Adrian's thoughts were mostly on the duties he will be starting to assume. On top of the list was the inspection of each village and all the borders. He had once thought that the rumors that the people were clamoring and even praying for his younger brother to take the throne mere rumors. But he had taken a trip discreetly to a nearby village and had heard for himself what the people thought of him.

---

"So arrogant and full of himself. If he ascends the throne, he will starve all the lowly people like us. We are of no consequence to him. If you are not nobility, then you are trash. It is better to put the younger prince on the throne. He visits us and hears our thoughts and concerns. That's what being a king is. He would be a benevolent king and would lead the kingdom and the people into prosperity and peace," an old fisherman grumbled as he waited for the fish to bite.

"I agree. Adrian should not be allowed to sit on the throne. Even if it is his birthright. But is there any way to put Prince Adam on the throne? How do you convince a King to cast away his first born?" another fisherman contributed.

"Have him killed," a sullen looking man wearing a hood pulled low over his face suggested.

The first fisherman's eyes grew wide and he stared at the hooded man. "You can't go around saying that. If a royal guard hears you, you would be hanged for treason."

"Says the men who are discussing how the second Prince should be seated on the throne," the man had replied sarcastically.

---

Alessandra's voice broke into his train of thoughts. "No need for gratitude, Alessandra," it was the first time since she arrived that Adrian actually mentioned her name. "I am merely giving you a past time... something to do while I am away," he took a deep breath and sighed, half of his mind still bothered by the memory. He took a quick glance at her. "Of course, feel free to make use of your time however you see fit. I suppose spending time with my younger brother take precedence over everything else," he said, hinting that he knew of the growing fascination of the girl to Adam. He didn't seem to look bothered by it but he didn't look at all happy about it either.

Alessandra was surprised that he actually knew her name as it was the first time he had acknowledged her with it. He usually addressed her with orders, and she wouldn't deny, she was a little proud he actually knew her name. She pouted slightly as he mentioned his time away, but she blushed as he mentioned his younger brother. She wouldn't deny she was fascinated with the younger man, but definitely not in the way she felt was being hinted.

She smiled with a small giggle."Prince Adam is a definite pleasure to spend time with, but my place is by your majesty. So it really saddens me that you will be away. Had it been in my hands, I would have tagged along." She said, smiling at him softly. Whether she said it to cover the fact that she was fascinated with Adam or because she meant it was not known, but she wasn't lying about feeling upset over not tagging along.

"Until your majesty comes back, I will be taking care of all of your horses with Rean. I will also be better at riding horses." She promised with a determined nod.

A cheeky smile appeared on Adrian's face. "Improve all you want but my horses are off limits to everyone, including you," he warned but his tone was light, a sure sign that his mind was preoccupied. On a normal day, he would have sounded arrogant.

A few days later, the King sent Adrian to the borders for a routine inspection. He also wanted his son to go out, to immerse himself with the people and to learn their ways. He thought it was the best course of action to mold his first born into the King he hoped him to be and at the same time show the people who he is and what he stood for. The Queen had been worried especially since there had been news that the people were divided in their loyalty to the princes. She had initially insisted that Adrian bring along Alessandra to tend to his needs but the Prince had declined. ”Bringing her along would endanger her life," he had simply said, knowing full well that the majority of the kingdom’s population did not favor him.

“Do not worry yourself too much, Mother. I will only be gone for a month. And as you always said, this is my chance to show the people my worth. And perhaps change their mind," he assured the queen, despite the foreboding feeling he felt. He mustered a smile onto his face as he kissed her cheek and bid her farewell.

In the end, he left accompanied only by two personal guards and a handful of royal soldiers.

The routine inspection the King sent Adrian to turned out to be far from routine. The army partroling the borders had become bored and greedy and had begun fattening themselves with the overly expensive tolls they charged merchants for passing through. A fourth of the toll they submitted to the royal coffers as tax, the rest they pocketed for themselve. Some of the men had even resorted to consorting with thieves to avail for themselves some of the wares of the merchants for free. These were all reported to Prince Adrian by the scout and Adrian had dealt with it swiftly and mercilessly. He sent word to the King about it and the King sent a tenth of the royal army to stand guard at the borders in place of the men Adrian had taken into custody for questioning and judgment in Whitehaven. Afterwards, he spent a few days in the surrounding villages, talking to people and doing his best to change their opinion of him.

The mission had been a success, earning Adrian both the trust and admiration of the merchants and those of the villages by the border. Some, however, still thought him arrogant and his actions in the border a grand act to try and win them over. But most had begun to look at him in a different light.

