"Why act savage Your Majesty?" Griffin shifted his gaze towards the direction of the voice, and there, Lord Newton stood as elegant as Griffin could remember. Oh how he hated this guy.

"You came?" Griffin asked instead.

"You called," Lord Newton simply answered.

And now that Griffin thought of it, why had he called this annoying bastard to begin with? Lord Newton was simply a pain in the ass, reason as to why Griffin had demoted him.

"Tell me Lord Newton. What would you do if a woman ignores you, in front of everyone at that?" Griffin didn’t know why he decided to ask Lord Newton this of all the people. The guy had no interest in women to begin with.

"I’ll take that as an initiative to get closer to her," Lord Newton answered, surprising Griffin. Was that the answer he needed? Yes it was. That woman couldn’t just get away with it easily.

"And if I may ask, who is the fortunate lady your Majesty?" Lord Newton asked, equally curious and eager to know. A playful smirk was planted on his face as he approached nearer to where Griffin was standing, as if inciting him to share a secret.

"No I won’t tell you," Griffin said, retreating back as if Newton would choke the words out of him.

"Come on Your Majesty. I promise to keep your secret safe," Newton pressed on relentlessly, creating a father-son scenario where Newton would assume the father’s role.

"Snap out of it Newton. I’m not going to tell you," Griffin declared, now assuming his kingly mannerisms.

"What are you looking at?" He asked the knights who had been watching the scene in silence. "Make yourself useful!" He ordered, the knights abruptly rising to action at the tone of finality used.

"You as well," Griffin added, his gaze shifting to a stunned Lord Newton.

"Uh? Why did you call me then?" Newton asked, clearly irritated.

"Never mind," Griffin said, scratching his back nervously. "How’s Isadora by the way? I heard you had a spar with her."

"She’s fine, and... talented," Newton sent a coy smile towards Griffin.

"Yes she is? Is she in her room? I need to visit her soon?" Griffin’s patience had grown thin by now and he needed her answer abruptly. He didn’t want to go to war before he was declared the rightful ruler of Crescia.

"Yes umm.. no..." Lord Newton was now confused. She had informed him she would be back soon but it was almost evening but he had not heard wind of her whereabouts. She had even promised to meet him once she was back but seeing that she hadn’t, it only meant one thing. Griffin would punish her if he knew she was missing in the palace.

"Is it yes or no?" Griffin asked irritated by Newton’s response. Not that he was not annoying to begin with. Lord Newton was the kind of guy who would make you think talking was a hobby to him. Annoying him was the area he perfectioned in.

"I...Actually I don’t know."

"I’ll check for her myself then," Griffin said before he started walking out of the cellar.

"Your Majesty?" Lord Newton called, halting Griffin in his tracks. A frown had settled on his face as he turned to face the most annoying person he had ever known to exist.

"What now? No more surprises remember," he made it clear before Newton could talk. The guy had surprised him in the middle of a war! With someone’s head at that! Crazy it could be.

"Umm... Why did you let these guys live? They failed and you better than anyone else knows the punishment for this." Lord Newton was trying as much as possible to buy time for Isadora.

"I do, Lord. But I don’t have time for this. That’s why I called you by the way. The ’pigs’ are all yours. I don’t care how you do it but I want them dead."

"No! No! No! Please forgive your servants your Majesty," one of the ’pigs’ pleaded tagging Griffin’s legs.

"Don’t you dare touch me you filth!" Griffin exclaimed. "Get off me." He kicked the Knight away until he let go of his legs. And turning to Lord Newton,

"Get this done ASAP. I’m going to check on Isadora."

Oh no! Newton’s worry for Isadora intensified. He couldn’t stop Griffin again now. What would happen if Griffin found out that she was not in the palace?

******

"Tell me you’re joking, right?" Isadora asked, eyes wide in disbelief. She still couldn’t process what Gareth had said. Could Alexander really be the one?

"No I’m not. It’s the pure truth Isa. I could feel his power. It was... great! "

"I see!" That explained everything then. The connection between her and Alexander could not be forsaken. And now that she learnt this, her attraction to him grew even more stronger. Why did it feel so right to return to Valoria and hug him, kiss him and do wicked things with him. But how could she forget what he had done to her? Never! Not even a damned prophecy could weaken her strong resolve. Hell, she could never forgive him, even if he crawls to her, begging for forgiveness. That thought made her chuckle. The Almighty Alexander begging for forgiveness! That was ridiculous!

"But I fear he’ll get married soon Isadora. Crescia will be defeated. You have to get married to him and lure him on our side," Gareth voiced his opinion. Little did he know that he had just woken something in Isadora that she herself didn’t even know existed.

"Alexander is getting married? To whom?" She could already guess the answer to that question.

"The Arcadian princess Roselyn," Gareth answered, amused by her inquisitiveness. She had told him to leave a few minutes ago but this...

Isadora felt like her heart had been cut and shread into a thousand pieces. But why... why would she feel that way for someone that she hated and despised.?Why did the whole damn thing feel so wrong? Or maybe she was just overreacting?

"I’m sorry I said that..."

"No need to be Gareth, thank you." Isadora cut him short. The door to her room suddenly flew open, both if their gazes instinctively flying towards the door.

"What did I miss?" Came the familiar voice of Griffin.

"Nothing much. We were just discussing about the war..."

"And Alexander. I heard what you guys were talking about."

"Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?" Isadora asked. Was her uncle that shameless?

"Eavesdropping is not the word. Taking details it would be. So, tell me Gareth. What’s with Alexander and my... niece."

"Well..." Gareth began scratching his back nervously. Oh Lord no! How would he frame it. But it was simple, Alexander is the one.

"He just told me that Alexander might be the one, that’s all," Isadora said, saving Gareth some trouble.

"So you’re still spreading this false rumor, uh? Do you know how the citizens here will take it? They might even support Valoria in the war, or worse turn against us. Damn it Gareth!" He pinched the akin between his brows. Gareth was a disappointment indeed.

"I’m sorry your Majesty, but I’m basically speaking the truth," Gareth defended himself.

"The truth you say,uh? Do you know how that will affect us in this upcoming war. The kings might even revert their support if wind of it spreads out. I’m giving you this as a warning Gareth. I don’t care what you believe but if wind of it gets out, you’ll be held accountable." He said, his voice carrying a tone of finality.

"I’m trying to be nice," he added trying to lift the tense atmosphere that was now hanging in the room. ’Nice my foot’ Gareth scoffed in his mind.

"Isadora? I want to talk to you, alone. It would be appreciated if you would excuse us, Sir Gareth," he said, shifting his annoying gaze towards Gareth. Gareth just gave him a cold stare, a but hesitant to leave. What was it that he wanted to discuss with Isadora.

"It’s fine Gareth. I’ll be alright," Isadora said. It was only then that Gareth left after throwing a dissatisfied glance at Griffin.

"I don’t know what has gotten into him lately. If he don’t trend carefully, I’m afraid I can’t help but let the law take it’s course."

"You can do that? You monster! I would have known better that this was what you wanted all along," Isadora said trying to control her emotions. She couldn’t just stand and watch as Griffin took matters in his hands while Gareth was fighting for the truth.

Griffin was surprised by the sudden burst if emotions. He had clearly not seen that coming.

"All you care is about yourself. Didn’t you start this war to get more lands? And you threatened to take my life so that you could take my birthright, didn’t you? And for your information, I’m not evoking my right. I am and will still remain to be the true heir of Crescia."