“What do you think about this nonsense? Father.” Alexander asked his old friend with a frustrated eagerness in his voice.

“Your Majesty, he’s simply in love.” Father Dwaine grinned.

“Or under a spell.” Alexander muttered under his breath.

“A possibility too.” Father had to agree, it wasn’t like Nicholas to plunged headfirst into emotions. He was always calm and think before action. But the way he was acting lately proved the opposite.

Both men’s attention were drawn to the door when Nicholas entered the chapel with a female figure behind him.

“Your Majesty.” Lilyanna curtsied without looking up to Alexander. Fear and hope were racing in her body, looking for an exit to explode out.

“So, you’re the Lilyanna my son was speaking of.” Alexander voice was deep and steady, calm like the waves of the ocean before a storm. “Lift up your head.”

Slowly, Lilyanna obeyed. Alexander stared at her as if she had suddenly grown another head! There were so much anger and threats in his gaze that made Lilyanna returned her eyes to the tiled floor.

“Father...” Nicholas started, but he was stopped with a cough from Father Dwaine.

“Nicholas will marry the princess of Spain. You’re excused.” Alexander commanded, waving his hand at Lilyanna as if she was a fly hovering over his meal.

“Why?” Nicholas shouted out, his voice echoed in the huge room.

“Because she’s a farmer’s daughter. Plain and simple.” Alexander answered. “I will give you some money, just leave.” He turned and told Lilyanna.

“Good-bye.” She mouthed before retreating back to the door, fighting to keep the tears in her eyes.

“Wait. Father, whoever her father is may be important to you, but not to me. I don’t care if she’s the blacksmith’s, butcher’s, or even a murderer’s daughter! To me, she just Lilyanna, the lily that I had rescue and want to cherish for my entire life!” Nicholas protested.

Lilyanna looked at his with wide eyes. Never in her life she had heard such emotion in words, and those emotions were for her. “Thank you.” She whispered as a tear trickled down her cheek.

“My son, whatever it is you think you’re feeling is nothing but part of her spell. It’s her black magic made you behave this way, not your heart.” Alexander explained. In his heart, he had already filed Lilyanna as a witch, one that must be locked away or burn at stake.

“A witch? Me?” Lilyanna gasped.

“Yes you. Guards! Take her away and lock her in the dungeon till further notices.” Alexander glared hard at her.

“No!” Lilyanna’s struggles against the musclar guard were useless as she was dragged away. The distance between them and the arm Alexander planted before him kept Nicholas from reaching for her hand and grabbing her. He watched her being pulled down the hall in a helpless daze.