Bibbity-bobbity-boo! Time for another NERWAC update. I've spent the whole day writing this and I hope you enjoy! But now, I'll keep this short and let you get to reading! Let me know what you think with a little review and don't mind the possible typos (those happen). I hope you have an amazing day/night! Enjoy! :)

Next morning, Saturday 21st of August 1929

"Oh, my goodness!", exclaimed Lady Grantham in panic, watching her husband kneel on the floor with the just crowned, unconscious princess in his arms.

"We need help over here! Someone get a doctor!"

The ballroom fell into slight chaos. The almost perfect night had become a nightmare in just a second.

And Charles stood there in complete shock, watching the woman of his life lay unconscious. And just like that, Charles could feel his whole life slip from reach. Just like that poor wine glass from his wife's grasp…

"Your highness?"

The doctor's voice brought Charles back to present from his horrid memories of last night…

"How is she?", he asked, standing up from the chair he had been sitting on after he was thrown out of their bedroom while the doctor was seeing to his wife.

"The princess is stable, but she will require a lot of rest and I've left medicine to her maid to be given twice a day, your highness.", the royal doctor explained."It is a very unfortunate business, your highness."

Yes, yes it was, Charles thought.

"Thank you, doctor."

"I've left instructions on how to contact me if her state worsens, give me a call and I'll come straight away."

All Charles could do was nod; the very thought of his wife getting worse making him shiver.

"Well, then…I shall be on my way, your highness. Good day.", the doctor gave a low bow and turned to leave the room.

He was almost at the end of the hallway when Charles called out;

"Wait-"

The doctor turned around to face him and gave Charles a questioning look.

"Your highness?", he asked.

Charles let out a sigh before speaking up again;

"Thank you, doctor. I owe my wife's life to you and-"

It took him everything he had in him to say the next words…

"-if it weren't for you, I would be planning a funeral right now."

That seemed to soften the doctor who then said with a faint smile;

"I was simply doing my job, your highness."

And so, Charles, the Prince of Scotland, watched the man walk away. He was left alone to stand in the hallway and the silence was making his thoughts wander again…

It had been a long fourteen hours after the whole episode in the ballroom. And the little sleep he had gotten in the hours after that was not much…He had spent almost the whole night by his wife's side, holding her hand and praying that everything would be alright. The doctor had arrived not an hour too late and examined her...And it seems that she had been hanging by a thread.

The ball had been cut short just twenty minutes past seven last night and the guests were sent home with excuses from King George. Of course, they had nothing to apologize for, as it was not the royals' fault. And when the person at fault for his wife's near death would be discovered, Charles would make sure the monster would be punished accordingly. Even if he had to do it with his own bare hands…The thought that someone would want to hurt his wife was beyond stretch belief. And he'd make the consequences so great the culprit would never dare to even look at his wife or him again.

He pushed away his thoughts. The more he thought about it, the amount of the things he'd do to the horrible person increased and he was afraid he'd do something stupid when they'd find out who was behind it all.

And instead of going to prison for that, Charles slowly made his way towards their bedroom. He needed to see her, needed to make sure the doctor wasn't lying and that she would be fine with just a bit of time.

…

"There you go, your highness, that's much better-", Mabel mumbled as she pulled the blanket over her princess' tired body.

"Thank you, M- Mabel."

Her reply had been so quiet, that if you didn't know she had said something you couldn't have made out the words.

The maid simply showed a forced smile and turned to face the other woman in the room. Woodley was surveying the situation from afar; not wanting to interrupt with the doctor's examination, but now that he was out of the room, she took a few steps closer, coming to stand just at the end of the bed. She noted the maid's defeated face and said;

"Don't worry, Ms. Rutt. Even if I haven't known her for a very long time, there's no doubt the princess is much tougher than she looks now…She'll be up and about in no time."

Neither of them knew if the lady-in-waiting had said that to reassure the maid's worries or her own, but it really didn't matter, did it?

