*Alexander*
"How's it going, champ?" King Alexander watched Nicoli drag the crayon over.
Nicoli was wholly focused on his creation. Probably concerned with showing off to Ana how his drawings were improving since the last time. A child's drawing was not something to trifle with, Alexander learned. Therefore, Alexander gave the boy ample space to achieve his artistic goals and humored him.
As long as the letter is done. Alexander had no other worries.
"Quite the little artists you are, my boy." Alexander admired his passionate resolve but wondered who it sourced from. It was certainly not from him.
Perhaps the queen?
But the thought of Belinda made Alexander frown. Despite the month passing, the events of that morning still did not sit well with him. And he did not know what to think of her at the moment.
"All done!" Nicoli lifted the paper with pride.
"Er…how lovely…." Alexander narrowed his eyes. "What a nice…mouse?"
"Bear! It's a bear!"
"A bear!?" Is that what this terrifying creature claims to be? It looks like a demented horse. Alexander almost laughed at his reaction. But stopped himself in time seeing Nicoli's adamant stare. This was very serious to Nicoli.
And it wouldn't be right to hurt the young boy's ego.
It's such a precautions age for him, after all. Alexander corrected himself quickly.
"I see. Of course." King Alexander coughed to clear off his smile then gave another look.
"And these brown and purple figures?"
"It's us. See? Ana's purple and I'm brown."
"We're building a snowman with the bear." Nicoli beamed and pulled out the stuffed bear. He moved his arm out to shake hands. Alexander immediately took the bear's tiny paw without hesitation pleased to see the bear make a reappearance.
"You've been carrying this around with you lately."
"He's the most precious thing in the world to me. When I hold him, it's like I'm with Ana." Nicoli's face dropped a little.
"But I'm scared someone will take him away."
"Who would-"
"Does…Mommy not like Ana?"
Alexander felt his breath catch at the question. Stunned silent and in awe at how perceptive the boy was for just turning five.
Perceptive when so young. That, Nicoli must have gotten from his mother. A good quality for any leader, But that only meant Alexander needed to be even more careful
"You…is that what you think?"
Nicoli nodded and concealed the bear back into a pocket.
"But I don't understand why. Why doesn't she like Ana?" Nicoli looked up to his father for answers.
"What did she do?"
"It's not Ana she's mad with. It's me." Alexander felt mixed as he let a little of the truth out. Yes, Belinda resented Ana, but that's not really fueled the hate.
No, that part is all mine. Alexander sighed weighing how much he should say. It amazed him to see his son had noticed. His son was more perceptive than he ever guessed. But he was still just a child.
"You? "Nicoli asked eyes searching."Why?
"It's…complicated." Alexander rubbed Nicoli's head.
"Complicated?"
"Yes, complicated."
"How?" Nicoli flipped quickly to be annoyed again. "Ana hasn't done anything I know of. So why is she mad?"
"It's not anything she's done."
"Then why does mommy-"
"It's something that happened long ago before you were born. Even before I was married to your mother." King Alexander lifted his eyes to the portrait.
"But if I were given a choice to change it. I would have chosen the same path."
"Heh?" Nicoli looked over where he was staring. It was the portrait.
"Ana's mom?" Nicoli vaguely knew who the lady was. "She looks pretty. Like Ana, all grown up."
"She does doesn't she?" Alexander smiled distantly.
"But just in the face." Nicoli turned back to his drawings. "Everything else is too different."
"Oh?" Alexander mused down to his son. "And what's so discerning in your eye? What sets them apart? You never met Ana's mother. So how can you be so sure?"
"They conflict with each other," Nicoli's statement was so out of the blue that Alexander had to lift a brow.
"Conflict?"
"This woman smiles all mysterious. She looks clever, but there is a trickiness hidden within."
"A trickiness?" Alexander asked further in surprise.
Nicoli nodded.
"Like she would use it against you if cornered." Nicoli's eyes went back to his drawer unaware that Alexander grew more focused on Nicoli's rather surprisingly mature observation.
"Is that right?"
"Ana's nothing like her." Nicoli's words hung in the air before both lifted their heads at the disturbance. A knock on the door came before the announcement.
Queen Belinda entered with her head high. She was already smiling with all her teeth as if practiced beforehand.
"And what pre-tell are my favorite men doing together?"
Nicoli covered his pocket with his hand protectively.
"We're practicing my letters, mommy." Nicoli's voice sweetened on cue. His lashes fluttered innocently. He did it so fast that Alexander had to express a note of pride.
