Princess Lily

Chapter 17

"Please reconsider staying a few days more," Duke Max pleaded. 

Alexei sat on his horse talking with the Duke, Duchess and Kyle. Alexei felt guilty for the rift he'd caused between Lily and His Highness. It was clear as day to him that Lily had feelings for the future emperor. 

"I must leave," said Alexei. "Everyone now knows I'm hiding here and I can't afford to get you all in more trouble. Prince James might have turned a blind eye once but something tells me he won't be so kind next time. And he could appeal to the King of Leal to punish you. I know this is a serious breach of the alliance between Leal and Fortius."

"But your leg isn't fully healed!" Duke Max exclaimed, worried more for his friend than for himself.

"It's fine and I'll get a doctor in Pacem to look at it," he said. 

There was movement from the house that caught everyone's attention.

It was late in the afternoon and when Lily, who had stayed in her room all day, finally emerged. She came out her eyes red and swollen from crying to bid a quick farewell to Alexei before he rode off. 

She held a dark green, almost black, cloak that matched her riding suite. It belonged to Alexei but he had forgotten it. Slipping the cloak on, she reached the gazebo and slowly walked up them. Reaching the benches and chairs, she sat down. Tears slipped down her eyes as she saw far away the northern mountains of Fortius. She knew the holding James would be residing at, her mother had taken them to vacation there often during the summer to enjoy the snow there. So close yet so far away from her…

"Lily don't cry." Said her father coming to sit beside her. "I know you're worried about Alexei and he'll be fine."

Lily didn't reply but just looked listlessly at the mountains of Fortius. Tears slipping down her cheeks. She repressed a sob and looked down. Her long hair fell around her covering her face from site. Duke Max took that as a sign to leave.

"She's miserable," said Duke Max sadly coming into his home.

"I know." Said Luci. She knew her daughter to well and knew the reason she was sad. Luci had seen the way Lily talked about James and the way her eyes changed whenever she saw him.

*    *    * 

"James!" called Empress Sophia. "Good news-" she stopped midway as she opened James study to see Carl sitting there. "Carl where's your brother?"

"Mother he er...he said he needed some time off since he's been working so hard lately and needed to go away for awhile."

The Empresses face softened. "Yes he's been working himself too hard these days. Well I supposed I'll just be telling you the good news! The riots in Pacem have stopped! Zhukov is coming home and there will be a big parade in his honor! Now to find Counselor Vesky."

Carl nodded. "Yes mother. Where's Georg and Edisson?"

"Where else? Off to join Zhukov on his journey back home. Those two never miss an opportunity to party. They left late last night."

Carl snorted. If he knew Georg and Edisson, they had most likely gone to try and delay the Marshall's journey home. They were trying to give Prince James enough time to be back home in time to welcome the army.

*    *    *

James reached his personnel mansion and gave his horse to the stable boy. He tiredly staggered into his room and instantly fell asleep thinking about a certain beauty with green eyes.

*    *    *

Lily looked up at the mountains one last time before making her decision.. On the way upstairs, Lily spotted Kyle playing with her ring.

"Kyle can I have my ring back?" asked Lily gently.

"O.K." said Kyle a bit reluctantly and handed it to her.

Lily slipped it on and went upstairs. After a quick change she got on her riding suite and put the cloak belonging to Alexei on. It was an optimal cloak for camouflage purposes. She quietly crept out of her room from the window and went into the stable. She untied Stormcloud and rode away without making a sound. Unknown to her, Helaine had been watching.

*    *    *

James tossed and turned in his sleep.

"Lily wait for me!" he called running after her.

Lily laughing ran on and on ahead of him until he tripped. He caught up with her only to see her in the arms of Alexei, kissing him and letting him run his hands all over her body. Then Alexei took out a dagger, stabbing her in the back viciously.

“Nooooo!!” Prince James woke up screaming, a cold sweat pouring down his face.

Tiredly getting up, he saw that the sun was out and he went to take a shower. Coming back out he felt much better and sat at his desk forlornly until he finally took out a piece of parchment and quill. He had to warn Lily against Alexei. Moreover, he had to make things right with her. What he’d said to her, he’d said in the heat of the moment.

Dear Lily,

No that didn't sound right.

Dearest Lily,

We need to have a talk.

That sounded stupid, he admitted to himself.

There was a knock at his door and he opened it. His maid handed him something.

"Some lady wants to see you. She told me to give you this," said the maid.

James looked at it and saw it was his family ring, the one he was supposed to give to Helaine but had given to Lily instead.

"Send her in immediately,” Prince James demanded.

The servant raised an eyebrow and Prince James realized that he was asking for a lady to be sent into his room. That wasn’t at all proper. 

“I'll go," he amended and ran downstairs.

He saw Lily looking at a picture on the far wall. It was a  life-size portrait of his late father when he had been young.

"Your father looks exactly like you except he has a moustache," said Lily turning to face him.

He walked over to Lily and made a move to hug her but stopped when he saw what she was wearing.

"That's his cloak!" he exclaimed.

He couldn't keep the jealousy from his tone and Lily tried to diffuse the situation as best she could.

"I thought it looked rather nice on me," said Lily trying to look hurt. "It brings out my eyes." 

She twirled around. "Pacem rebel cloaks, the next fashion statement."

She giggled falling into his arms.

James smiled and caught her. She was here with him. There would be time enough for talking sense into her. 

"Let's not talk about him now," he said holding her flush against his body.

 He slipped the ring back onto her finger and kissed her forehead.

Lily smiled into his shoulder feeling a sense of security in his arms. All was right again when she was with him.