"Oh lighten up would you Albie, you look like someone has taken away your birth right" said Christina as she looked at Albert as they were in their bedroom together.
Albert was sitting in the far corner of the room at his desk as he seemed to be thinking very deeply, while Christina was smiling as her hair was being brushed by a hairbrush that was doing its duty out of its own accord.
"Albie, I am talking to you" said Christina as she smiled and he looked at her husband.
"Chrissy, what do you want me to say?" asked Albert as he snapped out of his thoughts as he looked at Christina.
"I want you to stop thinking too much Albie" said Christina.
"It is not good for you to think so much, it makes you age" said Christina as she smiled and she walked over to Albert's desk.
"Hmm" said Christina as she smiled and she caressed Albert's right cheek with her thumb.
"What do you think about the girl Chrissy?" asked Albert as he looked at Christina as she was still smiling.
"The girl has a name Albie, and that is Annie, please use it, you sound like some sort deranged King who has no respect for his people at all" said Christina as she looked at him disapprovingly.
"Chrissy" said Albert as he sounded annoyed and Christina narrowed her eyes at him with annoyance.
"Albie" said Christina as she raised an eyebrow at him as she stopped caressing his cheek as she reached out to touch his ear, she was going to pull on it painfully, so that would make him think better.
"Don't test me Albie" said Christina as the sweet smile on her face was replaced with one of mischief if she did not get what she wanted.
Albert sighed, he knew he had no other way to get himself out of this one, he really walked into it.
"Fine" said Albert as he sighed.
"What do you think of Annie?" asked Albert as he looked at Christina and her hold on his ear loosed.
"That's better Albie" said Christina as she smiled and she used her free hand to tap him on his right cheek.
"Well I like her, I think that she is sweet, and she is still very young, she had room for improvement, and she has a nice soul" said Christina as she smiled.
"And you gathered all that information in less than 24 hours of meeting her?" asked Albert.
"I have good judgement" said Christina as she smiled.
"Hmm" said Albert as he was sceptical, Christina could be too much at times.
"Of course it is the truth Albie, I do have good judgement" said Christina as she smiled.
"Why else would I have decided to marry you?" asked Christina as she laughed and she pulled his ear lightly.
"You know that I dislike it when you pull my ear" said Albert.
"I know, and I have been doing it since we were children, so why stop now?" asked Christina as she laughed and she let go of Albert's ear.
"Can you be serious sometimes?" asked Albert.
"I try Albie, I do try" said Christina as she laughed, she was just pulling his leg, he had just been too stiff today, she wanted him to loosen up.
"What do you think about her parents?" asked Albie.
"Well they are nice people, and simple people as well, they seem to know nothing, and I am sure that they know nothing" said Christina as she explained.
"And Curtis?" asked Albert.
"Curtis, is always Curtis, if he came here, then it means he must need something very important" said Christina.
"Hmm, I thought so as well" said Albert as Christina was confirming his thoughts.
"And what about the boy named Matt?" asked Albert.
"I believe he is a fine young man, courteous, polite, and he seems to feel something for Annie, he really cannot hide with the way he looks at her" said Christina as she laughed, young love was so lovely to watch.
"And the girl named Maddie" said Albert.
"She is nice as well, and very pretty I must say" said Christina as she smiled.
"I don't trust her" said Albert.
"Why?" asked Christina.
"Is it because she is Azazel's daughter?" asked Christina as Albert shot her a look that read "Could there be any other reason?"
"Don't think like that Albie" said Christina.
"How do you expect me not to?" asked Albert as he looked at Christina.
"She might be a spy, she is his daughter after all, and every child is loyal to their parents" said Albert.
"But Stella trusts her, and I have heard good things about her, and besides, she appears to have a gentle, innocent soul" said Christina.
"Stella is too naïve, she easily believes others, I do trust her, but I keep her judgment at the back of my mind" said Albert plainly, that was the truth.
"That is rather offensive Albie" said Christina as she frowned.
"I know, but I can say such in her presence, because that is what I believe" said Albert.
"You know, you worry too much" said Christina as she played with Albert's long locks of hair.
"If she was truly a spy, she would have been found out by now, after everything that happened" said Christina.
"Trust me, and trust her" said Christina as she smiled.
"I trust you, I do, but it is others that I do not trust" said Albert as there was suddenly a knock on the door.
"You may enter" said Christina with a smile as she stopped playing with Albert's hair as she turned to look at who was at their door.
"Mother, Father" said Ollie as he smiled and he walked into his parent's bedroom as he gave a quick bow.
"Ahh what brings you here Ollie?" asked Christina as she smiled, that was her nickname for him, she loved to call him that, her Ollie, even though Albert insisted that she call him Oliver by his name, when they were in the midst of others, seeing as he was going to the King soon and he was to behave in maturity.
"Oliver" said Albert.
"I wanted to speak to you both… if I can?" asked Ollie as he smiled.
"Of course you can Ollie" said Christina as she smiled and she took the hairbrush that was still combing her hair in her hand and she walked to her dresser as she placed it over there and she sat down on the green couch.
"Come and sit" said Christina as she smiled and she patted on the empty place beside her.
"Thank you Mother" said Ollie as he smiled and he walked to sit beside his mother while Albert did not like this at all, he always thought that Christina pampered Ollie too much, and that would lead him to become soft and a coward who runs away from his problems.
"So what do you want tot talk to us about?" asked Christina as she smiled.
"Don't mind your father, he is in a bad mood" said Christina as she looked at Albert and she laughed, he really was in a bad mood, Ollie smiled as he understood, he knew the rule, don't anger your father even more when he is annoyed, so he just decided to leave his father be.
"Mother I wanted to ask how you liked our guests?" asked Ollie as he smiled.
"Ahh well I and your father were just discussing that" said Christina as she smiled.
"And well they are nice people, all of them" said Christina as she replied and she smiled.
"I am glad" said Ollie as he smiled, it had took him a lot of convincing to try to get his mother and father to invite Annie and the others over, which was why he was very happy, for once he got what he wanted, but at the expense of sparring with his father, he was brutally hurt in the process, but it was worth it, the pain only lasted for a moment, but it felt so good to have some different people in this boring Castle for once.
"Oliver" came Albert's commanding voice as he looked at Oliver.
"Yes Father?" asked Ollie as he smiled, he did not even flinch.
"Just be careful… you do not really know these people" said Albert.
"Yes Father, I will be careful there is no need to worry" said Ollie as he smiled.
"I truly hope so" said Albert as he scoffed, he would not have agreed to inviting the Greys here, if not for the fact that Ollie was trying to use every avenue to leave the Castle and go to the Palace, just to meet those people, and Albert wanted to keep his son where he could see him.
"Oh don't mind your father my son, you know how he is, just relax and have fun with your new friends" said Christina as she smiled, she had always wanted her son to grow up naturally, and not with all the responsibilities of Prince, but that was far from the truth, but now, he was behaving more like his age.
"Thank you mother" said Ollie as he smiled.
"Goodnight Mother, Goodnight Father" said Ollie as he stood up and he smiled.
"Goodnight Ollie" said Christina as she smiled and Ollie smiled as he walked out of his parent's room.
"You are too hard on him" said Christina as she smiled and she turned to look at Albert.
"And you are too soft with him" said Albert as he replied and Christina shook her head as she could not help but laugh, he would soon find out that he needed to treat Ollie like the child he was, and not just the Prince or heir, he was his son, their lovely son.