What If?

31

Ijekiel and I both took a seat then I poured both of some tea. "Thank you, Princess." Ijekiel says before taking a sip of his tea. "You're welcome but why did you request an audience with me on such short notice?" I ask. "I came to the Palace with my father and since I heard you've finally returned I wondered if I could see you. So I sent a request to have an audience." Ijekiel explains.

"I see." I nod, twirling my tea with a tiny spoon.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" Ijekiel ask me. "Yeah, a couple years ago. Jeanette introduced you to me." I say.

"That's right. You've changed a lot since then. It's a good change. You seem a lot happier and more confident in yourself." Ijekiel smiles. "I know. I am a lot happier and have more self confidence. Thank you for helping me with that." I say smiling up at him. He certainly did have a factor in helping me.

"I really helped you? That's surprising." Ijekiel laughed slightly.

"Yes even though I was wary of you. Every time you showed up out of the blue and just joined me to have tea or walk with me it was still quite nice to have someones company. You helped make me happier that way and you even gave me some information when I had to go to trial. Without I most likely wouldn't have had enough to prove my innocence and would have been found guilty." I explain before taking a bite of my cake.

"Well I enjoyed spending time Her Highness. I also didn't want to just do nothing when you were being framed for something you didn't do. But if you enjoyed my company and were thankful for my help then why were you still so cold to me? Always saying how I'm scheming like my father." Ijekiel asks.

"Well, can you really blame me? You just got engaged to Jeanette not that long ago at the time we first met. Yet after we met without Jeanette you were hanging around me. That's suspicious you know. I've also studied a lot about the nobles in Obelia. The Alpheus House is quite something. You are not a House that just helps out people for nothing. So it's obvious that Jeanette was like a pawn for the Alpheus House. So you know my suspicion of you was that maybe I was a backup plan for your House in case Jeanette maybe failed in gaining His Majesty's favor. But it seemed to only be your idea. Maybe you're trying to prove your worth as the heir. So of course I was wary but I'm a little better now." I explain looking at him. He always seems to listen intently.

"I was never using you." Ijekiel says sternly. Why is he becoming so intense? "My intentions in befriending Her Highness were pure." Ijekiel defends himself.

"Just because you say that doesn't necessarily make it true. There is such a thing as lying." I tell him, a smiling tugging at my lips.

"Your Highness, please trust me." Ijekiel asks. He is quite dead set on this. Then my favor shouldn't be to much of a issue. Gaining ones trust in nobility is quite a big thing. Especially in my position.

"Then if you do this single favor I ask I'll belive you. I will trust you and we shall truly be friends." I tell him.

"Yes, Your Highness. What is it?" Ijekiel asks seeming pretty eager.

"Don't break your engagement with Lady Jeanette. Marry her and let her be treated like a proper lady of the Alpheus Household. It's the least you guys can do for her. You guys are the reason she is in this situation to begin with. So marry her and be good husband to her Ijekiel. That is what I ask of you." I tell him before taking another sip of my tea. But I still didn't break eye contact with him.

Ijekiel stayed silent as he stared into my eyes. He then dropped his eyes looking away from me at the ground. "You don't want to ask for anything else but that?" Ijekiel asks his voice quite.

"That is all I want from you Ijekiel. I've already talked to His Highness about this and he has already allowed it. We both know if she doesn't marry you that her best case scenario is still isn't really any good." I tell him.