Everyone sat around the brick fireplace, the lord sat on his furnished dark oak chair padded with red silk cushions with a maid beside him pouring tea on a circular table. Alexander, Elizabeth, and Albert all sat on their own beautifully decorated but smaller chairs. Alexander’s father took a sip from his cup and begun,

“I shall tell you all about the first battle we had with the pagans. God was on our side as he blessed us with a calm and beautiful weather, this is also Alexander’s first battle of course, it was on- oh my, what is that smell?” the lord and everyone else looked at Albert who had soiled his trousers.

“Did you have some wine, Albert?’ Elizabeth interrogated.

“Yes, sorry,” he replied shamefully.

Elizabeth turned to the maid and asked her to bring Albert to his room, but Alexander intervened and insisted he would do it.

Alexander and Albert went upstairs and to the latter’s room. As Albert was changing his pants, the sparkling bottles lined up on a shelf had caught Alexander’s eye,

“How many bottles do you have before I left, brother? Ninety-nine, right?’ Alexander was curious.

“Ninety-nine, ninety-nine.” Albert answered and showed his fresh pair of pants to Alexander.

“I’ll give you your hundredth tomorrow,” Alexander proclaimed devilishly.

“Hundredth-first, hundredth first,”

“No, it’s a hundredth after the ninety-ninth not-“ Alexander counted the bottles, not being satisfied with the first count, he counted again,

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“W-where? Where did you get the hundredth bottle?” he asked worriedly.

“Your room, your room,” Albert pointed at him.

‘But why? Why would that? Why would she… she was expecting someone, of course! That wretched dog!” Alexander immediately turned and ran out of the room confusing his brother. He went downstairs until he reached the castles alchemist’s laboratory and knocked its door loudly,

“Open the damn door, woman!”

“Yes, sir!” the voice behind the wooden door answered.

The door was unlocked, and Alexander kicked it so hard, it smashed on the hooded alchemist’s face and knocked her down. She wiped the blood of her nose and looked at Alexander’s cold and stiffed face.

“Did she asked you for a bottle of contraceptive?” the man questioned her.

The alchemist could not answer and crawled back instead. Alexander grabbed her left leg and pulled her back, she turned back to him,

“No, sir,” she panicked. Alexander kicked her across the face from the right to left, she was knocked on her back again, revealing her bald head and dark eyes, and she spat pieces of broken teeth on her side.

“Don’t lie to me.”

The alchemist’s eyes started to water, and her mucus dripped from her nose,

“Yes… yes”

“Did you know she was with someone?”

“No, no, sir,” she sniffed, “I just gave it to her when she asked for it,” the alchemist cried.

Alexander went inside and took a bottle from a shelf and a slow deep breath, he turned, walked pass the alchemist, and shut the door. He washed his face and hands before returning to his chair at the fireplace.

“Are you alright? Albert said you just suddenly left him,” the lord said.

“I am not feeling well, father. Perhaps I should excuse myself,” Alexander replied.

“Well, I understand, I feel a little spent myself. Very well then, will have the stories after breakfast,” his father announced.

Everyone left for their chambers leaving the maid behind to clean after them. Elizabeth leaned on Alexander, pressing her left shoulder on Alexander’s right,

“I guess you could not wait for tonight, my dear husband,” she teased and chuckled. Alexander smiled,

“Yes, my dear faithful wife.”