Before the month came to an end, Adrian and his men set out for their journey back to Whitehaven along with the corrupted men from the border, their pace just fast enough to make it back in two days time. Unknown to Crown Prince was the presence of assassins that were dispatched to kill him. They were only a day away from the castle when then assassins struck. Torrents of arrows rained down onto the group, successfully killing all the prisoners and several of the men with Adrian. His personal guards did their best to shield their prince but Adrian himself was struck through his shoulder with a poisoned tip arrow.

The poison was fast acting and in a few minutes, the prince felt faint and weak. What was happening around him turned into a hazy blur. He clutched at the reigns of his horses, his knuckles white as he struggled to keep himself from falling off his horse. There were shouts and the sound of more arrows whizzing past them. The next thing he felt was the acceleration in the pace of the horse he was on. "Stay with me, Prince Adrian," came a sharp commanding voice in his ear. "Here, chew on this. It will slow down the poison," he felt something pressed into his hand. He moved agonizingly slow as he lifted his hand to his lips and popped whatever it was that he had been handed into his mouth. He bit down and a bitter taste filled his mouth. He coughed but obediently chewed.

"We will be at the castle soon, your Highness. Please hold on," came the same commanding voice. It sounded like one of his guards but at the hazziness of his mind, Adrian wasn't quite sure who it was.

"The men...?" Adrian managed to ask.

"I'm afraid we had to leave them behind, you Highness. But I am certain that they will not fall easily. Now please, conserve your energy," came the same voice.

Adrian lurched forward and blood trickled down his lips. He tightened his grip on the reigns but unconsciousness was slowly overtaking him. He felt steady arms hold him in place. "Henry..." at this point, all he could really do was guess.

"Yes, sire, it is I," the voice confirmed. Henry was one of his personal guards and the man he trusted most between the two.

"Thank you," Adrian said before he coughed out blood and darkness overtook him.

"We will be back in the castle soon, your Majesty," the assuring voice drifted into Adrian's mind as he fell into unconcsiousness.

---

A great commotion began in the castle as soon as Adrian arrived. Blood was steadily trickling down his chin, his pulse had slowed down and he had paled significantly. Henry began barking orders as the servants scurried around to help bring the Prince to the royal physician.

Prince Adam, who had been on the balcony with both Emily and Alessandra, looked down into the courtyard. He had no clear view of what was happening but he could hear Adrian's name being mentioned by the servants that were there. "I believe my brother has returned home," he smirked. "I never knew him to make such a grand entrance though," he quipped, a strange unreadable expression on his face.

Alessandra nodded with more will this time. "Understood!" She said with a salute instead of a bow. A few minutes later, they headed back to the castle.

Alessandra had watched Adrian go a few days later with two of his personal guards and a bunch of royal soldiers. Having grown accustomed to following and, somewhat, taking care of Adrian, Alessandra felt particularly unmotivated the day Adrian left. She was soon engrossed into spending time with Adam, Emily, and lots of books. Her reading wasn't the strongest, but Adam had managed to help her improve. The excitement had distracted her from the daily duties she had toward Adrian, and she focused more on herself. She grew even more excited to one day visit home and tell her siblings of the new stories and tales she had learned.

Prince Adam had made it his duty to enlighten Alessandra more with the issues Whitehaven had, some background history, and he even let her borrow a history book that she had been working on while coming back to discuss the events, more of what Prince Adam thought, and what Alessandra thought. He even let Emily off her handmaiden duties two hours a day to let Alessandra teach her more with reading and sentence structure. Amelie sometimes joined too, and she soon grew closer to both handmaidens. Both of them were also educated to some extent, but they weren't as interested to catch up as Alessandra was.

More times than not as Alessandra groomed the horses with Rean, she thought of Adrian. Was he doing well? She had heard of the changes he had done to the borders, and she heard more and more of how the respect, appreciation, and love for him grew. She felt proud, even though she had no hand in it, but she took pride in knowing he would be a suitable King.

---

Alessandra was sitting on the side in a white chiffon, loose dress with her hair pinned back in a low bun. She looked a little more tired and worn out than she did when Adrian was around; She doubted she was growing a little sick with the weather changing, but she didn't give it much thought. She held the book Adam had given her closely-- It was about world history, and what parts were still associated with Whitehaven. She obviously enjoyed it greatly.

At the mention of Adrian's arrival, she jumped up, holding the book close to her chest and looked over the balcony ledge.

