The moon bathed the Estate of Solaris in its gentle glow as Alexander sat by the lake, his mind consumed by thoughts of the day's events. The image of the princess haunted his thoughts, her scars etched into his memory. He couldn’t help but feel angry. For some reason he couldn’t explain, he wanted to protect her. He wanted to make whoever did that to her pay.

“Xander,” Christopher's voice broke through his reverie, drawing him back to the present. “What's troubling you? Is it because we won't be attending the Palace tonight?”

Christopher and Zachary had come to visit, planning to spend the night before returning to the royal academy at dawn. Their parents weren’t friends, but they weren’t restricted from being friendly. In fact, they practically grew up together.

“I can’t stop thinking about the princess,” Alexander admitted, finally breaking his silence.

Zachary and Christopher looked at each other in shock. They couldn’t believe the words that escaped their friend’s mouth. Since the beginning, Alexander made it clear that he didn’t trust her, nor did he want anything to do with her.

“Did you drink wine?” Zachary asked, arching his brow in disbelief. This had got to be a joke right?

Why is he thinking about Eternia? I thought he despised her. Christopher added, “How many cups did you drink?”

Alexander glared at them, expressing, “How could you say that?!”

Zachary scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. “Well, you weren’t exactly welcoming towards the princess,” he explained thoroughly. “You were rude, mean, and most of the time you showed contempt. You often expressed to us that you can’t trust her because she’s foreign. You can’t blame us for assuming you’re drunk. This is out of character of you.”

Was I really that awful towards her? Alexander pondered the moments he had with the princess. Frustration loomed over him as he realized his mistakes. “Fine,” he groaned, “You’re right. Perhaps I was too harsh towards her… But there were times when I wasn’t, right? I mean I wrote her a letter.”

“You wrote her a letter?” the brothers gasped in unison, shock evident on their faces.

Christopher smirked, pointing at Alexander. His eyes hinted mischief as he declared, “You fancy her!”

Alexander almost stumbled upon hearing those words. He jumped, shaking his arms in the air in frustration. “I do not!” he argued, his tone that of a child having a tantrum.

“Why else would you write to her?” Zachary asked curiously, resting his cheek against his palm. “Is it because your father instructed you to?”

“No,” Alexander replied, shaking his head.

“Then why else would you write to her?” Christopher asked, “You made it clear that you don’t want to form attachments with her. It’s no secret that you’re a candidate for her hand. Zachary is too. But my brother and I genuinely liked her from the start. She’s a nice girl and an interesting person to be friends with. You, my friend, had no interests in her whatsoever.” Christopher stepped closer, pointing his finger against Alexander’s forehead. “You said that your father had nothing to do with that letter… That brings me to the conclusion that you like her!”

No way! Alexander pointed his finger at the brothers, his face annoyed and confused. “What about you, huh?” he questioned, “Your father is eager to have one of you on the Princess’s side.”

Christopher furrowed his brow, mirroring Zachary's confusion. "I don’t follow," Christopher admitted, scratching his head. "Are you trying to say something, Xander? I don’t think you’re making any sense.”

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

“My father expects me to woo the princess, but he's convinced my natural charm will do the trick. I don’t have to exert as much effort as you," Zachary asserted matter-of-factly. "Besides, we're just kids. What really matters is the power our families wield. The Crown Prince won't be chosen until the princess comes of age.”

Christopher shook his head, a concerned expression on his face. "Anyway, what's really bothering you?" he asked, his tone gentle. "Why are you so fixated on the princess?”

Alexander hesitated, grappling with his thoughts. He couldn't reveal the entire truth to his friends; his promise to Eternia weighed heavily on his conscience. "She doesn’t want to be my friend anymore," he confessed, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "I want to mend things. We had an argument, and she believes that everything I did for her was merely at my Father’s bidding and for our house's prestige. There's truth in that. But it was before I truly understood her. Let's just leave it at that.”

Zachary smirked, nudging Alexander playfully. “Looks like you've got a soft spot after all,” he remarked. “Winning her back won't be easy. I'm not exactly an expert on princesses, so I'm afraid I can't offer much advice.”

Christopher, with a thoughtful expression, offered his advice, "Perhaps you should try to understand her better, Xander. Apologize sincerely and show her that your intentions are genuine. Spend time with her, get to know her interests, what makes her laugh, what makes her angry. Building a true connection takes effort and time. And remember, actions speak louder than words. Show her through your deeds that you value her friendship, and she might just come around.”

“But she wants nothing to do with me,” Alexander explained, frustrated.

Christopher nodded sympathetically, acknowledging Alexander's frustration. "I understand, Xander," he replied, his tone comforting. "But sometimes, when trust is broken, it takes time to mend. Be patient and persistent in your efforts to show her that you're sincere. Even if it seems like she wants nothing to do with you now, things can change with time and effort. Just don't give up.”

Alexander nodded, a smile gracing his lips. “I suppose you’re right. Thanks, Chris.”

Christopher grinned and raised a thumbs up in encouragement. Changing the subject, he asks, “So, did you meet the former queen? I heard she was incredibly beautiful for her age. They say she looked eighteen at the youngest and twenty-two at the oldest.” No one ever speaks ill of her in the realm in fear of the King’s wrath. I heard she’s the King’s great love and the divorce was devastating.

“I wonder how Eternia feels about that,” Zachary says, “I heard she didn’t have the best relationship with her mother.”

Alexander reflected on his encounter with the former queen of Sapphiria. Unlike the current queen, he found her demeanor warmer, radiating an aura of kindness and grace. Her regal presence commanded respect, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe in her presence. There was an unmistakable air of royalty about her, coupled with a palpable sense of power that seemed to emanate from within.

“Well?” Christopher prodded, eager for details. “How was she?”

Alexander ran a hand through his hair, searching for the right words. “She was... powerful,” he finally said, his expression thoughtful. “I could feel the energy radiating from her. It was like being in the presence of a living star.”

“I noticed her portraits in the palace,” Zachary remarked, “But Eternia looks more like His Majesty. I wonder why her portraits are still hanging, though.”

Christopher swatted his brother’s head lightly. “Come on, don’t be dense,” he chided. “It’s common knowledge that she was the King’s true love. Their marriage wasn’t just political; it was genuine. That’s why her portraits remain untouched, even now.”

As realization washed over Alexander, he pieced together the puzzle of Eternia's scars. It could only have been one person responsible—Alexa. The queen's jealousy and madness must have driven her to lash out at Marcella's daughter, leaving behind such painful marks. He found his hands form into fists as anger surged through him. She played her part well as the doting stepmother. The King must’ve found out… Thus, it’s why Queen Marcella, Eternia’s mother returned. That must be it!

“Compared to Queen Alexa, Queen Marcella’s beauty is unmatched,” Zachary commented.

“Watch your mouth,” Alexander cautioned, shaking his head. “It’s still treasonous to speak ill of the queen.”

“Actually, no,” Christopher countered, “The King's marriage to Queen Alexa seems more like a political obligation than a genuine partnership. It appears she was primarily expected to produce heirs, but it seems she hasn't succeeded. They've been married for nearly eight years, haven't they?”

“So the King doesn’t care if rumors spread,” Zachary concluded, nodding his head. “If rumors fly, it would be easier to divorce the current queen. He has no use of her anyway.”

The three boys spent the night together, discussing the possible reasons for Marcella's unexpected visit. Despite their conjectures, Alexander remained true to his promise of keeping Eternia's secret.