"I cannot deny his presence to the marriage. As it might cause people to begin to ask questions and be suspicious." John said. Roselyn's eyes lghten up and she suddenly smiled, "I have an idea." She said.

"Maybe we can organize a meeting in the center of the town. I can try to exasperate him and indulge him to hurt me in front of other people. So when we expose what he did nobody would doubt our testimonial." She explained her words follow a smile.

He clapped his hands, "good idea!"

Roselyn mimicked with her hand the movement of removing an imaginary hat.

"I will have one of my servants sent there so if he tries to hurt you he can call me and I can intervene at any minute." He stated.

Roselyn rolled her eyes, thinking she didn't need his help although internally she appreciated his preoccupation. "I can take care of myself but thank you."

"You didn't tell me why you invited just a few people for the wedding?" He clung to the side.

"I just want the most important ones to be there." She shivered when she pictured the image of being watched by Sharon while she kissed the King. A sense of guilt lead her to close her eyes, she sighed.

"What is it?" King John questioned noticing her tense facial expression.

"Don't worry." She replied forcing a fake smile but he tilted his head.

Lifting her chin with a gentle touch he had her meeting his gaze, "are you having second thoughts about the marriage?" He asked, his forehead creased forming one short line in the center of it. Even if she had known him for a short time she still learned to decipher that expression as a preoccupied one.

She shooke her head from side to side, "no. I'm stressed about the situation." She lied to him, letting him know the real reason behind her concerns would mean receiving the same similar lesson she now learned by heart: 'stop caring about people so you won't be hurt'

He believed her evident lie, "you just have to be patient and everything will be fine." He said calmly, she questioned herself if he truthfully believed it or if he was just lying like she previously did.

"Events are working successfully and we are doing well." He reassured her when he didn't receive the answer he hoped for.

"I hope everything remain like this." She finally said.

"It will until we respect our attachment and we working together collaborating to fulfill our objectives." He replied right away, puzzling her. Her mind wondered what he meant, was he still referring to the dress? Why was he so complicated. Women should be complicated and difficult to understand what they mean but he was the one who subtly stated something that duly had her wondering.

"Tomorrow is the weekend I have that special meeting I talked to you about and on Monday we can leave." He reminded her bringing her back to reality again.

She dabbed her forehead as she forgot the planned trip he promised her, "oh my! The letter to Kathy, it slipped out of my mind."

He pursed his lips, "fortunately for you I am not that scatterbrained and took care of it myself."

She stopped herself from the unconscious gesture of hugging him. Joy imploded inside her warming her heart and she offered a smile.

"Your highness. You have a guest." A servant entered and announced, John turned over to see Lord Victor walk in.

"What do you want?" John as soon as he recognized the familiar face raised his voice.

"Roselyn, may we have some privacy?" The guest required gazing at Roselyn and smiling.

"Oh... Yes," she murmured, standing up from the chair and taking a step forward the door when John suddenly grabbed her arm.

"You stay." He commanded. Roselyn's eyes darted back and forth between them unable to decide what to do.

Why all of a sudden the King required her presence there when he didn't even sit down with her to share meals most of the time.

"I don't think it's a good idea for her to hear what I want to tell you," Victor said gesturing to the lady to leave.

The King released his grip and nodded.

His gaze meet his gaze and became serious and narrowed when she left.

"Do you love her?" Victor asked as soon as he made sure she left the door and couldn't hear their conversation.

The King scoffed, "you came here to ascertain the truthfulness of my feeling toward her?" he asked, crossing his legs.

"You clearly don't. Why don't you leave her alone?" He shook his head. "You will ruin her like you ruined every other girl you've met. Do yourself and her a favor and..."

"One more word and I will kick you out of here," John replied beating his fist against the table.

The Lord raised his hands, "okay... Fine."

He put his hands over his head massaging his forehead and lowering his gaze, "I don't know why I am telling you this but you're the only member of the family who can help me in this."

John giggled, "you came here to ask me for help. You must be either desperate or lost."

Seeing his perturbed gaze and how he was rubbing his hands for the anxiousness the King frowned, "what happened?"

"I have been seeing Roselyn's sister, Abigail..." He said, unable to lift his head for the shamefully feeling. He took a long breath, "we've been dating for quite some time and when I've seen here for the first time I already knew we were soulmates." His voice was honest but his lips trembled.

"Avoid the romanticism, I don't want my teeth to get rotten. Get straight to the point." He rushed his confession.

He took a brief hesitation and finally lifted his gaze to look straight to John's eyes, letting him discover what he did before he said it aloud.

The gaze was broken, desperate and deeply scared.

Lord Victor opened his mouth and the words that followed confirmed the King's preoccupation.

"She is pregnant.." He finally confessed.