7

"Why did you marry Prince Adrian?" Lydia asked Isabelle. They were on their way to the kitchen to meet with the chef.

"Because I was asked to," she replied.

"You don't get to choose who you want?" Lydia gasped.

   "Just like children can't choose their parents, princesses can't choose their grooms. I was only informed about the marriage a few days to it. I'm practically married to a stranger."

   Lydia looked at Isabelle with pity. She had always thought the nobles had it easy for them. Who would have thought that a princess like that wasn't happy in her marriage? She had everything. Riches, servants, jewelries and all.

   "But still, I wish you hadn't married Prince Adrian," Lydia voiced out.

"Why?"

"He's cruel," Lydia replied coldly. "He kills people easily without a second thought. He's like the devil that acts without reason."

     Isabelle was confused. Yes, Adrian was cold and unreasonable but he was nice in his own ways. He wasn't that harsh.

"He's a general, Lydia. He has to kill."

  "Yes, during war. Why does he have to murder innocent people?"

   Isabelle decided not to dwell on the matter anymore as they arrived at the kitchen.

"Duncan!" Lydia shouted with joy.

  "I told you not to call me by my name. I'm older than you, you brat," an elderly voice came from inside.

   A middle aged man dressed in a white royal apron came out with a knife in his hand.

"Your Highness!" He bowed as he saw Isabelle.

"You may rise," she said to him and he rose. "I just came to visit you here. Carry on with your work."

    Duncan walked back into the inner room before Isabelle walked after him.

"Do you have anything I can eat? Snacks maybe? I skipped my meal," she explained.

   He nodded in understanding and went to the furnace. He opened the iron compartment above it and brought out some snacks. He wrapped it in a linen cloth and gave it to her.

  "It is a new recipe I created. It is made from flour, a slab of butter and sugar. Please eat it and tell me how it tastes."

   "Thank you," Isabelle smiled and walked out with Lydia.

"Where to next?" Lydia asked.

   "The stable," she said and ate one of the snacks given to her. It was somewhat crunchy and her throat thirsted. It made her belly full immediately.

   She offered one to Lydia who accepted it gracefully and devoured it. They were both smiling and headed into the stable. She walked briskly to the white horse she saw the previous day. The horse stood up when it saw her. Isabelle smiled,"Were you waiting for me?"

   The horse neighed and Isabelle chuckled.

"This is scaring me," Lydia stood back. "It seems like it understands you."

  "We formed a bond," Isabelle fed it with the snacks and petted it. "It's a very good listener."

   "It seemed like you couldn't ride a horse," Lydia observed. "How is that? I thought princesses always got that kind of training."

   "I had a teacher but I refused to learn. I thought I would get married to someone I love and we would always ride a horse together so I didn't see the need to learn. Now, I'm suffering."

   

    "Would you like to ride with me?" Adrian appeared in his riding clothes and wore some gloves on his hands.

     Lydia bowed and moved back slowly. Isabelle looked at him no emotion on her face.

"No thank you," she declined his offer and turned to leave.

  "I insist," he pulled her into his chest. She was looking straight into his eyes. She wasn't that short. Her head reached his shoulder at least. He was holding her wrists in between them.

  "We don't have your clothes ready yet," he said to her. He beckoned to Lydia. "Take her to the dress room. There you'll find my shirt and trousers. Give her my boots too."

   "Yes your majesty," she bowed and led Isabelle to the back of the stable.

    

    Isabelle grunted as she wore his trousers. She tucked the shirt in and held it up with a leather belt. She sat down on a haystack.

"What is he trying to pull?" She hissed.

  "I'm no love expert but I think he's trying to be close to you," Lydia said as she began to wear Adrian's boots on Isabelle's feet. Isabelle loosened the pins that held her hair in place.

"Well I have no deserve to be anywhere near him," she sighed as Lydia fastened the laces.

"He doesn't seem to understand that."

      They walked outside to see Adrian holding the reins attached to the white horse. He left the horse and walked up to her. He wore a pair of white gloves on her cold hands. She promised herself not to be swayed but his sweet gestures and beautiful face was making it hard. She swallowed hard as his hair fell forward. Lydia smirked and maintained eye contact with Isabelle who was pleading with her eyes.

   "Let's go," Adrian smiled and held her right hand in his and used the other hand to pull the horse.

    They walked out into the cool morning sun. He helped her onto the horse gently and sat behind her.

"You can leave," he said to Lydia. "I'll escort her when we're finished."

   Lydia looked at Isabelle with questioning eyes and she nodded. Lydia left them and the horse started its slow gait.

"I've been meaning to ask," Isabelle said. "Who is Juno?"

   Adrian looked at her searchingly before answering. "Alastair's daughter."

"Who's Alastair?" She asked again.

"The minister of internal affairs."

    She became mute again. Adrian didn't know how to strike a conversation with her. "Hold tight," he told her and kicked the horse.

