B E T R O T H E D

E X P R E S S I N G . F E E L I N G S

Kay's POV:

"Do you understand?" Queen Anne spoke coldly.

She has changed. The elegant, kind lady King Arthur held so dearly is no more.

Her video in front of me froze for a second and moved again.

"Kay, I am talking to you. I need an answer," she said with zero compassion in her tone.

"Yes, your majesty," I bowed.

"If you fail to comply once again, I will make sure to punish you."

"I will not," I replied, confident about disobeying her commands.

"Good. I will call you later to get updates. Goodbye," the queen ended the video call.

I have had enough. The lady may be the queen of Abutilonia, but she cannot boss me around. I would follow her commands if they were something for someone's good. How does keeping the princes away from the one friend they've made that they feel comfortable around make sense?

I get that she thinks Alazea may be no good and might try to use the princes. I also understand she is afraid one of the princes might start liking her for real. But King Arthur wanted this. That nobleman certainly thought of something when he made Vernon, Alazea's father, promise him something of this sort. She must respect that, at least for the sake of her dead husband.

Now, I will rebel. I have been noticing Alazea for a while now. Those efforts the girl puts in making the princes comfortable around her, her spending habits, her values, everything about her is exemplary. She is just a diamond in the rough and needs polishing, and that is why she is here.

The princes and Alazea returned from their hiking trip yesterday, and I noticed Warrin and Alazea glancing at each other but keeping their distance. What made them so awkward around each other?

Whatever happened, I know this for sure, Warrin likes the girl. And so does Isbert. And Victor. Keeping the three voluntarily away from the one they can find true love with seems so unfair.

I think I know what to do.

I made my way out of the room after patting my laptop to acknowledge its efforts in putting up with the queens' hateful calls. If I keep video calling the queen from the device, it might catch a virus.

The younger boys were in the Solar, playing, and the others in their rooms. I knocked on Warrin's door.

"Can we talk?" I asked.

The oldest prince irritably opened the door.

"What is it?" His expressions would never let me forget that he knows the secret. Will he ever forgive me?

"I want to talk to you about Alazea," I had to mention her name to make sure Warrin is interested in talking to me.

"What about her?"

"Let's talk on the roof," I walked off, knowing that the prince will follow closely.

On the roof, I took a seat where I know Warrin generally sits.

"What is it?" His expressions were softer now. Gosh, the liking he has for the girl is changing him. Where is that emotionless prince I knew?

"I talked to your mother earlier," I started as he took a seat beside me.

"Did she say something about Alazea?"