"My humblest apologies. Forgive my ignorance, I stumbled upon you. I have recently arrived from abroad and I do not know your village".

Such a beautiful woman. Very very beautiful woman, Josette.

Josette studied him from head to toe. Quite fancies this gentleman had wearing those clothes in this poor village. He does look like coming from abroad.

"Apologies accepted". she turns away but Vlad stops her, he is right behind her.

"Did I have offended you? I am only looking for the cinematograph. I understand it is a wonder of the civilized world".

"A cinematography? never heard that. This is a village not a fancy village you've ever been born in. Excuse me".

She walks away, she rounds a corner, and there stands Vlad. She jumped, eyes wide open.

"How did you get here so fast!"

"I was running of course, besides you that you didn't see. Through the crowd where you barely saw it I was chasing you behind".

He smiled. "A woman so lovely and intelligent should not be walking alone without her gentleman around".

"I told you this is just a poor village. A place where civilized people were born. And beside do I know you? shall I scream that you are bothering me or I will fight you!"

Vlad smirks, he knows she will say that to him. "Permit me to introduce myself. I am Maximus Dragos, you may call Maximus or Dragos if you feel comfortable with the name. I came from England, brought to Romania. I'm a Doctor.

"I've been searching for herbs and medicine for my patients in London. For a child. Who needs to be intended by me. I heard Romania had good herbs, medicine from Mr. Leontin Watson who owns the pharmacy around here".

Josette nodded, "I know him. So, a doctor, no less?"

"I am your servant". he smiled.

"Josette Jean Marguerite. Nice to meet you Doctor Dragos". She smiled too without the two shaking hands. "Come this way doctor".

Vlad walks beside her, she looks at him. "I ever tried to be a doctor but... something is going on".

"What do you mean?" asked Vlad. He lied, he knew everything. The reason why it was him. "Why not you be one?"

She chuckle, shook her own head. "I don't know. Wasn't my lucky I guess to be one, but it's okay Mr. Watson a very nice man. He taught me a lot about science, medicine and everything I need to know about being a doctor or nurse".

"That is good to hear". smirking.

Yes, he already ruined her life. She is the tough one, never he saw her sad or trying to kill herself for not being a real doctor. No wonder why he loved her, he loved her spirit.

One day she can help him rule Romania, but will she accept him and build a new life together with him?

"Josette!" Both Vlad and Josette turn their backs, and Pietro runs toward them. He smiled. "Where are you going?"

"Going back to the pharmacy. Oh, Pietro. This is Doctor Dragos, he came a long way here from England and he wants to meet your father. Doctor Dragos this is Pietro, Mr. Watson son".

The gentleman shook hands, Pietro said. "Doctor Dragos? Hmm, never heard that name, perhaps my father didn't mention you to me. What brought you here doctor?" he asked.

"Finding a cure for my patient. Poor boy, I must save him. I am the only hope, the boy's parents believe in me".

Pietro nodded, understanding. Vlad spoke back,

"I learned that your father will help me do what I want, is that why... I am here".

Vlad's eyes studied Pietro, who is he to Josette. Lover? friend? husband? he should have asked Arthur after this. He even saw Pietro with her in the library earlier.

"Yes. Perhaps my father will. But you don't look like a doctor".

"What should I be then?" smirking Vlad. "A fooled?"

Shook head, "A prince. A dark prince of Romania where we so hate over him, no offense I am just telling the truth but we welcome you and be careful if you ever meet him in person".

"What would happen if I met him, Mr. Watson?" said Vlad.

"Wishing you good luck. He wasn't a nice person, he's a monster. He is the reason why young women like Josette get inside his trap willingly and when missing after that. Pregnant and dead. Horrible isn't it, doctor?"

Vlad keeps his heart steady, faking his smile. "Very. What else? I should prepare myself if I accidently bumped into him".

"Don't lie with that face, doctor. I know the prince".

Josette grabs Pietro's arm. She never met Vlad before and she doesn't know his face either. Could he be?

"Vlad the Impaler, Romanian Prince. Darkest Prince, his heart dark as his soul. What do you say, my lord?"

Her eyes look up at Pietro. "Pietro what did you do? This is Doctor Dragos. How is it possible that he is the prince!" Pietro really wants to expose Vlad in front of her, he should play this game then.

"Me the prince of Romania? I came across the ocean from England to Romania finding a cure for my patient then suddenly this gentleman claimed me as the prince. If I am really that prince, I cannot come in here alone because I know my people will try to kill me as you claimed the evil darkest soul. I should bring my knight, my rebels, medieval, allied with me against your village".

