Turbulent Revelations and Ailing Spirits

"Isabella, it's not something I wanted to discuss but yes something similar happened to me." He sighed, and then continued. "Before your mother and I got together I was betrothed to queen Helene, which at the time was a princess of a small outlying kingdom. And when the time came closer for us to wed, it was found out that she was having an affair with the King of Arcoi. The arrangements were broken off naturally, but it caused further disruption in our relationship with Arcoi."

"That's very strange," Isabella said curiously. "What ever happened to the King?"

"Isabella," Her mother stepped in. "That's enough."

"No, she should know," her father took her mother's hand. "Isabella, things were complicated, war is capable of breaking out in a matter of moments because of things like status and wealth. That's why we always warn you to be peaceful and weary of how you act around others. To be a King you are expected to grow your kingdom, and as a queen it is your duty to be of use to the king in whichever way you are needed, whether you are expected to produce an heir or gather information. And when I became King after marrying your mother, my father's dying wish was that we take our revenge on what princess Helene did to us. One day a royal convoy was traveling within our border, and our guards attacked on my orders for revenge. And the King of Arcoi was onboard that convoy and he perished, the revenge my father wished for was complete, now he may rest in peace."

"So you did kill Prince Alexander's father!" she jumped out of her chair, knocking over her glass. "How could you! For Revenge? That hardly seems fair!"

"It's not fair, life isn't fair! And now you understand why I say you cannot be with him or expect any kind of truce of relation with Arcoi." He slammed his palm against the dining table, causing the cutlery to shake and clatter. "Once your mother and I have discussed who the three suitors will be, they will be invited to spend time with you, and you will choose one of them and finalize the marriage! You may leave."

Dismissed, Isabella left the dining hall in a whirlwind of fury, she had never questioned being married, she had expected as much as she wanted to be of use to her parents. She had only ever had blind loyalty for her parents, but with all that has come to the surface she felt herself questioning all she was taught and believed in. She feverishly wrote a letter, stating all the details her father had told her regarding his past with Arcoi. She flew from her desk, walking as fast as she could but she dared not run. She made her way to the pigeon house, picking a reliable bird to deliver her letter to the Prince himself. She was thankful that she had learnt to send letters via pigeon and that they had several pigeons trained to deliver to all the kingdoms in the area, including the Arcoi palace. After securing the letter to the pigeon she released the bird to fly to the prince. She watched the bird glide in the sky until it was out of sight. She was certain he would be furious, that his hatred would grow toward her and her family, but she had to tell him their side of the story. He could decide then for himself what he wanted to do.

"What are you up to?" Sophia popped her head around the door of the pigeon house.

"I was just sending a letter, nothing exciting." Isabella rubbed her arm nervously.

"Hmm, are you telling Lord Adrian that you want him to be one of the three suitors?" she giggled with a mischievous smile.

"Who knows?" Isabella rolled her eyes nonchalantly, "Besides that's up to my mother and father."

"According to Edmund he isn't Royalty, but a well established and very wealthy noble." she wiggled her eyebrows playfully. "Surely he wouldn't be allowed to be a suitor, he has no kingdom to offer you."

"I thought the purpose of having three suitors is to choose who I want to spend my life with." Isabella said, sticking out her tongue, throwing a handful of birdseed on the ground for the pigeons. "Besides, I would rather have them choose in the end, I didn't expect to have a choice."

"Don't worry princess," Sophia locked her arm into Isabella's. "I will help you choose if you can't decide."

They strode around the quiet garden, the sky darkened as the clouds collected over the palace. Light drops of rain began to fall onto the petals of the flowers that surrounded the walkway. Sophia rushed Isabella to the palace, despite Isabella's lack of urgency.

"You will get sick, and Edmund will scold me!" Sophia scolded her. "What's bothering you?"

"Nothing, there's just little for me to do now but wait, a little rain seems like the only bit of excitement now. I wonder how the Artisan's Exhibition is going." Isabella spoke soberly, wishing she could be out exploring.

"You never minded being in the Palace before, you've spent the last twenty five years here and I've never seen you so despondent." She said as she dragged Isabella to her chambers.

"That's because I have never left the palace, and now that I know how much more there is out there, I feel like I'm in a cage all of a sudden." Isabella's throat caught as she let the truth escape her lips.

"You best not say that in front of his majesty." Sophia scowled. "Perhaps the man you choose will grant you time to travel, perhaps he travels as well and lets you accompany him. Even so, I recommend not speaking like that for the time being."

"I know, you're right." Isabella stiffened remembering that she was a princess after all.

"You're freezing! I will get the bath ready and then you should rest!" Sophia rushed out the room, making preparations for her bath.

Isabella felt numb to her own senses and feelings, she needed time to process things, to decide what her next course of actions will be. Submerging into the warm bath filled with herbs and salts she swished, shifting her body. The warmth pierced her cold body until she was able to focus on her thoughts again. She decided to wait until she got word from Alexander before she decided her next steps with Arcoi, and she would wait for her mother to decide her three suitors in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime she would focus on her studies and learn about the history of Verdesaint and the neighboring kingdoms. She had had enough of being in the dark, she wanted to know what was really happening around her, so that she could choose the right man to call her husband.

She clambered out of the bathtub only to find her energy had been zapped away, she fumbled for her towel, wrapping it over her body. The room spun around, she reached out for her bed before collapsing.

"Isabella!" Sophia cried out. "Are you alright? Someone get help!"

"I don't know what happened." Isabella said weakly.

"Edmund is going to give me an earful. I really hoped that the herbal bath would have helped." Sophia whispered, ashamed of her failure in keeping the princess healthy. "It's been so long since you got sick."

"It's my fault Sophia, I'm sorry." she murmured softly before being consumed in darkness.

Isabella felt herself awaken and fall back to sleep countless times, she dreamt of the time when she was a small girl, playing in her father's study oblivious to the world of politics. She flew from the palace and danced in the night sky as the wind blew her from kingdom to kingdom. She saw wars breakout between kingdoms, bloodshed and poverty plagued them. She tried to scream out to the familiar people she saw fighting, she wanted the fighting to stop.

"Isabella!" Sophia gripped her hand tightly, hushing her to be calm. "You're safe in your room, we are here, you are okay."

"What happened?" Isabella asked weakly, looking around to see a doctor at her side.

"It seems the sudden change in climate between Arcoi and Verdesaint has made you ill." the doctor informed her as he checked her pulse. "I understand that you have a weak immune system, that would contribute to your sudden collapse and needing several days to recover. I will be observing you for the next few days until we are certain you have recovered. If you will excuse me, I need to inform his majesty that you are awake."

Isabella groaned once she and Sophia were alone again. Her bedside table was littered with clothes and herbs, Isabella strained to sit up. Sophia handed her some tea and porridge.

"The doctor said it would be good for you to eat something soft and warm, but don't force it if you don't feel well enough yet." concern filled Sophia's eyes as she clutched the bedsheets. "I'm so sorry princess, I won't let this happen again."