After leaving Francis, Stephan goes looking for Alexandria. He finds her in the courtyard with her sister and her sister's ladies. "Your Majesty, might I borrow Princess Alexandria for a moment?"

Dria looks to her sister, who nods albeit a little suspiciously. He offers her his arm and she gently places her hand on his bicep before he leads her away from the others. "So I take it your meeting with Francis proved fruitful."

"I thought a lady aught not assume things?" He asks, his smile belaying any malice she might have interpreted behind his words.

"Am I wrong?"

"No. He has given his consent."

"And what do you plan to do with it?"

"I believe I have made my intentions well known to you." He smiles. "I plan to make you my wife."

"That is if I say yes." She flashes her eyes at him and takes off, running towards the hedge maze. She hears the crunch of the ground under his boots as he gives chase after her. She makes it a ways inside before she pauses, listening to the world around her. She hears her own shallow breathing, the rustling of the hedge leaves in the breeze and something else. A deep chuckle vibrates through maze and Stephan's musky scent alerts her that he's closing in. "You can't hide from me Alexandria." He teases.

Dria sucks in her breath and turns around, ready to run, only to come face-to-face with her lord. "I believe you have found me. Now what?"

He smirks. "You have a response to give."

She looks out at the maze, contemplating her next words. If Francis agreed to this, he must have adjusted his plans. And she couldn't deny that she was… enraptured by the man standing before her. "I will."

He pulls her to him, kissing her soundly on the lips. The rest of the world melts away and all she can feel is him.

…

"Why would you not ask me first?! She is my sister! I had a right to know before she had been sold." Mary screams as she paces her chambers in front of Francis and Alexandria.

"This was my decision. I told Narcisse if he was serious with his intentions he needed to speak with the king. Francis may have given his blessing as such but this was ultimately my choice. He's different with me than with others. And what better way to ensure his loyalty to the crown than by marrying your sister?"

Mary does not cease her pacing although she does seem to have calmed down some. "Are you sure this is what you want? Should anything happen to me, until I have a child you are next in line for the Scottish throne. Whoever you marry would become king-"

"Unless I specifically say otherwise. Unless I grant him the Crown Matrimonial, he will not have our country. But think about the advantages. Scotland would have access to his soldiers and his money. That is something we desperately need… And I love him." Alexandria admits the last part quietly.

"How could you possibly love him already?" Mary scoffs. "You've only just met the man. And more times than not he's been… less than pleasant."

"And that is the side of him that you have forced him to be. I know a gentler man."

"A man who kissed you, ran, then showed back up to court with a wife."

"I know his past doings Mary. I do not need a replay. And might I remind you that your marriage might not be as happy as it is now if you hadn't given Francis a second, or third, chance. I would not be asking you to give him this chance if I didn't think him worthy of it."

Mary groans. "Seeing as I am outnumbered, I shall yield, for now. But trust this sister, if he hurts you in any way, I will have his head."

"Understood." Alexandria says before curtsying and leaving the room, moving quietly about the castle back to her rooms.

Walking down one of the corridors, the only light coming from the moon seeping in from the windows, she doesn't notice when a hand shoots out from an alcove, dragging her in. "Stephan." She says in surprise, once her eyes adjust to the dark. "What are you doing?"

"I knew you were talking with your sister tonight and I wanted to make sure that everything was ok."

"It went fine… Or as fine as I expected it to." He pulls her in for a kiss and any other thoughts she might have had about her sister, and their argument, went away. She feels his hand draw the hem of her dress from the ground, working it up until its at her hip. He runs a finger along her mound and she shudders. He does it again and she moans out, though it is quickly swallowed by his mouth on hers. "We shouldn't. My only worth…"

"Means nothing to me as I'll be marrying you either way." He whispers. She nods and in the quiet of the alcove, gives him the most precious thing she owns.