"Oh father. Where is it coming from? asked Josette.
Since she bumped into Doctor Dragos in the market known as Vlad that day, the Marguerite's received many goods from someone without leaving a name.
House supplies, food even for the gardening tools, soil and seeds.
She didn't believe the doctor would do that but someone did. The Marguerite knows this goods coming from the market and they indeed want to return it.
"It happens when I open our door". said the mother. Josette scratched the back of her head. "We should return it, what will we do with all these goods, there's too much for the three of us in here".
"No letter, no address and no name. The delivery must be mistaken. We cannot return to the right owner one by one as we still don't have their address".
Said the father, he spoke again. "But at least I can help to return it to the market. I know this sack, they're all my friends. Maybe I can help a little".
"You need my help father?"
"You will be late".
Shook head. "Mr. Watson will understand that. I will help you then I will go to work".
"So, what do they say?"
"I don't know. They just put it right in front of the door and leave the ground".
Vlad nodded, "I believe they will be surprised or not". Vlad and Arthur walk through the hall. "Well, I hate to see my future wife suffering even though she wasn't".
"She is a strong woman, sire. Never doubt her. I studied her, I learned about her. She couldn't not be defeated, perhaps not even you".
Vlad stops, turns to him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"You will find out soon enough, sire. When you get what you desire you will know what I say". he smiled. "And I am not trying to have her in my arms. Do not think of me like that, sire".
Smirk. "I was about to!" sigh. "I was thinking what they do now".
Albot Jaques Marguerite with his daughter Josette carry the sack in the arm toward the last store which they already went to another store for returnable goods which is being rejected by every store they went.
And the Marguerite's had to keep it back. Josette dropped the sack on the ground, wiped the sweat on her forehead. Hoping this one could be refunded, she prayed.
"Mr. Emil? We would like to return this sack because your worker got it wrong delivered to our house".
He studied Josette and Albot figures, his hand reaching the list. He spoke. "No. My man didn't get the wrong delivery. Look here... (Josette lean forward look on the list) those sacks you carry back in here belong to your family".
"How's that possible, Emil!" said Albot.
"I don't know, Marguerite. All I get is the letter and money sending all this stuff to your house. I expected it was your letter and I did as you told".
Albot shook head, "I never sent any letter to you. If I want something from you I will come to you. Not like this".
Shrug, "Keep it, Marguerite! It's been paid. Besides, I can't keep it either after we send it and it's not refundable".
"The thing is, Emil too much! what should I do for the rest?"
"I don't know. It's directly to your house. Use it well then".
Josette and her father left the store with despair. Drop the sack back on the horse cart, she looks up at him.
"There is nothing we can do, father, everyone tries to hide something from us. Which has been paid without knowing why they did it".
"And we cannot hire another to help us grow, Josette, how much we could pay them for growing our garden".
Josette sighs heavily, her mind blank to think. Her father spoke back. "And we need more land to grow those".
"I wish I could help, Father the thing is I still work with Mr. Watson I can help on weekends".
"Don't you worry about that my dear carrot. Me and your mother will do this, God blessed us which is we must accept his blessing and it belongs to us now. The Marguerite's never ever surrender or back away".
She smiled, blushed, and said. "We can do this together, Father and I promise it will be a good fortune to our family".
"That's my carrot. Go! I believe Mr. Watson had waited for you, let me and Mr. Penelope heading back home with this blessed gift from God".
She nodded and wished her father to be careful then turned her feet and walked towards the pharmacy.
Arthur stops his track as he hears this. He is about to see Vlad in the chamber. It's been a month since he hadn't heard the news from the Marguerite's.
There is a woman who was dragged out by Vlad's soldiers and she is pregnant with the child. He stops the soldiers from harming this woman and the child inside hers.
He asked, "Speak! How'd you get in here? you do realize what kind of this place is, this is Prince Vlad Dracul castle and you aren't allowed to be in here without invitation from the Prince himself".
"I don't need an invitation!" the woman grit teeth as she spoke, "I belong in here!"
Arthur sighs, "Are you from the villagers?"
"Are you mocking me!"
