“Yes, maybe we can make an arrangement,” he replied in the same flirtatious tone. He turned to Brian. “May I cut in?”

“I would have done so immediately, but I had to make sure you weren’t going to attack the poor thing,” he joked, “but now that I see that she’s in --- er, good hands, I will go.” He pulled kissed Celeste on the cheek before leaving.

“So what has my daring merchant found? Or should the appropriate question be: Who has my daring merchant found?” she said.

“Actually, no one this time, Princess. But I would be honored if her Majesty would actually consider my company,” he hinted, subtly.

“Alex, I would be the one who would be honored, but you know me. One thing comes to another, I will have done things that I might regret. You know what I mean,” Celeste stated. “I’m looking for the perfect man.”

“Why are you looking when he is right in front of you?” Alexander put his forehead against hers. “No, I understand, Love. You will find him someday, I promise this. But when you get desperate, you know where I’ll be.”

“In a chamber, entertaining a young woman,” she said, simply.

“You are evil,” Alex smiled warmly. He ended the dance with a bow and polite pardon before leaving her.

MEANWHILE ---

Nickolas walked into his chamber to find Lilly, his handmaiden, and friend, picking up any clothes that were strewn on his floor. Without turning around, she started to talk to him, “Off chasing another girl, I suppose?”

He shrugged. “Well, yes and no. My first intention was not that. I was off to the town on the border. They’re the only ones that grow that herb that I cannot live with out . . . I forget its name. But while walking back, I noticed that a young woman was swimming in the lake. I was curious, so I went closer. Guess who it was?”

Lilly turned around and looked at him. She was maybe a year older than he was, but she looked so young. Her blondish hair was in a tight bun, her brown eyes very mellow and laid back. “Let me guess --- Meena, the town virgin?” she mused.

“I resent that. It was Lady Celeste of the Peters Family. There she was, swimming in the lake, completely bare and innocent. All I can say is that she’s feisty.”

“You fancy her, Nick?”

Nick pulled off his tunic and his light shirt, exposing a tight chest. He handed her the clothing and smiled. “No, I don’t. Though she is beautiful.”

She shook her head. “I know you too well, Sire. You do like her. I’m for it, but I just want you to know, if she does like you, there could be some conflict.”

“Conflict? How?” he questioned, stupidly.

“Your father and King Peters aren’t exactly friends. It would be another Romeo and Juliet, honestly,” she remarked.

He smiled. She loved everything with Shakespeare. She adored every piece of work he’d done. Lilly could quote from Romeo and Juliet. She’d read it so many times before. Before she left, he gave her a polite hug and kiss. “You are wonderful, Lilly.”

She nodded and left him to his thoughts. After putting on his nighttime attire, he slipped into the soft bed. He was tired, after sneaking out of the castle for the third time that week and barely sleeping throughout the whole time. So sleep came easily to him.