I was sleeping peacefully until the bedroom door burst open and a panicked voice said.

"Sorry to intrude Lord Xander but Princess Victoria is missing!" It was Nefertari. I was still half asleep so I just lifted my head up and went 'hmm'. "Oh my, I see. Well forgive my interruption," and she left with a giant grin on her face.

I flopped my head back down on my pillow, except that it wasn't soft and squishy like a pillow. I opened my eyes again and my pillow was flesh coloured!

The events of last night came back to me and I even had to look at my hand to reassure myself that it was real.

Then I was engulfed again by Xander as his eyes flickered open as he looked at me and gave me a quick kiss.

"Did you sleep alright Victoria?"

"I did yes."

"What was that noise earlier?"

"When I left my room last night I didn't think I wouldn't be going back there and I had dismissed my retainers for the night. So when Nefertari went to my room to wake me she noticed of course that I was absent. She came to notify you I was missing and saw me here and left."

"I suppose we should be getting up, don't want to give others any ideas," I gave it a second to imagine theses 'ideas' and the thought made my face burn. Getting out of bed I slipped into my slippers and as I stood Xander came next to me with my robe held up and I slipped my arms in, tying it at the waist.

"Are you going to escort me to my room?" He certainly wouldn't leave his room in his underwear.

"It's only down the hall Victoria."

"I know the rules my father has for me are extremely stupid Xander but I am now your property -," I was about to continue on about the rules in Vimore but Xander cut me off.

"Don't call yourself that".

"Call myself what?"

"Someone's property. Your a human being Victoria, not an object. But for the sake of right now you no longer have to be escorted by a male unless you or myself say so," I smiled.

"Thank you Xander". And I left his room to go get ready for the morning.

Nefertari had a hundred questions wanted to know every detail. I told her what I wanted.

"I told you not to worry about it Victoria."

Exiting my room Xander was waiting for me.

"I thought I no longer had to be escorted?" I joked.

"I man can walk his fiancée to breakfast."

"I suppose he can." We discussed that we didn't want our engagement public yet. We had decided to only tell his family and retainers. Xander and I would publicly announce it when we felt like it.

Xander's siblings were all very happy for us. Elise gave me a giant hug saying that she would much rather have me as a sister instead of a stepmother...

We had an enjoyable breakfast and then after Xander officially started his king duties. Which mostly consists of paperwork and meetings.

I barely saw Xander all day.

When it came time to go to bed I made sure to tell my retainers that I would be sleeping in Xander's room and I had to stress that there was no 'funny business' happening.

Xander was at his desk in his room doing paperwork, I asked him to come to bed and he assured me he would soon.

I fell asleep before he came to bed.

And I would wake up the next morning and he would be gone.

Little did I know that this would be Xander's behaviour for the next week or so.

Time skip of over a week

There wasn't much I could do to help Xander, I didn't know the people he was meeting with nor do I know what there are discussing. But I was trying my best to learn everything I could about Nohr to help Xander while still do my duties with the rebuilding.

Except that even when I did know something's about a meeting I still was unable to attend. Our engagement wasn't public yet so having me present at a meeting only about Nohrian things would raise suspicions.

I was no help with paperwork either although I did have a small amount where I'm helping with the rebuilding. Very little Nohrian structures were destroyed but Xander also wanted more housing built to help the homeless. He wanted to create more jobs and wanted to make sure that everyone's jobs gave them enough income to live on which should cut down on thievery.

Besides helping the people of Nohr the only thing I could do was support Xander and take care of him. Which I had began to realize I was failing at. Tonight I would finally confront him and hopefully all will be better.

Walking into Xander's room in my night clothes as I have the past couple of nights and Xander was bent over at his desk doing paperwork.

"Xander are you coming to bed soon?"

"Yes just let me finish this Victoria," hopefully that was the truth.

Getting into bed I read a few chapters in a book, and reread a letter from Victor again. He said that mother wasn't feeling well still, except now she was on bed rest. But of course he told me not to worry the cleric and apothecaries and doctors are doing their best and that she sends her love. Victor has given me next to no information on what is wrong with our mother. But then what if it's just a simply cold and she'll be well again in a short while.

Xander was still at his desk.

"Xander, how much sleep have you been getting?"

"Plenty, now Victoria-"

"No Xander! Your up extremely late bent over at your desk and in the morning when I wake your gone! I see the bags under your eyes, how frequently you yawn when important people aren't around. Just because you're the king doesn't mean your invincible. You need sleep Xander. So please Xander just come to bed. The paperwork will still be there in the morning." I hope I had managed to get through to him. But when he looked at me his face was stern, I clearly had not achieved my goal.

