I am not as dense as I once was but even a child would know that Bell has been avoiding me. In the past week every time I asked anyone about Bell’s whereabouts, they would avoid the question and tell me something about how she has been swamped with work or that I had just missed her.

Our last conversation left a bitter taste in my mouth. I had never been one to lose my temper and I don’t know why I did. I wanted to apologize even though I already did, it didn’t seem enough because I don’t really know why I reacted the why I did.

When I saw Bell and Olivia in one room my perspective suddenly shifted. It was as if Bell had become a predator and Olivia was her prey. I saw Olivia as a powerless doe while Bell was a lioness, waiting for opportunity to strike.

The time I spent with Bell has made me more able to at least read some of the emotions on her face and when she entered the room, she controlled the emotions on her face. That scared me because it meant that in that moment she had decided that I couldn’t be trusted. It isn’t as if I blame her because I myself am confused as to what my plan should be.

I have always imagined having a family with Olivia. Just months ago I dreamed of taking her in as the crown princess; how we would have silver-haired children paired with her green eyes. I have always thought a happy life with her would be more than enough for me.

However while I spent the week catching up with Olivia I have realized that I myself have changed. I still found Olivia attractive and charming but the passion I once felt for her had dissipated. I never thought I would ever think it possible for Olivia’s light to be dimmed, but compared to Bell she shone less.

Meeting and spending time with Bell changed me. A week without even the ghost of Bell’s shadow made me unsettled to the point that I couldn’t focus for more than a few seconds. My thoughts always seemed to drift towards her and it was consuming me.

I worried for her, even though I knew that Sir Anthony would always care for her I still found myself wondering how she was doing. Has she been eating her meals? Has she been getting enough rest? Have I crossed her mind even for a minute? Then a question I was too afraid to know the answer to, only one in particular – has she decided to choose Sir Anthony?   

I was loitering outside Bell’s office when I see Sir Anthony’s figure walking away and before I knew it I was running towards him, my desperation to hear of any news about Bell throwing years of lessons on decorum and etiquette out of my mind. When I was close enough to hear, I yell Sir Anthony’s voice and he stops then walks toward me.

“Your highness,” he greets, bowing. I nod then take a moment to catch my breath.

“How is Bell?” I ask him, knowing full well that even if I asked for her whereabouts he wouldn’t tell me.

“The empress has been busy but she is doing alright,” he answers then he releases a sigh.

“Could I speak as your friend your highness?” he asks and I nod.

He signals me to follow me and I find myself in the courtyard where we sit on one of the benches.

“I know it’s none of my business and you may choose not to answer but I have been curious about what you accused Aife of,” he starts and it was my turn to release a heavy sigh.

“I accused her of threatening Olivia and besmirching her name,” I answer truthfully with shame.

Sir Anthony nods, seeming to put some pieces together.

“I thought you had spent enough time together for you to at least know how rare and thus significant it is for Aife to open herself up to people. I can say with pride and certainty that I am the only person she feels safe confiding in but it wasn’t an easy journey,” he says then he continues.

“But Elio you have made a mistake and I am frankly disappointed because you should have known her enough to know that she doesn’t do anything without a reason. You should have trusted your wife a little bit more,” He says and I hang my head in disgrace.

“I know I’ve made a mistake and I do want to rectify it but how could I when she won’t even give me a chance to speak with her?” I say.

“Pardon me for asking but how certain are you that Lady Olivia is with child?” he asks, avoiding my question.

“I see no reason for her to deceive me,” I answer and he shakes his head, a smirk on his lips.

“You are more naïve than I thought. I understand that you have known Lady Olivia for a time but what I learned by watching Aife in politics is that you must question and examine every little thing because that’s how you stay alive,” he says then he stands up and pats me on the back.

“I wish you the best of luck, you’re going to need it,” he tells me then he walks away but not before he leaves me another question to ponder on.

“Why was it so easy for you to point your finger at Aife when you haven’t any evidence of her supposed wrongdoings?”

I don’t know long I sat on the bench, wracking my brain for an answer that made a modicum of sense and I would have stayed longer if I wasn’t interrupted by a messenger informing me that my cousin, Nathaniel, has arrived unannounced and that Bell has requested my presence at the dining hall.

I make my way to the dining hall with haste, the very thought of being the same room with Bell made my heart patter uncontrollably but when I enter my smile dies on my lips because the way she looked at me was the same way she used to look at me before we had gotten closer. It was in that moment that I realized why Sir Anthony wished me luck.

Moreover, we weren’t alone in the dining hall, both Nathaniel and Olivia was present with Bell sitting on the head of the table. I take my seat across from her, painfully aware of the distance between us and I longed to simply take her hand into mine but it seems as if that won’t be possible.

“Cousin, good of you to finally join us,” Nathaniel greets me and I nod to him, my eyes not straying for Bell’s face.

She looked thinner and paler, but she still exuded authority that no one else could rival. We spend our dinner in silence until Bell spoke.

