4

"Can you get off me?" Adrian whispered, ruining the moment. He was trying to avoid touching Isabelle. 

"Oh," she stood up quickly, almost slipping in the process. "I'm sorry."

"Those fools," he hissed. "Get your things, we're leaving."

     

              The court ladies carried the boxes and trunks into the first carriage. The remaining gifts filled the second one and there was no space for a human being to settle. 

   "Can you ride a horse?" Adrian asked.

   He was coming with a horse and the guards were guiding another one to her.

"No," she confessed.

    "Then," he got on his horse, "you will have to wait for a while. These will be dropped first and then, they'll be back to pick you up."

   She nodded in understanding. A guard ran to Adrian.

"Your Majesty, Captain Spencer is back. A messenger said he's on his way here."

  Adrian's eyes lit up. They had that glint she had never seen in his eyes before.

"That's good then," he nodded and faced her. "You shall come with Spencer then. You may wait in my residence until he's here."

    She stood where she was until he was out of sight. She sighed wearily. Was marriage really the best option? She walked into the residence and was about to go inside before her eyes caught something. She moved closer to the grave and read the epitaph.

     "Here is the resting place of Lady Judith," she read out and traced her fingers over the word. "Who is she?" She wondered.

   "I guess there's nothing I shall ever know. Nobody tells me anything."

   She sat under the tree that was by the grave. The cool breeze was running by slowly. It made her feel relaxed. She only meant to close her eyes for a second but the peacefulness took her to another universe.

        "Your Highness," she heard from a kingdom faraway. "Your Highness."

   It's not a kingdom. She frowned and opened her eyes slowly.

"I'm Spencer, Captain of the Royal guards at Prince Adrian's residence," he bowed slightly.

    Isabelle's eyes roamed until they settled on him. What is this feeling? Spencer was good looking. He was even attractive than Adrian was. His muscular build balanced pose and calm eyes were calling out to Isabelle.

   "We have to leave now," he extended his hand for her to stand up. Was she surprised or happy? Adrian has held his hand out for her many times but this was different. He really held out his hand to help, he was sincere.

     She took his hand and stood up. They walked to the carriage in silence and he helped her in. After that carriage was locked, two riders were in front and Spencer was on his black horse. Isabelle took a peak and admired him. 

   She was married to a prince but why did she feel attracted to a stranger? Why did she feel like she could trust him? Was it because he was a guard? 

  She sat back in her seat and relaxed. The journey was smooth at first until the carriage shook hard. Isabelle fell and hit her head on the side wood. She cried out in pain and the carriage stopped. She removed her coronet that was stained with a little blood.

   She could hear shouting outside. The carriage door flew open and Spencer was standing before her. 

"Your Highness!" He shouted and helped her out. 

   Isabelle looked at the carriage. A horse was missing. The reins were cut. The two riders were also hurt since the carriage almost fell.

  "Are you okay?" She asked them with concern.

"Yes, your Highness," they stood up.

   They had probably never been asked by a member of the royal family how they were.

"Let me take care of that," Spencer said and squeezed her hand.

  He led her to a rock and sat her down. He brought out a piece of clothing and a gourd of water. He soaked the cloth and cleaned her wound. The blood was gushing out. 

   "This is not working," he sighed. "Stay here with the carriage, Her Highness and I shall ride to the residence and I will send help." He said to the riders.

"I cannot ride a horse," Isabelle spoke up.

   Spencer was taken aback. What kind of princess can't ride a horse? 

"But I can't leave you here, will you be okay riding with me?" He asked for her permission.

   Her eyebrows twitched. "Together? On a horse?" 

He nodded and she agreed.

      He pulled his horse to a stop and helped her up. Then, he sat behind her.

"Hold the reins," he told her. "Help is on the way," he said to the riders and bid them goodbye. "Hyah!" He yelled as he nudged the horse.

   Isabelle's eyes widened and she fell into his chest as she lost her hold on the rein.

They kept crashing into each other as the horse ran. Isabelle was nervous and so was Spencer.

   Would Adrian be comfortable about him riding with his wife? Spencer was troubled. This woman was beautiful yet she wasn't happy. She had a lot of people around yet she seemed lonely. He wanted to protect her. 

    Isabelle summoned courage and held the reins again. Spencer held her hands together with the reins and placed his mouth by her neck. 

"You are not a professional rider yet so I have to hold you like this so we wouldn't have any problem."

"It's okay," she replied shakily.

   They were going through a thick forest and Isabelle couldn't help but wonder. Why did Adrian build his house in the deep?

  "He likes peace. He likes to be alone," Spencer answered as if he had read her thoughts.

   She could see it from a distance. It was tall and huge. The lamps were on but it looked gloomy. It had a big gate with two men standing guard and Spencer stopped his horse. One of them brought his torch closer to Spencer's face and halted.

"Captain!"

  The gates were opened and they rode in. It was a long road to the main building. Fountains, gardens  beautified the place. She saw a stable far away. There was also a statue at the center. She couldn't see it clearly but she was sure it was a woman. This was Isabelle's home now.

