When I got to where Arielle was, I felt ashamed and ridiculed. It was a little hut, but she was still sharing it with the fisherman who had saved her. There was also this closeness between them that didn't sit entirely right with me.

"Are you okay?" I asked Arielle as I gently held her hands. Her once fleshy hands looked tiny and malnourished. My heart ached at the thought of how much she had suffered in the past weeks.

"I'm okay, my Prince. I was the one that failed you." Her head hung low in sadness. Looking at her gloomy expression, I couldn't help but feel a little resentful toward her. Why was she still sad?

I came to bring her back to the palace without the consent of my mother because I loved her. Why was she still thinking about the child we couldn't make together?

"Arielle, I'm here now. I won't let you be away from me, I promise." I vowed and she slowly raised her head at me.

I sank into despair when I saw the bleakness in her eyes.

"Arielle..." I felt my chest tighten in a twinge. "Why do you look so hopeless?" I couldn't stop the words before they left my mouth.

Tears ran down her eyes as she shook her head looking down. "I couldn't give you a child, my prince. I would forever hate myself for this." The sorrow in her voice was severe. "I knew what my fate would be without getting pregnant, but I had risked it all because I thought... I thought..." Her voice trailed off and I instantly pulled her fragile body to mine.

My eyes found Cory and Tristan at the back, and I gave them the sign to pay off the man. By taking care of my beloved, he already earned enough merit to live the remaining of his life as a wealthy man.

"Thank you, Your Highness." The fisherman bowed to me, but there was no gratitude in his voice. I also pretended not to notice how Arielle was avoiding his gaze.

"Let's leave." I wrapped my hand around Arielle's waist and left the tiny hut.

On our way back to the Palace, Arielle was sleeping beside me, her round face resting gently on my shoulders when I noticed a bruise on her neck. It was very faint, barely visible. I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been looking at her for a while now.

What was that?

I frowned when I started thinking about what I would rather not.

It might just be a bruise. I convinced myself just deep down, I still felt insecure.

Taking my eyes off her, I turned to look out of the carriage window. That was when I realized that we were almost at the Palace, and I would have to answer to my mother for bringing back a lover that she had banished. I could imagine how furious she would be.

For the first time in my life, I would be going against my mother's wishes, but I didn't feel guilty about it. If the fisherman had not saved Arielle, she would have died in the hands of the assassins the Queen had sent after her.

This was enough reason to revolt against my mother and her ridicule strategy. It will be four years soon. For the past four years, I had to sleep with three or four women every month with the hope that one of them would have a child, and I would be free from these obligations.

What I had thought would be over as soon as it started became a big joke.

"Your Highness, we've got to the palace." I heard Tristan's report.

"Hm"

Gently carrying the sleeping Arielle in my arms, I alighted the carriage with a determined look on my face. This woman, I have to protect her with my life. No matter how angry my mother was, I mustn't let her harm Arielle.

"Your Highness..." Cory gasped beside me when hundreds of royal guards suddenly besieged us. My heart leaped out of my chest in fright, but I gulped my fear.

If there was anything I was sure of, it would be the fact that my mother would never harm me. I can't say if it was because I was her only child or the fact that I was the only one that could give her legitimate grandchildren.

"Take Cory down and Tristan down!" The commander of the Royal guards yelled. Their screams as they rushed toward us woke Arielle, and her sleepy eyes widened before she hurried off me.

"No no no, please no. Don't harm my cousin." She ran towards Cory to protect him with her body. Leaving me stunned and stupid at her action. I couldn't believe that the first thing that came to her mind when she saw all this was to protect her cousin. She didn't even take into consideration that I might also be in danger.

"Arielle?" I called out. My voice was drenched with emotions I would rather have kept hidden.

"My prince, please save us. Please don't let them harm my family." Arielle pleaded as she fell to her knees. Cory was also looking at me with his eyes full of hope.

I turned my head to look at Tristan who was now holding his sword and in a fighting stance. He was ready to fight his way through.

Gritting my teeth, I went close to Arielle and helped her up to her feet. "As my lover, why would you protect another man with your body?" I couldn't hide the irritation in my voice.

She sniffed back her tears and fell into my open arms. "Cory is my only family, My Prince. I can't let any harm befall him." I heard her muffled reply and I stiffened before turning my head to look at the commander of the Royal guards.

"If you harm any of these people, I will kill myself on this spot." I threatened, glaring at him coldly.

"Fall back." He ordered the guards immediately, and they all rushed back to the palace's front gate.

"We are to escort you to the Queen, Your Highness. She demands your immediate presence." His voice had no room for negotiations, so I knew the confrontation was unavoidable. I have to see my mother though I would rather not.

"Escort Prince Alaric to the Queen's palace." The commander ordered without waiting for my reply.

My hand clenched on Arielle's waist and I didn't know how tight it was until she gave a little yelp.

"I'm sorry." I apologized, and she nodded before quickly looking away.

Tristan and Cory were not allowed to come in with us inside my mother's palace, and I had argued with the commander before he permitted me to take Arielle with me. I knew for sure that if we were separated again, she would be killed instantly. I didn't dare allow them to take her into the dungeon as they had done to Cory and Tristan.

"I will get them out, I promise," I told Arielle but she didn't stop crying. She looked as if she didn't believe that it was within my capability. Her expression made me feel inferior and useless.

"Look at your son, he still dares to bring that slut into my palace!