A sennight later....

I can't believe that a sennight has gone by. It seems as if it was forever. A day without Sapphire, and Pearl was unbearable. But a fortnight-I don't think that I will last that long. All I can think about are the worst-case-scenarios. Like, what if they didn't get there? What if Emile was a secret murderer? What if they wanted to stay there with Emile? For the rest of their lives? Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Now I'm really worried. Since I'm not there to protect them- who will? I bet some fancy, rich, duke is trying to flirt with them right now. NO! None of this is happening. Psh! Why did I even think about this? I can be so stupid sometimes! *10 seconds later*.................NO! They are in danger! I must help! But, how am I going to help them from here?? Oh! I can write them a letter. I get out of bed, and go over to my desk. I open up the drawer to my left, and take out one sheet of plain paper. I take out my calligraphy pen, and am ready to go.

'Dear Sapphire and Pearl,

I wish you well on your journey to Bankston. How has it been so far? Did you get there safe? Is Emile secretly a murderer? Do you want to stay there and live there with Emile for the rest of your life?!? Please say you don't. Are there ANY dukes who are flirting with you?!?!?! Be honest. Life is so boring without my beloved sisters! I really miss you two! A sennight seems like forever and a day, without you guys! Please say you will come back early! When you left, it's like you took a part of me too! I feel so alone!!! You and Pearl are all that I have! You are my life! I feel really embarrassed saying this but, I cried the first two nights you were gone! You are the light of my life! The light of the world! I even made a poem about my love for you two. Here it goes:

I loved you yesterday,

I love you still

I always have,

I always will,

I just want to let you know,

You mean the world to me.

Only a heart as dear as yours,

Would give so unselfishly.

The many things you have done,

All the times that you were there,

Help me know that deep down inside,

How much you really care.

Even though I may not say,

I appreciate all you do.

Richly blessed is how I feel,

Having two sisters just like you.

Our paths may change as life goes along,

But the bond between us stays ever strong.

I miss you. Tremendously. Please write me back as soon as you possibly can! I love you both to death, and I hoped I made you smile with this poem!

Your big brother,

Peter. <3'

I just realized that I was crying. I really did miss them It has been a hard week, and I hope the second will go by faster. I slip the envelope on the letter, and address it to Emile's house. I walk downstairs and give it to my butler.

"Send this to Emile's home right away. I would like my sisters to get it on the morrow."

"Aye, your highness. I will ask the messenger to send this out immediately."

"Thank you." The castle is like a mad house- maids frantically cleaning, chefs picking out menu options, and interior designer asking me which curtain color I love the most. What a life. Once the chefs are done picking out fif y different appetizers, entrees, and desserts I will have to chose on those as well. Yay.... The interior designer walks over to me and shows me different curtains. WOW. Just as I predicted. One of them is a light, sea green, the other a light purple fading into pink, and the last one is a solid maroon curtain. Obviously, the sea green one is for Sapphire, the pink one is for Pearl, and the maroon one is for me.

"Which one is your favorite, your highness?" I actually didn't know. I wonder what Azalea's favorite color was. I'm going to need to ask her.

"I shall choose later. I must think now," I say as I walk away from her. I run back up the stairs, and into my room, where I sit back in front of my desk. I take out another piece of paper, and begin to write a letter to Azalea.

'Dear Azalea,

first of all, you are probably wondering why I am writing you this. I am writing you this so I can find out who you really are. I know that you are no mere housemaid. Secondly, I bet you are wondering on how I know your name. I mean, we didn't utter the words to each other, so how do I know? Well, lets just say, I may know someone you may know, and they gave me that information. But that is besides the point. I want to get to know you. I have compiled a list of questions that need an answer promptly.

1. What is your favorite color?

2. Do you have any real siblings?

3. Who is your best friend?

4. What are your hobbies?

5. Do you have any pets? If so, list them.

6. What is your favorite food?

7. What is your favorite drink?

8. What is your favorite song?

9. What is your favorite book?

10. Can you meet me, Friday at the forest, near your home? I will be there at precisely 10:00pm at night. I will b waiting for you, no matter what your response. No, this is not an order, this is a request. I thank you for your time, and I hope that we shall see each other on Friday, and get to know each other. See you later, my sweet Azalea.

Your Friend,

Peter'

I run downstairs, once again, and ask the butler to send this to the Di Vienna house immediately. I see him run over to the messenger, and I continue to stay downstairs. I see my mother sitting in the waiting area, looking very distant. I approach her. "Are you alright mother? You seem on edge." Her eyes were wet, probably from crying. Why was she crying? Was it because her beloved daughters are going to be gone for another sennight?