  It began to gallop at a really fast pace and Isabelle was getting scared. She was holding on to Adrian's trousers in fear like her life depends on it, except in this case, it does. She was breathing heavily and Adrian has to pull the horse to a stop.

"Are you okay?" He cupped her face.

"Why do I have to keep doing this with you?" She asked him,out of breath.

"You may not believe me but I really want to be good to you."

 

      Isabelle was being swayed again without her consent. He held her hair together and tied it with a ribbon.

"Let's go inside," he said when he noticed her ears were turning red. "Do you have anything else you want to do?"

   "Do you have a library?" She asked him.

"Yes," he replied and jumped down from the horse. He held out his hand for her and helped her down.

   He noticed that she was too warm. He placed his hand on her forehead and it burnt.

"Do you have a fever?" He asked with concern written all over his face.

"It's none of your business," she slapped his hand away.

   She was walking ahead and he was walking behind her slowly. She was swaying around like she was weak.

They walked into the castle and she was holding the walls to walk. He ran to her side in a hurry.

"Are you okay?" He offered to help but she declined.

  "Being stubborn doesn't solve anything," he shrugged and opened the double doors to the library.

    There were shelves around the room, each filled with books. She saw a ladder attached to the shelves. It was made with wheels and could move around. She climbed it and picked out a book.

  "The Only Son," she read out. "Have you read every book in here?"

"Most of it," he said proudly.

"You don't seem like someone who reads. Do you read out of boredom or out of interest?"

"I'd say both," he pushed the ladder she was on to another shelf. "Reading became a place I could hide in when I lost my world."

  "That's all I did ever since I was born. Apart from royal training, I only read."

    "Look, I know we don't exactly know each other well but am I allowed to be concerned?" He stopped the ladder and she looked down at him.

  "What do you mean?"

"You're burning up," he took her hand and pulled her down from the ladder. "I'm your husband, if anything happens to you, I'll be the one to be blamed."

"I'm fine," she assured him.

   She selected a few books and asked to go to her room.

"Whatever happens," he held her shoulders. "I'm your husband."

    She looked into his eyes and he looked sincere but she won't be fooled by him. She turned around and went straight to their room.

   She placed her hand on her forehead and could feel herself burning up. She dumped the books on a dresser and removed her clothes. She stood bare in front of the mirror and noticed that her skin tone was different. Isabelle brought out a flannel to wear and coddled herself in bed. She pulled the covers up to her neck and tried to sleep.

    

      "Don't let her go anywhere alone," Adrian addressed Lydia who was bowing in front of her. "Report even the slightest mood change to me."

  "Yes, your Majesty."

"You're dismissed," he told her and she left.

    This was an arranged marriage. Why was he concerned about her? Why does her mood change affect him? He knew tragedy was about to befall her but he couldn't bring himself to tell her.

  

    He walked into the room silently. He could see her hair above the covers. There was heat coming from the covers. He sat gently by the bedside and placed his right hand on her forehead and his left hand on his forehead. She was burning.

  "Isabelle," he called softly.

   Her eyelids were heavy but she managed to get them open. She was looking at him weakly that he thought she was about to lose her life.

  "Is anyone there?" He shouted.

  A guard ran in and bowed slightly.

"Get me the royal physician now!"

  "Yes your Majesty!" He ran out again.

  

      He removed the covers but she struggled.

"I'm cold," she said weakly.

"No, you're not. You're hot enough to boil a cauldron of water."

  

   She groaned and tried to cover herself but he yanked the covers away and pinned her arms down.

"Now, listen. If anything happens to you, I'll be the one to blame. Give me a chance to help you."

   She moved her mouth but her words weren't audible.

"What?" He asked her to repeat it.

   She blinked slowly and her eyes shut.

Lydia ran in with the royal physician, panting.

  The physician felt her temperature and laid out her arms bare. He placed his acupuncture needles in her wrists, elbows and shoulders. She started breathing more stealthily.

   "I will send a concoction. She is to drink it twice a day until it is finished. When she wakes up, she should take a cold bath." He explained to Adrian who nodded.

  "Thank you," he said and the physician left. Lydia was kneeling by Isabelle's bedside with pleading eyes.

"Leave," Adrian thundered.

  "But, your Majesty," she tried to leave.

  "Leave us alone," he enunciated.

   She looked unsatisfied but did his command. He went to her and covered her with the covers. He walked to the table and picked the books she laid there.

  "Romance," he scoffed. "Just as expected."

 

      She was merely trying to survive in this new system she found herself. Why was he hostile to her? Should he start seeing her as his confidant? Why was he so concerned about her health? Was it because Angbotain will fall? Was everything just pity?

   He had never been so unsure about his feelings. She was causing a new line of feelings in him but she had no idea. He walked closer to the bed and laid by her side. She was beautiful. He hadn't seen a beauty that could compare to hers.

   He was tempted to push a strand of hair away from her face. He sucked his lips in and reached out. He picked the strand and placed it behind her ears when the door flew open.