Well played, my boy. Only Five, and he already knows how to work a woman. King Alexander had to admire the performance. Impressed by how quickly the boy could work his charm.
He'll be quite the lady killer. Alexander hid his smile.
"Are you, sweetheart?" Belinda almost gushed lovingly, utterly helpless to her son's charms.
"How wonderful."
"Yes," Alexander played along. He gently rustled the boy's brown curls.
"I think it is about time he wrote to his friend."
"Friend?" Belinda lifted her brow in pleasant surprise.
"Are you writing to the Davish twins? It's been some time since you had them over. Should we invite them-"
"Not them, my dear." Alexander cut in. Belinda's smile shifted slightly but went back.
"Oh? Then another? Who, dear husband?"
"It's a girl."
"A girl!?" Queen Belinda's eyes lit up at the mention.
"Is it already that time? Our dear son is-" A light giggle interrupted before composing herself. She looked giddy.
"A girl? Really, tell me? Oh, please, tell me. I would like to know who this young lady is that our son writes to. Perhaps I can invite her for tea and-"
"It's Anastasia," Nicoli answered.
"I'm writing to Anastasia, mommy."
"Oh," Belinda's face paled at the mention of her. Alexander felt her eyes meet him before moving to Nicoli. Nicoli, however, was busy. He folded his drawing and stuffed it into the envelope.
"Ah, you don't say." Was all she could fathom looking back to Alexander. Her voice was dampened.
"Daddy?" Nicoli looked up.
"You finished?"
"Uh-huh." Nicoli nodded.
"Then let's seal it up, my boy."
Alexander poured the blue wax and pressed the royal stamp down. After it cooled, he lifted the envelope for Nicoli to take.
"Would you like to take this to the postmaster?"
"Yes, please!" Nicoli almost jumped from his chair. But instead, he took it and jumped down without a thought. His little hands held the letter tightly as if his life depended on it.
"I'm off!" Nicoli went, watching the boy rush out and down the hall.
As he left, Alexander caught sight of his wife's face. Her tender veil had fallen for a moment to see a genuine expression. Instead, her eyes were wrinkled with concern as her jaw clenched.
And just as quickly, they transformed back to a trained smile.
"You'll still have him write to her?"
"It was his idea. And I didn't see any harm in it." Alexander watched her stance stiffen.
"No harm?"
"Yes, no harm."
"Even after everything that has happened?"
Belinda strained herself as her back straightened further. It looked tight and pitiful. Alexander tried to overlook the guilty feeling and lean back.
"I think enough time has passed for this to have settled. If Nicoli wants to write, I will not stop him."
"I wish you would be more cautious."Belinda's eyes lifted to scan the room. Finally, they stopped at the portrait. Her face hardened a little.
"Cautious of my child?" King Alexander chuckled.
"She isn't just your child." Queen Belinda turned from the portrait to meet his eyes.
"I thought with what all happened, you would understand. But, unfortunately, you forget what she is."
"She's still my daughter."
"As she is her's." Queen Belinda returned.
"I know she is."
"Then why do continue to put her before my son-"
"Our son."
"Yes. Our son. And our family." Queen Belinda stole a long look at the portrait again. Her eyes slightly sharpened.
"Just the three of us."
Her face then softened to look back at King Alexander.
"As it should have been, to begin with."
Alexander watched her face pull back into a smile.
"Will you join me for tea today?" Queen Belinda folded her hands neatly in front of her dress. But King Alexander could see them shake despite the effort.
"It's been long since we shared a cup."
King Alexander could not overlook the strain in her voice. Her pleading did not amuse him. Instead, he felt worse for making her this way.
"Perhaps another time." King Alexander leaned back in his chair. He felt his heart heavy, but he said no more. The queen needed to understand she was in the wrong.
"I see." Queen Belinda's voice came out small. She then made her way to kiss his cheek.
"Until then, my love." Belinda straightened back and turned. Her grey eyes battered against tears as they looked up. Just seeing the portrait's smile left an awful taste in her mouth. She was enraged at the sight.
But she swallowed her temper. It was not the time for it now. Besides, there was much work to be done. Her hands would be busy, Queen Belinda thought, recalling the letter.
"Cursed pest," Belinda cursed quietly as she left to find Julia waiting for her in the hall.
"Your majesty?" Julia noted the change immediately. "Did something happen?"
Belinda only half smiled. She would be swamped indeed. She clenched her hands tightly before taking off with Julia close behind her. Keeping her voice low for only the one other person she could trust to hear her.
"It seems I will still have to deal with that child once more."