Alexander had been facing the worst time in his lifetime. Days had passed but for some odd reason, he was still alive. But being alive itself was now a curse to him. Many were the times that he wished all this would end. Away with the agonizing pain, he thought. The poison had worked its magic churning his organs into nothingness. He could even feel it. The way his organs corroded. This would make him to let out the most agonizing scream before he moved into unconsciousness.

In his unconscious state was where he found the solace to escape from the inevitable. The darkness had turned to be his friend in deed, and the light, a curse in his living existence. Many were the times that he cursed the light and embraced the darkness that he had now become part of.

He would feel the comforting voices of what seemed like a male and a female in the room, but they turned distant in his head. The pain was unbearable. Sometimes he would wake up to find a maid wiping his body and this would bring an alien feeling to him. A feeling that he could not comprehend. And strangely, it was not this maid who brought that feeling. It was someone else. He tried to make out her face in her mind but it became harder and his head begun to throb in pain. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

And strangely, he couldn’t even remember his mother’s face. But why? Why was this happening to him. Many unanswered questions swirled in his mind but he didn’t know who to ask.

"Leave us!" He heard a voice echo in the room and the maid bowed slightly before she picked a bowl of water and left. Alexander slowly lifted his head to stare at the person but his head felt heavy and he gave in letting it rest on the pillow. A blurry figure of a man clad in royal robes loomed over him with a worried expression on his face. Alexander blinked to make out his face and remove the watery fluid out of his eyes before his gaze brightened and landed on a face that somehow looked familiar but he couldn’t make out where he had seen this face.

"Your Highness? How are you feeling now?" Your Highness! Why did those words sound familiar yet strange at the same time? And who was this man? Right? He had asked him a question. But why did he care? Did it have to do with the fact that he had been referred to as His Highness?

Alexander’s lips moved to say something but it suddenly became hard to breath and with it came the searing pain. He started coughing dryly and his head throbbed in pain. The man who was standing close poured a glass of water for him and placed it at his mouth.

"Here. Drink this," he said and Alexander stiffened a little. Poison! That was what came into his mind. He had been poisoned. But by who? He didn’t know who this man was. What if he was the one who had poisoned him? But again, he could have killed him if he wanted to. Maybe he could be trusted. Alexander did not see any ill intentions in the man’s eyes. Instead, it was genuine worry and care. He gulped down the contents of the glass while his fixated gaze never leaving the man’s.

"You should rest now," the man said taking the empty glass from him and pushing him gently to lie on the pillow. Alexander did not protest as he watched the man’s every action curiously. The man placed the glass on the table before he sat beside Alexander.

"Who are you?" That was the first question that left Alexander’s mouth. He was genuinely curious as who this man was even though something deep down his heart somehow had an answer. And as much as he tried to surface that answer, the harder it got.

The man was taken aback by Alexander’s question and he seemed more surprised and irritated by the question. It was as if that was the least he had expected from him. He eyed Alexander curiously and something about his eyes reminded Alexander of someone. Still, it was hard to remember.

"I am Lord Richard. Are you asking this out of curiosity or....." He paused to see Alexander’s reaction but what he saw made him knit his brows. So what he was thinking was actually true. That explained why Alexander acted alien when he stepped in to the vicinity. Probably the same reason why Alexander acted cautious when he gave him the glass of water. But still, a part of Lord Richard was curious too. How could Alexander cope well and heal this fast even without an antidote. And surprisingly, he was looking better with each passing day, something that he was grateful for.

"That name sounds familiar but I can’t remember exactly." Alexander said while holding his head as if that would make him remember. Lord Richard placed his hand softly on Alexander’s shoulder and looked him in the eyes.

"You must have lost your memory Alexander," he said in almost a whisper. That was the only thing that Lord Richard could come up with. And it was true. He tried to question him about some basic things including his parents but the guy was clueless. The only person who Alexander seemed to recognize was Elle. Maybe it had something to do with the deep connection between the two that was well known by everyone in the palace.

"So I am a crown prince?" Alexander asked in disbelief.

"Yes." Lord Richard affirmed.

"And my father is dead?" He asked.

"Yes. In fact, we are holding his funeral today. I was praying for your quick recovery so that you could be present when the guests arrive. If you miss on your father’s funeral, that would raise some brows. But since you are not yet fully recovered, I think we’ll have to bare with the shame, for today."

Alexander nodded as Lord Richard’s words sunk in. So this guy was his father’s advisor. He stared at him and summarized that he could be trusted. He had been nothing but honest with him after all. Maybe he could need him by his side once he becomes king, he thought. But what about the coronation? The coronation of a new king would take place as soon as the king was buried. Well, that was according to what he had learned from this Lord Richard.

"Who poisoned me?" He asked surprising both himself and Lord Richard. Lord Richard’s eyes turned predatory before he faced the prince.

"A maid who was serving you did this. She has run away but I can assure you we will catch her and give her the punishment she deserves. I’ll inform you once we get hold of her." He said. Deep down, his heart was filled with guilt for having trusted that woman. He knew he shouldn’t have. And now that the king had died, he didn’t care if she exposed his secret. Though his reputation would be stained, it was worth the taking. That woman must die in whatever cost. That he swore, both in heart and mind.