Out of the scene

"I can start a war if I want to. And I am willing to sacrifice lives if I can get the revenge my father deserves." He acknowledged with an impassive look on his face.

His friends looked at him straight in the eyes and nodded. "We will get him, don't worry," Jake whispered who stood up and went to place his hand on his shoulder.

"I don't know what he wanted from my dad. But he marked his death the day he killed him." John's eyes fill with anger and resentment.

"I am sorry," Jake murmured, feeling hurt to see his friend that way.

"Do you think he had any reason to do what he did?" The last boy who remained silence for all the conversation asked.

"We're not sure he did it." Jake rectified.

But King John shrugged, "I will kill him anyway, just in case."

They all shared a common laugh as if they expected to receive such an answer from him.

"Let's go now, guys." Jake gestured to his friends, they got up and smiled at John before they walked out.

After some instants, a maid who was waiting outside entered to give the King the papers on which there were written all the names of the guests that Roselyn wanted to invite to their wedding.

He took it and to his surprise, there were just a few names. The brief list included her family's closest friends and her maids.

"Did you ask her why there are just a few names?" John asked the maid who nodded her head no.

"Why don't you talk to her? You have to make her feel home." He raised his tone of voice and his statement came out like a scold.

The maid looked down, "I am sorry, your highness. But you said.."

He gestured with his hand as he interjected her saying, "When I say I don't want either emotional involvement or emotional interaction I am talking about myself. But you can and shall talk to her and treat her well." The maid limited herself to nod lightly before finding her way out.

He turned over the paper when a written note caught his attention,

'PS. Next time your friends visit you let me know so I can hide in the room and spare myself from a possible heart attack!!"

He chuckled reading Roselyn's message and rolled his eyes at her silliness.

He looked around the room to see if he could spot a pencil. When the maid came back he spotted the desired object inside the maid's apron pocket. He slid it out while the maid was distracted and proceeded to write down her note.

After responding, he cleared his voice to catch the maid's attention, "Can you bring it back to her?"

The maid looked at him quite confused so he clarified, "in case she wants to add some names."

She took the paper and went to clear the silver upon the table when the King glowered at her. "Now." He said aloud.

The poor woman nodded and hastily walked out of the room to reach Roselyn's room.

"The King wanted to give it back to you. In case you happen to change your mind and decide to add names." She said handing the paper to Roselyn who stretched her hand.

She turned it over and giggled after reading his reply to her note.

'As much as I should advise you before getting undress? Will that cause you a heart attack too?'

She laughed as she dabbed her forehead. He was very unpleasant, she thought to herself.

"What is so funny?" Asked the maid, making Roselyn hear an interesting sound of her voice for the first time.

"Nothing, a fun memory occurred into my mind." She replied sharing a big smile on her face as she felt happy to be spoken to.

"If you need anything, miss Roselyn, I'm outside the door." She declared smiling gently.

After heading out the maid closed the door behind her.

When she found the older maid waiting for her, frowning her eyebrows. Her forehead was greased from the age and from the anger she felt. "Why did you talk to her and smiled?" She folded her arms scrutinizing her from upside down.

"The King said so." The younger maid replied under her breath.

"This unconventional idea he had of coming into agreements to pretend a partnership is quite ridiculous. The earlier we get her out of the scene, the sooner he will be able to find someone who is truly worthy." The cynical woman commented with her raspy voice and a grin appeared on her face. Letting the girl deduce she had something in her mind recognizing the familiar grin.

"What are you planning?"

The grin expanded, the more she thought about her idea, "I am not planning anything. She will do it herself by falling in love with him. I can't wait to see her little heart break into millions of pieces."

The maid watched her eyes blink at the idea of Roselyn being hurt.

"What if she won't fall for him?"

That old woman hearing that supposition, gave her a glance, "In that case, we have to scare her. If she sees what the King is capable of, I bet she will run away in a blink of an eye."

Receiving a judgemental gaze she folded her arms her voice became even raspier as it raised, "King William would turn in his grave if he knew what his son is doing. We are doing this for him and the Kingdom." She continued, looking at the younger maid when a smirk appeared on her face.