"Isnt his majesty early by arriving today?" She asked, glancing back at Adam as she tried to peek. She felt a weird sensation come over her. It was a well-announced arrival but neither Adrian nor his guards were anywhere to be seen.

"Excuse me, Prince Adam." She mumbled as she settled the book at the glass table, gave Adam a short bow, before dashing out of the balcony and through the hallways and down the stairs.

Alessandra looked around for Adrian, but he was nowhere to be seen. He had just arrived, where had he gone to? She looked around the entrance and through the main hall before she bumped into one of the servants--- Caitlyn.

"Caitlyn, do you know where is Prince Adrian? Hasn't he arrived?" She asked the older woman, who looked nervous and-- Scared almost.

"The crown Prince has been hurt. I heard his condition is not well, and--" The woman started to explain, but she was interrupted by Alessandra's dashing steps once again. He must be at the physician's. She thought as her heart raced at the thought of arriving to hear the announcement of his passing. She feared the moment of arriving to the physician-- Of coming in contact with Adrian, who may be too hurt. Or-- dead.

In no time, she arrived at the Physician's in record time, coming in contact first with the guard on the door.

"]What happnened?" She demanded as she leaned over a little to catch her breath, her face blushing furiously from the exercise, her eyes slowly tearing up-- From both the heat and the fear of upcoming news.

Henry stood guard at the door while Adrian was being tended to by the physician. He refused any treatment until his prince had been well taken care off and out of danger. He looked tired and worn out, his armor chinked in places where the arrows had hit. But aside from that, he looked unwounded. He looked down at Alessandra and was about to speak when the Queen and Prince Adam arrived. The Queen was frantic while Prince Adam looked strangely calm.

"Where is my son?" Queen Anne demanded. "What happened to him?"

Henry immediately bowed in respect to both the Queen and the second prince. "We were ambushed by assassins a day away from arriving in Whitehaven, your Highness. Ruther and the rest of the royal army we brought along with us stayed behind to allow me to make haste and ride back with Prince Adrian. He took a poisoned arrow to his shoulder," Adrian's guard quickly brought the Queen up to date. He stepped aside to let them pass.

With an anguished cry, the Queen rushed into the physician's chambers, Prince Adam following closely behind.

Inside, Adrian was on the bed, half naked. The blood had been wiped clean from his face and the doctor was bandaging the puncture wound on his shoulder. He was pale, his lips had a bluish hue and his breaths were shallow. He looked close to death's door. The Queen immediately rushed to his side and took her first born's pale, cold hand in hers. But it was Adam who spoke first. "How is he, doctor?

The physician looked up and bowed his head low to the two royalties. "The arrow that had pierced Prince Adrian's shoulder was laced with a potent poison from a plant called the Blue Mountain Star. If he had arrived a minute later than he did, he would have succumbed to it. However, Henry was able to give the Prince an herb that was somehow able to slow down the progression of the poison in his body. I have already administered the anti-toxin. I will need to administer it every 8 hours for three days."

Prince Adam let out a relieved breath. "My brother is safe then?" he asked.

The physician nodded. "If the antitoxin is administered successfully, there is no doubt that he will make a full recovery."

Alessandra stepped aside and bowed for the Queen and Prince Adam as they joined Alessandra and Henry. She listened closely to Henry as he explained the situation, her heart ached at the thought that even though Adrian was possibly trying his best for the past month to gain acceptance and love of the people, some people were still out there to hurt him. She thanked Henry and congratulated him on his courageous advancement before walking in behind Queen Anne and Prince Adam.

Alessandra's heart ached even more as her eyes fell on him. Had it been another time, she would possibly be blushing furiously at seeing her Prince half naked, but then, she was barely thinking about his uncovered body and more about how terrible he truly looked. How sick and weak he looked. She feared that the Doctor would say the posion had spread and he was to pass in a couple days, but thankfully the anticipation was broken quickly as Adam asked the Doctor of Adrian's condition.

Alessandra sighed out a sigh of relief as she felt a few tears slide down her cheeks; She quickly wiped them away as she watched the Queen and Adam approach Adrian. She felt her eyes water even more, and she realized just how-- loyal she had grown to Adrian even if she had hated many of their encounters, a lot of his comments were offending and uncalled for. Yet as she stood there, staring at his weak, limb body, she felt almost as weak to know her Prince was put in such danger. She gulped the tears away as she stood there silently.

