SEVENTEEN

[ LADY SULTAN]

"Prince Charles's boundary with the princess for a couple of weeks now has got him thinking about her every time. His mind doesn't seem to rest. What has got our dear prince so worried...

Is it the disclosure of his hidden identity or he can not get the young lady out of his mind?

If the princess wishes to acquaintance him, he should welcome her back with his hands wide open or should I say, if he doesn't well perhaps our Prince truly is miserable."

{BOTH GRUNTING AND GROANING]

"My grace, I can see you fighting with so much anger, loosen up." Odion strikes his sword over my head as I use mine to block the hit.

"I am not angry Odion!" [ROARED]

"Since you hosted the ball, you sort of changed, did you see the princess." [PANTING]

I strike his sword for the second time.

"I will have you not speak of the princess in the training room."

"Fair enough!" [PANTING]

"I presume you won't speak of what happened that night in the balcony, either." [CHUKLES]

"[PANTING] Nothing happened on the balcony." I swipe my sword to the left aiming for his left ribcage.

"I cannot imagine the princess feeling so overwhelmed or perhaps betrayed about that."

"I suggest you have nothing to imagine about her feeling or her concern about my nobility...[GRUNTING] or actions for that matter..." I raise my sword to strike below his knees, but I fall to the ground, losing my stamina.

"[CHUCKLES] Your grace, Write to her, you look so troubled and I know is because you haven't spoken to her for weeks, so I suggest you should write to her at once."

[SIGHS]" If I write to her, she will certainly not read it or she may consider reading it but she will never write back to me... "

'And what makes you think so? She has written to you countless times, seeking to face you but you turn down the offer, so writing to her will be the only choice you have."

[INHALES] "I will think about it Odion, I have a lot on my desk to worry about but not the feelings of a lady." [GROWLED]

[DOOR OPENS]

"Evening your grace!"

"Evening Haley..." He whispered.

She picks up her sword and walks toward Charles. Odion takes off his breastplate and walks for the door.

"Odion, you are leaving?" Haley wondered.

"Yes, my training hour is over with the prince." He walked out of the room. [DOOR BANGS]

"Prince! What have you done again?" Haley stared at him.

"Nothing disturbing."

[SIGHS]

[SWORDS CLASHING]

"Haley! Can I ask you a question?" She smiled, she has waited so long for this moment, the moment he would tell her where she stands in his life.

"Sure!"

" How will I know when a lady adores me?"

"Well, speaking from experience, she will find everything you do attractive to her. She will never push you away."

[SIGHS]

"Is everything alright, prince?"

"Yes, is just that this princess seems so different, since she discovered my kingship, she has built a wall between us. She no longer writes to me, we haven't spoken for weeks and this thought keeps lingering in my head. What am I to do?"

[INHALES DEEPLY]

"Honestly, your grace, have you ever thoughts of asking her where you stand in her life? That will be a great start."

He smiles at her before pulling her into a hug. "Thank you, Haley." This time she doesn't smile at him, rather her face was straight and he wondered what has made her look ghostly.

"Haley, What is wrong, you seem to lose your smile?"

"Nothing your grace, I am truly, fine."

*************************************

[FAINT CHATTERINGS]

"You will not talk about this in the Prince, presence, Haley"

"And what point is it, if I keep hiding in the shadows?" Haley raged.

"Do you love him?"

"You know I do, I care for him as he had cared for me. And I shall not disappoint or dishonour him."

"But, you know, he loves the princess, I do not know how you are going to tell him, this is a matter you would handle all by yourself."

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

I waited a moment before speaking.

"Is everything alright?" I asked Haley with my other guards.

"Yes, yes, of course, your grace!"

"You look strained, Haley."

"Not at all, your grace, I assure you that I am fine and energised."

"Hmm, well if you say so... I am off to study." I waved my hand as I walk opposite the hall.

"Do you think he heard our conversation, Mido?"

"That, I do not know, Haley."

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[MUSIC HUMMING]