Four years later

He slammed his fist on the table and everything shook.

"Can you believe this?"

She kept her cup steady as the table moved.

"You would think she'd get the hint by now and stay hidden in her room."

They were enjoying tea on the balcony looking over the garden in her room.

"To think that she is the one who holds the king's favor. All because she is the first princess to walk these halls. Have we found any evidence to prove otherwise yet?"

She took a sip from her cup and then gently placed the cup down. Then looked him firmly in the eyes,

"Unfortunately, anything that is known about her is all based on rumors."

He slammed his sweet cake down and almost tipped his teacup over,

"Ugh! We need to be rid of her. She is a thorn in my side. I have enough with trying to make sure my younger brothers don't take the throne from me and now I must worry about my sister. What if father gives the crown to that creature?"

She reached across the table and touched his hand, taking it in hers, she smiled at him,

"My son, please be patient. Our plan is in the works as we speak."

He raised an eyebrow and met her eyes,

"Really, when will it be done? Our last attempt changed nothing. Are you sure it will work this time?"

She let go of his hand, picked up her teacup, sat back a bit in her chair, and sipped from her cup all while keeping her eyes on him. Placing her cup back down on the table she let out a small chuckle,

"Don't worry this time for sure. By morning your worries will have vanished along with her. I have a special friend who is looking into this matter for us."

He laughed hysterically and took a drink from his cup.

She cackled as she fanned herself hiding her devious smile behind her fan.

Standing behind the door she listened as they planned her murder. Thinking about how idiotic they sounded as they openly planned her death she tipped-toed away from the door watching for any signs of people coming and headed towards the garden. What would they try this time, snakes, scorpions, spiders, or assassins? They've already tried every poison they could get their hands on. Last summer they tried to drown her in the lake by inviting her on an outing. They always made it look like an accident so no one could trace it back to them and she was always rescued by a guard that she had befriended over the years.

"Poor Wiltion, he will eventually get tired of being by my side. I gave him the day off because I felt sorry for him. Will I have to request his speedy return already?"

She walked down the hall, the fatigue showing in her steps. Having to spend half her night half asleep was taking its toll on her body. Reaching the hall leading to the garden she placed her hand on the wall for support and then went to take a step. Suddenly she felt her body become heavy and quickly leaned against the wall and slide down to the floor. Her version started to blur and then everything went black.

He was on his way to the library when he saw her sitting on the floor against the wall. Running over to her he checked her pulse and saw her breathing. He let out a sigh when he saw that she was just sleeping. Hand slowly running through his hair he relaxed his shoulders and shook his head.

"What an odd place for you to fall asleep."

He looked at her face while she slumbered as he pushed a curl of hair out of her eye tucking it behind her ear.

"You truly have grown to be stunning, haven't you, little Lo. Still breathtaking in every way."

She inhaled deeply and her body relaxed, even more, moving further down along the wall.

"While it would be extremely awkward to let you see that I am actually very fond of you, I guess I should at least try and move you to a better spot for a nap. You're such a pain."

Just as he was about to lift her up from the floor, he heard footsteps behind him and looked to see who they belonged. Seeing his father, he stood up and bowed his head quickly.

"Good evening father, Ancestors bless, His Majesty."

"What has happened here, Robert?"

They looked down at Loraz as she sat there in a deep slumber.

"I was on my way to the library when I came upon her asleep in the hall, Your Majesty."

His father walked closer to Loraz and looked back at him then said,

"Really now. Well, pick her up and follow me. Try not to wake her."

Robert looked down at Loraz and sighed,

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You may address me as father, my child. We are alone here."

"As you wish, father."

The king walked ahead a bit and Robert followed behind with Loraz in his arms, her head resting peacefully on his chest.

The King looked over his shoulder a bit and sighed,

"Poor thing. She must still be having trouble sleeping at night."

Robert's eyes widened and he peeked down at her,

"She hasn't been sleeping?"

The King shook his head,

"No, not since she arrived here four years ago. She suffers from nightmares as well as a number of mysterious attempts at her life."

"Are you saying someone is out for her blood, but why? She hasn't done anything to warrant her a threat."

The King stopped and turned around to face him.

"Because, my boy, they fear her, just as you do."

Robert averted his eyes and turned his head slightly.

"I don't fear her..."

"Listen, you are the only one who knows how she came to be in the castle. I had thought I could count on you to watch over her since you seemed to be more levelheaded than the rest...was my judgment wrong?"

"I am sorry I have disappointed you, father, but how could I watch over someone if I am the youngest of your children. I know nothing about being an older brother."

"Even if you couldn't be her family, at least a friend would have been kind enough of you."

"She doesn't need me as her friend, father, she seems to have made friends with a few of the servants."

"Do you hear yourself right now, son? Have I lost you as well to the greed of the crown and castle?"

Robert snapped his head back over to his father, his eyes full of fire.

"No father, please do not place me on the same level as my siblings. I will be leaving next week for Ay Su and once I am gone what would she have done if we had bonded as you wished. Cried her eyes out until she fell ill? I choose to keep away from her for her own safety."

The King chuckled.

"You speak as if you have fallen for her. Unfortunately, your choice was not made for her safety, but to fulfill your selfish wish. You just didn't want to be bothered with everything she came with. So, you pushed her away."

"I have done no such thing, father. She is the official princess of Mossca; therefore, I cannot fall in love with my own family member. It was you who made this so...adopting her into the royal family."

The king walked closer to him and whispered,

"But you know the truth."

Robert's eyes narrowed and his brows frowned then whispered,

"And you raised us to live a lie. You cannot undo what is done, father. She will forever be the first princess of Mossca."

"For now, that is, but it will come to light who she truly is and when that happens it may well be too late to confess your undying love, words to take with you when you depart next week. Now I know a spot where you can sit with her until she wakes."

The King turned around and continued to walk down the hall towards the garden.

Robert kept quiet and looked down at Loraz,

"You must really be tired if that didn't stir you awake."

He followed his father until they reach a tree in the far end of the garden. His father pointed to a lavish bench with padded seats.

"Lay her there and sit with her until I return from my meeting. It shouldn't take long."

Robert did as his father instructed and sat down on the ground and leaning up against the trunk of the tree. Picking up a piece of grass he twisted it about in his hands and cut his eyes at his father as he turned to walk away.

"I know what you're trying to do, father, it won't work just to let you know."

His father stopped then turned back to look at him and scoffed.

"Just do as I say, boy. I'll return shortly."

The king walked off leaving the pair unattended. When he was sure they were alone he threw the mangled grass strain down and sighed deeply.

"Stupid old man...to think he believes me to be in love with the likes of you."

He looked over at Loraz and watched as her chest went up and down. He sighed again and inched his way over to the bench on his hands and knees. Once he reached her side he watched as she lay there peacefully. Moving a strand of hair from off her lip he felt her breath hit his finger. Standing on his knees he stared at his finger and then looked at her. Focused on her lips he slowly leaned in. He closed his eyes and their lips touched briefly. Sitting back on his legs a bit he smiled at her and wondered how she would have reacted after being kissed by him had she been awake.

"The only problem is that he was right."

He then stood up and madehis way back to his spot by the trunk of the tree and sat there waiting for hisfather to return.