"Thank God for that," the queen sighed in relief. Adam looked just as relieved as he stood beside his mother but there was a sort of horrified look that lingered on his face as he looked at his still and pale brother. The Queen turned around his eyes towards the Doctor. "Can we bring him up to his room? I believe he will be more comfortable there."

The physician gave the queen another respectful bow. "Of course, Your Majesty. I will administer the anti-toxins to Prince Adrian in his chamber."

---

Several minutes later, a clothed Adrian lied in his own bed, still pale but breathing easier. The queen had bustled around the crown prince, placing a mint humidifier near his bed. "This always made him relax better," she mumbled more to herself than to anyone and then began placing pillows around her son. When she was finished, the prince looked like a small child caged in the bed with pillows to prevent him from falling. It was almost funny if the situation wasn't so serious.

The queen reached out for another pillow but Adam laid a hand on his mother's arm. "Mother, I doubt Adrian would roll around in his sleep and fall off the bed. I believe there is no need to add more pillows, unless you want to smother him with it," he lightly joked.

The queen blinked and looked towards the bed. A small chuckle escaped her lips even though her eyes were watery with tears that threatened to spill at any moment. Busying herself was her way of distracting her mind from thinking of what may have happened had Henry not been able to bring Adrian back home as quickly as he did. [color=salmon]"You are right," she said as she placed the pillow she was holding at Adrian's feet.

"I'll stay and watch him, Mother. Please have your rest, Adam said. When the queen merely stared at Adrian in response, Adam looked at Alessandra. "Watch Adrian. I will bring mother to her room and will return after." He walked towards the queen and gently led her out of the room.

Alessandra was relieved that the physician had agreed to move Adrian to his own quart. It would be a lot easier on all of them emotionally to be around him and to tend to him in his room other than in the physician's plain white room. She had not helped move Adrian, but she had helped cloth him. If the situation had been on another occasion, she would have found this entertaining and embarrassing on so many levels, but right then and there, it weighed her heart down to see him in this state. She would rather have him sass her than to lay in bed so pale and still.

She stepped back as the Queen and Prince Adam walked into the room. She smiled softly at the Queen at her attempt to keep Adrian safe and even in an extra protective way. She watched the family interactions as she lost her thoughts over who exactly wanted Adrian gone so bad, even after he had done his best with the villagers and the borders. After actually making it easier for the people.

She gave a slight bow to the Queen and Prince as they exited the room. She allowed herself to step closer to Adrian again. She hesitated before patting his hand softly that was a little too cold for a living being. "Please don't go, Prince Adrian. I will not talk back to you again or follow you around if you just don't go." She mumbled.

"I am sorry you have gone through this." She added although it was not her fault, as she gripped his hand just slightly. She glanced at their hands before looking up at him. If only he was awake, he would have sent me away with so much anger.She thought with a soft smile at a now seemingly fond memory.

It took Adrian a whole 3 days to finally awaken. He opened his eyes and slowly looked around, disoriented about where he is and why he was there. He tried to sit up but weakness and the prolonged period of being on his back made him dizzy. He placed a hand on the bed beside him to steady himself while his other hand shot up to his head. When the dizziness had subsided, he looked around. The sun had not come up yet and the room was dark. But despite the darkness, he could make out the bed and the furniture and he knew that he was back in his room. He had no idea how he got there. The last thing he remembered was... being ambushed by a barrage of arrows on their way back to the palace.

His eyes grew wide at the memory and he looked around. What happened to his men? To the prisoners he brought along? Why was there a searing pain that shot through his shoulder everytime he moved his hand?

He looked down and saw that his left shoulder was swathed in bandage. He thought back to their ill fated trip and remembered being hit on the same shoulder by an arrow.

He looked around once again. A figure was fast asleep on a chair by the foot of his bed. He could make out the figure's long blonde hair in the darkness.

"Alessandra?" his voice was raspy.

Alessandra had been up day and night in Adrian's room, waiting for his awakening, making sure the Doctor came on time, and overall looking over Alessandra. Every night, Alessandra fell asleep on a chair near the bed and woke up in excitement, hoping to find Adrian to no use. She would usually spend her day reading the book Adam had given her and dozing off due to her unstable sleep schedule and uncomfortable sleep position.

It was the night of the third day, she curled up on the chair in a black knee-lengthed dress and wrapped herself up in a blanket. The exhaustion had really taken its toll on her that she hadn't felt or heard the movement of Adrian until he called her name.

