Alex did not regret what he did but he felt remorse as Izzy immediately broke the kiss. However there was one thing that was sure: she had kissed him back.
“Zander, what do you think you were doing?” Izzy said, breathless and flushed. When she sobered up from the high estacy she felt of Alex’s lips she felt the pang of guilt come over her. He was an engaged man and what she had done could get her killed or hanged.
“I-I am sorry. I did not think,” Alex said, grief washing over him. He thought there was something between them but the doubt began to settle. All he ever wanted was to be with her but instead fate had a cruel turn for him.
“Yeah, you didn’t think!” Izzy hissed angrily. She paced around and ended up sitting on a bench with her head in her hands, breathin rather ragidly. Alex felt something off about Izzy and remembered why he came here in the first place. He wanted to check up on her.
“Something is not right,” Alex said, desiring to sit down next to her and pull her in his arms but she was too strong for that. She was raised as a warrior, not a soft woman.
“You think?” Izzy laughed bitterly. “What you did was wrong and I cannot deal with you or even protect you for that matter if you do that again.”
“I did not mean it in that way,” Alex said, wishing she could feel what he felt towards her. “I know you Izzy. Something happened and it’s not making you happy ever since I found you with Timothy.”
Izzy gritted her teeth, holding in the anger and surprise. How could he know anything? Was she that bad at shielding her emotions.
“Izzy… I can sense your feelings. Tell me what is bothering you. Was it Timothy?” he asked gradually getting angry. “Did Timothy disrespect you?!”
“No! you have no idea what you are rambling about,” Izzy yelled. “Just stay out of my business as it isn’t your concern.”
“You are my business. I care for you and I promised I would prove to you that I changed,” Alex reasoned, wishing so much to end this argument and sweep her away elsewhere away from the society.
“And yet here you are, cheating on your future wife,” Izzy spat harshly. She hoped it wasn’t too harsh but she saw the instant hurt she had caused to Alex and with that she bit her cheeks.
Alex gritted his teeth, knowing that she was correct but how could he stop what he felt towards her? These feelings could not go dormant for him to have the strength to marry Annie. She was his friend but now he wasn’t sure whether she was planning this day all along. She had been too friendly the first time they met.
“I do not have a choice on the personality of my future wife,” Alex said in a low voice. “I never want her as my wife. I want you by my side, is that too hard to not comprehend?”
“You cannot hide the truth from yourself. Look around you! I cannot have any association with you. I am a lower class than you. Someone every royal would despise,” Izzy said, making sure her voice was at a reasonable volume. She knew every second she was alone with Alex, it increased the chance of King Henry or his men to find them. “Good night Prince Alexander, I shall see you in the morning.”
With that Izzy regrettable walked away from the one person she could never love. This was not her duty. She kept reminding herself that her duty was to protect him but that little part of her head told her that she had already hurt him, just not physically.
****
“I think we should cancel today’s practice,” Timothy suggested. Izzy only looked at him as if he had gone mad.
“Are you kidding? We have never missed a practice before, what’s the occasion?” Izzy asked lightheartedly. It was unusual although Izzy had a feeling she knew the reason.
“You know why,” Timothy said quietly, not wanting to explain further. He just wanted to enjoy Izzy’s company today as a friend. He was thinking about visiting the village with her to buy things or meet Stefan, the blacksmith.
“Fine, is there any particular thing you had in mind and I say no if you tell me to rest,” Izzy warned.
“How about a trip to the village? It has been a while for you since your last visit,” Timothy smiled lightly. Izzy’s eyes became wide like a childs and she she smiled excitedly.
“Yes! I want to see everyone again. I miss them,” Izzy smiled. The townspeople knew Timothy and Izzy especially well from other castle members as they were the only ones who actually took an effort to commerce with the people. Timothy was proud to say that they had grown fond of him but worshipped Izzy’s beauty although she would never admit.
“Then let us not wait,” Timothy grinned but as he opened the door, he met with Irene who looked like she was in the action of knocking the door. “Oh, Irene. Did you need something?” Timothy asked kindly, taking in her small figure. She was a couple inches shorter and looked weak but she had strong eyes. Timothy admired her eyes.
Irene blushed as he said her name and asked her a question. He was beyond a gentleman and she could not help but feel nervous around the man she had been admiring for many years.
“T-the king wanted to see the two of you,” she said, remembering what her purpose was. Timothy immediately turned serious and the laughing lines he say before disappeared. Irene stood breathless at the transformation of this man’s expression.
“Yes, of course. Thank you, Irene,” Timothy thanked and pulled Izzy close to him and led her to the king’s court. Irene stood there watching him leave and she stood there wishing she could be something valuable in his life.