Chapter 83

Alexander POV

I turned over the letter between my fingers time and time again, reaching for it whenever I could spare it a thought. It had slipped from between the sheets of my favourite book years ago. From pages I had turned often, but found nothing between them before.

Someone had planted it there. Knowing I would discover it. It was there for me. I was the intended recipient, yet I didn't know who could have left it there.

On it was a message that made no sense when I had discovered it.

'Keep an eye on Madeline Colter'.

I hadn't even known who she was when I found the letter and after I had finally caught wind of her name along with a newly opened boutique franchise I had to investigate who she was. A young intelligent girl, outstanding among her peers and oddly enough a business owner.

Why would any woman start a business I couldn't fathom, but maybe that was why I had to keep an eye on her.

Was she a threat to this country? A spy for the Empire?

I knew the Colters were a simple southern merchant family. They were not political at all and did not care for national affairs. They did run international business' however her business wasn't nearly on the scale of the more popular Colter business'.

I turned the page again. Trying to spot any traces that the writer would have left, but there was nothing. The writing was uncannily familiar and the page it was on made it obvious that whoever had left the message knew me well.

Who could it have been? It was an answer I still didn't know, but regardless I had gathered enough knowledge of Madeline Colter to find the amount almost disturbing.

I understood her intentions when she made a business move, her future goals and even her opinion of Grandor. Her hobbies, interests and dislikes. But nothing of those struck her as a threat.

And she most certainly didn't look threatening with her tear stained eyes, wide and shaken, looking up at me in resemblance to a startled kitten.

"Are you okay?" I felt stupid asking the question when she most certainly looked far from that. A hiccup escaped her lips and I was sure I had interrupted what was meant to be a private cry session.

I should've turned away when she had left. But I was compelled to get to the bottom of her relationship with the prince. Especially after that interaction.

Tears slipped down her eyes, one following the other despite the composed expression on her face.

So she was a child too.

"I- I'm so sorry I don't know what has got into me"- she began, face flustered.

"No my apologies, I have struck my nose where it does not belong".

"No I'm simply being too emotional" she wiped her eyes with a forced smile, "do you wish to discuss something?"

Yes. Yes I did.

Who are you?

Why do I have this letter?

Why are you spilling tears… over that monster?

"I will bother you at a more convenient time. Please, get some rest" I smiled apologetically and turned on my heel before she could answer.

I had not been able to find any answers, but I knew one thing and that was that Madeline Colter was not your average Lady. She was shy of twenty and yet she had already made her mark in a world most women are forgotten. And she had no plans of stopping. What would happen if she were to be queen?

I didn't time to dwell as their was an even bigger problem awaiting me in the sixth floor meeting room.

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Jules-

I had spent the whole day speaking and smiling more than ever, trying to appear human and friendly. It was draining and although I wished it wasn't the case, my mind wasn't ever on the women in front of me.

I didn't care for any of them.

It was something I realised every time I tried to find her in them. At one point I wished there were dozens of her, so many I would think for a moment she wasn't special, but it wasn't the case.

'You look good this morning'.

My body began to heat up and my breathing slowed. I could feel the twitch in my trousers, shame overtaking me.

How could such a small girl have so much power of me?

I stood up and opened the window, refusing to fall for her charms restricted to my imagination.

"Your highness!" My door slammed open to reveal a panting George who held a letter in his hand.

"What's got you heaving?" I frowned, annoyed at the interruption.

"Look at this!" He placed the letter on my desk and I leaned over to read it. My eyes narrowed.

"So the Empire has finally made a move".