“Mother!” I rushed to her, supporting her and stopping her from walking.

“Mother, what are you doing?” Elizabeth asked as she followed along with James and Bethilda. “You shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“Amelia dear, you should be resting right now,” Bethilda added. “Linda, kindly escort her back to her bed.”

Mother stopped her maids before they could even obey. “I was told that my children were having a quick yet loud conversation with you and their father,” Mother said, pausing in between words. “I’ve decided to come here to see what’s going on.”

“Sweetheart, you should go back to bed,” James replied, walking towards her. He knelt in front of her after. “Matters such as this shouldn’t bother you right now.”

“Bethilda,” Mother turned to her sister, taking a deep breath, “As much as I appreciate the changes that you’re doing for the improvement of my health, I would like for you to put their rooms back to the way they were.”

“But Amelia--”

“Dearest sister, my children can manage their rooms,” Mother took a few steps forward, the maids and I still supporting her. “What you can do is to make sure their rooms are always clean. I beg of you, please do what I say before Elizabeth explodes.”

Bethilda looked at us, baffled. She wasn’t expecting that Mother would take our side on this matter. She bowed her head, “Of course, sister. I’ll have the maids take care of the princess’ room right away.”

“Thank you,” she smiled. She then turned to Elizabeth and me. “As for the both of you, can you calm yourselves and watch your words?” she scolded. “I know you don’t like what your aunt did but there’s no reason for you to be disrespectful.”

Elizabeth let out a deep sigh. “I will be staying with Robert as I wait for my room to be fixed. His room was lucky enough to avoid this issue.

“Elizabeth,” James called her once more.

Mother smiled, caressing Elizabeth’s face. “There’s no need to be sour about this. Your room will be restored by tomorrow.” She gave the three of us individual kisses on our forehead. “I’ll head back to my room now. Please, stop shouting.” Linda replaced me, supporting Mother by her hand and arm. Mother slowly turned around and carefully made her way back to her room.

When Mother was far enough from James’ study, I turned back to Bethilda. “If Elizabeth’s room isn’t restored by tomorrow, I’ll see to it that Mother will not be pleased about it,” I threatened. “Let’s go, Elizabeth,” I held Elizabeth’s hand, walking out of the study with Gonzalo right behind us.

♔♔♔

As the maids prepared my bed for Elizabeth, I prepared my couch, making it comfortable enough to sleep in. My couch wasn’t as big as Elizabeth’s. I do envy her sometimes but I don’t usually use it.

“Thank you for letting me stay here, brother,” Elizabeth smiled as she approached me.

“You’re always welcome here, Elizabeth,” I smiled, fluffing the pillows as a final touch.

“I just couldn’t bear the sight of my room,” she groaned, sitting on the couch. “The way she changed it, it’s like I returned to the time when I was only a thousand years of age. It looked ridiculous.”

“I got here just in time to stop her from destroying my room,” I replied, sitting beside her. “Where were you when it was happening to yours?”

“I was in the library, as usual. I was going to take a quick nap when I saw the commotion happening inside my room,” she answered. “When I saw it, the only thing that crossed my mind was to run to yours.”

I let out a smile at her story. Elizabeth being in the library wasn’t surprising. She’s known as the child who adores reading the most. We’re both studious but she preferred reading different topics.

I stood up, “Why don’t you take that nap that you were supposed to have? I have something else to do.”

“Are you sure I can take a nap here?” she asked, worried.

I laid a kiss on her forehead as a reassurance. “I will see you later. Take your rest.” I turned around and proceeded to the stables.

♔♔♔

As I was walking down the hallway, I came across Gonzalo. “Gonzalo.”

“Yes, Your Highness?” he bowed.

“Are you doing anything right now?”

“I just finished showing the maids where to put the materials,” he replied. “Also, I talked to the maids regarding the situation with the princess. Should I bestow any punishment from you?”

“There’s no need for punishments. As long as they learned their lessons, that’s enough,” I answered. “And speaking of Elizabeth, would you check my room from time to time? My sister is taking a nap. I know I have my guards placed there but I would like for you to make sure nothing happens to her and to my room.”

“Of course, young prince,” he said. “I would do what you ask.”

“Thank you.” I proceeded to the stables.

♔♔♔

“Lady, you never failed to impress me,” I smiled as I brushed Lady’s mane. “We’ve been together since I was child. We rode plains and muddy terrains. And you still look majestic.”

“You treat a horse with so much love, so much care,” a voice came from behind me, a voice that I wouldn’t want to hear right now. “Should I become a horse, would you treat me just the same?”

“Mallory, I’m not in the mood to have another argument with you,” I said, focusing on Lady. “I have too much in my mind right now, too much in my life right now. I have no time to waste on having another discussion with you.”

“Is it because of Laura?” she asked, footsteps approached me from behind.

Keeping my mouth shut, I focused on taking care of Lady. She’s now aware of my feelings for Laura but that doesn’t mean I have to explain anything to her.

“It’s Laura, isn’t it?” she repeated, standing beside me.

“Why does it matter?” I finally turned to her, irritated. “What’s it to you? If I said it’s Laura, what would you do?”

“That day that I introduced you to her, I saw how you both stare at each other,” she started. I went back to brushing Lady as she continued, “I saw the horror in your eyes, the pain in hers. I’m not that stupid to not notice your actions and feelings hidden behind your eyes.”

I walked to the well, carrying a bucket. “And what do you want for me to do?” I asked, drawing water from the well.

“She’s not my friend anymore. Did you know that?” she asked.

I pulled the rope to bring up the bucket. “Does it look like I care if she’s not your friend anymore?” I asked, turning to her with an eyebrow raised. I removed the rope from the bucket and returned to Lady.

“You don’t care because you’re happy about it,” she said, following closely behind me. “You’re happy because I won’t be in your way. I won’t be a problem to your growing relationship together.”

“If you want to think about it in that light, that’s your opinion,” I answered, not paying any attention to her. To keep my patience intact at this moment was a struggle. I don’t know what she does with her time but it’s like she always has time to bother me.

“You’re not even affected by it?!” she raised her voice.

“Should I be affected by it?” I asked, turning around to look at her. “It’s your decision to break your friendship with her. I didn’t tell you to do that. You’re the one who made that decision. Just like the decision you made to introduce us to each other.”

“I chose you over her!” she shouted, poking her finger on my chest as she pointed at me. “She stole you from me!”

“I would like to remind you that I didn’t tell you to choose me,” I put my hands behind my back. “And she didn’t steal anything from you. She didn’t steal me from you. I have feelings for her and I don’t have any for you,” I explained. “There’s a big difference between you and her.”

“Robert, can’t you just--” she stepped closer towards me, her hands in front of her.

I stopped her, pushing her away from me but not hard enough to make her fall onto the floor. “I would like to say these words again because clearly, you really don’t understand what I’ve been telling you all this time: I cannot love you in the same way you love me because I don’t love you like that,” I gritted out of frustration. “The only thing I can offer you is friendship. You’re a sister to me and that’s the only kind of relationship that I can offer.

“But Robert--”

“Your Highness!” someone shouted from the kitchen. Gonzalo came rushing in, panting. “Your Highness, Her Majesty is calling for you right now,” he said, trying to catch his breath.

I put the brush down. “Please return Lady to her place. Give her food and water,” I instructed before running to the master bedroom.