"Are you sure you’ll be alright?" Griffin asked once Isadora stepped outside the carriage. Isadora nodded simply. Not that she was that weak to require protection. Her uncle was just a worrywart.

"I can leave a knight behind to watch over you if..."

"I’m okay uncle. Not that I’ll die or something. You made me a strong woman, remember." She cut him off. Griffin looked at her for a while before he let out a sigh.

"Make sure to be safe." He said and signaled the knights to follow him. Isadora watched as the carriage moved away until it was out of sight. She released a sigh before picking her things. Shading her eyes, she looked at the far walls of the Valorian capital, and the palace that was located on a high hill, that it could be seen from far. What awaited her there made her heart to race both in fear and determination.

Fear that Lord Richard would have her executed and determined to help Alexander. Thinking of which she remembered the antidote. She searched for the bottle in her backpack and was glad that it was still there, untouched. She had not even consumed a drop of it. After all, she thought she was fine with the antidote alone.

Isadora returned the bottle in her backpack before she started walking along the dusty road. This particular road was dusty due to being overused. And from far, she could see as more guests streamed into the capital through the gate. Carriages and people on horseback could be spotted from afar as tiny dots. That would make it easy for Isadora to slip through the gate. But she knew she had to act cautious. Who knew if a bounty had been placed on her?

********

Princess Roselyn had been having the worst days of her life. From news of Alexander being poisoned to his almost near death experience, and now, her crazy personal knight was still disturbing her with other news. She was now pacing across the guest room as she waited nervously for sir Brandon. He had told her that he would deliver useful information to her. But what was more useful to her than ways to eliminate that filthy maid?

A knock sounded on the door pulling her attention back to the situation at hand. She called for the person to come in and Sir Brandon stepped in the room dressed to kill. She let her gaze travel up and down his body and an impressed smile formed on her face.

Brandon’s armor was polished making its surface to shine and reflect the rays of the sun that streamed in through the open velvet curtains. His hair was combed perfectly and some scented oils could be smelt in the air around him. He wore black pants and a matching pair of black boots. Holding the hilt of his sword and his head high all added to the elegance and aura emanating from him.

"You look... stunning." Roselyn commented as she took a few steps closer to where he stood.

"I wouldn’t like the king to find me in a bad condition while accompanying his daughter." He chuckled. There was something that flickered in his eyes as he said those words. And it didn’t go unnoticed by the princess. "Thanks for the compliment My Lady." He added.

"What did you want to tell me?" She shifted the topic. She had noticed how he smiled as she watched him admiringly. And though he was handsome, she knew he couldn’t hold a candle against her Alexander. In fact, no one could rival Alex. His angelic face was one pearl that was rare in a vast ocean.

"Your father and mother have arrived. You better have a good explanation princess." Brandon answered. He saw her stiffen at his statement but she was quick to mask her fear.

"I will meet them." She squared her shoulders as if gathering some courage. Roselyn knew she would receive a lecture from her parents, especially her mother. Her father had granted her permission to come to Valoria under one condition. She must win Alexander’s heart and trust. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

When she stepped in Valoria, she had high hopes at first and Alexander was not as distant as he is now. She would flirt with him and throw seductive glances at him before but all that changed when that maid came into this palace. Not that her advances affected Alexander a bit. But she was glad that he was not cold and distant at her back then. And judging on what she had come to do here, her mission was nowhere close to complete. In fact, she was almost hopeless now. Maybe they were not meant to be together. Maybe she was not destined to be his. Tears threatened to spill at that thought but she was quick to hide her face from Brandon.

"Are you alright Princess?" Brandon asked when he saw her face down with a smitten look on her face.

"I am alright. I just need some time alone." She said and turned to face the other side as a tear fell down her cheek. Brandon was now concerned. The way she was acting now pissed him off and he hated to see her that way. All this, because of that callous prince, He clenched his teeth at that thought. How he hated that man for making his princess suffer.

"Is there something I can help with?" He asked. He hated it when he saw Roselyn cry because of that damn prince. He felt like rushing towards where Roselyn was and embracing her. But he knew that was nearly impossible. Why he felt that way, he couldn’t understand.

"The only way you can help me is by leaving me alone." She said. Brandon clenched his fists. He hated it when he offered help to only be declined. And this was not the first time she had done this.

"Okay. I’ll be waiting for you outside then." He said halfheartedly before walking out. He slammed the door to let the princess know that he was angry.

Roselyn now let the stinging tears wash over her face. All she wanted for now was to cry her heart out. Maybe that would ease her pain. The pain of rejection was more than a stab in the heart, and she could feel it. Her father had once told her that love came with a price, a heavy one at that. Was this the price of falling in love with someone who doesn’t love you back? If it was it then, she had to admit it was one painful experience that she would not want anyone else to go through. But still, there was some hope.

And now that the Valorian king had died, Alexander would be pressured to take a wife, and she would be the first option. But would she be happy even if Alexander married her? What if he married her and then ghosted her for the entire of her life? She didn’t want that at least. But what if it turned out to be that way? These were the times that Roselyn cursed herself for being born a woman. If she was a prince, she would have married as many wives as she wanted. And she, of all the people, knew that many wives meant more power. And it was the duty of a princess to be married and bring more power to a kingdom.