IV. The Impact of Her

~ Eleven ~

In my mind, Laura pushed through the crowd with her beautiful smile.

She seemed so carefree. And from the simple image, I was able to feel her warmth, her calming presence. Slowly, I couldn't help but let a smile crept up on my face.

"Hm, a smile from the young prince," James taunted once again as he put his hands behind him. He asked, "Can it be that you are finally seeing the joke that you're making out of yourself?"

Laura's image smiled at me one last time before she faded completely. I took a deep breath and looked James straight in the face. "On the contrary," I replied, "I smiled because I realised that someone like you will never understand her importance to me."

"Someone like me, huh?" James smirked once more, surprised that I was calm despite his constant insults towards Laura and my dedication to rescue her.

I nodded as I slowly walked towards him. "A person who has treated everyone as inadequate. A person who believes that he is above everybody else, all because of a crown," I continued. I stopped as we came face to face with each other.

I then added, "A person so consumed by his own power will never understand her importance to another living-being."

James scoffed as he turned his face to the side. He looked back at me and replied, "The only importance humans ever had in our Realm is when they are chosen as slaves or low-form concubines."

I gritted through my teeth as I said, "It just so happens that the mortal you are degrading isn't a slave or a mistress."

"And what is her worth, exactly?" James asked smugly.

I smiled as I put a hand on his shoulders. With a smile, I leaned closer to him and replied, "Laura was able to give me the love that I longed for in this hollow excuse of a home."

James' smug expression disappeared in an instant. His jaw clenched as I pulled my hand back. Through his eyes, it was evident that guilt slowly ate him to his core. After he stared at me for a while, James cleared his throat and said, "It doesn't matter what she means to you. She is still but a mere mortal. And that is all she will ever be."

I nodded with a smirk. Unsurprisingly, this was the exact response that I expected from James. I knew him too much. He would never allow himself to be beaten in an argument. James always wanted to be right in everything. And I wasn't shocked by it all.

"I don't anticipate anything new from you, James. I also don't expect that you will put in more effort than what you already did today," I answered. "As you mentioned, my problems today have already been too much for you. Should the guards disagree with me, you don't have to worry. I will rescue her myself."

I glanced towards Elizabeth and she was horrified by what I said. On the other hand, Mother just stared at me. I couldn't tell what was on her mind. Most of the time, she was easy to read. But now, I had no idea what she could possibly be thinking.

I cleared my throat and bowed before I left the room without a single word.

~*~*~*~

"Find Nana Olsa and tell her to meet me in my study," I instructed one of my guards as soon as the doors closed behind me. He bowed and immediately went on his way. I was about to walk when a hand grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.

"What were you thinking?" Gonzalo asked, furious.

I groaned. "Gonzalo, if you are here to try and persuade me again to stop my plans, you are wasting your time," I replied. I turned around, only for my path to be blocked by him.

"Your Highness, you shouldn't be acting so recklessly. Have you forgotten your duty? Your honour?" Gonzalo protested.

"Gonzalo, if we are going to discuss honour and duty, you should ask that to yourself," I said as I crossed my arms. "You do know that a part of your duty is not to meddle with royal affairs. Am I correct?"