The next morning was… something. I woke up with a few maids still running around, the doctor was talking to someone in the corner, and most surprising of all, Isaac was there, and if I recall correctly he was here the entire time. He looked as regal as always and his crown even rested on his head as he stood next to the doctor listening to the conversation.
My thoughts wander back to the moment before I fell asleep. The coffee, something was wrong I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Somebody poisoned it, or it contained something that made my body react this way. I need my maids, lately they’ve been spying people for me and if I knew how much I would gain, I would’ve done this earlier.
“She woke up.” A person gasped. Before I knew it people surrounded my bed and the doctor was touching my forehead once more. Everybody patiently waited for his words. Please let me be alright, Please let me be alright, I prayed.
“The fever went down.” Everyone smiled and a few maids close to me exchanged hugs with one another. Never had I thought that people care this much about me. But behind the crowd I noticed Isaac staring at me and instead of laughing and hugging like other people, he sent me cold looks that sent shivers down my spine.
Did I do something wrong? Did something happen? Why is he staring at me like I am a traitor? Has this to do with the behaviour of my brother?
“My lady, you do need some rest before you continue with your duties.” I nod at the doctor's words. My eyes glance back at Isaac, who is still looking at me like I am the most disgusting thing in the world. I shouldn’t care about how he thinks of me, but he’s made a way into my mind, and I don’t like it. He is my master, the master of the entire country, I can’t have any feelings towards him except pride.
Before I know it the room is emptying, the maids are walking away to continue their daily routines, the doctor moved on to the next patient somewhere in this castle, the guards walked outside to leave the King and me alone. I hate this atmosphere, I feel like I’m suffocating, I feel like my heart will explode if it continues to pound so rapidly. I angle my head in a way that I can stare straight into his eyes. He grabs a chair and sits in it like a true King, his knee over the other, his hands resting on the armrests and his back straightened, with his head held high.
“I am going to ask you a few questions, Victoria.” He starts. Before I can say a word he mumbles something else.
“First. Why are you getting yourself in trouble everyday, every second?” His voice is starting to sound harsher while he remains in his calm posture.
“Is it for attention?”
“Excuse me, Your majesty? You believe that I get voluntarily into this trouble for attention?” He doesn’t say anything, his face remains focused on my eyes as I grow more and more irritated. I know that I get myself in trouble, but I just want to live a calm, unknown life, but I can’t, not with my title and certainly not now with my reputation.
When he continues to stay silent for longer, I scoff. I didn’t expect this from him.
“I don’t want this, but some way, somehow I always end up in situations that I never asked for. I do what I think is best, and that these things happen to me just tells me how vulnerable everyone is here in French court. I don’t think I am allowed to say this, but as you intended to say, my reputation is already ruined, so Your Majesty it is very rude of you to incline that I get into this for attention, not everything is about you.” And at that moment I knew, I knew that my time here wouldn't last long.
A few days later, I haven’t heard anything about The King. After my words he left without looking back and slammed the door closed. I remember that I feared the hours that were waiting for me that day. I feared that guards would come to pick me and throw me into the dungeons. But that didn’t happen, on the contrary, Isaac left me alone for 5 days, I haven’t seen him, nor heard about him. So I spent my days with Arthur.
Our friendship has grown in the past few days. We went on picnics, rode horses together, and walked around the French landscapes. Some days we took Caroline with us. She is the most adorable thing I know.
Neither I nor Arthur spoke a word about Isaac. It was a subject that was better left untold. I didn’t exactly have any ill will towards him, I just find it strange to understand what he is doing to me. And I try to ban him out of my mind, and that is working very well now that he is not here in the castle.
“You wanted to leave, if I recall correctly.” Arthur states, as we walk in the forest. It is truly a majestic place. The trees are high and full of leaves, sometimes rays of sunshine shine on our road which makes me feel like I live in a perfect world.
“Yes, I did, I do. I just don’t want to go home to my brother, but I don't want to stay here as well.” I start. I am scared of my brother. Well, not scared, but I don’t want to know what is happening at home right now, I don’t even know if he’s at home. My maids informed me not long after I got better that James was on drugs his entire life, which made him nice, kind and relaxed, but it wasn’t him and somehow I believed that it was him.
“I understand.” I am glad that Arthur dropped the topic.
As we wandered further in the forest, where it started to get darker, I noticed a small cottage, most likely abandoned or lived in by homeless people. It seemed like a nice house, it is a beautiful location except a bit far from the local villages nearby.
“Shall we go in there?” Arthur asks. He probably noticed my interest in the small cottage.
“I don’t think we should, perhaps there are people in there.” I state.
“No, I don’t believe so, it’s too far away from the villages, it’s most likely a cottage from a hunter.” Arthur walks closer towards the house, trailing off the road. I follow him. Guards who are following us walk behind us.
“After you.” Arthur states. Somehow it felt suspicious. I am probably just being paranoid. Arthur wouldn’t look me up in here right? I look around before I unlock the door and push it open.
Oh my god.
What is this?