"Yes, I am okay," she says this in a defeated voice, "no I am not."

"Why?"

"Well, first of all, you shall be leaving me soon. Then, Sapphire and Pearl left. And I know that they will be back soon, but it has been too long. And then, your father......"

"What about father?"

"You haven't heard?"

"Heard what?!" Now, I was worried. Was he okay?

"Well you know that he left to France, for the Peace Treaty. You know how some people feel about your father. Well, he was out late at night, and someone -someone - someone stabbed him. With a poignard." Mother couldn't hold back her tears anymore. At this point, I was sitting down next to her. She cried into my shoulder shouting, "Why? Why would someone do this? What did he do to them??" It just hit me-my father is dead. My father is dead. My father is dead! We are both crying now. He was the only male role model that I had. My grandfathers are both dead. And you only have one father. I don't know how Sapphire and Pearl are going to take this. Or, how they will find out. Underneath the mask of my tears, I manage to speak a few words.

"How will Sapphire and Pearl find out? Do they know?"

"They will know, I sent them a letter. They should get it by tomorrow and will be coming back from Emile's early. They should be back in four days time."

"I'm so sorry mom. I can't believe this happened." I just couldn't believe it. Wait! Then what does that make me? Would I be king?!? I don't want to be king yet. Mayhap when I have a wife, but now? "Mother, I don't mean to get into the formalities here, but please does that mean I'm king?" My mother paused, thinking over he answer. She took longer than expected, so that means she hadn't thought of this yet either.

"Why yes! That is the answer! You are king!" With that she kisses my forehead, and runs out of the room going to her Royal Adviser. What could that mean? "Yes, we will need to move the date. How about, five days from now? This way Sapphire and Pearl will be back from Emile's, and we will have the funeral when they get back. Perfect."

"Mom, what are you talking about?"I say, sounding worried. Don't tell me it's what I suspect.

"Silly boy! Weren't you paying attention? Oh well, I guess I'll explain it again. We are moving the date of The Prince's Maiden Ball. Instead of it going on in a sennight, it shall; happen in five days. And the day when your sisters come back, that is the day we will have the funeral." Yep, it's what I suspected. Yay. NOT! How was I supposed to mourn one day, and then celebrate the next? This was going to be a tough week. "Oh! One more thing. Until you pick your wife at the ball, and get married, no one will know that you are king. We shall tell the public that your father has died a week after the ball. Your wedding will happen a few days after that. Okay?"

"Ummmm....okay? I have a feeling that this is not up for argument."

"Then you are right!" She laughs along her Royal Adviser. I walk back up to my room rethinking EVERYTHING. What did I have to live for now? A country? My people? My mother? Azalea? I blushed at the thought. A world where Azalea is mine, is a world that I want to live in. I hope she would want the same. Speaking, thinking, of Azalea did she get her letter? I run down the stairs and ask the butler, if he knows where Philip is.

"Where is Philip? Is he in the stables as always?"

"Aye he is."

"Thank you." I walk down the long corridor that leads to the outside garden. Right by the garden are the stables. I run into him, and we go smashing into the muddy ground.

"What was that for ye bastard? What did I do to you??"

"Well, that was for threatening to pour water over my head. And, I wanted to talk to you," As I say those last words, we are picking ourselves up from the ground.

"What did you want to talk about? Oh, and I heard of your father's fate. I'm sorry."

"I mean, I knew it would happen one day, I wasn't prepared for it to happen so soon," I wipe a tear from my cheek and shake my head, "never mind. I was just wondering, did you get the letter to the Di Vienna's?"

"So, you want to see that maid again? Yes, I did. And I know what you are thinking. Don't worry. I didn't read it, sweet Peter."

"You DID read it!" I throttled his head.

"Ouch! But, yea I did. You poured ye little heart out in it didn't ya?"

"Stop it! I don't read your letters!"

"How do I know? And who is your little 'spy' that knows Azalea?"

"Ummmm.....Why do you want to know?"

"Because, I might know him."

"How do you know it's a him?"

"I didn't until right now."

"Why you little!" I say as I throttle his head once again.

"So, what's his name??"

"You aren't going to let this go unless I tell you, right?"

"True," he says with a chuckle.

"Fine, his name is Rowan."

"Rowan? I've never heard of this gent named Rowan."

"No surprise! You stay here practically everyday! You haven't met a new person in weeks!"

