II. The Impact of Her

~ Four ~

Three months had passed and I had completely recovered. Well, at least, in my perspective.

For my family and the Medicine King, I was still required to stay in bed for another month. But I didn't want to do that. To remain bed-ridden wouldn't help me recover. It would only make me more ill, which was absolutely against the idea of recuperating.

After giving a few gentle stretches, I carefully removed myself from the sheets of my bed. I still had to be very cautious with my actions. My wounds, partially healed, still, stung if I used my body to the extreme. I was in the middle of fixing my bed when a knock came upon my door.

"Enter," I answered, taking a last look at the bed.

The door opened and as I turned, Gonzalo entered. "Good morning, Your Highness," he bowed the moment he stepped foot inside my room.

"Good morning, Gonzalo," I walked towards him. "How is everything today?"

"Everything is on schedule, Your Highness," Gonzalo replied. "Your parents are currently in a meeting with a few merchants and Her Grace went on her first visit to the supported school."

"Elizabeth went on her own today?" I said in disbelief. "Why did she go on her own? Why didn't she wait for Their Majesties?"

"Their Majesties confirmed that they will be having a long meeting today with the merchants. Instead of postponing the visit, Elizabeth proposed to go on her own," he explained.

I nodded in response. Elizabeth went out of her way to please James. But this task should be done by the whole family or the king and queen, mainly. Elizabeth and I didn't have anything much to prove that we were worthy of handling such important matters.

"Would you like to have your breakfast brought up here, Your Highness?" Gonzalo asked.

"Oh, yes. Of course," I smiled, returning to my conversation with Gonzalo. "Also, could you have my reports brought here to my room as I wait? I have a lot of catching up to do."

"His Majesty has insisted that you don't go back to handling reports until the following week, Your Highness," Gonzalo explained. "He would allow you to get out of bed but not to work. Her Majesty agreed with that as well."

"Then what am I supposed to do all day?" I asked as I gestured around my room.

"Their Majesties said you can do anything you want, as long as it doesn't involve the reports and too extreme activities," Gonzalo continued. "Also, you have a letter from Lady Loraine. It was delivered here a few days back but Her Majesty told me to only give it to you once you're out of bed."

As expected, they preferred that I didn't move or do anything at all out of too much worry. I was aware that I was gravely injured, almost to the point that I lost my life. But I was already in a better state. I couldn't understand why they didn't believe me. I knew my body more than anyone and I knew I was fine.

"Gonzalo, I know this will mean going against their orders but I implore you to bring a few reports here to my room. Also, bring Lady Loraine's letter with my food," I walked to my window, opening the curtains as I reached it, allowing the light to enter.

"Are you sure, Your Highness? What if Their Majesties punish us for that? Punish me?" Gonzalo began to worry.

I understood Gonzalo's fear of punishment. Everyone in this castle always feared the punishment implemented by this kingdom. Even I was afraid of it and I was the heir to the throne

I turned to him with a smile. "There are still undone reports in my study. You can bring those so James wouldn't notice easily. Should they find me handling reports, I'll tell them that I got them myself," I reasoned. "You won't have to worry about getting caught with me."

Gonzalo nodded but there was still a look of uncertainty on his face.

I smirked and walked back to him, putting my hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry too much about it, Gonzalo. I'll do the reasoning with them. Just bring the reports here because I need to get something done within the day."

He bowed, "As you wish, Your Highness."

After I gave him a nod, he headed out of my room. As for me, I sat by the window and enjoyed the beautiful view of the garden, resting my eyes before looking into reports again.

~*~*~*~

As I ate my breakfast and read through reports, someone knocked on my door.

"Who is it?" I answered.

The door opened and my page peeked his head from the other side of the door. "Your Highness?" he called out.

"Yes?" I read the last word from a report before looking at him, brows arched.

"Her Majesty is here to see you. Should I let her in?" he inquired.

I quickly put my fork down, as well as the report I was holding. "Please, let her in," I stood from my chair as carefully as I could.

As my page disappeared, Mother entered the room and closed the door behind her.

"Hello, Mother," I greeted her, my arms wide open.

"Good morning, Robert," she smiled, giving me a warm embrace as we met in the middle. "How are you feeling today?" she asked, scanning me from head to toe and back.

"I feel better, Mother. I was already feeling better last week. But Gonzalo said you didn't want me to get out of bed yet," I replied with a playful smirk.

"I just wanted to make sure that you're completely healed before going back to your royal obligations," she explained. "You gave us quite a scare after what transpired in the Sea of Gliss. Your father has decided not to let you cross the sea unless every pirate is found and dealt with."

"I find both of you overreacting about this situation," I let out a short laugh. "Just because I got hurt the first time, doesn't mean it will always happen."

"Robert, you should know that being your father's heir is important. We can't afford to lose you," she added. "You're very important to us, not just as monarchs but as parents, too."

"Mother--" I was interrupted when another knock came upon my door.

"Your Highness?" Gonzalo's voice echoed as the door opened. "Here are the other--" he entered the room, carrying another stack of reports for me. However, as he saw Mother, he stopped in his tracks, dropped to his knees, and put the reports beside him. "Your Majesty."

Mother let out a deep sigh and turned to me with one brow up.