The Queen' s Scheme

That night, sleep was a farcry. All of them except Daisy, sat at the reading room balcony and talking late into the night even till the wee hours. Then they all dosed off while sitting on the floors and chairs.

The queen and the king who watched them early in the morning through their window were happy to see them like this. The friendship and brotherhood these young people had forged was truely commendable and almost impossible to comeby even once in a lifetime, unless you are not extremely lucky. Even her daughter who had never been with other guys before was found sleeping on Alan's shoulders peacefully.

"What do you think of Bella being with them dear?" Maaya asked her husband."Honestly Maaya, anyone of those lads will keep Bella safe and Happy forever. But the problem is whome to choose? I know Alan would be the first choice but for some odd reason I feel he doesn't have anything else in his mind other than of friendship and for that matter even other girls will not have that kind of feeling about him, though he is close with all the girls. As for as others are concerned, let's wait and see. If our daughter decides to marry or fall in love with someone, there is no problem."

"Even though I am the king, I don't mind my daughter marrying into Morgan's family. They are well respected in Winden region and these guys would be more than capable of handling any difficulties they are going to face in life."

Maaya nodded in agreement but a gleam was seen in her eyes. "Dear, what do you say if I tweak our daughters mind slightly and try to make her spill out the truth?" King looked at her in confusion for a few seconds, then, smiled broadly. " I would be more than happy to give my blessings dear. I would definately be the happiest father."

Within a few hours, everyone got up and went to get ready for their most awaited and adventurers journey.

"Bella dear, what do you think of Alan? " Maaya casually asked her daughter who was inspecting her belongings one final time. But, both her mother and her father who were pretending to be writing something were observing her with keen interest.

She smiled warmly without looking up, started to talk, " He is a gem mother. Honestly he cares about me like you both do. Infact he cares for all of us including the boys like a parent. Honestly, I consider him my big brother."

Both King and the Queen were not disappointed with her answer. Infact the King had already predicted this.

Maaya continude to probe, " What about the others dear. Do you have any feeling towards anyone?"

Bella stopped dead at what she was doing and looked up with shock and saw both her mother and father smiling.

She took few seconds to process their parents intent, then blushed scarlet and started to look down fidgeting her fingers. Maaya triumphantly beamed with a huge smile. Even the king was looking pleased by his wife's scheme.

"Dear, don't be afraid. You know that we also like each and everyone of them. They all are like one of our family members. If you like someone or if someone likes you out of these young men, we can help you with the matter."

I....., I..... Bella was still looking at the ground fidgeting with her cloths.

"Bella my child, I promise, if you like any of those five and if they have the same feelings towards you, I Charles Goldwin swear on my throne that, I will not be offended and as a father will try my best to support you." The king swore.

Bella looked at her father with tears in her eyes and hugged him. Father... She then started criying. After calming down, she shyly told her parent's about her feelings towards Williams.

"I like him mother, after being with such wonderful people how can somwone not fall in love with them? But I don't know how he feels towards me. I never expressed my feeling to anyone till now. Nor he ever gave any hint or behaved like he had any feelings beyond friendship towards me. I simply don't want to loose a friendship that is more valuable than anything I have in this life because of my foolish feelings father, mother." Bella concluded tears on her eyes again.

"That's not a problem Bel, Feelings are never foolish and I know my brother would be the most luckiest person to be bleased with someone like you in his life." Alan's voice came from the door.

To her embarrassment, not only Alan, she saw the other five also standing behond Alan. Four of them smiling and Williams was blushing slightly but was looking solemnly at her.

Bella jumped in surprise and shock. But the King and the Queen both were smiling. After a few seconds Bella blushed and turned towards her mother with anger and shyness on her beet red bluahing face understanding her real scheme.

"Mother, you planned all this. Didn't you." Bella felt frustrated and embarrassed.