He just isn’t feeling well."

"I would like to see him." Elle looked at her mother in anticipation. Queen Victoria didn’t know if it was wise to let Elle see Alex. The last time she had seen him, he looked more of a corpse than a living human being. Still, she wondered how he was still alive after such a long time. Maybe it had something to do with the contents of the letter, she thought.

"Okay," she smiled at Elle and patted her small head lovingly. Maybe it would ease her worry if she knew everything. She had the right to after all. It was her family! And Victoria wanted to see Alexander also.