[Music Recommendation: Royal Affair ~ Ruth Barrett]

"How can you bury my son without his body! Nicholas, you’re the Prime Minister and by the right order of things shouldn’t be King!!" Fidelis barked furiously, his eyes burning with rage.

Nicholas’s voice was heard, "I am married to a princess now, which changes the order of things. I am only trying to keep the kingdom stable."

"Stable? By calling back an exiled woman?" He glanced at Gwen, who was standing by the door, "And treating the Queen, Adric’s wife, as someone who has lost her mind?"

Oriana listened with her eyes closed as the members of the royal family argued. She had lost consciousness because her heart couldn’t take the pain anymore, but now she was awake. Hearing clearly what everyone had to say, she wanted to go back to the world she left. It was peaceful and quiet. Her grip on Adric’s jacket, which she had refused to let go, tightened.

Adelaide stepped forward, "Father, Nicholas is not just the Prime Minister anymore but my husband and your son-in-law."

"I don’t know anything about this marriage between you two and what you’re plotting. But I won’t stand and watch evil spread," Fidelis spat, looking at Nicholas and Adelaide with disgust.

Gwen stepped forward, "Fidelis, you’re making things difficult we should-"

"I prefer to hear from those who have the right to speak," Fidelis interjected, cutting the woman’s words short. With her wars burning with embarrassment, Gwen cleared her throat without saying anything else.

"King Fidelis, I know you can’t believe this, but you already know how war is. Anything is possible."

Fidelis clapped his hands gently, "Exactly, this is not Adric’s first war. If he isn’t back, then where is Rowan? What about the surviving soldiers?"

"They must be ashamed that they couldn’t protect the King. It’s hard for us to accept it, but we should," Adelaide chimed, shaking her head sadly.

Jasmine, who was yet to speak since everything started, raised her hand. "Is brother Adric really dead?" she asked with a soft voice. She couldn’t believe her brother was no more.

"Jasmine, just shut up," Gwen scowled, eyeing her daughter.

Fidelis closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He couldn’t believe everything that was happening. All he did was leave the palace to rest somewhere quiet, and he returned to meet his son’s throne forcefully taken away from him and his wife pushed to the side. The man felt heartbroken, but he knew it was nothing compared to what Oriana was feeling at the moment.

"What if?" Fidelis started, "What if Oriana is carrying Adric’s child?"

The room went silent. Everyone turned to look at the bed where Oriana was sleeping.

Nicholas clenched his teeth. He hadn’t thought of the possibility of Oriana being pregnant with Adric’s child. It was something he didn’t want; all he wanted was to have her beside him and make Oriana his own.

Adelaide nodded, "Then let’s find out now," she said with a voice that sounded like she cared. "I would be very much happy to know that Adric left us with a part of him." Her words flowed sweetly, but in reality, she wanted to confirm her doubts and know how to get rid of Oriana and the child.

"Let’s have the Royal physician check on her now," Gwen supported. "If she truly is carrying Adric’s child, then she will rule until the baby is born. But if she’s not, Nicholas will have to take over, right?" She turned to look at Nicholas, who was still deep in thought.

"Say something, Nicholas." Adelaide nudged him slightly, calling his attention.

Nicholas nodded in agreement, though he was thinking about what to do if Oriana should be pregnant. He still decided to agree for now, "Yes, let’s bring in the Royal physician."

"There will be no need for that," Oriana finally opened her eyes. Her skin looked pale and frail. She pushed herself up from the bed.

Fidelis walked quickly to the bed, "Oriana, how are you? Do you feel better now? I’m so sorry," the man’s voice was filled with pity for the girl.

Oriana’s broken lips cracked when she tried to smile. "I’m fine, father, there’s no need to worry anyone. I would like to be left alone."

"And the physician checking her?" Gwen didn’t want to back down that easily.

"She said she wants to be left alone. Everyone should leave." Fidelis ignored Gwen, waving his hand for them to leave.

Quietly, everyone else left the room except Fidelis, who sat beside Oriana’s bed.

"I’m so sorry you had to witness all of that. Just take all the time you need and rest. I’ll make everything right." Fidelis said, patting the girl’s hand reassuringly.

Oriana let out a weak sigh. She was feeling weaker as the seconds passed. "Please be careful."

"Don’t worry about me. Rest now," Fidelis said, leaving the room.

Oriana exhaled, looking around the room. It was now bright. She didn’t know how long it had been. Pushing the pillow back again to rest, Sophie ran inside the room.

"Sister!" Beside her was Galen, her husband.

Oriana chuckled when she saw her sister. She had almost forgotten about Sophie with everything happening and how she was now a married woman.

"Sophie," Oriana’s frail voice called her sister’s name.

Sophie knelt down beside Oriana’s bed, holding her hand. "I heard what happened, are you okay?" She paused, shaking her head sadly. "I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to Galen, my beloved husband."

Galen, who was standing nearby, touched his hair gently before he bowed to Oriana.

"I’m fine, Sophie. How are you? I hope everything is okay with you," Oriana asked, not wanting to look pitiful in front of Sophie.

Sophie sighed, "Oriana, you don’t have to hide how you feel in front of me. I’ve heard about the Prime Minister taking over the throne with the Princess supporting him... Adelaide, that witch."

"Sophie?" Even Oriana was shocked by her sister’s words.

Sophie nodded, patting Oriana’s shoulder gently, "I know I haven’t been the best sister to you, and I’m sorry, but after loving Galen, I believe I now understand some things about love...I mean life. You shouldn’t worry about anything. I will protect you now as your elder sister." She spoke with a firm resolve.

"And how will you do that?" Oriana chuckled, looking at her sister.

Sophie narrowed her eyes, "Galen and I will protect you. With everything in us. Right, Galen?"

Unsure of what to say, the young man nodded. "Y-yes."

Oriana reclined on the bed. Looking at Sophie, she couldn’t help but smile. Out of every worse event that had happened in the past few days, Sophie meeting the charmer was the best thing that had happened. And speaking with her had given her a little comfort from the pain she felt.

While looking at Sophie, Madame Rosalie entered the room with a bright smile on her face.

"Your Majesty," Madame Rosalie bowed.

Oriana smiled, "Madame Rosalie," she said with a small voice.