Episode 5

...ChApTeR OnE ePiSoDe FiVe...

Soon noon came and Alexander was finished with his work "it's rise right now your Highness" Elora said looking out the window "and I should probably take the trolley out now" she added walking around to tidy up. "Elora" he said breaking the silence, "yes your Highness" Elora replied stopping in her steps and hand movements.

"Your way of speaking is... unique even to royalty" Alexander said pausing for a short moment thinking of the right words while intensifying the atmosphere while Elora blushed with embarrassment with a slight fear of punishment. "Stay… no you'll be in charge of my chambers from now on, you're dismissed" Alexander said wanting to praise her or even a small compliment, but he knew all too well how people will act differently when shown a little recognition, so he decided to stay within the lines.

"Yes your Highness" Elora said with confusion not understanding why she was picked to look after his chambers only the teenage or elder maids and servants would tend to the chambers. "Your Highness may I ask why?" Elora said treading carefully on her own question, Alexander could easily lie and say because he said to and no one was to defy his orders, he could also test the waters with a small compliment "she's the same age as me no one would teach a young girl to lie would they?" he thought "if so maybe just a white lie to give her the benefit of the doubt, no young girl or not they're all the same" he thought more before finally looking at Elora with a straight face showing no hint of a child to remind her of her place and to not question his orders.

"Because it's a direct order from your prince, do you dare question my decisions?" he said instantly regretting how his voice became cold and cruel towards her, but he didn't light up, "y… Yes your Highness... I understand I won't question you again, I'll take my leave now" Elora said as she flinched slightly before composing herself and rolling the trolley out but not before giving him a small curtsy then walking out and closing his study doors and walking down the long halls as she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in.

"Ahh bloody hell" Alexander said leaning back in his chair and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm only ten, yet I act like my father, she's only a child and doesn't know the ways of the palace, I shouldn't have lashed out, why do I regret it though?" he questioned himself "any other servant I'm fine with telling them off... but there's something different about Elora, something that makes me want to keep her close".

He said while he closed his eyes remembering his father. "Alex, why do you feel sad for her?" his father asked, "she's different father, different from the princess' I've met" Alex replied. "A friend. You haven't had a true friend" his father replied before disappearing. "What does that mean? Father, what does that mean?" He said erratically as his father disappeared before jerking up and his eyes wide open as an attendant was standing nearby. "Your Highness, is everything ok?" the attendant said a little concern was evident on his face "shall I call the imperial physician?" the attendant asked.

Alexander chest raced for a bit as he collected his thoughts "imperial physician? No I'm fine just lack of sleep" he said composing himself. Why are you here? And who gave you permission to enter? He said looking at the attendant "forgive me your Highness I come because her majesty requests your presence in the Royal garden and I only entered without permission, is because I didn't get a response from you, so I worried" the attendant said with his head down. "What does my mother want now I haven't seen her since my party" Alexander questioned the attendant, "I do not know your Highness as she didn't say I only deliver her orders".

The servant said his voice betraying the respect in his words "as if I was worried about this problematic prince if not for her majesty orders I wouldn't step foot near him" the servant thought internally not knowing he wasn't the best at covering his true feelings, but Alexander didn't care he knew every maid or servant that works for his mother was his enemy. "Alright then tell her I'll be there" Alexander said simply not paying the attendant any attention, "yes your Highness I shall take my leave now" the attendant said and bowed politely then left the study.

"Ahh finally" he said, thinking back to what he saw and talked about with his "father". "A daydream maybe" he said looking at the small framed picture of him and his father. "What should I do dad?" he asked "just know I will become king on my fifteenth birthday, and I'll try to consider Elora a friend" he said before standing up then straightening his clothes and walking out of his study and towards the Royal gardens.

Alexander approached the gardens to see his mother sitting on the bench looking into the small pond of fish so he walked closer. "Mother" he said coming up behind her "don't call me that after what you've done" she replied coldly "sit" she added but reluctantly "you know it wasn't me everyone within the palace knows it wasn't me" he said firmly defending himself "you dare talk to me your own mother that way?" she said amused by his defiance. "Mother it's been two years... enough of this why did you summon me here" he said already fed up with her delusions and accusations.

The queen sighed and looked at him "just admit it to me, I know you're still a child,, but this is no joking matter" she said with a calm voice "admit what exactly? I've done nothing wrong" he said confused. "My attendant reported what you two discussed... more of what he saw you can tell me if something is bothering you" she said trying a different approach. "A dream about father is all" he said bluntly to see what game she was playing at, "your father at midday perhaps guilt?" she said pinning it on him "guilt" he scoffed realizing what she was referring to "you are one sick woman, accusing your own son of murdering his father you know it well I was nowhere near father when he died, how can an eight-year-old do something so horrendous?" he said as his blood boiled but kept a calm composer, but his voice betrayed him a bit with amusement "just admit it was you I'm trying to save your claim to the throne the council suspects you, so I need to know the truth to help you" his mother said staying calm as she herself pinned it on Alexander.

"Save my claim to the throne" he said it's not like father has other children we don't know about and if he did, I'm the sole heir and I know my father wouldn't have an affair" Alexander said "I'm leaving" he said and stood up "I'm not going to stay here another second and listen to you insult my father's name" Alexander said as he walked off to calm himself down leaving his mother there "if I don't pin it on you, they'll definitely suspect something" his mother said ignoring all his words and left the gardens to retire for the night.

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