Saving Her Kingdom

♡ Chapter 42

Chapter 42

3rd person P.O.V. (Louis)

Louis stood still, looking after Anna's figure until she disappeared around the corner. During the four months that he had spent at the palace, he couldn't get rid of the feeling that warmed his heart every time he would see her. He would have never believed his cold heart would have started beating faster when being around a certain woman. But now, after four months in her company and a lot of denial, he had finally accepted his feelings towards Anna.

He found her a very capable, strong-minded woman with her own opinions and unfailing morals. Her eyes held a wisdom beyond her age, that proved that she had lived through many more things than she would admit.

Not to mention her beauty, that surpassed any lady that would throw herself at him, and her innocence and kindness that would always stun him when he spent time talking to her. She did not seem to notice that it wasn't very appropriate to spend so much time alone with him, but anyone could see her purity only with one look at her face and gestures. Louis thought that maybe that was why her reputation was never questioned.

If she has feelings for me too, she does not show it, he thought bitterly. But he doubted she had the same feelings toward him. She never showed any emotion that came close to it. In her voice and her face, he could only take notice of curiosity or kindness.

Louis sighed, as he made his way to his uncle's quarter, where he had been requested. His thoughts continued to drift away in a fantasy where everything would be easier, where he could have a marriage based on love with Anna, and not an arranged marriage that most nobles had to resolve themself to. He planned on asking her for her hand, but only at the end of his stay at the palace, so she could have more time to fall in love with him. If she ever did. His heart clenched at that thought.

He knocked at the door of his uncle's room, and entered after hearing his call. He found him sitting in front on one of his couches, in front of a low table, and with a paper in his hand. Some papers were also scattered on the low table, letters perhaps, Louis thought.

"Ah, Louis. I've been waiting for you," Lord Rutherford's voice sounded across the room.

"Yes, Uncle. Here I am. What did you want to discuss about?", Louis answered, and sat on a couch opposite of the elderly man.

"An important matter, I believe. Ludwig of Ravenport is still troubling with gaining enough supporters, that old rat," Lord Rutherford smirked.

That again? Louis sighed inwardly. He had not wanted to spend any extra time in the company of his uncle, continuously plotting against the former king of his kingdom. Even if he himself had taken the position of a candidate as the king's position, and had good chances in succeeding thanks to his uncle's influence, his uncle was beginning to tire him out with his endless schemes.

"But that's not all," Lord Rutherford continued, regaining Louis' attention. "He has sent his daughters away! Here at this palace! How lucky are we, really," he grinned, "That fool, he doesn't know that we have caught the eldest girl...", he made a thoughtful pause, "and now we have the chance to catch his youngest too. I really wonder who she is...", his eyes held now a wicked gleam, "Maybe she hasn't arrived at the palace. But that's unlikely, after all this time... We have to investigate!", he concluded.

Louis' mind reeled from the information given to it just a few moments ago. The youngest princess of Ravenport... he had seen her as a child, on a few formal occasions, but from rather far away, and not very often. He had seen her elder sister more often at a few balls, since she was only a year younger, and not five years like her sister.