The doctor returned to princess Ayla's room, looking worried.
Prince Rainer, he said.
I have some bad news. I made a mistake earlier.
The poison that was given to the princess... it was meant to kill her.
Rainer's eyes widen in shock. What? he asks. But... she's alive.
Your medicine must have worked.
The doctor shakes his head. I'm afraid not, he said.
The medicine I gave her would have done little to nothing to help her.
She should be dead by now. I don't understand how she survived it's almost like a miracle.
Rainer looks at the doctor, then at the princess.
She's a strong woman, he said. Maybe that's all it was.
The doctor nods. Maybe, he said. But I'm going to run some tests to make sure there's nothing else going on. In the meantime, keep a close eye on her. If anything changes, let me know immediately.
Rainer nods, still looking worried. I will, he said. Thank you, doctor.
The doctor leaves, and Rainer turns back to the princess. He took her hand in his, holding it tightly. I'm glad you're okay, he whispers. I don't know what I would do without you.
He sat there days without leaving her side. As he sat there, he started to feel a little strange. He feels dizzy and disoriented, and he can't seem to focus. He tries to shake off the feeling, but it only gets worse at first he thought he was getting weak cos of how long he had stayed up nights watching her from a chair.
He looks down at the princess, and suddenly she doesn't look so appealing to him.
He looked around the room, trying to get his bearings. But everything felt strange.
Accompanied by severe headache trying to hold the wall to balance himself,
a cup of water was close to the bedside as he drank and turned to look at the princess, he starts to feel a sense of disgust.
He doesn't know why he ever thought she was beautiful. She looks weak, pale and pathetic lying there, and he can barely stand to look at her.
He dropped the cup and walked steps away from the bed, turning away from her.
I can't believe i ever loved her.
I must have been out of my mind.
Just then, his brother Ryker walked into the room.
Brother he said.
I have some news about the investigation.
We have someone who will be a witness
And will finally reveal the person behind the poising
Rainer turns to him, a scowl on his face. Who? he asks.
Ryker hesitates. The cook that the poison was given to.
Lady Calantha also deceived him that the poison wasn't toxic enough to kill.
Rainer laughs. That's ridiculous, he says. Calantha would never do something like that.
She's a lady, and she's kind and gentle. She would never hurt anyone.
Ryker looked at him, surprised. Rainer, are you sure? he asked. We have evidence that suggests she might have been involved.
Rainer shakes his head. I don't care about your evidence, he says. I know Calantha, and she's innocent.
It's probably the princess who's behind this.
She's just trying to frame Calantha so her kingdom can gain more power over us.
Ryker looked at him, shocked. Rainer, that doesn't make any sense what are you even saying, he asked.
The princess has been asleep for days, why would anyone want to do that to themselves?
Rainer turns away from him. I don't want to hear it, he said.
Lady Calantha is innocent, and that's all that matters.
Ryker looked at his brother, feeling a sense of unease.
Something is off about my Brother's behavior, but he can't quite put his finger on what it is.
He tries to brush it off as mere stress and worry over the princess's condition, but deep down, he knows it's something more.
As he looked at Rainer, he's suddenly hit with a sharp, piercing light that makes him squint. When his vision clears, he sees his brother in a different light.
He notices the cold, distant look in Rainer's eyes, and the way he's turned away from the princess's bed.
He sees the way Rainer's standing, his posture rigid and defensive.
Ryker's mind is racing as he tries to process what he's seeing. What's going on with my brother is he being threatened? he thinks to himself. Why is he acting so strangely?
He tries to talk to Rainer again, to get through to him and find out what's wrong. But Rainer just turns away from him, refusing to listen.
Ryker is left standing there, feeling confused and concerned.
Something is definitely wrong with my brother.
Prince Rainer approached the guards who are standing outside the room. I want you to move the princess to her own chambers, he told them. And I want you to call off the investigation into her poisoning. It's a waste of time.
The guards looked at each other uncertainly.
But,
Your Highness, one of them said.
The doctor said she was poisoned.
We should find out who did it.
Rainer's expression turns cold. I said, call off the investigation, i don't care who poisoned her. It's not my problem.
The guards exchange a nervous glance, but they know better than to disobey a direct order from the prince. Yes, Your Highness, one of them says. We'll take care of it right away.
Rainer nods, then turns and walks away.
The king heard about Rainer's decision to call off the investigation and move the princess to her own chambers.
He became furious and immediately seek's out his son to confront him.
Son, what is the meaning of this? the king demands.
Why have you called off the investigation into the princess's poisoning?
Rainer shrugs, his expression unconcerned.
I just don't think it's worth our time, he says.
She's probably just allergic to something she ate.
It's not our fault that she's too weak to fend for herself.
The king is taken aback by his son's callousness. Rainer, you're not thinking clearly, he says.
This girl was poisoned. Someone tried to kill her inside my palace.
We need to find out who and why.
Rainer shakes his head. I don't see why it's such a big deal, he says. She's just a girl I married to strengthen our kingdoms.
There are plenty of other good girls out there.
The king shocked by Rainer's words.
He's never heard his son talk like this before.
What's gotten into you, Rainer? he asks. You're not acting like yourself.
Rainer just shrugs again. I'm fine, he says. I just don't see why you're making such a big deal out of this it's getting tiring.
The king realizes that he's not going to get through to Rainer right now.
He'll have to try to reason with him later, when he's calmed down from the stress.
For now, he just needs to make sure that the princess is safe and that the investigation continues.
Rainer, I'm overruling your decision, the king said. The investigation will continue, and the princess well... remain in her chambers where she can be properly cared for.
Rainer scowls, but he knows better than to argue with his father.
Fine, he says. Do what you want.
I don't care.
The king watches his son walk away, feeling worried and concerned. What's going on with Rainer? he wonders.
Prince Rainer storms out of the room, angry with his father for overruling him. I can't believe that my own father doesn't trust my judgment.
I'm the future king, after all.
I should be able to make my own decisions.
As he walked, he runs into Calantha in the hallway. She looks up at him with a smile, and Rainer's anger immediately dissipates.
He smiles back at her, feeling a sense of calm
Calantha's smile grows wider as Rainer approaches her.
What's wrong? she asked him, her voice soft and gentle.
Rainer shakes his head. My father, he said. He's not listening to me.
He's going to keep investigating the princess's poisoning, even though I told him to stop.
Calantha's expression turns sympathetic. I'm sure he's just trying to do what's best, she says.
But I'm sure you know what's best too.
You're going to be a great king one day.
Rainer smiles, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. Thanks, My Lady, he said. You always know how to make me feel better.
Calantha smiles back, her eyes sparkling.
That's what I'm here for, she said.
Rainer looked at her, feeling a sense of gratitude and affection. He reaches out and takes her hand, holding it gently. Thanks, he said again. I don't know what I would do without you.
Calantha's heart skips a beat as Rainer takes her hand. She's been waiting for this moment for a long time.
She looks up at him, her eyes shining with happiness.
I'll always be here for you, My Prince, she said softly.
Calantha's face inches closer to Rainer's, and she can feel the tension between them building.
She knows that this is the moment she's been waiting for, the moment when Rainer will finally kiss her.
But just as their lips are about to touch, a voice interrupts them.
Your highness, the voice says. His majesty wants to see you.
Rainer pulls back, looking frustrated.
What does he want now? I just left him he mutters.
Lady Calantha smiled and squeezes his hand. Go