Royal Entanglement

Motives

Prince Xander slowly turned back to Lady Sophia who was still standing, her eyes wide, lips parted, her hand clasped over the wound on her neck.

"Are you hurt?"

She looked up to him, her gaze hardening. His eyes trailed down to her neck, and her fingers that were now stained with blood. Without a word, he brought his hand to move hers so he could see it, his brows furrowing with a bit of worry.

"Do not touch me," she said, moving a step back.

He sighed, turning fully to her. "You are injured."

"Do you really not know who that man was?"

"Are you about to accuse me of trying to have you killed?"

"Then do you have a better explanation for why I am suddenly attacked in the middle of the night on the day I arrived here?"

"What sort of perception do you have of me to even believe I would kill a harmless maiden, first without a proper fight, in the dead of the night, by hiring an assassin for a simple marriage?"

"You paved the way to my sister's grave too. Why would I not believe you would do the same for me especially now that I am potentially between you and your lover?"

He swallowed, his eyes thin, his breaths slow. "I do not know anyone named Diana. And if I did, then may her memory be cursed for bringing you to me."

"How dare you?" Lady Sophia said, raising a hand.

Prince Xander caught it mid air, then swiftly closed the gap between them and pushed her to the wall, trapping her between his body and the wall.

"I have heard enough from you. You have done whatever you wanted, got me to do what you wanted and I submitted to you. I will not listen to you criticize my integrity over some maiden who might as well not exist."

Lady Sophia's breaths were short and rapid, her eyes filling with angry tears. He said nothing more, his hand holding her hand tight, his eyes holding hers.

He softened a little at the tears, then slowly, moved away, letting go of her hand. Without a word, he tore off a part of his sleeping robe, then dabbed at the wound on her neck.

Lady Sophia said nothing at this point, and he wiped off the blood, just as some troops, Charlotte, a few servants and a very disgruntled King Owen arrived.

"I heard there was an attacker."

Prince Xander nodded. "Lady Sophia was the target. She is injured roo."

King Owen gasped, then made his way to Lady Sophia whose head was lowered, her eyes filling. Something about the way he had talked about her sister not existing had struck a chord within her.

"Are you fine, Lady Sophia?"

She nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."

He sighed. "I suggest you go to Xander's chambers for the time being. If anything, he will be able to protect you."

Lady Sophia swallowed. "I will be fine staying here, Your Majesty. I did well to hold him off till the..."

"Nonsense! What if you are not so lucky next time? You should go with Xander to his chambers immediately. The troops will search the palace and find the culprit."

Prince Xander slowly nodded, then turned to Lady Sophia. "After you."

She looked up to him, her teeth slightly gritting, before she walked away, right behind King Owen.

"Your Highness," Charlotte said as everyone dispersed, leaving just the both of them in the now dark hallways that led to his chambers.

Lady Sophia stopped by the entrance, her hand on her neck, her eyes thinned. She was efficiently hidden by the darkness, and she stayed to listen.

"Yes?"

"You both are not married yet. How are you going to let a woman stay..."

"Charlotte. You saw what happened. I do not want to think about what could have happened had I not been there."

"But you could bring troops to guard her or..."

"Charlotte, please. She is going to stay in my chambers till the assassin is caught."

Charlotte swallowed, her breath hitching. "Do you still love me? Would you be comfortable if you heard that I was keeping a male servant in my bed every night?"

Lady Sophia's eyes thinned at that, but she said nothing.

"Charlotte, that is enough. I have made my decision amd that is final."

He did not give her a chance to speak again, and he turned on his heel, leaving her standing in the hallways.

Lady Sophia moved away from her position immediately he walked in, her face taking on another scowl. He said nothing, then walked over to the bed.

"We can put up a demarcation on the bed if you would feel more comfortable with that."

"I do not think Charlotte would like it. It does not matter what I want."

He gave a small sigh, then walked back to the entrance just as a servant came with a small bowl of water and another bowl of ointment.

"Sit," he said to her, the look in his eyes showing her he has had enough of women. She sat on the edge of the bed, her hand leaving her neck. It was not too deep, and he slowly cleaned it off.

Lady Sophia swallowed, her eyes following him as he moved closer to her, his breath on her neck. Her fists clenched hard as his fingers started to move on the cut, closing it with the ointment.

Slowly, he moved away, then gave a small sigh. "You can go back to sleep."

She said nothing, and slowly let herself off the edge of the bed, then went around to the side. She climbed gracefully, turning to the right so the wound on her neck stayed up.

Prince Xander stood by the mirror, his eyes dark.

Who could have tried to kill Lady Sophia? It baffled him. He was the only one who hated her in the entire palace. And he would never have gone to that extent.

He turned back to the bed. She was already asleep, her hair falling back on the feathery pillow, her lips only slightly parted.

Could it be Lady Lisette?

Lady Lisette would not have the guts to do it herself and her father was a close friend of the King. Would he jeopardize that relationship simply to make his daughter Crown Princess?

Prince Xander closed his eyes, a small sigh escaping his lips. If the target had been anyone else, it would have been much better to understand. But it had been Lady Sophia, and she had only arrived the palace earlier.

There had to be a motive. A motive that no matter how hard he tried to deny it, seemed to stem from him.