I woke up in my chambers to see my ladies encircling me. I think they were waiting for me to wake up.

"She's awake!"

"Goodness!"

"W-what happened?" I asked.

"You passed out."

"For how long?"

"Well, you lost consciousness last night during our dinner. "

"Yeah, I remember that."

"What did you feel?"

"I felt like I wanted to vomit and that I was also dizzy at the same time."

"Yes, you told me that before you stood up."

Lady Greer went inside, asking if I was alright. Following Marco and Uncle James' arrival at the chambers, she asked, "Are you alright, Alex?"

"Yes, Lady Greer. What did the physician say? "

"The court physician told us that you were poisoned." Marco answered.

"What? How? "

"We don't know that yet, but I guess it's the drink you had." James responded.

"No, it can't be. We had the same drinks, and Alex had many tasters. I'm sure none will pass through that. " Marco said.

"Well, it could be her utensils." Greer said.

"What do you mean?" Marco curiously asked.

"Things like this have happened before to Mary. Back in France, even gold can be poisoned as well. It could be her glass or her plate. That's why I didn't let the servants touch the table after the incident." She explained.

"I get you." I nodded.

"We must take the things she used. With that, we can find out how you're poisoned. " James assured me.

"I'm sure that this is another threat to my life. I've been receiving or experiencing threats and failed assassinations even before, when I was a child." I said.

"My love, I won't let this happen to you again." Marco held my hand.

"We won't. Your mother will arrive here soon. I already sent her a letter informing her of your situation." James said.

"Thank you, Uncle." He smiled at me.

I hope these threats and assassination attempts will stop. I know it's hard and it's normal for us royalty, but I can't just live my entire life being threatened and hurt by the people who are conspiring against me and my duties. I had no leads on my rapists until now. I can't just let them get away with it. I want them to know that they did nothing to me and will never bring me down to their level.

I got the strength to stand up and find out who poisoned me. I was helped by my friends. I decided to gather everyone in the castle to the throne room where I would have a speech.

"Last night, I was just enjoying my food with my family. Then, suddenly, I collapsed. A short time ago, I was informed that I was poisoned. "Poisoned"—another threat, another attempt on your royal highness' life—to your fellow Scot. I may not know, for now, who did that to me. I want you to all know that regardless of how hard you try or plan, regardless of how many attempts you will make to degrade me, none of that will ever affect me. It will never be the reason why I fall as your princess—as a future ruler of this country. I will find these people who tried to kill me. The people who are conspiring against me and your Queen will die for treason. They achieved nothing and will die for nothing. "

I dismissed everybody in the room. With that, I am hoping that these threats to my life or even my mother's will eventually stop.

After that, I was informed that my mother had just arrived and was accompanied by Uncle James and Lady Greer. I was with Marco, checking up the donations brought by the nobles for the villages.

"What happened? I received your letter. Where is she? " Queen Mary asked.

"Calm down, Mary. Alexandra's inside the throne room. " James said.

"Your arrival was just right after the speech she gave in front of our people. I've missed you, Mary, but we'll catch up later. First, go now, Mary. " Greer said.

Minutes after her arrival at the Scottish court, I heard my name being called, but I was talking to my ladies about the possible suspects of the poisoning.

"Alexandra," Queen Mary said. "Alexandra!" She called me again, but I was too busy to look back.

"Alexandra Katherina Stuart de Valois!"

I looked behind me, and I saw my worried and angry mother. I hugged her because I missed her a lot and also to ease the annoyance that was very apparent on her face because I ignored her at first. I was actually laughing deep inside. It was fun to annoy her once in a while.

"Yes? What's wrong? " I smiled.

"Why are you asking me, "What's wrong?"? My child, you're the one who got poisoned! "

"Oh, that."

"Yes, Alex. What happened? Are you alright? "

"I am fine now, mother. You needn't worry. "

"I should've gone away for the honeymoon! None of this would happen. I failed you again. "

"What? No, mother! And you really need to go away with Darnley. We both know why. " I held her hands as I felt her guilt and sadness. "You didn't fail to protect me, mother. I know you're always here for me—maybe not physically, but by heart. You were never gone. We all didn't expect this to happen to me. Especially you, of course. " I assured her and pulled her for a hug.

"I am sorry. I truly am. " She whispered.

We walked, headed to her chambers.

"I know you're tired. You should be resting. My sibling needs a rest, and you should be too. " I whispered.

She smiled at me.

"You don't have to say sorry. It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault, for now. " I assured her one last time.

"We will find all of the people who caused you pain. I will find them for you, my sweet and innocent child. " She said, and I smiled back.

"We will. I am sure we will. " I said.

I left her in her chambers to rest. I missed her so much, but I really do feel bad for my mother. She felt guilty and thought that she had failed to protect her own child. I know she didn't. She never fails to protect me. If she had, I wouldn't be here alive and well throughout the threats surrounding our family, even back in France.

Things were just unexpected. Everything that happens, may be by chance or not. As her daughter, I will do anything to survive because I also have responsibilities and obligations as her child, as the Princess of Scotland, as a successor of France, and soon as Queen of Italy with my love, my dear soon-to-be husband.

I went to visit Lord Darnley, or shall I call him King Darnley? Whatever, I just don't want to call him my "stepfather." He was never, and will never be, a father figure to my younger sibling and me. I am ready to take care of my sibling soon, but I don't know if the father of the child is. My mother would definitely take care of the baby, unlike him. What would he do? What can he do? He doesn't even have a stable mindset. He's always drunk and being a coward and selfish as usual. How could he be a perfect, or even a good, father to my sibling if he couldn't even take care of himself?