"If I leave everything alone it piles up even more! I have meetings all day to help fix my kingdom and make things better between our neighbours for the future of this kingdom. Only after all that do I have the time to not only fill out papers from those meeting but paperwork for everything else that's happening. You have no idea how much damage my father did to this kingdom when he was possessed by that demon. And it's all up to me to fix it. Everyday you go around how ever you please while I'm stuck in my office all day. I am King of Nohr and I will not be taking orders from anyone. So go to sleep I have work to do. And don't bother me again," his tone scared me, Xander has never spoken like that to me. He turned back to his work and I rolled over to face the opposite direction.

Xander's words did hurt me, he was right of course. But I was only looking out for his well being. This was our first fight together. Would things always be this way? My eyes clouded with tears as I silently cried myself to sleep.

The next day when I woke up Xander was gone of course, I spent my day going around the castle hiding from everyone.

I was in the library going over a list of currently important people in Nohr-the people that Xander meets with- when Camilla found me.

"Is everything all right Victoria?" She asked as she sat next to me.

"Of course."

"What about things between you and my brother," by my reaction she must've realized she struck a nerve. "You can tell me, just because he's my brother doesn't mean you can't speak to me about him if somethings wrong."

I couldn't help myself, and I spilled told her of Xander's lack of sleep, how I know it's going to affect his work, and I even told her about last night.

"Victoria we all can see that your doing your best to learn about Nohr to help Xander. He'll get over his anger because he loves you. Soon the amount of paperwork and meetings will die down."

"But Camilla he's soon going to burn out, he's exhausted and I can't help him! He won't listen to me," she touched my arm.

"I'll see what I can do," and she left.

That night when I went to bed I didn't say anything to Xander.

The next day I did see Xander a few times in the halls however I didn't say a word, nor did I at least look happy to get a glimpse of him during the day. Xander ignored me as well.

When he attended supper with the rest of us I was surprised, the past few days he's requested his meals in his office. Everyone else besides the two of us finished quickly and left. Leaving the two of us alone.

Xander did look like he wanted to speak to me. Was that Camillas plan? Leave the two of us alone and force us to talk? Would Xander only talk to me because his sister demanded him to do so? If Xander wanted to apologize for snapping at me then he has to change his behaviour of working around the clock.

No longer having an appetite I left. Leaving him to finish his meal alone.

Xander used to always enjoy my company, well now he can feel how I do every night. He knows I should've eaten more, I barely touched my plate as I have with all my meals the past few days. Just like I know he should get more sleep when I know he gets little to none every night.

When I went to bed Xander was once again at his desk. And just like last night I didn't say anything as I crawled into bed and fell asleep.

I don't know what time it was only that it was very late into the night. I was woken up my Nefertari.

"Vikky, urgent letter from Victor. It just arrived," I sat up and took the letter and excused Nefertari to go back to her night duty.

I lit the candle on my bedside and opened the letter.

Victoria,

Things got bad this morning. Mother wished to go for a walk in the garden and I escorted her out and left her by the fountain by herself. I believe she tried to sing but then she transformed into some kind of beast and began attacking everything and anyone around her. We've managed to restrain her in the battle grounds. We don't know what happened and no one knows how to help her. We need your help Victoria.

I was shocked. My mother started attacking people? She turned into a beast? Hastily getting out of bed and putting on my slippers and robe I grabbed the candle and left Xander's room.

Entering the queens quarters I went to the closet to get a dress to wear. It has been quite some time since being in Vimore and the seasons were changing and it was going to be a bit cold. All my warm dresses where hidden deep in the closet.

Holding the candle up so I could see and trying it push the dresses around was not a good combo. The fabric kept getting caught in my ring. I had to hurry so I'm frustration I took it off and laid it on the vanity. I'll put it back on once I'm dressed.

With Nefertari not being here it was a bit difficult to get ready, specially my corset. But I managed. After slipping into some shoes and tying my hair up I grabbed the candle again and bolted down the halls.

I did try to be quite while passing rooms I knew had sleeping people. I passed both Nefertari and Alexandros on my way to the Wyvern stables. They were quick to follow me.

It was very easy to find Veronica except the door to her pen was locked. I looked around but a guard must've had the key. But upon seeing my worried expression, Veronica simply walked out of the pen breaking the door off. That's one way to do it I suppose. I mounted her and we got into the sky.

"I need to go home, quickly girl," and she took off. I turned around and in the distance I could see another wyvern take flight. I'm assuming it's Nefertari and Alexandros.

With Veronica flying at top speed it shouldn't be long to reach Vimore. Hold on mother, I'm coming.