"Can I come in?"

Both their heads immediately turned to the door, where their gazes met with the princes' equally tired one.

"Your highness-"

"Please. There's no need for that. How is she?", as he asked that, he let his eyes wander to the bed where is wife was laying with her eyes closed.

"Resting, your highness. I'll bring her something to eat in a moment, but I'm not sure if she's quite up to it yet.", answered Mabel kindly.

Yes, he doubted that too.

"Thank you.", Charles nodded, shutting the door, and made his was to their bed.

Mabel pulled him a chair to sit on next to the bed and he thanked her with a faint smile.

"I'll go get her some breakfast, your highness. I'll be back in a moment."

And Mabel quietly exited the bedroom, while Woodley remained frozen to her spot at the end of the bed.

"Shall I leave you, your highness?", she thought to ask, not wanting to interrupt an important moment between the couple.

Charles turned to face her and after a moment of silence replied;

"If you don't mind. I- I'd like a moment with her."

"Of course not, your highness. I'll go give the king and queen an update, I'm sure they're worried and wondering how she is…I'll come back later."

"That sounds like a good plan.", Charles said, allowing himself to smile at the lady-in-waiting.

Without another word, Woodley took her leave, shutting the door tightly behind her. And so, the couple was left alone.

"You- you're here.", Elsie mumbled quietly, sensing they'd been left alone.

Charles leaned closer to her, taking her hand in his.

"Of course I am here, my dearest darling. Where else would I be?", he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a tender kiss against the skin of her palm."This is where I belong; with you."

"H-how lovely you make that sound.", he couldn't help but see a faint smile on her face when she said this.

"How are you feeling, love?"

It took her a moment to manage an answer;

"Tired, and my head hurts- like I've been ran over by a h-horse."

"I'm so sorry. I can't stand the thought of you hurting and me not being able to do anything."

She shook her head, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

"It's not your fault, Charlie.", she said, struggling to find her voice."I'm going to be fine."

He inhaled the sweet smell of her, her palm against his lips as he tried his best not to cry. And for the first time that morning, she properly opened her eyes to look at him to let him know she was with him; she hadn't gone anywhere, she was going to be fine. But even a bat of an eyelash seemed to drain her of all the little energy there was left in her body.

"We're fine, Charlie.", she mustered.

He nodded, searching for the exact words he needed to say to her.

"But you see, Elsie…Last night when you collapsed-"

He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat.

"-for I moment I thought I had lost you. And I couldn't bear that."

A single tear rolled down his cheek.

"I couldn't bear to lose you now.", his voice cracked.

She freed her hand from his shaky grip and brushed away the lonely tear from his cheek, her palm coming to cup his cheek.

"You're not going to lose me, love.", she whispered, forcing herself to speak even if she didn't have the energy for that."And we- we're going to be just f-fine."

Elsie let her hand fall from his cheek, unable to hold it up any longer. She wasn't sure if it was the stress of the past few days or whatever she'd been given that had made her so tried. But either way, she just wanted to close her eyes for a moment and rest. Yes. She needed rest to get better.

"Stay with me- please?", she pleaded as her eyes fluttered shut.

"Of course.", her husband simply nodded, planting a gentle kiss to her lips; letting himself linger for just a moment longer."I love you, Elsie, so very much."

Charles then leaned to rest his head on her chest, listening to her heart beating steadily beneath her skin. He caressed her hand with his as he waited for her to fall asleep…It was only when he was sure she'd fallen asleep that he allowed his own weariness to take over and his eyes to shut as he joined her in her slumber.

And still, the palace remained quiet.

Meanwhile downstairs, the palace's dining room

No one had much to say that morning. And the whole palace was much quieter than it normally was. Which was no surprise of course…The servants were going about their day and serving the family's breakfast like they always did, Mr. Wilson standing at attendance. And the servants had started taking down the decorations in the ballroom and the great hall early that morning, hoping to have the palace back to normal by teatime.