She jumped awake, obviously panicked. She stared at Adrian in the dark and then gasped as she rushed to his side, almost tripping in the blanket a few times. She grasped his hand mindlessly like she had been doing for the past couple days. "You are awake, your majesty! This is amazing! I will wake up the queen as soon as the light comes out. She will be delighted." She rushed to say as she squeezed his hand softly.

Adrian looked at the woman in front of him. The moment that he had felt the poison taking effect in his body, he didn't expect to make it back home alive, much less see her again. It was strange to see concern and relief on her face. She had often looked burdened everytime she had to stay by his side that it was an expression he expected the least to see. He looked down on her hand grasping his. On a normal day, he would have given her a snide remark about touching him or about her staying in his room. But the honest look of concern in her blue eyes disarmed him. He gave her a small smile instead. "Have I been unconscious long? he asked softly as he looked towards the chair she had been sleeping on and noted the rumpled blanket on it. "It must have been a huge inconvenience to stay beside me all this time. I appreciate it but at the same time, I apologize for it." he reached out for the glass of water sitting on the night table beside a water pitcher. He drank the water, the liquid soothing his parched throat. "I am...better now. You may return to your own chamber so that you may rest better.

Alessandra was even more relieved as he carried out a conversation-- He was really fine. She smiled softly at his question as her eyes filled up slightly with tears. "Only three days." She assured as she slowly released her hand from his, noticing that she had really grabbed his hand. She didn't apologize or note it so to avoid the embarrassment and possible scolding.

She giggled slightly as a tear or two rolled down her cheeks. She wiped her face quickly and shook her head. "It was not inconvenient at all. Please don't say so." She assured.

As he told her to return to her chamber, she quickly shook her head. I am not leaving your majesty until you completely heal." She said, her tone indicating that nothing would change her mind.

"Stubborn as always," Adrian commented as he put the empty glass back on the night table. The tone of his voice sounded almost amused. Perhaps it was because he was still weak that he was not as conceited or arrogant as before. He looke at her, contemplating on whether to send her away or allow her to stay. "Very well, you may stay," his brown eyes looked weary despite being asleep for the whole three days. He reached for a pillow and propped himself up against it. "I have been away for the whole month. Would you bring me up to date about what has been going on in the castle while I was away?" he paused, as if he was considering whether or not to ask the next question. It didn't take long for him to make up his mind. "What has Adam been doing?"

Alessandra smiled widely as he allowed her to stay. She dragged the chair closer and took her seat on it, wrapping herself up in the blanket once again. She scanned Adrian closely; He still looked pale and a little-- Out of it, but seeing him move and speak was enough indication that he was on his road to healing completely.

Alessandra was confused as to why Adrian was so curious about Adam. She shook it off as mere curiousity. "Well nothing has changed in the Castle since you have left. The Queen and King carried out their usual routines; The king got more busy with the deceiving army members, but he was very pleased with your discovery." She said with a soft smile.

"Prince Adam has not changed his routine much. He went into town during the mornings, sometimes the afternoon, and came back to have Tea with the Queen and then spend the rest of his day in the library. He had heen helping me and Emily read" She said, excitement evident in her voice as she spoke of his help.

Adrian nodded his head at the news about the king and queen but looked thoughtful about the update on Adam. He'll have to talk to the younger prince a little later. Find out what's been happening. And maybe talk to Henry to find out about the ambush. He stopped short and looked at Alessandra. "Did the soldiers who accompanied me survive? Theo?"

A few hours after Henry and Adrian made it to the castle, Theo had rode in, barely clinging to life. He had managed to escape the ambush but passed away while he was being treated, the same poison that had run through Adrian's body ultimately claiming his life. He had managed to report that the soldiers they had brought with them all fell in battle. The King had immediately sent out soldiers to gather the bodies of the fallen and they were given a proper burial a day before Adrian awoke.

At his next question, Alessandra's newly found hope and excitement quickly faded. She averted her eyes off Adrian and tugged on the bed sheet slightly, obviously nervous. She didn't like to be the one to break down the news to Adrian. She cleared her throat as she lowered her head a little to Adrian. "None of the soldiers survived the attack." She informed him.

"Theo had managed to arrive to the castle, notifying the King that all other soldiers had not managed to survive the attack. While getting treated, Theo had also passed away." She explained.

"The soldiers had all been brought home and buried just yesterday." She added as she glanced up to Adrian.

"I am sorry your majesty." She sincerely said as she sat up a little straighter.

