Emperor leaves the couple alone happy with his matchmaker skills.

The emperor left first, and Richard and the princess were alone.

“I do not know if you are pleased by what I have prepared.”

Richard looked like he had something to say, the palm of his hand greeting his face. "You could of given me a fair warning."

"I wanted it to be a surprise."

"I hate surprises you know that more than anyone." She looked at him a bit disappointed at his response. “But, why did you do it? Why did, why did you.”

It was her first time seeing him unable to utter a perfect sentence.

“Throw me away.”

“I threw you away?” She was shocked. Truthfully she wanted to be rid of the young man for her own safety but something foolish enough wanted to reach out to him. Thankful she didn't. “That is a misunderstanding.”

“……..”

He looked into her eyes like he was trying to read her thoughts. Richard seemed genuinely thrown aback.

“Do you trust me?”

“No.” The reply was immediate but the hard truth.

She gave a sigh and took a step away from him before voicing the speech she prepared to let him down easy. "Be realistic you having a position as my concubine has never been healthy for you politically, you given up your inherits and besides we're not young anymore Richard we wasted too much time with my decisions to keep you for myself, you should have been married and started a family. Don't get me started on the war."

This time, he looked at her with eyes that questioned how it was possible she didn’t know. Embarrassed, she tried to guess the reason. "Who are you and what have you done with Alexandra Drakenire?"

Her eyes shot open in fear. 'Does he know I'm not her! How?! How the fuck find out just from that?'

Until Richard gave a sigh of his own she had back herself into the corner. He walked up to her, placing a hand on the wall his arm going over her shoulder. "You being reasonable for once is far more shocking than a battlemage shooting lightning at me."

“Huh?!”

“…….”

“That was me trying to reward you for swearing your loyalty to me.”

“…….”

“…..Aren’t you happy? You can go back to your proper place.”

'So close!' She fought the want to blush a red-faced Alexandra does not a villainess make.

“To be honest, I don’t know what you’re thinking.” he finally spoke.

“……”

“I just thought this was why our relationship went awry. So, I wanted to start over from here. However, Your Highness.” Richard said after a long pause.

“That…. That too was my choice.” The young man with his free hand cupped her face, rubbing her cheek with his thumb softly, their lips inches apart. “I do not regret it"

She had wanted to give him freedom. She had worried about the criticism he would receive if he lost his status as a concubine, so if it was bound to happen anyway, she had been looking forward to sending him off in the most honourable way she could think of.

He slowly released her face.

“What I desire right now is for you to not try and carry everything on your own shoulders.”

“…..”

“And for you to not experience too much hardship. That is all.”

"Richard..." She uttered.

He was always like this. She almost forget she had grown up with his story alongside Alexandra's downfall. It was difficult to be on the receiving end of his affection for Alexandra it was almost painful that she had taken her place.

'Word of warning don't lose your heart to him.' The lingering will of Alexandra had voiced her opinion, no anger or spit came from their tone this time only a sorrowful calmness.