Ch.7

" Brother welcome back I have missed you we have so much to discuss'' Beatrice exclaimed enthusiastically. These two siblings were inseparable they always had each other's back and most certainly share their deepest secrets. "you are certainly right I do have a few matters I'd like to discuss with you concerning the prince. Her heart instantly pounded what had the prince said, and he still remembered she blushed at the thought of him. He made her feel hot in places she wasn't meant to feel. "certainly brother". After a while, the two went on a stroll heading to the river. Joseph was dressed in a flared long-sleeve shirt with vintage pants and boots while Beatrice wore a pink patterned gown with flared long sleeves and a belt by the waist with flats

" The king had come by the tavern the day before" Joseph broke the silence first " The king? Why would he come by" she questioned in confusion

"It's not the king you're thinking of, it's prince Alexander, he's married to lady Jade." Beatrice came to a halt as great pain struck her heart. Prince Alexander was a king, which meant he was married. 

Jade? 

How? 

When? 

All these thoughts upset her; did she believe she was going to marry the prince her mind mocked? ".

" Beatrice are you alright?" Joseph asked concerned by his sister's sudden reaction. ''I'm okay" she replied trying to conceal all the pain she was feeling but Joseph saw right through it he knew her very well, they grew up together he was the age of five when she was born currently the same age as the prince, thirty so he knew her, her whole life.

"You've fallen in love with him." As they got to the river, the breeze was quiet and the sun shone brighter than ever, the water was warm and full of small little catfish, bluegills, and other fish. Beatrice sat on a large grey boulder on the river's edge, pushed her gown up, and dipped her feet in the water. "Do you know how hard it is for these small fishies to catch up with the rest of the family?" "You haven't answered my question," Joseph sighed, taking a seat next to her. "And why should I, it doesn't matter anymore, he married."

"So you did..." he sighed, his heart stinging slightly.

"Beatrice I've told you before that you don't need a man since I'm here to provide for you."

What did he expect Beatrice to do in this situation? All she had to rely on was her beauty, but no guy dared to approach her since Joseph was in the way.

" Joseph, no one has approached me since you are so protective of me; what do you expect me to do to work how huh?" "Father wouldn't permit it," she exhaled deeply, "I'm of age, I should be engaged by now, and I'm not getting any younger." I can't rely on you, and you can't provide for me, you should save for your family, not for me.

She rose and walked away, leaving Joseph alone. When the two returned home in the afternoon, they heard a ruckus inside and wondered, "What happened?" Beatrice inquired of Joseph, who shushed her and protectively placed her behind her back as they gently entered the yard. When they entered, they discovered two royal guards in armor wrecking everything outside the kids' toys, the patio was in shambles, and all the women had barricaded themselves inside. The chief argued with the guards in front of the door. "What's going on?" Joseph inquired, and they all turned to face him. "We got him," one of the guards stated as he immediately approached him.

"You are under arrest for poisoning the king and running an illegal tavern," he said before cuffing him. "But I didn't do anything," Joseph argued, and the guard punched him hard for trying to resist. Beatrice covered her mouth with her palms in shock. She ran to her brother's aid, but when the other guard saw her, he pushed her away. When Joseph saw this, he tried to fight back, but both guards hit him until he bled while Beatrice cried for them to stop.

The sun had set, the moon had risen, and her darling brother had vanished to who knows where.

" He'll be back, Terresa, don't cry." Beatrice consoled her sister-in-law, who was afraid as they sat in their living room.

"He won't be back," Andre said with great sadness he knew that his son was gone for good. "What! My unborn child can't grow up without a father please father do something" Terresa pleaded. "It is the king's orders there is nothing we can do" upon hearing that Terresa cried louder. Poor soul, she wanted her husband to be there when their first child would be born what can she do she has no power of any kind to convince the king to change his mind. " It's okay Terresa I will get him back for you" Beatrice, whispered. What was she planning? To approach the king unarmed? How? She doesn't know the way there. Brother, I am coming for you

By midnight, Beatrice had stolen a horse from her father's stable and set out to find her brother. Back at the palace, Alexander sat in his father's study, which now belonged to him; it was customary for a new king to utilize the former monarch's study during the first year of his reign. When his father entered, he was seated, signing a few forms.

"How has your work been going, son?" he said gently.

"Thank goodness they're not as difficult as I expected."

"There are rumors that you were poisoned."

"Is that so I am fine, who would propagate such false rumors?" he inquired,

"It was I" King Charles spoke, his tone was somber. Alexander was perplexed as to why his father would disseminate such a falsehood. "Why?" he questioned, looking him in the eyes. ".

"Because my guard reported to me that he saw you having a drink with those filthy beings," he grumbled.

Alexander anticipated his father's reaction "Father, they are not filthy, and now that I am king, I will change that regulation". What was Alexander thinking because he was crowned the day before he could talk back to his father the man who still had absolute power over him?

"Unfortunately, you will not be king for thirty days because you will be ill."

"Arrest him, he has broken a rule," he ordered the guards to arrest him.

"Father, this is what you did last time, and you know what I went through, yet you throw me in here like some criminal". Because he was fighting back, the guards tried to cuff him,  his father refused to listen to his pleadings and merely turned his back on him, and they dragged the prince away.