Anything For Love

"She arrested the servant girl? And let the handmaiden go scot free?" Adrian asked, his hands gradually balling into fists.

"Yes, my lord. She left with him to the palace."

Adrian nodded, his eyes scrutinizing as the wheels of his head ran wild, trying to find a solution.

"Wait. Did you say that the handmaiden told his servant love about how the Queen told him her name?"

"Yes, my lord. They did not know I was in the servant's quarters at the time."

A smile spread on his lips, one that gradually became bigger and biger till it turned to a full fledged laughter. He threw his head back, his hand clapping.

"Well, am I not just genius for letting this play out on it's own?" He chuckled, obviously knowing something he was not telling.

"I will be on my way back, my lord." The girl said and bowed, as her usual pouch clattered to the ground and she picked it.

"Do you know...where the servant girl was kept?"

Hector sat in his usual seat in front of the Queen as she leaned over, dabbing his face with an ointment. It felt cool, a mixture of the herbal ointment and her soft palm against his wounds, but he felt blank. Seeing Lana fall to the floor twice like that had taken it's toll on him, and he was not sure if he could handle it any longer.

"You love her. I can see that from the faraway look in your eyes."

He managed to bring his attention back to the Queen. "I am sorry, Your Highness."

"Why do you love her, Hector? Because she beats you up?"

He swallowed and looked down, even though the way his skin scrunched as he did so caused his cheeks to hurt.

"She had every right to feel that way. Every right to feel betrayed. She heard my name being called amongst those vying for your hand in marriage. You who has everything. Wealth, a kingdom... She will feel like I left her for someone who has all the things she does not."

Queen Elvira smiled at him, a rather charming smile. "Do you believe...all of that excuses that behavior? Slapping your cheek till you bleed? What is wrong with one or two? Did she have to slap you till the sting in her palm extinguished the pain in her heart? Do you believe you should be treated that way?"

Hector swallowed. The Queen has a point, but he was not about to start admitting it because he now had another option to run to besides Lana. "She loves me. And I feel it."

"On your cheeks. Of course you would." Queen Elvira replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes. She stretched her palm to his cheek to add a bit more ointment, so it would be fine by the morrow. It was already the first round of the contest.

Hector caught her hand midway, and she stopped, her eyes wide.

"Hector." She said.

He got off the seat, her hand still In his and knelt.

"I am sorry, your highness. I am a coward. I let a girl beat me up. But I love her, and even if I anam going to be in the contest, I would hate to be the reason she is locked up in the cell, the reason she has to sleep on cold hay tonight. Please, your highness. I will stay. I will be a good servant, just, please...please free Lana." He clapsed his hands together in front of him, his tears rolling freeky.

"I beg of you." He added.

"But she is not just your culprit, is she? Disregarding the relationship you both have, She had no right to raise a hand to her master's personal person. And she attempted to run."

Hector sniffed, dragging his knees closer in a desperate gesture.

Queen Elvira hated seeing him this way. When she looked at him, she saw a king that could be by her side, strong and charismatic, not a man who goes on his knees to beg for another woman.

"I attempted to run too, your highbess."

Queen Elvira raised a brow. "I am the sovereign ruler. You cannot accuse me of favoritism."

Hector broke down, all of his defense shattered. Queen Elvira gave a small sigh, and placed her hands carefully on both cheeks, not minding that she would stain them with the greenish ointment she had just put on it.

"But for you, I will let her go. For you, I would do anything."



"How very tragic." Adrian said as he smiled at Lana who had been leaning on the wall. She turned to him, and immediately recognized him.

"Your Lordship."

He smiled. "Glad you recognize ne. I was very reluctant to go out of my way with the introductions. "

She nodded simply.

"I am here to get you out."

Lana turned back to him. "Did the Queen order it?"

"Of course not," Adrian said with a chuckle. "You are the only thing standing between her and the servent boy. Even though it would be extremely easy to trample on you..and she already has." He dropped the last bit with a knowing smile, hinting at the bait he needed her to catch.

She held the wooden bars, becoming a little hysterical. "There is no way. Hector belongs to me! He is mine. This is unfair."

"Who cares if you think it is unfair? Will you battle it out with the Queen herself? You are just a servant."

She shook her head, knocking it out of the band. "I would do anything to keep Hector with me. I know the Queen is a force I can not stand against, but...but....there should be a way."

Adrian smiled, nodding. "You are so sincere. And as they say, sincerity opens up ways for you when there seems to be none. I know a way...one that will not only bring Hector back to you and keep the Queen away from him forever, but make you both free people who can pursue each other openly."

"Is there? Please, your Lordship..." She trailed off and bowed, then knelt and bowed again. "Please do tell me. Please."

"I do not have to tell you anything. You have to tell me one thing to make all of these come true."

"Your Lordship?" She asked the question without actually voicing it and he nodded.

"Tell me the Queen's name."

Lana's eyes widened. "The Queen's..."

"I am sure you know that for me to win the contest, I have to know her name. She has told Hector because she wants him to win...how about you tell me because you want your love back?"

She swallowed then nodded. "Yes, yes. I will tell you."

Adrian gave a truimphant smile. "There Is also a small favour I would need you to do for me."