The Prince's Cure

Closing the Shop (Learning of Taruses)

When Bella went outside the next day to go to work, she found Colt leaning against a tree by her house.

"What are you doing here, Colt? I don't have time for this either or I'll be late for work," she said walking past him.

"That's just it Bella, I came to walk you to work. I plan on doing this when we get married and you refuse to stay at home with the half dozen boys we will have, and maybe a dog or two," he said stepping in line with her on the sidewalk.

"No, Colt, what don't you get about that word. I've told you this for a year now, I don't want to marry you. Besides I met someone I would like to know, at least more than I want to know you." Bella started to walk faster to the butcher shop and away from him.

"He will always be ugly, Bella, I can promise you that has been since he was sixteen," Colt said stopping in front of her.

"You don't know that. You're just scared that he will take away everything from you. Colt you are always saying you will inherit something big from your aunt, but you never tell anyone what that is. All you say is that she has no children because her intended died before that could happen," Bella said moving around him and walking at a brisk pace to the shop.

"I'll tell you that you will be a Queen if you marry me, Bella. If you marry that beast, who knows what you will be," Colt said when he caught up to her halfway to the shop.

"And Just how will I be a Queen. Your no ruler of a Kingdom," she said stopping two shops from work.

"You remember learning about that small country called Taruses, on the tip of the Italian boot, back in school."

"Yes, Colt, I remember. I was intrigued by that lesson. However, we only covered it for a few days in ninth grade. But what does it have to do with anything?"

"My aunt is the Queen of that country. I will take the crown when I go with my bride, and that's you Bella."

"No, Colt, now please leave me alone. I'm going to be late if I don't get inside soon," and with that Bella left Colt and went to knock on the shop door.

Adelric had been waiting for Bella to show up in the front of the store, only to find her with the man from last night. The one she called Colt, and who happened to be the man who had enough money to by every shop in this town. Not wanting to stand by and watch his beautiful colomba with him, Adelric moved to the back and asked Leo to go let her in.

"Are you alright my prince," Leo asked moving towards the door upon Adelric's request. "You wanted to let her in this morning, why the change now that she is almost here?"

"She has a corteggiatore, fidanzata, impegnato. Whatever you feel like calling that man walking with her here," he replied moving to the stairs leading to the apartment. "I don't feel like working today anymore either. I'll be upstairs if you need me."

Leo knew that look in his young prince, it was the same one Adelric's father had after losing the Queen. Going to open the door he found Bella standing there looking quite shocked about something. "Buongiorno, Bella. What has put that look on your face?"

"Something that Colt just told me, about a small Kingdom on the Italian boot," she said coming inside.

"What Kingdom, cara," Leo asked while shutting the door.

"Oh the one called Taruses, it's on the very tip." Said Bella, putting her things away.

"Yes I know where that is. I'm originally from there, came here when Ace was two, after the King was killed. I would like to hear more about what that Colt fellow told you, let me get Ace first for he might want to hear this to," with that said Leo called up to his home telling Adelric to come down and into the back for there was some information that might be involving him.