"Anyone else?"
"The Lady, Camille Darkwood." Responded Alexander, with a faint smirk on his face.
As expected, Maximilian's brows furrowed, hearing the woman's name who loved to do nothing but buzz around him like a desperate fly.
Maximilian's irritation was palpable.
"Darkwood…" he drawled, "and what did that persistent vixen have to say?" he asked, his voice dripping with disdain.
"She wished to know of your whereabouts and when you would return from your…trip so that she might have the pleasure of seeing you again, Your Majesty," Alexander responded, his smirk widening slightly.
Maximilian tsked. "Camille's persistence would have been admirable if it were not for her selfish intentions."
"I think the lady fancies herself as your queen, Your Majesty," Alexander said, a hint of amusement lacing his words.
Maximilian knew it. Everybody in the castle knew it.
Maximilian scoffed, shaking his head at the absurdity of Alexander's words. "That woman has no concept of the duties and responsibilities that come with such a title. She is nothing but a vapid courtier with delusions of grandeur.
Lady Camille Darkwood was the daughter of the Grand Duke of Lisbon. Her constant visit to the castle sickened Maximilian, and he had a feeling that one of these days would be the last of her.
" It should be no surprise when she finds her head being dangled as a piece of meat for wolves."
Alexander nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Your Majesty. But, if I may, I think it would be better if Lady Camille remains in the dark about your...guest."
Maximilian smirked. "About Genevieve?" I intend to do no such thing. Leave that to me."
Where was the fun, if he would hide his little prized possession….his potential bride from the woman who desperately wanted to become his queen?
"Where is Charlotte? Has she arrived yet?" Maximilian inquired of his personal assistant.
"No, Lian. She hasn't arrived yet. I'm sure the old man must be giving her a lot of trouble by now."
A grin stretched on Alexander's face, thinking about the girl who was irritated by him like no other. He could already imagine her reaction, seeing Maximilian's bride once she arrived at the castle.
As Maximilian and Alexander continued their conversation about Charlotte, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall. The heavy footfall grew louder as the source of the sound drew nearer, eventually revealing itself to be the royal physician, Dr. Tobias.
"Your Majesty," Dr. Tobias said, inclining his head in a respectful bow. "I have come as quickly as I could on your orders?"
Maximilian's eyes narrowed at the physician, who was a foot shorter. "As quick as you could? Three good minutes have gone by, Tobias. Should I perhaps squish your brain for lack of information?"
Dr. Tobias' eyes widened. "N-no, Milord."
Somehow, the king was being very intolerant of him, upon his arrival, making him wonder why.
However, when the physician's eyes moved to the bed, he caught the glimpse of a feminine figure, making him freeze.
"Your Majesty," Tobias stuttered, still recovering from the shock of seeing her. "W-who is t-this maiden? She does not look like anyone I have seen before."
The Physician knew he should never have asked the king, yet he couldn't keep his curious head to himself.
Maximilian smirked, a dangerous glint in his eye. "She is far from just being anyone, Tobias.
He then uttered a stupid question hearing the king's response. "S-shall I a-attend to her?"
Maximilian's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Of course not, Dr. Tobias. I wouldn't want your time wasted on something as insignificant as the health of my bride."
B-bride? The Physician's eyes widened instantly.
Tobias was recovering from the shock of seeing a strange female, but hearing the king's words, threw him into a more frozen state.
W-when did the K-king get married? Who would have guessed that upon his arrival from his three-day journey, he would end up bringing a bride home?
"Move and stop acting like a drunk duck, Tobias." The King applied pressure to the man's shoulder, which earned Tobias being pushed in front of the bed Genevieve lay.
Dr. Tobias shifted uncomfortably, clearly taken aback by the king's biting tone. "Your Majesty, I assure you that I will tend to her injuries with the utmost care and efficiency."
"Good." Responded the king with unfriendliness.
Tobias' feet were glued to the spot as his eyes observed the female's delicate features. Her oblivious face was covered in sweat even though she was unconscious. Her features were innocent, untouched by the ravages of time, yet there was an unfamiliar aura about her that left him perplexed.
"Y-your M-majesty," Dr. Tobias stammered, his eyes darting back and forth between Maximilian and Genevieve. "But, if I may ask, what happened to her?"
Maximilian's smirk widened, a malicious gleam in his eyes. "Let's just say she came to me, in a sense. Her village was destroyed by trolls, and I happened to stumble upon her in the woods." He uttered sarcastically.
"She's a princess of course, I certainly must have married her and we must have gotten attacked on our way back."
Tobias swallowed hard, suddenly understanding the purpose of King Maximilian's journey. "The trolls...they didn't harm her?"
"That's why you're here, Tobias. You're the royal physician for a reason. If surely they have harmed her, I'm sure you'll perform a miracle to raise her from death." Said the king with a smirk.
Tobias's clinical instinct kicked in, and he placed two fingers on Genevieve's slender wrist, searching for her pulse.
"Your Majesty, her pulse is steady, and her breathing is even," he reported, his voice still trembling with disbelief. "She appears to be in no immediate danger, but I cannot say for certain without knowing more about her condition."
With trembling hands, Dr. Tobias began to check Genevieve's head for any signs of injury. Despite his fear, he knew his duty as the royal physician was to ensure the health of the king's bride.
"I see no visible wounds," he murmured to himself, relieved that Genevieve seemed physically unscathed.
The troll hadn't actually touched Genevieve. Its claws almost pierced her, right before the king pushed a sword through its heart. She would have certainly been poisoned if it had successfully cut her. Maybe the scenario would have been worse.
However, the question remains: if Genevieve wasn't physically injured, what could be causing her unconsciousness? He checked Genevieve's vital signs, looking for any subtle indicators that could offer a clue.
Could the stress of the attack have caused her to faint?
"I will administer a reviving potion to her now, and give her medication for her strength when she wakes up."
His hand reached for a small vial of potion tucked away in a corner of the medical kit he had brought with him. He quickly took it and returned to Genevieve's side.
Slowly and gently, Tobias uncorked the vial and dropped three drops into her mouth. "She will be fine, Your Majesty."
"Tell me if you need anything else, Tobias. I'll be in my room." Said Maximilian, averting his gaze from the man.
He flicked off a piece of dirt from his red cape, which he got from the battle with the trolls, and began walking towards the door. Reaching the door, Maximilian turned to give Genevieve one last look, before stepping out and shutting the door closed.