Execution [Book 2 of The English Lion]

Prologue

Ever since yesterday, I can't keep thinking about him. Nor the fact that he sang with so much emotion. My mind keeps reeling to the fact that I'm the reason he's... alive, willing to fight for me, our relationship, and... everything that goes in between. I cried myself to sleep last night, with a million questions on my mind about him and that song. For the fourteen years we've known one another, it had never occurred to me that... I'm the reason that he lives. The song itself is so meaningful, considering it somehow fits into our relationship. I doubt we both know we're in love with one another when we first met fourteen years ago... Now, knowing that we are in love, I'm not sure how the inevitable war will affect our relationship and wedding.

I'm walking down the hallway to the dining hall for breakfast, with a couple of questions still lingering on my mind from last night. The moment I entered the dining hall, and noticed Alex there, every question vanished. I smiled as I walked over and sat next to him as there was a seat open. He turned and grinned. Silence seems to have fallen upon everyone as if they are waiting for either one of us to start a conversation of some sort.

"Bonjour Isabelle. Comment vas tu ce matin? [Good morning, Isabelle. How are you this morning?]" He asked, curious as he gave me the smile that sent me shivers down my spine.

"Je vais mieux maintenant que tu es là, [I'm better now that you're here,]" I replied, "Et toi? [And you?]"

"Tu as littéralement pris les mots de ma bouche, [You literally took the words out of my mouth,]" Alexander replied, laughing. I laughed alongside him, smiling. It was a few moments later when we stopped laughing, as we looked contently at one another. Father then cleared his throat. Alexander and I were shaken out of our stupor and looked at him, slightly confused.

"Shall we? The food is getting a tad bit cold," Father stated blankly, trying to hide a smile, and we both nodded before the whole family started eating. I'd steal a glance at Alexander once in a while, and I caught him doing the same. I'd smile.

We'd all finish within the hour, with the occasional chatter. After the servants and butlers took away our empty plates, leaving only our drinks, Grandfather looked at Alex.

"So, Alexander, what are you going to do today?" He asked, with an air of curiosity.

"Well, since I have a couple more days here in France before going back to London. As there are no more engagements for me to carry out as it was already finished, considering Papa allowed me a couple more days here, I'm just going to hang out with Isabelle. Then I'll go back to London and stay there until I come back here for Isabelle's birthday," Alex replied, smiling at me and I smile back. The smiles didn't go unnoticed by the family.

"That's great, considering I get to show you around Paris," I notified him, feeling joyous as he looks at me, smirking, giving me butterflies in my stomach.

"Oh really?" Alex asked, with a hint of a tease, raising his eyebrow ever so slightly.

"Meet me in the Hall of Mirrors in an hour, and we'll see about that," I replied, smirking as I tease him back. I then turned to my Grandfather.

"May Alex and I be excused, Grandfather?" I asked him, who nodded in reply. I set my table handkerchief away and Alexander did as well. We then both stood up and walked out, arms brushing against one another before our hands intertwined with one another. We were so focused in our world as we seem to disregard any comments made by my family. I lead Alex to the Hall of Mirrors.

"Alors... Nous sommes dans la Galerie des Glaces. Je pensais que nous n'étions censés être ici que dans moins d'une heure. Je me demande pourquoi tu m'as amenée ici, Isabelle, [So... We are in the Hall of Mirrors. I thought we weren't supposed to be here until in less than an hour. I wonder why you brought me here, Isabelle,]" Alex told me, smirking as I turned back to him, stopping near one of the corners of the room, slightly hidden from view. I quickly pull him close to me, wrapping my arms around him. Alex looked at me as I looked at him, both of us smiling.