"I didn't. You're carrying a child with you and barely standing by yourself. Better lower your anger, calm down and lower your voice before you could hurt the child and respect the Prince's".
"The prince does not need respect!"
Arthur takes a deep breath, what Vlad is doing now, especially toward this innocent heavy woman standing right in front of him. Barely know who she is believing Vlad will know her.
"You are not yourself, Miss can I provide you a carriage back to the villages?"
"I don't want anything, I want your Prince! Call him down and he has to be responsible for what he did to me".
He nodded, "I see. I can see that, so you are here to claim the throne?"
"I am one of the Prince whom he sleeps with and I bet it's just not me. And I demand to stay until I see the Prince himself".
Arthur and the soldiers look at each other's faces. He had no right to push this woman but he also had a right to hurt her too if he got the order from Vlad. Even to kill he had to do it.
She laid her hand on her growth belly, smirking. "My child belongs here and I do, we both are".
"I beg you, Miss, do not try to fight this. It will harm you better not to see the Prince and he will kill you and the rest of your family". breath again. "Please allow me to escort you out".
"I demand to.. STAYED!"
Vlad on the other hand hears this too from his chamber, hurries his feet and finds this woman he knows with Arthur who is trying to calm her down.
He is smirking, with the child she is. Get rid of her Arthur.
"What makes you think I will allow you that? What makes you think you can stay. I don't even know your name, nor do I know your family names. And you claimed yourself and the child".
This woman stepped forward, grinning. "I am Alexandra Darius. And my child belong to the Prince".
That's a lie!
Vlad hurried down and greeted her. Arthur and the soldiers bow to the prince whom he stands beside Arthur. He moves aside a bit letting Vlad talk with her and look closely if this woman is a liar.
"Hello Miss Darius. What did you say?" smirking Vlad. "I don't think that child belongs to me!"
Arthur will do anything to protect this woman and now Vlad is here with him and the woman. This woman is stubborn, dragging her own life into the death.
"Sire? she may be tired and delusional because she carried a child right now and I didn't say it was yours perhaps someone else fathered the child who is not responsible until this innocent woman claims as she tells".
Of course Vlad knew her. Remembering that night that she begged him. And he forces himself into hers that she likes and wants. Dirty slut!
He couldn't be rejected as she spread it for him willingly. "A delusional person will not remember what they are doing, Arthur".
"So I made my own mistake, my dear Prince, by accidentally having a child. I think not. Clearly I remember!"
Smirking, Vlad turns to Arthur. "My good adviser. If she wishes to stay then let her, if she wishes to claim then let her".
He let out a small chuckle, his eyes staring at her growing belly. Smirking again as he bowed to her. Mocking. Her face was red and angry.
"Welcome to my castle, Miss Darius, if you want anything just ask the maids or the soldiers or who you will see around you. They may be pleased to help you".
Vlad turns his heel, Arthur follows him behind. "Sire, please!" he begs him.
"You know what to do, Arthur, it is your job to keep her silent".
"I can't kill her!"
"Then let the soldiers". Vlad resumes his walk, Arthur stops him. "What!" he shouted, "Just kill her already!"
Arthur breathed heavily, said. "Think about Josette, sir, if she finds out what you have done to that woman!" Slowly Vlad looks up.
"Not just, Miss Darius sire every woman you had committed. You will lose her if she does".
"Are you threatening me?"
Arthur shook his head, "Just think of the consequences, the future ahead involves our kingdom. To your kingdom. They will not respect of you and there will be another innocent blood on the ground until the end of time. Think about it before carrying out the punishment. Let her go".
Vlad minds thinking of Josette, and Arthur was right about everything. There's no need for more innocent blood to drop on the ground. Enough of that. He just wants Josette for himself and...
"Then get your work done".
He looks over Arthur's shoulder where the woman is still standing there and her eyes on him in anger. His eyes then back to him.
"I don't want to see her or ever try to sneak inside my castle. Sealed all the passageway doors which they use too and never let the door out of your side!"
Vlad then walk, Arthur nod bow watch him left the room. He then walks towards the woman and having a little talk about her future that Vlad's will not take responsibility for making the woman pregnant with his child anymore.
"This way, Miss".