"Alright. Alright. You got me there!"

"Aye I do. Well, I best get cleaned up. I wasn't prepared to get this dirty."

"Why? Didn't plan for the sneak attack before?"

"Nay, I was planning for you to break my fall." Just as he is about to hit my head, I quickly run inside. A place where he is not allowed to go unless told to. I walk past my mother and her Royal Adviser, with shocked looks on their faces.

"Peter! Get back here!" I hear my mother's call, just before I get to my room.

"Coming!"

"Why are you all muddy?" She asks with appall.

"Why shouldn't I be?"

"Because you are a Prince. Or better yet, a King! You need to be dignified! This is no way Kings act!"

"Well, mayhap they should act like this." And with that I walk away. If I was King, then I could do whatever pleases me. I walk back to my room, and begin to draw my bath. It would be useless to call for my maid, and in the time that she gets here, a bath could be drawn. All I needed was the water from the scullery maids. I walk downstairs, again, and go into our large kitchen. In the kitchen I meet Miranda "Will, you please give me three buckets of warm water, please?"

"Why yes, your highness. Just give me a minute." I see her going around the kitchen collecting all the buckets of warm water She kept gazing up at me, suggesting that she had a little crush on me. It was kinda cute that way. Well, she was younger, and had some of the longest light blonde hair known to man. She was a cute, and innocent kind of attractive.

"Thank you Miranda."

"You welcome," she pauses a moment, "ummmm...I don't if this comes off rude, but I've heard that you shall become king soon," of course she knows. I bet half the kingdom already knows, "and I was wondering if you can give me a raise. Not necessarily a raise of money, but a raise of status. Like instead of a scullery maid, I would be a maid. A maid that cleans the rooms. I do understand if you decline, of fire me." I laughed, fired? She is acting like she asked for a thousand dollars on the spot.

"Nay. Why would I fire you? For asking a question? Oh! And to answer it, yes. But, I will not only let you become a maid, to clean the rooms, but I shall let you have a raise as well. You have been in these kitchens all of your life. It would be cruel of me to contain you here. You need to explore. Even though I may not know you that personally, I know that you are a nice girl. Now, now, go to your friends." I could see some of her 'maid' friends giggling in the corner. "Wait," I call to her just as she starts to walk away, "lets give them something to talk about." At first, she doesn't seem to get it, but them I see something click in her mind, and she stays as she is.

"You mean on the lips?" she asks almost scared.

"Aye. But a quick one at that."

"Alright." Just then, I lean down and my lips just graze hers. I feel her smiling and I smile back. She was a sweet little thing, and I was going to give her friends a show. Now, our lips are locked, pressing into each others. It is just a mere moment, and then we break apart. I smile, and offer a quick glance to her friends, seeing them shocked. "Was that okay?" she asked obviously nervous, worried, and excited. Oh! And shocked!

"Aye. Don't worry no one shall know," I laugh, "well except your friends," I say pointing to them.

"I better get back to work. Thank you for your promises of the future," and under her breath I hear, "and that." I walk away with an immense smile on my face. I didn't like her, but she was cute. I quickly grab the buckets, and go up the stairs as quickly as possible. I open the door to my room, and walk into the bathroom. I pour the three buckets of water into the bath. I undress, and immerse myself in the warm water. I think of the future that lies ahead. I had a ball, was going to be king (Oh! I just can't wait to be king! *The Lion King Reference*) Then there is Friday......Friday.... Friday shall be my new favorite day if all goes as planned. I honestly cant wait for that. Will she come? Does she have feelings for me? The way I feel about her? I don't know what I think right now, all I know it that my feelings run deep. I hope that Azalea will come. I don't know what else to think. After about thirty minutes, I am clean, and get out of the bath. I wipe down with a towel, and put my tunic, and my breeches. I climb into bed. Just when I think I shall fall asleep, I am jolted awake to the sounds of soldiers rampaging through the halls. What in God's name are they here for? Especially at this hour? It was at least 3:00am in the morning. Ugh. I hear the pounding of their fists at my door, and hesitate getting up. What if they were just bringing more bad news? What if it was another drill? My mother has us practice drills in case of actual emergency. Although, she has never done it this late before. I am shaken from my thoughts, and another round of fists pounding come about.

I don't know if they hear me when I say, "I'm coming." I quickly walk to open the door to realize that it is not soldiers. They seem to be-

Ohhh!! Cliff-hanger! Hope you don't mind! xD Hope you liked this chapter!

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