Chapter 12

• "guards, take her away", the king instructed. The guards immediately rushed over and took her away.
• "no! Don't take me away from my son", she yelled as the guards took her away.
• Fife helped Theodore up, "are you okay?", he asked as he checked him all over for Injuries. "Yes, I am fine", Theodore assured him.
• "I am so sorry for that, Theodore. I hope you are okay?", the king asked Theodore.
• "I am fine your highness, who is that woman? Is she okay?", Fife nudged him to be quiet.
• "That's my daughter, she isn't okay mentally, she is normally supervised to make sure she does not cause trouble, I wonder what happened today". The king explained.
• Rumor has it that the princess had been afflicted with a sickness ever since she was eighteen. Nobody knew the nature of the sickness, neither had anyone seen her since then.
• "I beseech you not to let anyone know about this or about any of the things that happen in the palace", the king asked of them.
• They bowed to him, "of course your highness, we won't tell anyone about this".
• "that's good to hear, Fife you are to be his assistant and help", the king told Fife. "It is a pleasure, your highness". The king dismissed them and they left the palace.
• They rode back, Fife suggested that they rode by the park first before heading home. Theodore agreed and they headed to the park.
• Their arrival in the park caused a stir among the nobility present. What was going on? They wondered. Just the other day Theodore had come to the park in the company of lord Alistair, now he was here today with lord Fife. Some young ladies started to see him in a new light.
• Olivia was speaking with her friends when she noticed Theodore with Lord Fife. She was surprised, the Theodore she knew was an introvert, when did he start hanging out with others?
• She turned her horse around and made her way to them. "Lord Fife, sir Theodore", she greeted the both of them.
• "Miss Olivia", Fife said, bowing his head slightly. Theodore mumbled something which couldn't be heard and bowed his head.
• "I had no idea you were close with sir Theodore", she told Fife. "Yes, I am. We are good friends", Fife told her.
• "Oh", she was at a loss of what to say. Fife rolled his eyes and rode away, gesturing for Theodore to follow him.
• "I can't really stand her. I generally don't like any of the noble women, but I have a special distaste for her. You dodged a bullet when you broke the engagement", Fife told Theodore in a confidential whisper.
• Theodore smiled awkwardly, "actually, she was the one who wanted to break the engagement",
• "that's even better, that way nobody blames you for breaking the engagement, I wish my betrothed takes the initiative and breaks up with me too", Fife looked towards where his betrothed Betty was talking to her friends. When Betty noticed him, she smiled at him and gave a little wave. Fife shuddered in response and told Theodore that they should leave that spot before she came over.
• Theodore wondered what was wrong with the members of the nobility he had met recently. Alistair didn't like the attention that he was given, and now Fife clearly didn't like his betrothed. All of his life, Theodore had watched from the sidelines, craving the attention that the others received and wanting his betrothed to like him. Finding out that the people he had admired and envied, didn't even want those things was a shock to him.
• "So are you excited about your new job at the palace", Fife asked him. "Of course, I love reading,, and now I actually get to help the kingdom while doing so. I am so excited".
• "Well, I am happy as well. We will be spending time at the palace and this would take me away from home. Thankfully, Betty wouldn't be able to follow me to the palace", Theodore laughed when he heard this.
• "You look so cute when you smile and laugh, you should do it more often", Fife told Theodore. Theodore blushed at his words.
• Alistair watched them from a distance, when did those two become close. He had been surprised when he had called at Theodore's house this afternoon, only to be told that he had gone out with lord Fife. Now, here they were, laughing like best friends.
• He made his way over to them. Immediately Theodore saw Alistair, his smile dried up. He remembered what had happened the previous night. He was too embarrassed to look at Alistair.
• "Alistair, how are you doing?", Fife asked as soon as he saw Alistair. "Fine, hello Theodore", Alistair smiled at Theodore.
• "Hello Alistair. How are you?", Theodore managed to reply. "I am not fine, you went out for a ride with Fife. I called at your house to invite you for a ride, only to find out you went out with him. I feel so neglected", Alistair lamented dramatically.
• "Now, now Alistair, don't blame Theodore too much. I was the one who invited him out", Fife tried to placate Alistair.
• "Is that true, Theo?", Theodore was about to reply when Fife suddenly panicked. They both turned to him questioningly. "Betty is coming towards this way, I have to go", he said.
• "why? Isn't she your betrothed?", Alistair asked him. "She is, but I would rather not see her. Alistair do you mind escorting Theodore home?",
• "I don't have a problem with that",
• "I have to go now, bye Theodore see you tomorrow". And then he left.
• Theodore and Alistair were left alone, Theodore looked down, not daring to look at Alistair. "Do you want to ride around the park or do you want to go home?", Alistair asked.
• "I want to go home", Theodore answered quietly.
• "Let's go then", the two started the ride home.
• "Why are you quiet?", Alistair asked after they had ridden for a while.
• "nothing", Theodore replied.
• "is it because of last night?"