    They came to a stop and the horse neighed. Adrian was standing by with some guards and court maids. He looked surprised at their appearance.

   "What happened to the carriage?" Adrian asked as he approached them. They were still on the horse. 

"A horse ran away. I need to send help to the riders," Spencer reported.

  "You heard him," Adrian said to the guards. They bowed and ran off. 

     Spencer got down from the horse and extended his hand, so did Adrian. Isabelle was caught in between. She didn't know whose hand to take. She didn't want to disappoint anyone. Taking Adrian's hand would mean turning Spencer down. Taking Spencer's hand may give her a bad image.

   She sucked in her breath and jumped down from the horse. 

"That was dangerous!" Spencer and Adrian shouted simultaneously. They both ran to her side.

"I'm okay," she assured them.

"What happened here?" Adrian noticed her head wound as he held her hand firmly.

"We were involved in a little accident on our way here."

  "Does it hurt?" Adrian asked with concern as his hand caressed the wound.

   Isabelle was confused. What scheme is this now? Why was he pretending to care when he clearly doesn't? It's obvious that he doesn't care so why was he trying so hard? Was this the respect he was talking about? Faking their affection in front of everyone?

  She slapped his hand away gently.

"Get the Royal physician," Spencer whispered to a guard who left immediately. "Why don't we go inside?" 

"No," Adrian said. "Show her to our room, I have to be somewhere."

  He walked away briskly with the guards behind me.

   "Please, come with me," Spencer led the way into the residence.

   The inside design was intricate. It looked like a fortress.

"This place used used to be a fortress for respected warlords. Prince Adrian moved here when he was just eighteen. It has been managed by him since then," Spencer explained as they walked side by side.

  "I see. How long have you been working for him?"

"I met him when we were both sixteen. I was appointed as his guard then. My father was a general so I was a natural. We moved here together after two years. We've been friends since then."

  "Friends?" Isabelle scoffed.

Spencer smiled and looked at her. "Why?"

  "Nothing, he just doesn't seem like someone who has friends. He's too cold."

  "Yes, he's cold. He does not have friends, he's socially awkward too. That's who Prince Adrian is. His mother was murdered at a tender age and he grew up lonely as Queen Indira never considered him as part of the family."

   "He does seem lonely," she agreed.

"I feel bad for Lady Judith," Spencer sighed and Isabelle pulled him to a stop. He seemed taken aback by the contact and looked at her.

  "Lady Judith?" Her eyebrows twitched. "Who is she?"

"Prince Adrian's mother, your deceased mother-in-law."

  "She was murdered?" Isabelle asked in disbelief. 

"She was poisoned to death. King Augustus refused to investigate her death as it was a bad news that there was murder in the main palace. It was covered up. Only a few people know about this."

    "But, she's a queen. Who could possibly murder her?"

  "She's not a queen," Spencer bowed slightly at the court ladies who were swooning over him as they kept walking. "She was a normal court lady who gave birth to the king's child. She worked in the palace. Even though she gave birth to the prince, she wasn't given a title. She died when Prince Adrian was eight."

    Isabelle was troubled. Adrian could trust nobody. It seemed everyone was out to get him. Was that why he acted that way with her or he wasn't pleased with the marriage?

  She scrunched up her face in confusion. She had two options. It was either she tried to get closer to Adrian or ignore him like he does.

    "This is your room," Spencer said when they arrived there. He opened the doors and they walked in. Her belongings were already set there. The room was beautiful. It was different from what she had seen on her way in. 

"Let me show you to the washroom," he told her.

    It was another walk from the room. The washroom was huge. There was a large bath in the middle filled with warm water. There were court ladies inside. They were waiting for Isabelle.

"Would you like a tour before you take your bath?" Spencer asked.

     Isabelle was drawn to the water. She wanted a good rest. The incidents that happened that day stressed her out.

"Can I do that tomorrow?" She asked him with a smile. "You're around tomorrow, right?" 

  "Of course," he bowed and started walking away before he stopped. "I'll inform the Royal chef. Your dinner shall be brought soon."

   The food mentioned reminded Isabelle that she didn't have lunch. 

"Once again," Spencer bowed. "Welcome to Deira, your Highness."

"Welcome to Deira, your Highness!" The court ladies chorused, startling Isabelle.

    They undressed her and she stood bare in front of them. She wasn't embarrassed. It was what princesses were used to. You shouldn't wash your body with your royal hands. The court ladies did that. She settled into the bath and smiled foolishly as the warmth surrounded her body. She was being wiped gently. She closed her eyes and wished to sink under the water. She wanted to be engulfed in the mildly hot water. Her wish came true when they wanted to wash her hair. She submerged into the water for a while without coming back up. She raised her head after a few seconds.

    They washed her hair and she found solace in the warm hands massaging her scalp. Surely, nothing could be as satisfying as this. She was giggling and the court ladies gave each other weird looks. 

    Has another lunatic arrived at Prince Adrian's residence?