"Wait... You want to tell me Lord Richard is actually the father of your child?" Roselyn asked. Both her mind and soul refused to believe what Victoria had said. Maybe she was saying this to vent her feelings to the world.

"Yes," she answered, her voice firm and resolute. The no nonsense look on her face answered it all; she meant every damn word.

Roselyn wanted to say something but found herself speechless. So it was true? And come to think of it, that explained why the Queen was acting strange when Richard died.

"Does anyone else know about this?" Roselyn knew how cruel the rules were against such an action, and even though Victoria would not get punished, the humiliation she would suffer later on would be inescapable!

"Yes. The knights know, Alexander knows, the physician also knows. It’s in the mouths of the maids everywhere. Hell, everyone knows. But you know what, I don’t care!" She almost yelled the last statement. Roselyn couldn’t help but sympathize with her. Maybe this was her way of finding solace, trying to lie to herself that it would be alright. But the cruel truth was that it would be not, unless the current king protects her reputation.

And come to think of it, she had not seen Alexander since the moment she came here. Where on earth could he be when his mother needed him the most? Or was he also mourning Richard’s death. Men’s style of mourning was funny and difficult to understand. What if he was in a tavern drinking alcohol? That was what most men did. Or maybe he was sparring with some innocent knights to whom he could vent his anger and frustration on. That was like Alexander. Roselyn knew him well. He used to seclude himself from other children whenever he was feeling sad, back when they were still young.

"And where is Alexander, my husband." She added that claiming and stamping him, officially hers.

"Alexander?" Victoria asked as if Roselyn had mentioned an alien to her. Her gaze flew to the door to his room as fear gripped her insides. She could tell that something bad was happening to him, but what it was, that, she couldn’t tell. Her instincts and gut feeling were always right, and it made her fear for the worst.

Roselyn followed Victoria’s line of sight, her gaze landing on the closed door. Why was she looking at the door, and that look on her face.. Was Alexander in danger? Her heart raced erratically at the simple thought.

"Is...Alexander there, inside his room?" Victoria nodded, her gaze never leaving the door. Roselyn sighed thinking it was just a normal occurrence. Maybe Alexander had locked himself to mourn over Richard’s death. But that was unlike him! This made Roselyn crease her brows. Would Alexander even mourn in the first place? She had witnessed witnessed it, he never shed a single tear during his Father’s funeral! And she expected him to mourn over Richard, a Lord? That would definitely be out of the list. But what then if not mourning? She was certain something else must have happened, and it led to Richard’s death. That was the only reason Richard was outside Alexander’s room.

"I’m going to check on him," she said jumping to her feet when Victoria’s hand caught her wrist, making her throw a questioning look at the queen.

"Don’t go in there!" Victoria said looking her in the eye.

"Why? What if something bad has happened to him?"

"It’s not safe!"

"How do you know?"

"I don’t know what is happening in there but I have a bad feeling it’s not something good. That’s why you need to stay away."

"I can’t Your Majesty! What if Alexander needs us while we are just refraining to help him. I don’t know what he is facing in there but one thing I am certain is I won’t forgive myself if something bad happens to him. He means the world to me, and I won’t sit and wait without knowing what my husband is going through." She breathed heavily at the long statement.

"I know how you feel Roselyn but we can’t act rashly without even knowing what awaits us in there. Also, Alexander made it clear no one is to enter until he comes out himself!" Victoria sighed, tired of explaining the details to her. She had still not recovered from the trauma of losing Lord Richard and she didn’t want to add more to her plate.

"Are you suggesting that we should stay here while Alexander, my husband, is going through something we don’t even know. Let go of me! I want to see my husband," she said trying to flee her wrist from the steel grip but instead of loosening it, Victoria held her even more firm making her wince in pain. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"You are hurting me Your Majesty," she complained.

"Listen Roselyn. That person in there is my son. My son! Do you understand?" She asked pointing at the door.

"Do you think you are the only one that cares for him? Do you know how much pain it’s causing me to know he is in that room but I can’t help him, while you are foolishly going there? You’ll die!" How she knew Roselyn might die, that she couldn’t tell. But this ominous feeling could not be ignored.

"And remember it is because of me that you are still here," she added reminding Roselyn of her position. That at least made the drama queen in her to calm down. Victoria let go of her hand when she was certain Roselyn had actually calmed down.

"I’m sorry Your Majes..."

"Don’t be," Victoria said affording her a staged smile. "It’s okay dear. Was I in your position, I would still have acted the same way, but life has taught me many lessons, the hard way!" Roselyn could feel the weight and pain that those words carried. Victoria must have gone through hell, but surprisingly, she emerged stronger and wiser than before.

"I’m sorry... I just acted on my emotions..."

"And I said it’s okay. We should wait for Alexander here instead," she suggested. He was the only person she could look up to now in this cruel world!