A look of anguish came over Adrian's face. While he had always said that the servants were there to serve and the soldiers were there to protect, hearing that the men had died for him made him feel horrible. His mind began trying to make sense of what had happened. What had been the purpose of the attack? Were the assassins rogue border soldiers that had wanted revenge for the swift justice he had dealt the corrupted border officials? Were they radicals who wanted to prevent him from ever ascending the throne? There were so many questions in his head that it was confusing him. "I..." he started.

There was a sharp intake of breath that came from the door followed by a sigh of relief. "You are finally awake, Adrian," the Queen hurried towards his first born and enveloped him in a hug. "I was so afraid that you will never regain consciousness and had begun to doubt that the physician's antitoxin worked."

A familiar self assured smile appeared on Adrian's face, one that was in place for the sole purpose of soothing his mother's anxiousness. "It will take more than an arrow to kill me, Mother," he said in a light tone of voice.

"Seems that way," came Adam's voice from the door.

Adrian turned his brown eyes towards the door as Adam came into view. "I did not want to disappoint anyone by coming home a poisoned corpse. I did come close, did I not?" Adrian's tone was still light as he directed his words towards the younger prince.

Adam stopped by the foot of the bed, a lopsided grin on his face. "You certainly did, you bastard. You made all of us worry, he shook his head. "I am glad that you pulled through though.

A warmer smile appeared on the crown prince's face as he looked at Adam. "I am as well."

Adam smiled back and then gestured towards Alessandra. "I believe you have earned yourself an extremely loyal handmaiden, dear brother. Aly had refused to leave your side until you woke up and I believe she was the most worried about you. Even more than Mother."

Adrian raised an eyebrow upon hearing Adam use a nickname for Alessandra. His eyebrow was still raised as he looked from the prince to his handmaiden. But before he could say anything, the queen began speaking again. "Yes, I believe she was the most anxious about your condition," she chuckled as she turned her attention to Alessandra. "I truly am grateful that you took care of my son. You may rest your head now, Alessandra. Adrian has awoken. You may take your leave and rest yourself," she smiled fondly at the her before she turned her attention back to his son. "Your Father had also visited you every day since you came back home. He will be very pleased to know that you are finally awake."

The sharp intake of breath from the door caused Alessandra to jump up in fear, her heart picking up the pace. She let out a sigh of relief as the Queen walked in and soon followed Adam. She smiled fondly as the Queen and her son had a small reunion. She stepped aside and bowed to both the Queen and Adam. She smiled a little more as Adrian mentioned that it would take more than an arrow to kill him-- Although she knew it came really close to killing him, she was amused with his sense of determination and confidence even after what happened.

As Adam mentioned her loyalty, a blush emerged on her cheeks as she giggled a little and glanced at Adrian, oblivious to his questioning look. Her blush deepened even more as the Queen agreed with Adam and offered for her to leave. She instantly shook her head as she pushed her hair back that obviously needed to be brushed. "I think I would still not be comfortable leaving Prince Adrian until he fully heals. If you may allow me. " She suggested looking between the Queen and Adrian.

Queen Anne looked surprised that Alessandra still insisted of staying by Adrian's side. She had half expected that she would jump at the opportunity. She nodded towards Alessandra. "I admire your resolve of staying by my son's side until he has fully recovered. I will permit you to do so. But you should look after your health as well. make sure you get enough rest yourself, yes?" She turned her attention to Adrian. "I shall go down and have a meal prepared for you."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "You are preparing the meal, Mother?"

The queen flashed his younger son a bright smile. "Of course. I may be queen but I am also an excellent cook. Besides, it is not always that I get to prepare food for my sons.

Adam's lips turned up into a pleased grin. "Oh, I am included in this feast as well?"

"Of course, the Queen said before she turned and walked out of the room.

Meanwhile, as Adam and Queen Anne conversed about food, Adrian was looking at Alessandra. He mistook the color of her cheeks as a delighted, embarrassed blush from the attention of his brother. The thought encouraged him to goad her. "Have you fallen in love with me while I slept that you no longer want to leave my side?"

Alessandra smiled widely and bowed to the Queen. "Thank you your majesty." She said before lifting her head. She looked at Adrian as the Queen and Adam conversed of the upcoming meal cooked by the Queen herself. At his question, her cheeks colored a deeper shade of red. She cleared her throat as she averted her eyes to the floor. "Call it whatever you wish, Prince Adrian. call it love or call it loyalty to the one and only I serve-- It's your choice. The outcome is still the same; I am staying by your side untill you fully heal and become the strong crown Prince I have been honored to serve." She answered as she glanced back at him. She meant every word. She believed in him and his power and right to rule, and she wanted him to know so.