Execution [Book 2 of The English Lion]

LIV. Alexander

Tuesday, 16th April 1940

Dear Diary,

Today is Isabelle's eighteenth birthday and I had spent the whole day cooped up in my room of the hotel, obviously angered at myself. Hugo and James did check up on me. I did send her presents (which are the dresses and Isabelle's wedding dress) under the guise of the anonymous wedding dress designer name that I told her last year when the subject of the wedding was brought up.

I spent the whole day today reflecting what I've done, and everything that happened in the last month, and since the start of the war. There were things that happened in the last month before April that arrived unexpectedly because I wasn't keeping up with the date, only the time. Of course, I had told Absconditus Custos to relay confidential information from Hitler's government to headquarters. I hope to God that Britain is prepared for what's to come.

The past two months since Valentine's were... hard, but nonetheless it was alright considering I had time to finish off the dresses and the paintings. There were many sleepless nights but for what it is worth... It is worth doing, the dresses and the paintings. It got me off the guilt and the regret that had been ever gnawing me since the 3rd of October 1939... Hugo obviously has been keeping me sane. Thank god that he is here with me, as I managed to stop going over the cliff and being mad. I don't think I can recover from being mad until after the war is over, and of course, when the Allies won. The guilt and regret now returned, slowly gnawing the edges of my mind palace. My mind palace seems to be... overrun, perhaps, by memories. Memories of her. I can't get rid of it. It's impossible...

-Alexander

Self note: There's Chivas Regal Scotch stains for this diary entry. I might have spilt one or two almost empty glasses while I was reaching for the bottle for refills.

Two days later - on my birthday - I seem to have left my room, entering the outside world for the first time after a couple of days being cooped up in my room, busying myself with things. Hugo and James were shocked to see me outside, knowing how much Isabelle's birthday had impacted me. I managed to catch the elevator where its doors almost closed. As it opened up again, I walked in to find the two other occupants to be Hugo and James. Throughout the whole elevator trip to the designated floor, awkward silence reigned. The moment the elevator dinged, notifying us that we have arrived at our designated floor so we can go to the dining hall, Hugo cleared his throat.

"Spit it out already, Hugo," I stated with slight impatience as I exited the elevator while they followed.

"Well... We know that Isabelle's birthday was two days ago and how it badly affected you. Which brings me to the question: You wouldn't be out of your room until tomorrow, yet, here you are, up and about... What's going on?" Hugo replied, rebutting me with a question. I immediately stopped in the middle of the hallway, before motioning them to the wall, allowing other guests to come in and out of the dining hall as we are a couple of footsteps away from entering the dining hall. I then lead them into a corner, away from prying eyes and ears.

"What I am about to tell you both should leave your mouths. You bury it deep in your brain and memory, and you shall not tell anyone what I am about to tell you. Understood?" I notified them, and I gave them both long looks before adding quietly: "The French Royal Family's lives depend on it. Her life depends on it."

Hugo looked at me, probably thinking something along the lines of what could this be that makes it so important, so secretive? He silently nodded as James stayed silent.

"A simple nod wouldn't suffice. You both must give me your word," I told them.

"Yes, sir," immediately came from Hugo after I finished, as if Hugo woke up from his shock daze.