“It seems as if asking permission to visit the palace or even sending word of one’s arrival isn’t a custom in the Ocelon Kingdom. Two unannounced and uninvited in the span of merely a week is bordering on rude, wouldn’t you agree Marquess Alissier,” she says, turning her attention to Nathaniel.

I find small joy in watching him choke on his drink. My relationship with Nathaniel hasn’t always been full of animosity, when we were children we got along quite well but everything changed when I was officially announced as the crown prince. Suddenly he distanced himself from me and he purposely stole anything I showed interest in be it projects, friends, and even Olivia.

“I apologize for coming unannounced your majesty but we received worrying news and it seems as if our concern isn’t unfounded,” he answers, pointedly looking at Olivia.

“and what pray tell, would your presence here change?” Bell asks then he places his hand on top of Bell’s.

I almost jump out of my seat but I notice Sir Anthony shaking his head and I clench my fist instead.

“I am here to ensure that the relationship between the nations prevail your majesty,” he answers smoothly.

“Marquess Alissier, have you any idea what happened to the last person who touched me without permission?” Bell asks, shooting a look of disgust on his hand still perched on top of hers.

Nathaniel hastily withdraws his hand and apologizes.

“Do keep your hands to yourself, lest you want to lose it and that applies to everyone in my empire as well. We do not look kindly upon entitled people. I expect you heard about how I always abide by what I say?” she says, confirming if he understood what she meant.

“Yes, your majesty. Once again, I apologize,” he says.

Bell stands up to leave but before she does she stops beside me and tells me to meet her in her office. I nod in understanding and sit back down. I wanted to know Nathaniel’s real purpose in coming without any official document.

“Why are you really here Nathaniel?” I ask.

He turns to look at me then he smirks.

“Look at you, all authoritative. Marrying up sure has its perks,” he says, looking around the well-decorated dining hall.

“I do not have time to waste on your petty grievances, tell me why you are really here,” I tell him and on the corner of my eyes I see Olivia flinch.

She had never heard or seen me lose my temper before. I have always made it a point to be gentle and calm with her, it only made sense that she was surprised when I suddenly demanded for something.

“It was just as I said, we heard some worrying news and I was sent to ensure that our alliance wouldn’t be threatened,” he tells me, eyeing Olivia.

“I have to hand it you, I never thought you would make such a mistake but I can’t really blame you but she really is a beauty,” he adds and I see Olivia tremble in fear.

“You do not get to speak with her in that way. You will speak to her with respect,” I tell him and he shrugs.

“Will you be claiming her son and announcing her as your official mistress? Well, no matter I like my women less docile anyway and from what I know you are prohibited from taking anyone is as a mistress, nor is it acceptable to claim a bastard child. I guess it’s just a matter of time until the empress finds herself in need of a new husband,” he says, standing and leaving the room.  

“You do not need to announce me as you official mistress or even claim your child. I would be perfectly happy with a monthly stipend, just enough for us to live a modest life without me having the need to be wed to another,” Olivia says.

I know she was just trying to reassure me but what she said struck me the wrong way. I have told her a number of times that if she were to ever carry my child I would have to be in their lives. I would never want any child of mine to be without their father especially since I have long been looking forward to having a family of my own.

What Sir Anthony told me about questioning everything rang in my mind. I didn’t want to be suspicious of Olivia but I am starting to. Over the past few days she has been trying to ask for money so that she and the child could live a happy life even though I had repeatedly told her that I wanted to be present for the birth as well as for the child’s growth.

Why would she be adamant about wanting to leave? I know that she is frightened but I have assured her numerous times that she was safe in the palace and that it was not in Bell’s nature to take lives mindlessly but she insisted that the empress could be after her and our unborn child.

When I think about it, before I went to speak to Bell a week ago I spent my time speaking and listening to Olivia. She told me about she was frightened of the empress, how she felt threatened and how everyone thought of her as a harlot. She kept speaking about how the empress could easily send an assassin during the night and how easy it would be to frame it as an accident.

I shake my head, trying to fling my dark thoughts away.

“Come, let me escort you to your chambers,” I tell her and she automatically locks her arm around mine.

Showing affection for my loved ones, including Olivia used to be second nature to me so I find it concerning when I felt uncomfortable with how close we are to each other. I slowly put some distance between us and I am relieved when she doesn’t seem to take notice.

After I escorted her in her room, I make my way to Bell’s office. I was giddy in anticipation, we may not be able to immediately return to the way things were before but being able to speak with her is progress that I sorely need. I arrive in front of her office and was ushered in.

When I enter, I see two sizeable packets laid out on the table and Bell’s unflinching stare. I sit in front of her and look at Sir Anthony for any indication of what is in the packets but he shrugs, leaving me to infer on my own. I was about to speak when she beat me to it.

“We need to talk,” she says and I feel the temperature in the room drop, suddenly it was as if I was about to face a reckoning.