She grab Pietro arm again, whispering to him. "Stop that, Pietro! don't embarrassing yourself. He is here for the cures, not as the prince. Besides none of us ever see the prince himself, not even Doctor Dragos".

Her eyes back to Vlad. "Forgive us, doctor. My friend suddenly acted weird when he saw me talking with the outsider".

"Apology accepted. As for you Mr. Watson, you should know in this world each person had seven look alike whether in this era or the future. So I am one of the prince's. It's all based on science, religion and facts. I even saw you back in Russian once".

Josette almost laughed about it, Vlad spoke back.

"There is a photosensitivity disorder which is cause you lived inside the house for the rest of your life. One single light touches the skin, you die. Poor widow Mills has to look at three of her children like that".

"That horrible". said Josette. Vlad nods and smiles, she looks up at Pietro. "See, he's a doctor. A darkest prince doesn't know how to curse people, he likes to kill if you understand there are two different men you were talking to".

Pietro, clearing throat, said. "Doesn't mean this doctor told us the whole truth. Whatever. So you are here to see my father? that we'll do. This way doctor".

Moments later. Josette and Pietro eavesdrop behind this door. Vlad and Mr. Watson were talking privately inside. She couldn't hear much causing this door to be too thick to hear clearly from the outside.

She slapped the back of his head. "What!"

"Can you hear what they say?"

"Not much. So now you know why my father built this door, he didn't want people to hear them privately".

Suddenly the door swung open, Vlad and Mr. Watson looked down where Josette and Pietro were kneeling on the floor.

She smiles as she looks up. "What on earth are you two doing!" she and Pietro hurried their feet, standing and embarrassing. Vlad smirks at her. "Nothing to do, aren't you two?"

"Well urmm... I do. We do". said Josette, her lips stuttering. "We should go to Pietro!" grab his arm, Mr. Watson stops them both. "We're sorry".

"Enough! You two should get married to each other, let's go, we're going to see Monsignor Pirelli in the church and get you two married".

"No! no!"

Vlad turns to him. "Forgive me Mr. Watson. I am sure this is forcing marriage". Josette nodded. "About our discussion earlier, do you agree?"

"Yes doctor. I do. I will send my best medicine as you required".

"Thank you. Excuse me, I shall go". Vlad bowed to them, then walked out from the pharmacy. Mr. Watson studied Vlad, he said.

"I don't trust that man".

Pietro jumped happily. "Thank you father. I said that to her before and she didn't believe me". he pointed at Josette.

"What makes you say that Mr. Watson? Isn't he a doctor?" asked Josette.

"He is not my dear Josette".

"Then why do you two agree on something if he wasn't a doctor".

Mr. Watson smirks, "I'm just playing along with what he says, I know him somewhere and I am sure he is our dark prince of Romania who is pretending to be". he turns to look at her and Pietro. "Because I met him once".

"I don't think he will believe me, Arthur". Vlad eyes him then walks toward the parapet. "He knows me and I'm sure I know him too. Remember I asked you to find the greatest doctor for my wound after the battle and you did. It's him".

Arthur sighs. "What should we do then, sire?"

"He intended to marry her with his son, right in front of me he said that!"

"Wasn't a good thing to hear today". Arthur stood beside him. Eyes on the view. "Beautiful night isn't it, sire?" careful Vlad turning to him. "Soon she will know who you are, should I convince her".

Smirking. "Such a good actor am I, Arthur?" he nodded. "No. I will convince her by myself, you will not be allowed to speak to her unless you say that you had to travel out of the country and never return".

"As you order, sire. I will".

"And find Mr. Watson information, about his family and what is it his son had to do with her. Find more if you must".

Nod. "What happened to them then, sire?"

"Kill them if you must!"

"I cannot kill women, sire. At least we return them safely".

Smirking, "And they will claim I am the father, a responsibility of their pregnant daughter". laughing. "I will not allow that!"

"She is special to you, sire".

"The Marguerite's is part inside of me now, Arthur. She's amused me. She is not the kind of woman I know. She's different and a fighter like me. She doesn't know that the one who made her life suffering is me".

Vlad sighs, swallows the saliva. "I'm impressed with her life now, most of the women like her will kill themselves". Vlad laughed again. He turned to him. "Arthur?"

"Yes my lord". he bowed.

"I want to know what kind of routine this Marguerite's doing everyday. I want to know more about her. If they need anything, give them everything they want. She is mine, Arthur. No one will have her except me. I kill for her! Soon she will rule this kingdom alongside me and you will be proud, Arthur".

Arthur smiles sadly. He spoke. "Yes, my lord".