Note: I meant to release this chapter on the 20th of April but left it on another site. My apologies to Linoone, your cry for more was heard just delayed by my own forgetfulness. Sorry!

"That's not the worst part!" I said with a laugh. I was sitting on one of the pews of San Pietro's church. When the friar found me by my lonesome stating he wanted to talk, I completely expected that he wished to discuss more serious matters. He was never really known for being whimsical especially after the incident. Friar Laurence was getting older though. His hair, which was grey before, was now a crisp white. The furrows in his brow almost seemed permanent on his face and his gait was so hunched that it looked that he might hurt himself if he tried to stand upright. He now walked with a small cane and a creaky, weathered smile. As he sat next to me with a gleeful look, I couldn't help but entertain him. "It was at that point I told Romeo that he was a fool for believing Rosaline would stay with him."

"Yes, yes. I do remember when Romeo was so devout and adamant about that poor Rosaline." His tired voice was still quite strong as he smacked his lips together. "You say that was why he went to that party? To look unto her without her knowledge?"

"Yes! The man was mad for her. Yet he so easily switched the interest to fair Juliet." We spoke for hours on our roles we played through the lives of Romeo and Juliet. It was the first time I could talk about it without feeling so much heartache and pain. There was a noticeable difference in this conversation though. I felt like my old self when I spoke of these things. It was bringing back the good times that I had when Romeo was still with me. Not too long before this, I would think that everything I said then was silly. Words from a man lusting for attention from a life I hadn't lived. Looking at myself I could tell that I have changed. Maybe not for the best and I likely will have to make my amends for the lives that were cost at my hand. But I do strive to be better. I no longer want to be that evil man that I was for these past few days or the pathetic one the past few years.

Eventually, my talks with the friar ended and it was starting to get later in the day where the air was cooler and only the moon lit the roads. I tossed my coat over myself and walked my horse down the road back home.

It was nice to finally have a day, free of stress for once. Along the path I started counting my steps happily. It's something that I noticed that I did when Romeo was still around. When I was younger it took me 932 paces north of the church to reach the old tree. Now it takes almost 800. I definitely have grown older since the times have passed and things have changed. It made me think of how much weight I bore on my own shoulders since the passing of my closest friends. I took a quick break from my walk and knelt beside the tree. When I looked at where the red squirrels nest was there was a small flower blooming. It had a brilliant red color the was vibrant even in the night. I plucked it from the ground and carefully placed it inside my journal that was sitting in the saddle pouch. I wasn't sure why, but I felt drawn to the tiny blossoming plant. It may have just been its color that was attracting my eye. Nonetheless, I hopped onto my horse and took off without another moment to spare.

When I made it to the palace Aleia was retiring a young maiden for the night. I must have been out much later than I thought. The servants of the house do not normally retire until all nobles are all in bed for the night. Stranger was the fact that Aleia was the one retiring the young maiden. I walked up to them as the young maiden was leaving.

"Is there confusion in the chain of command?" I stated approaching her from behind.

"Oh, Lord Mercutio. You frightened me." After a small jump, she turned to me and bowed her head.

"Why is a handmaiden, like yourself, dismissing another young maiden for the night?"

"I-I'm no longer a handmaiden, Lord Mercutio," Her head remained bowed. "I now serve as the housekeeper. The young maidens are now my junior."

"Oh, well then," I made a bow of my own. "My apologies, Mrs…"

"Bell, my surname is Bell," She was blushing a bit. "Please, Lord Mercutio, do not bow for me. I am still not one of significance."

"In the presence of a lady worthy of my time, I must." I lifted my eyes to her. She was quite beautiful really, I never took notice of her looks. Her dark hair was pinned up, though it was still quite long. Her skin was clear, especially for that of one who takes care of a palace. If it were not for the uniform, she could be easily pass as one of the nobles of this house.

I told her to walk with me. We discussed more things about her. How she was orphaned at a young age and was taken in by the king so she would have a place to reside even still having to go through servitude. She was brought up by her mother who was a scholar. Her mother fell ill around Aleia's 11th birthday and passed around her 12th. Later that year, Aleia was taken into the palace and placed under the watchful eye of Paris. After a few more years, and quite a bit of shadowing of other servants, she became Paris' handmaiden. She was assigned mostly to look over different jobs and assisted whenever someone would be ill or the job became too much for only one person to handle. She ended up becoming the housekeeper, or the head of the maidens, due to the previous keeper coming down with the same plague that had cursed the king, though having endured it for much longer than he.

It was a welcome change that Aleia was now looked at as the housekeeper being that she would now be the much more respected member of service. This comes with the respect that most nobles of the house have, only being second to them. She still has her duties of course, though she could now assign these to others instead. Her responsibility resided in making sure that the chores and errands were completed.

When we parted for the night, I bid adieu and went to my room. Retiring for the night, I was, for once, comfortable with the idea of sleep.