Execution [Book 2 of The English Lion]

IV. Alexander

Isabelle and I would be at the balcony, silence filled the air before I turn to stare at Isabelle, mouth twitching upwards slightly, as a smile formed. Isabelle noticed my stare and turned to me, looking amused. I began to caress her cheek with my free hand, as she smiles.

"What is it?" Isabelle asked me.

"You. Everything about you draws me in. You made me stronger when we're together, weak when we're not considering it's painful for me to love you," I replied in a whisper. In the moonlight, I noticed that a tear stream down her cheek.

"Trust me, dear. It is painful for me too," Isabelle stated quietly before she closed the gap and our lips touched, lingering for a moment where she pulled back. I look at her, smiling.

Little did we know that we were being watched.

Slow claps happened, and we both immediately yet forcefully - considering I don't want to pull away from Isabelle, nor did she - turn to see Philippe. I stood up, using my full height to my advantage as I take on my Royal posture.

"What is it, Philippe?" I asked in a polite manner. But everything about my posture contradicts the polite manner laced in my tone of voice.

"I really want to apologise about earlier and hope that you forgive me," Philippe started, before taking a pistol out and aimed at me.

"What are you going to do? Shoot me?" I scoffed, "You know I would take that bullet gladly."

Philippe slowly aimed at Isabelle. Isabelle stood her ground, and I growled. Philippe pressed the trigger, a gunshot was heard, and in a split of a second, my whole body was in front of Isabelle. I felt the bullet enter my body and feeling t lodged in my spine. I turned to Philippe, angered.

As I approached Philippe, I was shot several more times, but that didn't stop me. I threw a punch, and a fight broke out, as I was bleeding because of my injuries. But, because of the attempted assassination on Isabelle, that was a grave mistake of doing it in front of me.

A few moments later, I walked with Antony, making our way to the entrance hall of the palace. I got my arm around his shoulders which helped me to walk.

"Why are you doing this, brother?" He asked me.

"Well, no one can insult Isabelle in front of me, least of all Philippe," I replied blankly. Antony looked at me.

"Hey, don't look at me like that. It's true," I retorted. We walked for a few more minutes, arriving at the entrance, where a car waiting for us. Antony told the driver to rush to the hospital after we entered the car, as there was silence between us. I was looking out of the window, watching the outside world.

"Alexander?" Antony broke the silence.

"Hm?" I asked.

"Have you ever dream of a simpler life ever since Uncle abdicated?" Antony asked. I looked at him quizzically and it was a few more moments of silence before I answered.

"No. Not for me, at the least," I replied, before looking out of the window, as my chin rests on my clenched fist, "But, once upon a time, yes. It was a long time ago, brother. I was naive then. I was a boy then, enjoying a simpler life. I'm not quite naive now."

Antony stared at me.

"What changed?"

"A lot of things, brother," I replied and the conversation was left there, hanging. We soon arrived at the hospital and it's a wonder that I haven't passed out already. The moment I walked in - with Antony's help, of course - I passed out due to the fact that I lost quite a large volume of blood. Before passing out, I can hear Antony speaking in French to the doctors. I was soon wheeled to an OR.