But even if life downstairs continued as normal, last night's happening touched the royal family greatly. Even Queen Mary had thought it best if she were to eat breakfast with the rest of them, to cause as little trouble as possible for the servants, and to be honest, she didn't feel like sitting in bed all day long. And that was by far one of the most peculiar things to see at the palace that morning.

"Morning post, your majesty.", one of the footmen announced, handing a pile of letters to the king.

"Thank you.", he took his time to look through the letters in his hand.

He then handed the letters assigned to his wife to her with a faint smile and put aside the ones that were for his sister. There were quite many for her indeed, he noted.

"Are these all from last night's guests?", the queen asked from no one in particular.

"They are, your majesty. And there were also a great many flower arrangements, addressed to the Princess, delivered to the back gates this very morning, your majesty."

"Oh?"

"Can you bring them into the southern drawing room? We'll ask the princess what to do with them when she's better."

"Very good, your majesty."

And the footman was off, leaving the king and queen alone in the dining room with their butler. A silence fell upon the room and the couple continued with their breakfast.

"Where is Bagshaw?", George asked his wife after a while.

"She's meeting Mr. Branson today, with Ms. Smith."

"Today?"

"They made the plan a while ago, I really had no good reason to forbid her from going.", she replied, sipping her tea."And Mr. Branson and Ms. Smith ought to get married soon. From what I've heard, they have delayed it because of us. There's no need to delay it any longer."

"Hmm-"

And as the king absentmindedly turned back to his breakfast, the dining room door opened, and Laura Woodley stepped into the dining room.

"Good morning.", she greeted, forcing a kind smile.

"Good morning."

"How is she?", Queen Mary asked."Better I hope?"

"She's stable, according to the doctor. She'll get better with rest.", Woodley explained, filling her plate with her breakfast.

"Well, that's good thing, I suppose."

"I can't believe who would do such a thing, it's absolutely horrifying.", Mary mumbled, shaking her head.

"The world is full of nasty people, my dear.", her husband said matter of factly.

"Well, it is scary to know those people are within us. They must have been at the ball yesterday; how else could have someone given her something?"

"What I heard from the doctor, he said it must have been a drug that someone put in her drink. But of course, he couldn't know what it was exactly, your majesty.", the lady-in-waiting took her seat by the table.

"How terrible.", the queen gasped, her hand coming to cover her mouth.

"The doctor didn't mention any- complications, did he?"

"What do you mean, your majesty?", Woodley asked, taking a sip of her tea.

"Well, any permanent damages this…drug, could have caused?", the king questioned further.

"It's hard to say at the moment, your majesty. We'll know much more when she has had some more rest."

"Of course."

Of course, they had all had an awfully long night; they'd need rest to get over it.

"Wilson, could I have some more tea?", queen Mary wondered, looking at the butler expectantly.

The butler, however, seemed to be lost in thought and didn't hear the queen's request…He was simply staring off to the distance.

"Wilson?"

The butler came back to present with a shake of his head upon hearing the king's voice.

"Whatever is the matter with you?"

"Nothing, your highness. How may I help?", Wilson was quick to recover, and he immediately stepped closer, ready to serve.

"I was only wondering if I might have some more tea."

"Of course, your highness, right away."

While he retrieved the pot of fresh, hot tea, Woodley shared a confused look with the queen who was sitting opposite of her around the breakfast table. It wasn't like the butler to be absentminded…Not in the least.

…

When Mr. Wilson could finally descend the servants' staircase down to the servants' quarters, he could feel his anger boiling. She had gotten him in this situation. He would be in trouble if someone were to find out about the part he played in the princess' current situation. And that would get him in prison!

"Mrs. Webb, a word. Come into my pantry!", he shouted, stopping everyone with his stern voice.

"Whatever is the matter with you, Mr. Wilson?", asked the housekeeper as she followed the angry butler into his pantry.

He made a move to slam the door closed after she had entered the room after him.

