deep into her eyes.
Annabelle continued.
“The poor girl has delusions of finding true love, and she is saving herself for marriage. I mean, who she thinks is going to marry her is beyond me. She has no family, no wealth of her own. IF it were not for us at the brothel providing accommodation for her she would be in the streets. Though she lives in a dream world. She is convinced she will find her prince charming and marry. It is sad really, but also quite funny. Poor Beatrice”
“So, this Beatrice, is she really as beautiful as you say? Maybe I should try her. See if I can take the chaste maiden.”
A twinge of jealousy flickered across Annabelle’s face, though she did not let Marco see.
“Really Marco, I thought for once you may have been serious about hatching a plan. I give up.”
“No! No, wait. I am serious. I despise my little brother and cannot wait to see him fall. My darling Annabelle, I think you may even be on to something. Oh how I love you.”
Annabelle smiled as he settled back into her lap. She seductively popped another grape into his mouth.
“There is a good boy.” She whispered provocatively.
Miles away Ines was on the battlefield, struggling with the bandits. They were a vicious and violent bunch, and the villagers were terrified. Ines was strong brave and heroic, and a capable warrior.
The shy reserved boy took on a totally different persona when on the battlefield, and the villagers looked on with admiration at their wonderful Prince Ines.
Yet the leader of the bandits to was a man of immense strength, and he did not appreciate this Prince coming and foiling his plans. He planned to take him down. With a determined look in his eyes the leader of the bandits brandished his spear and charged, directly towards Ines.
Chapter V
The following morning the Royal Family was breakfasting together in the Royal Dining Hall. The usual austere silence reigned. All were present except for one. Prince Ines, who had still not returned from battle.
“Oh my darling boy, I am concerned for him.” The Queen said, her tone of voice reflecting her fear.
“Have no fear my dear, the boy has a good head on his shoulders. He will make the right decisions and know what to do. We must have faith in him. He has never failed us yet.”
“Yes, let’s hope no one chops that good head off his shoulders in the middle of battle.” Marco said playfully.
“Marco!” his mother said sharply.
“Come on Mother, I am only repeating your concern. It seems like all that ever happens around here is praise of Ines or concerns for his safety. I mean come on, haven’t we got a country to run, lives to lead, parties to have, balls, engagements, you know, that kind of thing.”
“Yes Marco, we do have a country to run” The King said sternly, frowning before he continued. “And that is exactly what Ines is doing by going into battle to help protect the villagers from the bandits…”
Just then the dining doors burst open, and the palace guards announced.
“His Highness, Prince Ines.”
“My dear boy!” Queen Elisabeth rose from the table to go and hug her youngest child.
The King smiled proudly.
“Son! I knew you would return. What news do you have of the battle?”
“The bandits have been banished and the villagers are safe. No crops were burnt, so they will be able to survive the winter.”
Ines headed to the table with scrolls in his hand, and proceeded to explain to his father what had happened and how the bandits had been defeated.
Marco rose from the table, muttering under his breath. The rest of the family ignored him. He headed to his palace quarters.
As he lay on his bed, he went over Annabelle’s plan in his head. He had to do something to wipe that smirk off his brother’s face, and to get his parents to see what a weak idiot Ines really was.
Chapter VI
That evening Annabelle and Beatrice arrived alone at
Annabelle continued.
“The poor girl has delusions of finding true love, and she is saving herself for marriage. I mean, who she thinks is going to marry her is beyond me. She has no family, no wealth of her own. IF it were not for us at the brothel providing accommodation for her she would be in the streets. Though she lives in a dream world. She is convinced she will find her prince charming and marry. It is sad really, but also quite funny. Poor Beatrice”
“So, this Beatrice, is she really as beautiful as you say? Maybe I should try her. See if I can take the chaste maiden.”
A twinge of jealousy flickered across Annabelle’s face, though she did not let Marco see.
“Really Marco, I thought for once you may have been serious about hatching a plan. I give up.”
“No! No, wait. I am serious. I despise my little brother and cannot wait to see him fall. My darling Annabelle, I think you may even be on to something. Oh how I love you.”
Annabelle smiled as he settled back into her lap. She seductively popped another grape into his mouth.
“There is a good boy.” She whispered provocatively.
Miles away Ines was on the battlefield, struggling with the bandits. They were a vicious and violent bunch, and the villagers were terrified. Ines was strong brave and heroic, and a capable warrior.
The shy reserved boy took on a totally different persona when on the battlefield, and the villagers looked on with admiration at their wonderful Prince Ines.
Yet the leader of the bandits to was a man of immense strength, and he did not appreciate this Prince coming and foiling his plans. He planned to take him down. With a determined look in his eyes the leader of the bandits brandished his spear and charged, directly towards Ines.
Chapter V
The following morning the Royal Family was breakfasting together in the Royal Dining Hall. The usual austere silence reigned. All were present except for one. Prince Ines, who had still not returned from battle.
“Oh my darling boy, I am concerned for him.” The Queen said, her tone of voice reflecting her fear.
“Have no fear my dear, the boy has a good head on his shoulders. He will make the right decisions and know what to do. We must have faith in him. He has never failed us yet.”
“Yes, let’s hope no one chops that good head off his shoulders in the middle of battle.” Marco said playfully.
“Marco!” his mother said sharply.
“Come on Mother, I am only repeating your concern. It seems like all that ever happens around here is praise of Ines or concerns for his safety. I mean come on, haven’t we got a country to run, lives to lead, parties to have, balls, engagements, you know, that kind of thing.”
“Yes Marco, we do have a country to run” The King said sternly, frowning before he continued. “And that is exactly what Ines is doing by going into battle to help protect the villagers from the bandits…”
Just then the dining doors burst open, and the palace guards announced.
“His Highness, Prince Ines.”
“My dear boy!” Queen Elisabeth rose from the table to go and hug her youngest child.
The King smiled proudly.
“Son! I knew you would return. What news do you have of the battle?”
“The bandits have been banished and the villagers are safe. No crops were burnt, so they will be able to survive the winter.”
Ines headed to the table with scrolls in his hand, and proceeded to explain to his father what had happened and how the bandits had been defeated.
Marco rose from the table, muttering under his breath. The rest of the family ignored him. He headed to his palace quarters.
As he lay on his bed, he went over Annabelle’s plan in his head. He had to do something to wipe that smirk off his brother’s face, and to get his parents to see what a weak idiot Ines really was.
Chapter VI
That evening Annabelle and Beatrice arrived alone at
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