IV. The Impact of Her

~ Twenty-Eight ~

"What about it?" I asked.

Gonzalo answered with a question, "What are you planning to do?"

I sighed as I leaned onto the table. My arms supported my weight as I raised my head. "Since when was it your duty to meddle with the affairs of monarchs?" I asked as I looked directly into his eyes.

"Since you decided to take the path that you are currently on," said Gonzalo as he replicated my stance.

"I don't understand your hatred against mortals. Everybody has the capacity to change," I replied. "Not every single one of them is the same."

Gonzalo scoffed. "I have been alive for a longer time than you, Your Highness. I have seen the evolution of mankind after we separated from them. They did change... but it was for the worse," he snarled. He continued, "Their greed got the best of them. They continued on with their corrupted ways. They would step on others to obtain what they want."

"You are generalising an entire race of species. You don't even take the time to visit their realm. You merely watch them from a distance and assume that they are all the same," I protested.

"I have seen enough from where I stand. There is no need for me to go down to their world," Gonzalo answered as he slowly stood upright. He crossed his arms after. "What I want to discuss is you, gaining stewardship over the northern boundary of this kingdom."

I groaned as I rolled my eyes. "Is that why you are here? To pry?"

"I came here because His Majesty instructed me to keep an eye on you as you write the death sentence for the pirates," Gonzalo smirked.

As soon as Gonzalo stopped, my door opened. We turned to its direction and watched as my page entered. He carried a wooden tray that contained my quill and a few pieces of paper.

"Just in time," Gonzalo remarked as he followed my page's every movement.

I scoffed as I headed to my desk. Gonzalo followed closely behind me. My page arranged everything before I took a seat. "Kindly stay with me," I instructed my page as I patted his shoulder. "Gonzalo, you may go."

"I'm afraid I cannot do that, Your Highness," Gonzalo refused immediately.

"And I'm afraid I can't have you here in my study whilst I finish this," I looked up and met Gonzalo's gaze. "Tell His Majesty that he will have his most-awaited verdict by tomorrow." I then grabbed my quill and wrote.

Silence came over us. But I sensed that Gonzalo didn't move an inch. "What are you still doing here?" I asked as I turned to him.

Gonzalo cleared his throat. "Like I said, His Majesty–"

"His Majesty will have his most-awaited verdict by tomorrow. I entered an agreement with him and that is not something that I plan to break," I replied. "Now, please," I then pointed at the door, "Leave me in peace."

Gonzalo stared at both me and my page for a moment. Finally, he gave his bow and left the room.

I then instructed my page to come closer. I lowered my voice as I said to him, "Whatever it is that I write tonight shall remain between the both of us. Not a single word shall escape this room or your lips."

"Yes, Your Highness," my page nodded.

I nodded in agreement and made him return to his prior position.

I took a deep breath and resumed my writing.

~*~*~*~

I headed to the balcony and greeted the sun as it slowly rose from the shadows of the night.