[color=6ecff6]"Might I ask it's purpose?"[/color] asked the prince quizzically. [color=6ecff6]"It is not in the interests of the crown to accept gifts of unknown pedigree; Much mischief can be performed through the acceptance of such gifts. I have accepted yours into my hand, out of appreciation and respect for your integrity and service to myself, my father, and our kingdom, however, there ARE protocols that MUST be followed. Failure to follow them, places myself, and my kingdom, at grave risk. Enemies of our kingdom would seek to use tainted tribute to sew all manner of evils within the castle, and to secure our destruction from within, if we did not. Please understand, I do not wish to appear ungrateful for your gift, nor to cast aspersions upon it, or your motives. Only, that the very act of my accepting it blindly, is exposing a place and means by which to secure my death, and this cannot be permitted."[/color]
[color=6ecff6]
"Truly, I would implore you to send any further gifts or tributes of this, or any nature, through the appropriate secure channels. Exceptions, however seemingly safe, are how the enemy may strike in the night, where we are most vulnerable, as we are least watchful, and least prepared. My father has been quite strict, and insistent upon my understanding and acceptance of this, and other very unfortunate facts of the world in which we now find ourselves, since my abduction last fall, and the open attempt upon his life just prior. He would be most furious if he knew I had not immediately refused your gift, and had you arrested for illegal contact with royalty. For your safety, and well being, it is good that he was not present when you did so; I shall ensure it is handled and analyzed properly, and do you an unspoken service, by keeping this matter discrete-- However, do not do this again."[/color]

Prince Alec felt sick inside. He HATED being FORCED to be this cruel, and officiously formal and cold to one of the very people who had rescued him not so long ago.

The world had changed so terribly since then.

Gone, were the days in which friends of the crown could simply shake hands, hug, or even touch his person out of affection. Gone were the days of lazy, carefree games and pleasure in the forests and fields of Kindeance.  The enemy had agents and dangers everywhere, and only methodical vigilance could offer any measure of protection. He WANTED to simply accept her gift; but even TOUCHING IT before it could be screened, was a MASSIVE violation of the protocols Antigone and his father had put into effect.

Getting this discretely into the correct channels, with falsified pedigree documents, would NOT be an easy task.