Jealousy

The Queen's heart felt like breaking as she saw Sara like this...

Sure enough, the gurl was pretty young and so it was natural for her to miss her parents so badly...

But she knew the rules...

If she were to leave, there was no guarantee that she would come back...

Besides, servants these days could not be trusted...

Unless...

The Queen appeared to be deep in thoughts as she now raised Sara's face up with her hand beneath her chin and said;

"You know the rules and regulations of the Castle, Sara...!" The Queen said sternly as eh used her hands to wipe the tears away from Sara's face and then proceeded...

"And there's no guarantee that I can trust you...!" The Queen said firmly...

What the Queen said had Sara Lowe her head down as she played with the hem of her apron...

"But there is something I would do for you... !" The Queen said as she took Sara away from the place...

As if she didn't want the other maids to hear...

Meanwhile, while placing little Andrew down and tucking him in.

Once she had confirmed that he was well asleep, she carefully walked towards the door and then opening it, gently, she heard a little voice call her...

"Um, Martha...?" It was little Andrew.

Gently scolding herself from within, she carefully closed the door and walked over to thee bed side, smiling.

Sitting by the bedside, Martha asked;

"Not yet asleep, little Prince?"

Andrew pursed his lips as he looked at her.

As she approached the bed, his lips slightly curved upwards...

Obviously he was happy to see her...

Once she say on thee bed, little Andrew adjusted his position as he sat up...

Martha looked into his eyes...

Tilting her head to the right, she said;

"Why do I have the feeling that there's something that you want to know...?" She asked gently.

Little Andrew didn't wait for her to finish as he asked;

"How did the story end...?"

Martha gently smiled.

"What story?" She asked.

"The one you were telling in the kitchen...!" Little Andrew said.

Martha smiled.

"You little...!" She said as she made an attempt to grab little Andrew, but he dodged it as they both laughed.

"HA!" Little Andrew said.

"You're too slow...!" He said.

Martha raised her eyebrows as she looked at little Andrew.

"Oh really...?" She asked as she slowly positioned herself.

Little Andrew that had been laughing now stopped when he saw Martha's position...

She had readied herself to catch him...

So he has to glee for his life...!

They played a bit toll when little Andrew got tired...

So they both flung themselves onto the bed...

Though, still laughing, they both rested on the bed....

After a some time of laughter, they both sighed and then little Andrew asked;

"Martha...?" He first called.

Martha that was stroking his head looked down and then asked;

"Hmmm?"

"How did the story end?" Little Andrew asked drowsily.

"You're sleepy little Prince, how about we tell the story tomorrow...?" Martha suggested.

Little Andrew shook his head in a negation.

"No! I want to hear the end of it now...!" Little Andrew protested.

"I want to know whether the Prince and his Father ended up having the best relationship...I want to know what I can do to improve the relationship between I and my Father...I want to know...!" Little Andrew said as she began to sob.

Martha's heart felt broken...

She wished that she hadn't told the story...

Bit left with no other option, she had to tell the story...

So, caressing, little Andrew's head, she gently wiped the tears away from his eyes and opened her mouth to talk.

"Now, where did I stop...? Hmmm!" Martha said as she tried to rack her brain to figure out where she had stopped.

"Don't pretend, and act as if you had forgotten...I wouldn't sleep and you would have to tell the story tonight...!" Andrew said drowsily, but his words hit her...

Looking down at Andrew, she widened her eyes as she thought;

'How'd he know...?'

But then, he was asleep as he took in a deep breath and let it out...

A sign that he was sleeping...

Martha thought that he was fast asleep, so she carefully took hold of his head from her lap and was about to place it on the bed when, Andrew spoke up;

"You're through telling the story...!"

His voice startled her, therefore, her hand shook slightly at the sudden shock.

But she was careful not to drop his head...

Therefore, sheet gently placed his tiny  head back on her lap as she frowned as she thought he had been sleeping...

With a small smile in his face, Andrew said;

"You stopped at the part where you were standing at the doorway to the dinning hall...!"

Martha sighed as she began stroking his hair gently and then, began the story...

"...I was stood at the doorway as I watched the King and his son, the Prince, play...!" She began...

"It was so merry...!"

Little Andrew smiled as he listened.

She continued;

"They played and played and played and played and they joked around and...!" She paused as she stared into the space, as if trying to remember the event of that day fully.

"And, I could sense the happiness emanating form them, I mean, it was amazing...!"

She said as she continued to stroke his hair...

"They played to the extent, they had forgotten their food was already served...!" She reminisced as she smiled.

Looking down, she was sure this time that little Andrew was fast asleep now...

But as she brought forth her hand to gently carry the little Prince's head from her lap, Andrew said;

"So they didn't eat?" He first asked.

"Didn't they see you...? Do they end up eating the food...? How come you didn't end up with your head off your head?" He asked that last part as he raised his head up to look at her.

Martha raise one of her eyebrow as she laughed...

"Wha...my head off of my head...?" She asked.

Little Andrew looked at her with wide eyes.

"Or wait...did they sew it back onto your neck...? What magic did they use?" Little Andrew asked as he used his hand to raise Martha's chin, so he could see her neck...

Using his hand, he turned he head from the last to the right...as if searching for something...

Seeing this little act, Martha couldn't help but laugh...

"Sew...? Magic...?" She asked as she laughed.

Letting go of her chin, little Andrew nodded as he looked at her as the sleep on his eyes all gone...

Laughing as she shook her head, Martha said;

"There was no magic that was used on my head... besides, I wouldn't allow it...!"

"Why...?" Little Andrew cut in to ask.

"Because I don't believe in all thos things...they are too fetish...!" Martha said with high disgust.

"You do know that if Father were to hear of this...!"

But Martha cut him short before he could say anything.

"I know the fate...and I know it's not my fate, so you don't have to worry...!" Martha said as she smiled.

"Or would you tell your Father, the King?" Martha sweetly asked.

Without looking up at Martha, little shook his head vigorously a she said;

"I won't...besides, Father won't even listen to me anyway, so what's the essence of telling him anyway...?" Andrew said as he asked.

Martha smiled.

"So, were you planning on telling him in the first place...?" Martha asked as she looked down at him.

Looking up at her, Andrew have her a childish glare.

"Do you hear what I said at all...?" Andrew asked.

Martha smiled.

"I said there's no one to talk to; other than Mother and you, there's no one here that I find worthy of my time and companionship...!" Andrew said as he lifted his head up high in pride.

Martha just smiled.

"So no one's worthy enough to talk to the little Prince...?" She asked but was cut short.

"Exactly...;" Little Andrew cut in to say.

"Oh really, why?" Martha asked.

"No reason...!" Andrew said as he closed his eyes and turned the other way, shrugging his shoulders in the process.

Martha smiled.

Shrugging her shoulders also, she turned her head to face forward as the smile never left her face...

Andrew's, opening one eye as he looked at her sideways...

Before turning his attention to look at her fully..

"So what happened next...?"

Martha turned her head to look at Andrew as he asked the question.

Smiling, she said...