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As Queen Charlotte left with Marco, I sighed and threw myself into my bed in defeat.

As Queen Charlotte walked into the courtroom, Zed was standing there almost impatiently and waiting for her.

"Your majesty, you went ahead to send out soldiers to the black river?" He said as soon as Queen Charlotte made her way into the room.

"I see this is the emergency." She muttered. "Yes I did, do you have a problem with that?" Queen Charlotte responded.

"Your majesty with all due respect this is madness. Sending ten men to that very dangerous place just to save one man who has no such time on his side?" Zed said.

"That one man you speak of is your king and I'll have you know that you must speak of him with respect and reverence." Queen Charlotte said. "Sending ten men or even more to save a King's life is worth it. Even if the king has just a few seconds left, I will send over one thousand Akalon soldiers in an attempt to save his life and they will do it or die trying." She added.

"I mean no disrespect your majesty but I've been in this field for over fifty years of my life and I've served this palace since I was a boy and so I can tell you that no one has ever gone to the black river and came back alive." Zed said.

"Then who realized it would take seven days to go there and return?"

"That information is just alleged information, my queen."

"Well, you don't expect me to sit back and do nothing while my husband is dying and his son is nowhere to be found."

"Charlotte you're just scared of losing Albert and I know why." Zed said.

"What do you know?" Queen Charlotte asked.

"You fear what will happen if you lose your husband. With Percy as his first son and..."

Queen Charlotte quickly cut him short before he could finish.

"Percy is an alleged son of King Albert. His mother was nothing but a liar and a gold digger and for Percy? he's a bastard and stands no chance against Liam so shut that hole in your face." Queen. Charlotte said angrily. She was never disrespectful but was always insecure about Liam but would never admit it.

"I'm sorry your majesty, I didn't mean to make you upset." Zed apologized for realizing how mad at him Queen Charlotte was getting.

"It's fine. I'd like to go see my husband now." She said and walked away.

I was alone in my room when there was a knock on my door. Irene opened the door right after the knock and made her way in.

"Nardin, can I talk to you?" Irene said before she noticed I was so brooding and deep.

"How're you feeling?." She asked me as she sat down close to me.

"I don't know. Lost? Confused? I feel horrible Irene." I responded.

"I understand my lady but you don't have to be." She said.

"Have you and prince Liam... You know what I mean?" She asked with a mischievous smirk on her face.

I smiled knowing what she was talking about, "Irene, you're such a bad influence." I said jokingly.

"Well he's your husband and you still haven't answered my question."

"No. Liam and I have never even embraced as a couple." I responded.

"Really? That's strange." Irene said in shock.

"How is it strange?" I asked.

"You live in the same room, you share a bed... It seems quite impossible."

"Well, it's not. I don't think Liam loves me."

"That's not true. I think prince Liam loves you. Wait hold on, aren't you supposed to be married to King Albert?"

"You've asked me this question before Irene."

"Well, you never answered it perhaps I'm asking again."

"I was but it turned out king Albert only came to get me for his son."

"Well, I don't know marrying an old man with a lot of concubines and children and marrying a devil which one is better."

I scoffed "Liam's not a devil. I think he just has some demons he's dealing with." I defended him.

"Are you defending him now? I see someone is in love already." Irene teased me.

"Stop Irene, I'm not in love. I'm just stating the obvious." I said but I was blushing.

Irene and I suddenly burst into laughter from the look she gave me. "Don't look at me like that." I said amidst laughter. Soon we both stopped.

"Edward was here a few nights ago." I said to Irene staring at her like a baby who has just stepped on its mother's toes.

"What did he want? How did he get here? What did you say to him, did prince Liam or Queen Charlotte or king Albert or even the least servant in this palace see him?" Irene freaked out.

"It's okay Irene relax, no one saw us. At least not one that I know of." I responded.

"Okay so, what did he want?"

"He wants me. I don't know how he got here but he said he wants me back in his life."

"Nardin, you must never speak to him ever again. It's sacrilegious for a woman, especially of royal blood to be seen in a romantic relationship with a man other than her husband." She said.

Okay, here we go again, a world where it's okay for men to have numerous concubines and wives while it's sacrilegious for a woman to have another lover apart from her husband.

"I know Irene. I told him never to come to see me again that I'm a married woman."

"Good. And if he keeps doing it, let me know." She added.

"Of course." I said. "Irene, when you walked into my room you said you wanted to talk to me. What did you want to tell me?" I asked.

"Oh, of course, I did say that." Irene started to act like she was uncomfortable with my question. "Don't worry Nardin, it's nothing important."

"Well, I still want to hear it. We talk to each other about anything so don't change that now."

Irene looked at me for a while before she spoke. "I don't know if this is the right time Nardin."

"Just tell me already. I'm itching to hear it."

"Okay." She breathed in deeply and exhaled before she spoke "I'm getting married in two days."

The news was shocking to me and I didn't know how to react. I was supposed to be happy for her but I felt I'd lose her forever. This was not what I was expecting to hear.

"I.. How... You're getting married? I'm happy for you." I said.

"And scared for our friendship. Nardin, I must assure you that I'm not going away forever. I'll always be your friend and will be here for you anytime you need me." She assured me.

I smiled. "I know... Who's he? Someone, I know?"

"Of course." She blushed.

"I see. The one who took away your innocence." I said smiling knowingly.

"Hey, keep your voice down someone could hear us."

Irene and I spent the most time together but never forgot to check on the king and queen.

Soon it was nightfall and I was left alone to sleep but I couldn't. I was scared that the moment I closed my eyes there would be another fire outbreak so I didn't sleep. Well instead of a fire outbreak, I heard footsteps. Footsteps of someone approaching my room. I got scared and slowly grabbed the candle stand on my nightstand then slowly tiptoed to my door. The footsteps stopped right in front of my door. I swallowed hard, my heart was beating at that moment.

Slowly, the doorknob turned and the door clicked open...