A Tangled Web of Truth | Complete (ONC 2021 Shortlister)

19. Errors

The last thing Alicia remembered was tripping on a woman's foot and falling face first into the ground. There was a small flicker of something after that, but she couldn't exactly describe it. And then the next thing she knew, she was holding her arms over her head and trying not to get trampled by people who didn't notice she was even there until they stepped onto her.

The feet beat into her sides and she heard someone - probably a guard - call out her name and then everything went dark.

According to the doctor who was sitting at her bedside that evening, she had been very lucky to have only passed out and received a few bruises. He had seen much worse in similar situations.

"You will need to stay in bed for a few days, just so we can monitor you. It appears you have a small concussion from the impact."

Alicia nodded and immediately felt dizzy, having to close her eyes in order to stop the room from spinning. "Okay," she said finally.

"Is it okay with you if I share your health information with Her Majesty and your fiancé? I'd like to share the information about the concussion and your care from this point forward."

"Of course," she said, leaving her eyes closed. "Can you let Alejandro in once you've let him know? Is that all right?"

"Yes, I will let him know you've asked for him. I'll send in the nurse while I speak with them." And then he picked up his bag and left the room, leaving Alicia to lay in bed with her eyes closed while a nurse sat in the chair beside her.

She must have drifted off to sleep because the next time she opened her eyes, the nurse had left her side and in the chair sat Prince Alejandro, head tipped to the side asleep as he held her hand on top of the blankets.

"Alejandro?" she asked, blinking until she could see more clearly. "What time is it?"

He jumped slightly and rubbed his hand over his eyes. "Sorry, Alicia. I must have fallen asleep. I think it's just past seven in the evening now." His watch glowed slightly as he checked the time.

"Okay." She resisted the urge to nod, instead turning her head very slowly to look at him. "I'm just so glad you're okay."

"Me?" He slid the chair slightly closer to her bed and wrapped her hand in both of his, kissing her fingertips gently. "Nothing was going to happen to me. I'm just glad you're okay."

"They said you'd gone to speak to the protesters and I overheard Fetu saying it was me they wanted to speak to and-"

"Are you trying to tell me you almost started a riot because you rushed out to save me?" His brows pulled together and Alicia was having trouble determining if he was angry or relieved or something else she couldn't quite place.

"Yes," she said calmly, using her thumb to trace a small circle on his hand. "Isn't that exactly what you were doing for me?"

"Alicia, I thought I was watching my whole world crumble around me. All at once it seemed a misunderstanding would take my whole future. And in that moment-" his voice dropped to a whisper-"I would have given up anything, including my title or my life, to see you well."

Alicia's head swirled again. Whether from Alejandro's words or the concussion remained to be seen. "You shouldn't do that," she whispered. "I am not more important than this country."

"And the fact that you believe that is exactly why you are. And why you will be an amazing queen to them one day. Hopefully in the distant future because I really hope my mother keeps doing the heavy lifting for years to come."

Alejandro smiled as Alicia let out a small chuckle.

"Is she terribly mad at me? Your mom, I mean."

"No. She's more upset at the guards for not following her directives. But I told her it was likely you were able to slip away from them through no fault of their own. You are wily."

Alicia smiled and turned her face back to the ceiling. "And... are you too terribly mad at me?" Her chest sank into her spine as she waited for his reply and she couldn't bear to look at him.

"No. And yes," he admitted finally. "No, like I'll forgive you. But yes, like I'm begging you never to put yourself in danger like that again."

Alicia nodded slowly, avoiding any head spinning as she did so. "I know. As long as you do me the same courtesy."

He chuckled and shook his head, placing another small kiss on her hands. "I think we can handle that."

There was a long pause that passed between them, which was only interrupted by Alejandro peppering small kisses on her temple and her hands. He did pause for a moment to ask the nurse to fetch a meal for Alicia before turning back to look at her. "I'm just so glad you're okay."

"So, what happened after I fell down in the crowd?" Alicia suddenly remembered what was happening when the crowd pushed forward and tried to sit up and look around as though that would have some effect on whether things were okay. "Is everything okay now? Did anyone else get hurt?"

"Slow down there, Alicia," Alejandro said as he put a hand on her shoulder and encouraged her to lay back on her pillow. "Everything is okay for now. A few others were hurt, but nothing serious. Everyone will be fine. And I have arranged a meeting with a small group of the leaders in a few weeks' time once you are feeling better."

"So it's okay? Everything is okay?"

He turned his eyes to his hands and then took an audible breath. "No, not everything is okay. I think it will be, though. I think they are open to discussing things with us and I know you are willing to learn so I think we can figure it out. Together. It seems they are very worried about the orphanages and they are not wrong. So we're going to start there and I'm going to let you lead it. I really should have done that sooner. Alicia, I know you are capable and whole and-"

"You can just say you're sorry for underestimating me." She smiled. "And I can just say of course you are forgiven."

When he just smiled at her, she pulled his hands toward her. "Let me give you a kiss."

And just then, the door opened and the nurse carrying soup was followed by the king and queen, their faces stern as they walked in step like an army.

"What's happened?" Alejandro said, standing but not dropping his hold on Alicia's hand.

"We need to discuss some ground rules for everyone's safety here," the queen said. "And we need you both to hear it."

Even being a prince didn't free you from the requirement of parental lectures, it seemed.