“Your presence is anything but intimidating. It’s disturbing, annoying would be the proper term,” I replied, not being affected by her taunts. “Nobody in this room is intimidated by you.”

“Oh, please, Robert, stop with the act,” Mallory scoffed. “We both know that once Laura leaves you alone, you can easily hurt anybody.”

“Mallory,” a soft voice came from the kitchen entrance. We turned our heads to see Nana Olsa, trying to stand firmly as her crooked staff assisted her weight. “I believe that exchange of words is enough for today,” she began to approach us.

“Nana, this doesn’t concern you. It’s better that you return inside. You don’t even know what we’re talking about,” Mallory snarled at Nana.

“Can’t you show Nana some respect?” I scolded Mallory. “Don’t vent all of your frustrations on her. She’s not involved in this.”

“Why defend her? She’s not your family?” she answered. “Who are you to tell me how to treat her?”

“Mallory, don’t make me break my promise to your mother,” Nana threatened, putting her and over the other as she stood near us.

“I don’t need your stupid promises to my mother! I can take care of myself,” she replied to Nana, showing every single speck of arrogance in her body.

“Well, if that’s the case, I would like for you to leave the castle grounds,” Nana remarked, holding her head up high. Mallory was silenced immediately. “You said you can take care of yourself, am I right? Then, leave. We don’t need you here if you’re going to be a pain to everyone,” she continued. “I don’t need an ungrateful child to look after.”

Mallory took a few steps back and looked at each one of us with teary eyes. Her eyes widened, full of hurt and betrayal. She tried to hide the pain she was feeling but her tears didn’t help. As soon as she began to cry, she ran away with her hands covering her face.

“Nana, are you all right?” I approached Nana. “I apologize for how Mallory treated you. You didn’t deserve that.”

“You and your friend over here need to stop seeing each other,” Nana immediately cut me off as she turned to us. “Otherwise, Mallory will never stop bothering you, especially your friend.”

“Are you saying we can’t be friends anymore, Nana?” I asked in disbelief. Laura and I just reconciled. Now, we need to stay apart again for Mallory’s sake? Why do we have to adjust to her needs? Why can’t she just understand and move on?

“If that’s what is needed for Mallory to leave the both of you in peace, it has to happen,” Nana explained. “As the future king, you have to think of the benefit for the many, not just yourself.”

“Nana, there must be something else that we can do,” I pleaded.

“I’m sorry, Robert but as of now, that’s the only thing you can do. Keep in mind: I’m not always here to keep her and her emotions in check so as much as possible, you have to make certain decisions to prevent her from doing what she did,” Nana continued. “If she continues on this path, she will end up dying in an asylum. She will end up like her mother.” Nana let out a few coughs before walking back to the kitchen.

“Robert?” Laura walked up to me, turning me around to look at her. “I understand what Nana wants to happen. We both know it’s for the best.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re agreeing with what Nana said,” I grabbed onto her arms and shook my head in disbelief.

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“Robert, she didn’t suggest it. She told us exactly what to do,” she said. “And Nana has a point: Mallory will only continue to bother us - especially you - if we keep on seeing each other.”

I quickly held her hands in mine. “Promise me we’ll meet each other at our hiding place. It’s the place that we can go to where no one can bother us. The world wouldn’t even care about us. Please, promise me,” I pleaded.

“Robert, I would love to but Mallory can follow you anytime you leave the castle,” she replied. “We can’t risk anything.”

I let her hands go, stepping back, confused and angered by her words. “So… you’re willing to sacrifice me for Mallory’s sake?”

“Robert, we have no other choice. You know very well that she won’t stop if we continue to do this,” she replied, continuing her explanation. “You will never have any peace, as well as me. You have to understand.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I thought she was going to disagree with Nana but to my dismay, she’s convincing me to do what Nana told us to. She’s willing to make the sacrifice of not seeing me - maybe even forget me - just so Mallory would leave me alone. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be thankful or hate her for what she chose.

“Robert, you have to see it from Nana’s perspective--”

“Just leave,” I answered, turning away from her.

“Robert, please understand--”

“GO! LEAVE!” I shouted as I turned back to her, pointing to the entrance. “This is what you want for us to do, right?! Then go! I don’t want to see your face ever again!”

Her eyes widened, frightened.

As soon as I realized what I did, it felt like a big rock hit me. I was gutted. My heart was ripped from my chest and someone stabbed it until it was shredded into pieces.

“Laura, I… I didn’t--”

“It’s okay, Robert. I’ll go,” she started walking away from me, very slowly. Her hands, folded in front of her chest.

“Laura, wait--”

“Goodbye.” She quickly ran away, not even looking back.

What have I done?

♔♔♔

Sitting on the edge of my bed, my head slumped into my hands. Disappointed. Frustrated with myself. As the silence surrounded me, I continued to regret and buried myself in guilt. Queered by what I just did to my saving grace. She was only concerned for my well-being. She only wanted what’s best for me and I didn’t understand that. Instead, I screamed at her. How could I be so cruel and insensitive to do that to someone such as her?

What have I done?

“Your Highness,” Gonzalo called from the outside after a knock.

I raised my head from my hands. “Enter, Gonzalo,” I answered, staring at my hands.

The door opened and footsteps walked in my direction. “There’s someone who would like to speak with you, young prince.”

“I don’t want to be bothered right now, Gonzalo,” I said after a sigh, still looking down at my hands. “Whomever this person is, please tell them that I’m not in the mood to speak with anyone right now.”

“It’s the messenger, Your Highness,” he replied as softly as possible. “He said he has a message from Princess Lorain. He said he has to say it to you directly.”

“Kindly tell the messenger that I’m out of sorts right now,” I finally looked at Gonzalo. “I will receive the princess’ message after I’ve composed myself.”

“As you wish, young prince,” he bowed and walked away, gently closing the door behind him.

As I let out a deep breath, I fell on the bed, not knowing what to do anymore. Making Laura leave was a decision out of anger. I understand what her motives were but it was too late for me to realize. But I only saw what I needed: her. Perhaps the decision that she made has some sort of wisdom that I’ve yet to uncover.

I think I should visit Mother. I know she shouldn’t be bothered but she’s the only one I can talk to about these kinds of matters.

♔♔♔

As I approached the door of the master bedroom, I reached out to open it, only to stop when I overheard someone talking from the inside. I put my ear gently on the wooden door.

“Amelia, why do you continue to refuse treatment?” a husky voice spoke. It was the Medicine King.

“Good sir, even if I accept your treatments, it will all be for nothing,” Mother answered, her voice strained. “We will all die sooner or later. Why should we put effort into specific treatments if death will be the bottom line of everything?”

Why is Mother refusing to receive any sort of treatment from the Medicine King? It’s quite clear that he wanted my mother to get well but she doesn’t seem to be enthusiastic about it. And what kind of treatment did the Medicine King pertain to?

“Amelia, I made it very clear that this treatment can be your last chance of survival,” the Medicine King explained firmly, trying to convince her to agree. At this point, he’s begging her to go through with the treatment. “It may not completely heal you but it can slow down whatever kind of virus is inside your body.”