บท 22: Italy

THE KING'S POV

You lock the door behind him. He stands still for a little while.

(I know she's lying to me but why?)

He walks to his bedroom and falls asleep on his bed. The next morning he wakes up with a knock on the door, as it serves as an alarm. He stands up and gets dressed. It's getting warmer as it gets closer to Italy.

"This is just going to have to do" He looks at himself in the mirror.

(I hope she'll be there this morning)

He walks out of his room and the princess meets him outside his room. She bows before him.

"Let's get this over with"

"Yes, your Highness" He holds out his arm for her to hook in to. They open the door to the dining car and everyone bows before them. He sits at his table and everyone sits and goes on as usual.

(Dammit, where is she?)

"Lord Walton, please join me?"

"As you wish, your Highness" He sits across from the King.

"Tell me, Lord Walton, what exactly did you see yesterday in the corridor with Lady Winters and Lord Dobson?"

"Not much, Sire. All I saw is Lord Dobson holding her hand and she looked a bit uncomfortable, that's why I asked him about it yesterday"

(Holding hands? She despises him?)

"Is that all, Lord Walton?"

"Yes, Sire. If I may ask, what is this of you?"

The King moves around uncomfortably, knowing very well that no one should find out about you.

"I just want justice to be served, if at all necessary"

"Of course, Sire. Please forgive me"

"No need, Lord Walton you know I always enjoy your company"

"Thank you, Sire"

"Did you see Lord Dobson today?"

"No, I'm afraid not, Sire. He must still be sleeping off his "not drinking" from yesterday" They share a laugh.

(God....where are you?)

Then he looks up and time stands still as you walk in. He inhales sharply at your entrance and complete joy fills his eyes. The corner of his mouth lifts into a smile. Then he quickly reverts to his stoic expression. Your scent fills the air with vanilla and a hint of lavender from your hair. He seems to be hypnotized by you. He quickly looks down at his food, trying not to show his arousal.

LADY WINTER'S POV

You wake up the next morning with a fresh outlook on life. The sun shines through the windows and the scenery is breathtaking.

(I'm not going to let, Lord Dobson or the princess take away this great opportunity for me to explore other counties and maybe get my King in the process. I'm going to make them wish they've never messed with me)

You look at your wrist and you see that the red marks have turned blue. You look through your dresses and find the perfect summer dress with sleeves to cover the marks on your wrist. The pain is almost gone and new hope arises in you.

(Stacey, would get a heart attack if she saw what I choose to wear)

You put on one of your own made perfumes. It's one of your experiments that you're trying to make into a business one day. Then you leave the compartment and get to the doors of the dining car. You take a deep breath.

(In with the good and out with bad)

You open the doors and walk into the dining car. You can feel everyone's eyes on you but there's only one who's eyes you care about. You look in the King's eyes and you see pure thick lust in his eyes. You only look at him briefly and then you see Lady Anabel, waving you down. She's sitting in the booth right behind the King's booth. You sit across from her so that you only need to flick your eyes up, to look straight into the King's eyes.

"I'm so glad you feeling better. You certainly look better"

"Yes, thank you. I feel so much better. So, what did I miss?"

"Oh nothing much except..." She bends forward and lowers her voice. "...the King and the princess doesn't look so cozy today. They walked into the car and then immediately went there separate ways"

You try to suppress your satisfaction brought along with her words.

(He truly doesn't want to be with the princess)

"I wonder why?"

"No one seems to know. Oh, I ordered for you if that's okay with you? I was really hoping you would come today, the other ladies all like to suck up to the princess and, well, I have my dignity, you know?"

You two share a laugh. "It's quite alright, thank you. Well, I missed you too"

They put your food on the table. You start to eat and then the princess comes to your table. You want to get up and bow but she gestures for you to sit down.

"Come on, we've talked about it, didn't we? I just came over to welcome you back officially. It's such a shame that you didn't feel well all day, yesterday"

"Thank you, princess, I'm feeling much better today"

"Well, that's such good news because now you'll be ready for your duties in Italy later today"

"Duties?"

"Yes, of course. Now that you're a Lady in waiting, you'll have to be at my disposal at any given time, right?"

"Of course, your grace"

"Okay then, have a fun morning, toodles"

She turns around, waving over her shoulder, and leaves to sit at her table.

"Did you just hear what I heard?"

"Yes, and why does it feel more like a prison sentence than anything else?"

"Well, then we'll just have to let her pick up the soap in this prison...often"

You look at the King and you see him choking on his food. He must have heard what you said. He looks up at you, smiling and stalking his head. Then he gets back to regain some sort of normality, trying not to laugh.

"You have a dirty, dirty mind and I like it"

You eat your breakfast and then they announce that you've arrived in Italy. The King stands up and everyone goes quiet.

"We will now be transported to the villa they have prepared for us. I sincerely hope that you would enjoy your time here in Italy with us"

Everyone applauds the King. You finish your breakfast and are then taken to a lovely villa.

"Wow, I knew Italy was beautiful but this, this is just marvelous. If the outside is this magnificent, then how will it look on the inside?" Anabel comments.

You arrive and you stand in awe at staring its beauty. You each get a room assigned to you. When you get to your room, you jump at someone's voice.

"Aahh, Lady Winters...it looks like we'll be neighbors" Lord Dobson smiles. You give him a death stare. You don't speak one word to him as his entire demeanor makes you want to rather eat vomit, than look at his face for one more minute. You turn around and go into your room. You lock the door.

(Oh god! What I am going to do now? How am I going to feel safe now, knowing that his just next door? I need to tell the King)