+25 PS\u00a0<\/p>\n
A walk on a beautiful day\u00a0<\/p>\n
A walk on a beautiful day\u00a0<\/p>\n
**+25 Points:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro had a splitting headache. He had always hated meetings with the nobles, but today had been worse than usual. He already had enough on his plate with one wife, taking another was\u00a0<\/p>\n
unthinkable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alexander was furious and said\u00a0<\/p>\n
another wife, are they mad?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
to\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ulf \u201cAs if\u00a0<\/p>\n
one wasn\u2019t enough, now they want me to take\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro was still fuming when Sirius arrived and asked, \u201cWhat is Your Majesty complaining\u00a0<\/p>\n
about?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThose damned nobles keep pressuring me about having an heir. Today, they even dared to suggest I take a second wife, as if having one wasn\u2019t troublesome enough.\u201d wasn\u2019t troublesome enough.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought Your Majesty had begun to enjoy married life a little more, but I suppose I was mistaken.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes you think I\u2019m enjoying my marriage?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps Your Majesty hasn\u2019t noticed, but lately you\u2019ve been retiring to your chambers early. It\u2019s as if you were eagerly awaiting the chance to be with the princess.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not what you\u2019re thinking. I just want her to recover quickly and return to her magic lessons.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the way, how is it going, I mean, making the princess fall in love?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m working on it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMay I ask what Your Majesty has done to win the princess\u2019s heart?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro hadn\u2019t actually done anything. He only kissed the princess when he felt like it and held her in his arms. He looked away and changed the subject.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve heard there are new apprentices in the mage tower. Anyone outstanding?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour Majesty has never cared about new recruits. You\u2019re only asking me to change the subject, aren\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot at all.\u201d Alessandro lied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more than obvious that you\u2019re lying. If you don\u2019t know what to do to win the princess\u2019s heart, I can help. I have a lot of experience with women.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve never even been married.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because I haven\u2019t found the right woman yet. But I know how to treat a woman. I could tell you what someone like the princess desires most.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n
A walk ma beautiful day\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what do you think she desires most?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
225 Painte\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be loved. She\u2019s been alone her whole life. She\u2019s never had the warmth of a family, nor friends. If you want to win her over, you just have to be a loving man.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m already doing that, I hold her at night and I kiss her often.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think she sees that as affection, but rather as your possessive desires. A kiss from someone you don\u2019t love can be unpleasant. Has the princess ever enjoyed a kiss or an embrace from you? Have you ever given her a gift?\u201d Sirius asked, watching Alessandro\u2019s face. \u201cFrom the look on your face, I\u2019d say no.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m busy Sirius, what have you really come for? I doubt if it was to give me advice on my marriage.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right about that, Your Majesty. I\u2019m not here for that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve sensed a surge of magic in the kingdom of Laios.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
a\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, that implies that King Venobich has made his move in preparation for war.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe it\u2019s a barrier. He\u2019s protecting his kingdom from possible attacks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s preparing for war against us,\u201d he replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed. What I\u2019m about to say may sound cruel, but Your Majesty must ensure that the princess is on our side in this war, that she will fight for this kingdom and for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must also prepare for war. I want you to gather the mages and erect a barrier around the\u00a0<\/p>\n
kingdom.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll see to it, Your Majesty.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe this war is imminent, so we must be ready. This time we will not bow to the kingdom of\u00a0<\/p>\n
Laios.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
As evening approached, Abril asked the servants to dress her in a light, cool dress for a walk. They chose a pale pink and white gauze gown and a broad\u2013brimmed white hat to protect her skin from the sun, as she hadn\u2019t been outside in a long time. Two maids accompanied her as she strolled among the flowers. Abril felt as if she was coming back to life, as if she had finally been released from her decorated cage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro spotted the princess strolling through the gardens from his office window. He had a pounding headache and couldn\u2019t concentrate on his work, so he decided to get some fresh air and\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n
A walk on a beautiful day\u00a0<\/p>\n
clear his head. He made his way to the garden where he found the princess smelling the flowers. She looked beautiful, her red hair shimmering in the sunlight, a smile gracing her lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEnjoying yourself?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Abril turned around at the sound of the king\u2019s voice and said,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it\u2019s a beautiful day for a walk in the garden, to smell the flowers and appreciate their beauty.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose you\u2019re right.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro offered her his arm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me accompany you for a while.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t Your Majesty busy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI needed a break, so a short walk will do me good.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Abril took his arm and they began to walk. Alessandro\u2019s strides were longer than hers, forcing her to walk faster than was comfortable. It caused her pain, and she winced, clutching her stomach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t walk so fast, Your Majesty. I can\u2019t keep up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you alright? Are you in pain?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA little,\u201d she replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro swept her up in his arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should go back to my chambers. Perhaps it was too soon for a walk.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine. If you walk slower, there won\u2019t be a problem. I don\u2019t want to go back to the room, please,\u201d Abril pleaded, her eyes wide and beseeching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVery well, just a little further then?\u201d Alexander replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro set her down and offered his arm again. He walked slowly, taking small steps so she wouldn\u2019t strain herself. The maids stared at them, astonished. They couldn\u2019t believe the king was taking a leisurely stroll with the princess and, above all, that he was being so kind to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Abril felt uncomfortable with their gazes. Alessandro noticed and ordered the maids to withdraw. As they continued their walk, Alessandro realized that the pounding headache he\u2019d had moments before had vanished the instant he had touched her. He glanced down at her and she noticed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs something wrong?\u201d She asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I was just admiring your beautiful appearance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n
A walk on a beautiful day\u00a0<\/p>\n
Abril\u2019s cheeks flushed pink. \u201cThank you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A gust of wind swept through the garden, scattering flower petals and carrying Abril\u2019s hat away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy hat!\u201d She exclaimed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll get it for you. Wait here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro retrieved the hat. As he made his way back, he paused, admiring Abril. She was truly a beautiful woman, and if she hadn\u2019t been the enemy\u2019s daughter, she would undoubtedly have had a long line of admirers. He walked towards her, hat in hand, closed the distance between them, and placed it on her head. Then, he leaned in and kissed her and said, \u201cMy reward for returning your\u00a0<\/p>\n
hat,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro spotted a nearby bench.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s rest for a bit. You mustn\u2019t overdo it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After they sat down, Abril took off her hat and placed it on her lap. She gazed up at the beautiful blue sky. Today had been more than she\u2019d hoped for.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for letting me go outside.\u201d She said with a smile, looking at Alessandro.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve told you before, you\u2019re not a prisoner. I only kept you inside because you were injured. Now that you\u2019re better, you can take short walks in the garden.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Abril asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but you must promise to be careful.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will.\u201d She replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Abril slipped off her shoes and settled onto the soft grass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to feel the grass under my feet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve sat on the ground too. It\u2019s not proper, especially in your condition.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019ve barely moved,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro sighed, smiled and said, \u201cYou\u2019re a nuisance, you know that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite his rough words, he settled down on the grass beside her, much to Abril\u2019s delight, though she couldn\u2019t quite understand why.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She leaned back on the grass and watched the clouds drift by, some taking on odd and fanciful shapes. She pointed to a few, as Alessandro laid beside her, gazing up as well and said,\u00a0<\/p>\n
A walk on a beautiful day\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Points\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time in my life I\u2019ve done something like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s nice. You can feel closer to nature this way, don\u2019t you think so?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alessandro looked at her for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face. \u201cI suppose you\u2019re\u00a0<\/p>\n
right. It is rather pleasant.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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