A week later.
Thronehall.
Springton.
************
Alice is dressed primply and beautifully like a princess today and as she forced the guards to let her in the court after the lockdown the king put on her without reason the last time and she finally knew why now. He found out she was leaving to meet Theodore.
"What were you doing with a boy from the enemies kingdom?!" Albert thundered.
"He is not just a boy, he is a prince!" she retorted.
"Alice!" Albert snarled, his eyes wide with anger.
"He shall marry me and take me away, then peace shall reign" Alice declared after she squared her shoulders.
The king scoffed. "That can only happen over my dead body" he swore.
Alice appeared scandalized, "But father! Peace equals growth"