Lady Elizabeth didn’t move. She seemed to want to say something but couldn’t quite muster the courage.
“Is there something you wish to say?” He asked.
“It’s about your wife, Your Majesty.” She replied.
“If you’re about to say something bad about her, I advise you to bite your tongue and leave.”
“I would never say anything bad about her. I have only spent a short time with her, but it was enough to realize that she is a good girl. She is sweet and kind, but also fragile. I only wanted to ask Your Majesty not to be too rough with her. I know what all the nobles think of her, and I know they are wrong. I believe she will be a good queen.”
“You’re on her side?”
“I’m not on anyone’s side. I’m just expressing what I feel. She may be very innocent, but there’s something special about her. I don’t know what it is, but I think she will make a good queen.”
“Is that all you wanted to say?”
“There is one last thing. When a woman does not receive the support and respect of her husband, she does not receive it from the servants either. The true power of a woman comes from the love her husband shows her.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I know that the princess was attacked by one of the servants. I just wanted to make you aware of that. If you continue to show a clear disinterest in the princess, her life may be in danger again.”
“I already know that, and I’m making sure that no one dares to touch my wife.”
“That is all I have to say. If Your Majesty excuses me, I shall take my leave.”
“You may leave. And don’t forget what I told you. Take care of my wife.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
After Lady Elizabeth left, Alessandro realized something. Everyone who met Abril ended up charmed by her innocence, even him.
That night at dinner, Cassian didn’t appear. Abril and Alessandro dined alone. He asked her, “Have you seen Cassian today?”
“No. We were supposed to take a walk in the garden, but he never showed up.”
“I see.”
Alessandro was a little worried about his brother, so after dinner, he told Abril he’d be with her shortly.
Alessandro asked the servants if they knew where his brother was, but no one had seen him since the afternoon. Alessandro went to look for him in his room, but he wasn’t there. So he went to look for him in their secret place. Whenever his brother was in pain, he would go to their mother’s old room. It was like a hiding place where they could rest when they felt tormented and weary.
Cassian was in their mother’s room. He hadn’t been near the princess that day, and the pain in his leg had returned. It had been so long since the last time it had hurt him this much. The pain seemed to have gotten even worse that day. He was writhing in agony, lying on the sofa, when Alessandro entered and said, “There you are.”
Cassian covered his face with his arms to hide the trail of tears and said, “I want to be alone.
Please leave.”
“You haven’t seen Abril all day. Has your leg started to hurt again?”
“I’m fine. I just want to be alone. You can go.”
“No. I’m not leaving you to suffer alone.”
“Why can’t you just go and leave me in peace?”
“Because you’re my brother, and I’m worried about you. I couldn’t go back to my room knowing you’re in pain.”
Alessandro approached Cassian and asked, “Can you get up?”
“I’m fine, Lessan.” Cassian lied.
“No, you’re not. So get up, and let’s go see Abril. Or I’ll bring her here. Your choice.”
“Lessan, have you fallen in love with the princess?” Cassian asked.
“What’s with that question?”
“I saw you kissing her in the garden today. It surprised me. I didn’t think you two were that close.”
“She’s my wife. I do more than just kiss her. But stop asking silly questions and get up.”
“You haven’t…done it with her yet, have you?”
“Why are you asking that, Cassian?”
“Just answer me. Have you done it with her? Yes or no.”
“No. We haven’t had our first night as a couple yet.”
“I see. Lessan, if I asked you to give me the princess, would you do it?”
“Cassian, what are you trying to say?”
“I…just…” Cassian trailed off.
He was asking a stupid question. Alessandro would never give him Abril.
“It’s nothing, Lessan. I’m talking nonsense because of the pain.”
Alessandro helped Cassian to his feet. Cassian leaned on his shoulder until they reached
Alessandro’s room. Before entering, Alessandro knocked on the door and asked, “Abril, it’s me and Cassian. May we come in?”
Abril opened the door and replied, “Of course.”
She was wearing a nightgown and a robe over it. When she saw Alessandro helping Cassian, she asked, “What happened to you, Cassian? You look terrible.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” He replied.
Alessandro helped Cassian to the sofa. He told Abril to sit next to Cassian while he fetched a doctor. Abril touched Cassian’s forehead. He immediately felt the pain miraculously disappear.
She said, “You don’t seem to have a fever.”
“That’s because it was just a little dizzy spell. I’ll be alright and leave in no time. Thank you for worrying about me.”
“You don’t have to thank me. We’re friends, and friends help each other out. So if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Cassian didn’t want to be just her friend, but he knew he couldn’t be anything else. They could only be friends since she was his brother’s wife.
Alessandro returned shortly after and asked his brother, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” He replied.
“Are you sure?” He asked.
“Yes, it’s passed.”
Cassian stood up, and Alessandro said, “Are you sure you don’t want to stay and rest a little longer?”
“It’s not necessary, brother. Resting a moment is enough.”
Cassian passed by his brother and said, “I’m telling you the truth, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
Cassian walked to the door, and before leaving, he said, “Goodnight.”
He left the room and closed the door. Leaning against a nearby wall, the pain in his leg had disappeared, but not the pain in his heart. That pain couldn’t be erased with the princess’s magic.
At that moment, he wished he hadn’t realized his feelings, as it only caused him pain. But he couldn’t tell his brother how he felt, nor could he ask his brother to give him the princess. Because even if Alessandro didn’t admit it, he also harbored feelings for the princess. Cassian had already realized that. Without him realizing it, the princess had become someone important to his brother.
Cassian wondered how long it would take his brother to realize that.
*****
Abril had been a little worried about Cassian and asked Alessandro, “Do you really think Cassian is alright? He didn’t seem like himself. I touched his forehead, but he didn’t seem to have a fever. But I’m still a little worried.”
Alessandro had realized that by touching the princess, his brother became more relieved. Then he told her that he had no doubt that Cassian was fine He said, “Don’t worry, my brother is fine. How are you?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply