{A day after the Introduction Ceremony}
Samaira had sat opposite the King with a dull expression on her face. It was the same usual expression she wore whenever she was with him, a bored, tired and depressed expression.
She hoped he noticed it, because she wanted him to notice it, she wanted for him to notice how unhappy he had made her since the beginning of all this.
Though, she did take something into consideration. The fact that they were having dinner at his private garden, which had never happened before.
They always had their meals with his present family members in the royal dining room.
But today, Madam Francesca, the head maid assigned to her, had led her to this place stating that the King had suggested they had dinner there.
She watched as the maids served them before disappearing from their side, the evening sunset making the scenario look peaceful.
" You should really consider changing your expression Alicia... it no longer fazes me", King Edward stated with a light chuckle causing Samaira to stare at him surprised. Did he realize what he just called her?
He met her gaze and smiled softly at her. He suddenly lifted his fork placing a piece of vegetable in his mouth.
" You should eat", he pointed at her food with the fork in his hand and she stared at the food and then once again at him.
" Why...?", she suddenly asked, drawing his attention towards her because she had spoken loud enough. It was mainly on impulse but she did anyway which caused King Edward to stare at her puzzled.
" I... I wish to know why you decided I was just like my Aunt", she stuttered at first... but went on to say it anyway not sure how he would react to it.
She picked up the fork in front of her and stared at the food, it was meat and few vegetables, what a dish, but she did not plan on eating.
King Edward stared patiently at Sam's beautiful appearance. Dressed in a red gown which complimented her pale skin, something that he always truly loved about Alicia.
Their eyes, hair, everything as well as their mannerisms were just alike and the red gown she was wearing held so many memories.
With a smile on his face, he answered her,
" You remind me of Alicia", he stated simply which brought her eyes back to him and he truly loved staring at those eyes.
" I am my own person Your majesty... you are not giving Auntie Alicia respect by regarding me as her, I am merely her niece", she stated with a frown though wishing she could say more.
She wished she could shout that he should stop this nonsense he thought was love because it was only one sided and it was sickening.
" Respect?", he asked with a sarcastic tone in his voice but his face suddenly turned serious.
" I loved Alicia... I loved her to the extent that I was ready to give up my title as future King because my father had believed that loving her was no good for the Kingdom", he yelled out, banging the table in annoyance as if he were reopening old wounds.
Sam had stared at him with a shocked expression on her face. He had looked so serious that she could not help but believe him. Had he been that in love with her aunt?
Calming down, he stared back at her with a face that seemed depressed and lonely,
" I could not bare it when I found out she died due to some terrible disease, I felt heartbroken but as a prince I could not even show my pains...
" I have so many wives today because I thought if I had surrounded myself with women... I would never think about Alicia but No... I still miss her... dearly", he said staring at her eyeball to eyeball as though he were speaking with Alicia herself, telling her how lonely he had been.
" You are a Ray of hope for me Samaira, all you had to do was oppose my words for me...to pay attention to you and realize, Alicia was actually talking to me, my Alicia was back to me", he said this time giving her that creepy smile she had always detested but this time she did not detest it... she was actually pitying him.
But then why did she have to suffer for this? She did not want a part in this. " King Edward, I do not wish to be her substitute and I do not want this sort of life with you.. you might have found what you have been searching for but by doing this it has affected me", she exclaimed being more open with him than she had intended.
He did not take offense, he only reached out to her hand on the table and held it but she retraced it quickly, causing him to smile.
" Like everything in this world, you would obviously get used to me Samaira", he said smiling whilst she stared back at him feeling at a loss for words.
{Present Day}
It was already noon but Sam had neither had food nor water. She was thirsty, tired and mentally stressed out.
And every minute that passed by, she would subconsciously shake her head in a disagreeing manner.
" I did not kill the King", she uttered continually as soft tears streamed down her face, her lashes soaked with tears from the continuous crying she had been doing.
She stared at the dark cell she had been put in. There was a small window in the corner which let her know that it was still afternoon, she had been caught by them in the early morning when the sun had not yet risen.
They claimed she had been running away from them but she had only done that because her Papa had asked her to come. He had threatened her with his life.
" Papa?", she called out like a lonely sad soul. " Papa?", she called out once again but she still did not hear his voice. Tears pooled out more as she realized she was all alone in this place. Her hair was dirty and her appearance was the least bit good.
" I did not kill the King ", she exclaimed while crying, repeating those words continuously.
" He was still alive when we last spoke, he had been alive", she yelled out and continued crying.
********Dino's Study Room******
Niklaus walked into the study room of Dino to find him sitting on the table with a cigar in his hand. His whole appearance was depressed and lonely.
He closed the door behind him and the noise made Dino turn to stare at that direction. On seeing that it was Niklaus, he let their eyes meet and he nodded at him in acknowledgment.
" The officials are making harsh decisions concerning what is to be done with Lady Roberts", exclaimed Niklaus in a soft manner but Dino only nodded to his words while bringing the cigar to his mouth taking it in.
" They are really that stupid after all", Dino replied shrugging his shoulders as if their decisions did not affect him.
" What do you mean?", inquired Niklaus with an interested look. Did Dino not believe Samaira Roberts could have done that?
" You do not believe she killed King Edward?", he asked once again staring at Dino who did not bother to face him while they were talking.
" I believe.... She has been set up by some ugly coward who still lives and exist and I will make sure they pay for what they have done", he said calmly, yet in a tone that held both truth and threat.
Niklaus stared at the sad demeanor of Dino. His shoulders were slumped as though he was so sad that he had been painfully left behind.
Knowing that Dino had been there for him when he lost his parents, he could not help but feel the pain Dino was feeling.
He moved forward to where Dino was seated on the table and placed his hand on his shoulder. Dino stared up at him a little bit surprised but when he saw the encouraging look on Nik's green eyes, he decided to let it out.
He held the cigar loosely on his hand and sighed deeply. " I told myself... to never get too attached to that man", he stated out of the blue in a very soft voice.
" We can't help it, they are our parents", Niklaus said softly as he remembered how sad he had been when his parents died. How lonely he had felt.
Dino looked down at his feet, one was on the ground while the other was hanging loosely on the table. He had truly let himself know that one day his father was going to die and he would no longer be around.
It had been annoying when he thought about it back then. His father was both good and bad and that sort of person was always loved somehow and yes he had warned himself not to get too attached.
He thought he would not be affected if he prepared himself mentally but look at the irony of it all. He could not believe that the man was gone without a single word to him.
That scolding old man who would never let him be, just left him without saying anything, why???
He did not realize when he stood up annoyed at the thought pushing Niklaus's hand away in the process.
" He left me ..., he did not say anything to me", he yelled but then afterward his voice became dimmed and his expression broken.
" I loved him Niklaus, I loved him when he was good and I loved him when he was bad... I just never liked his methods but now I cannot tell him how I felt, because he left", he said quietly causing his eyes to water but he quickly blinked them away.
Niklaus could only stare at him from behind wishing all would be alright but somewhere inside he knew that this was only the beginning. The King just died and not normally, he was murdered.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hope you enjoyed this chapter... have a nice day readers.