"Oh, what is wrong you ask?"

"I believe I just did, yes."

"Well let's start from the fact that you have gotten me into trouble, Mrs. Webb!"

She knew immediately what he meant and quickly tried to make up an excuse;

"But Mr. Wilson, surely you can't say that when you too wanted to get revenge on them?"

"Get revenge on them- Don't you dare! You have dragged me into this- if someone finds out that I put that blasted drug into the princess' glass of champagne I'll get sent to prison for a lifetime!", he shouted, not even minding if someone passing his door would hear this not so hushed conversation.

"But no one will find out, will they? It's not as if we left any evidence. The glass, which is now shattered to a million pieces and thrown away, had your fingerprints on it, but that's not a reason to make anyone think you poisoned her! Of course, it would have your fingerprints on it, you're the butler who brought her the glass.", the housekeeper said with a voice as cold as ice.

"And what about the bottle?", he then decided to ask."That is an evidence and quite obvious one indeed."

"Don't you worry, I've hid it well."

"You should have thrown it away!", Mr. Wilson raged.

"Now, don't be like that Mr. Wilson. Quit your shouting and don't utter another word of it! No one knows!"

And with those words the housekeeper left him standing alone in his pantry; she'd let his blood boil in peace. That man was so infuriating sometimes!

Oh- but she had been wrong about one thing…Someone did know.

Later that day

The hours passed by slowly at Buckingham Palace that day. But time did pass; soon enough came luncheon and then teatime. Both of which were quiet affairs. Charles, who had fallen asleep next to his wife that very morning, had decided to eat his lunch in their bedroom. He wouldn't be leaving her side, not now. However, she hadn't been much of a company to him as she slept until it was time to eat dinner. According to the doctor, it was a good thing. Her body needed rest to get better, so Charles wasn't too worried.

Elsie's maid Mabel had also stayed with them most of the time. She didn't have anything to do since the person she worked for was the patient, who needed bedrest to get better. But she wanted to be useful in some way. This seemed to be the best way to do that.

And now, the clock stroke six in the evening announcing that it was time for dinner. And to everyone's relief, the princess had woken up and was feeling slightly better than she had been in the morning. But still, she was nowhere near to normal.

"Let me help you, love-", Charles leaned to put the white embroidered shawl around his wife's slightly shivering shoulders.

"Thank you.", she simply said in turn, a yawn escaping her mouth.

"You're very welcome. I'm so glad you're feeling a bit better now. I was getting slightly worried.", Charles smiled, kissing her forehead ever so gently.

He was so glad that she was feeling well enough to be sitting. He kept reassuring himself that soon she'll be her wonderful self again…His wonderful Elsie. Soon, he thought.

"I'm sorry.", she mumbled.

"No, don't be. It's not your fault.", he shook his head, taking her hands in his."What about I help you eat some dinner, hm?"

He could see the look of disgust on her face.

"I d-don't- I think I'm going to get sick."

"Well, would you try? For me?", he whispered.

Well, she couldn't deny him anything, could she? Her reply was a quick nod and so Charles asked Mabel to lift the tray, that had a bowl of soup on it, onto Elsie's lap.

"Here we are, your highness.", the younger woman smiled.

"Thank you.", Charles thanked her, taking the spoon from the tray.

"No.", his wife said, mustering as much of her former housekeeper's voice as she possibly could in her current state.

"Darling, you barely have enough energy to sit up and talk to me, please let me do this for you. I only want to help."

"Alright then.", she surrendered."You may feed me- this once. And only because I fear it might make me sick."

"Then if it does make you sick, I'll hold your hair when you throw up.", he said in earnest.

"You're so daft.", she whispered, shaking her head slightly.

And all Charles could do was thank God that he didn't allow her to be taken away from him for forever. She would get better…He knew it. And when she did, he'd treasure her like she was the finest diamond on earth…Well, to him she was the most finest, perfect diamond indeed.