The next morning, she awoke abruptly to the banging of a fist upon her door. "Open up! Nostradamus has summoned you. The king's eldest son has been hurt. You're needed urgently."She dressed quickly and followed the guards as they caused everyone to clear her the fastest path to Nostradamus's chambers. The king's eldest? I wasn't aware he had two sons. Prince Frances? No, they would have said the dauphin or the prince if that were the case. She spotted two more guards posted outside the door, one of which opened it for her.

"I came as quickly as I could. The king's s-" She stopped in her tracks as she spotted Jonathan lying on the bed, soaked in his own blood, unconscious from the amount of blood he'd lost. Crying and freezing up will not save him you stupid girl, now MOVE! "What happened? And where is the king's son?" she asked, snapping out of her sorrowful daze to get to work.

"You're looking at him," Nostradamus replied, nodding in Jonathan's direction as he mashed up a poultice to stop the bleeding. "That is the king's eldest son."

"That's- but that can't be, he's-"

"His name is Sebastian and he has much explaining to do when he awakes, if he awakes."

"That, he does," she muttered as she cleaned the wound.

They managed to stop the bleeding and keep the wound clean, though his breathing was still concerningly shallow. Mona constantly fluxed between feelings of rage and sorrow. After hours of this, she settled on a cold neutrality. Feelings aside, it is my duty to keep him alive. If he survives this, I may kill him myself…

She felt a rather large hand touch her shoulder. "Get some rest. If he wakes before you or his condition changes, I will come get you."

"Thank you, Nostradamus, but I'd rather not stray far."

"I'd rather have you nearby as well," he said, nodding towards his bed. "The guards are nearby, so you needn't fear anything untoward."

"I don't feel you'd ever do such a thing," she smiled reassuringly up at him. "Thank you. I think I'll take a nap."

She crawled in, the weight of the pelts he slept under lulled her into a deep sleep. She awoke a few hours later to find the king's son still passed out. She crawled out of the bed, tapping Nostradamus gently on the shoulder, which startled him as he was about to doze.

"How's he holding up?"

"He's doing much better now. His breathing is steady. I think once he gets enough rest, he'll make it out the other end of this."

"Good. Your turn, no arguments," she nodded towards the bed.

"But-"

"No. Arguments. You hired me to assist you, let me assist. I can watch over him and wipe the sweat from his brow. If his condition changes, I will let you know. A tired physician is a bad physician."

He chuckled at her assertiveness despite him towering over her. "Yes, m'lady. Off to bed, as ordered."

She watched him crawl in, then grabbed the bucket of water and rag. She wiped her patient's face with the cool water, trying as hard as she could to look past him rather than at him. It hurt her heart in more ways than one to look at him for too long. Nostradamus was snoring away despite the sun reaching its pique in the sky, the light coming through the window in full force. After an hour or so, Sebastian's eyes fluttered open.

"Well," he croaked, "I must have died after all to have an angel taking care of me." He shifted to try to sit up but hissed at the shooting pain in his middle.

"Don't move you-" She took a deep breath to pull herself together, looking towards the heavens to gather her thoughts. "Please don't move," she said politely yet firmly, returning her gaze to what he guessed was his forehead. He frowned, noticing the lack of colorful insults and banter.

"Mona, it wasn't like I could say no. It was the king's orders. I promise I'll make it up to you," his eyes pleaded with her just to look at him, but she continued to look into nothingness.

"I'm not sure that that's appropriate, my lord," she answered in an icy, clipped tone. "I should let the guards and Nostradamus know you're awake. Your father will want to speak with you, I'm sure," she said, rising to her feet.

"My father? Wait! Mona, please, let me explain," he begged, grabbing her wrist.

Tears began to stream down her cheeks, her fists clenching to try to pull herself together enough to get words out. "This is much to process. This has been on your terms from day one, please let this conversation be on mine."

He released her, laying back. "Fair enough…"

I've gone and done it now… he thought to himself, gazing after her as she walked away.

She woke Nostradamus, then spoke with the guards to inform them the son of the king was alive and awake.

"May I please take my leave? I need some fresh air," she explained, to which Nostradamus nodded. He saw the agony in her eyes. He saw the cracks in her composure that threatened to shatter at any moment.

The guards parted for her and she made her way to the only person who made sense in her muddled mind.

"Leith," she managed to choke out, holding back sobs in the entry of the kitchens. "I need my big brother."

"Woah, hey, hey, hey. What happened?" he asked, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Outside," she directed. He gently guided her to a bench in the gardens. Once it was clear they wouldn't be overheard or bothered, she let out the flood she'd been holding back for the last several hours.

"What's wrong? Mona, I can't fix it if you don't tell me what happened," he said, wiping away her tears.

"Oh," she laughed wryly. "There's no fixing this."

"Did you get fired? Wait, you're not-"

"No!" she smacked his arm. "I'm not with child. I wouldn't be so careless and no, Nostradamus seems rather pleased with my work."

"Then what's wrong? Did that boy of yours do something stupid?"

"Understatement of the century."

"I'll kill him myself! What'd he do?" He demanded, his jaw and fists tightening.

"I wouldn't say that too loud. You could be hanged for treason."

"Hanged for- I'm sorry, what?" he asked in complete and utter shock and confusion.

"Turns out, he's the king's son. Yep," she said, popping her lips. "You take your time processing that. I still haven't fully."

"Prince Frances?" he hissed, his eyes wide with alarm. "Are you trying to-"

"NO nononono, his other son. Didn't know he had more than one, but yeah."

"Alright, so not messing-with-the-line-of-succession level bad then," he took a calming breath. "Wait, his name's Sebastian though."

"He's been calling himself Jonathan to me. He lied, though I don't understand why. He could've had any girl in the castle, any girl in France for that matter! If anything, advertising who he is would be an easy way to get what he wants." She looked down at the ground, seemingly preoccupied with the grass at her feet, pushing it this way and that.

"Unless… that's not what he wanted."

She narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Well, any floozy is gonna try to shack up with a royal, yeah?"

She nodded, then shook her head with a bitter smile. "Mother would be so proud."

"That aside for a moment," he said, trying to get her to focus back on the point. "If all he wanted was to bed you, he'd've told you who he was from the jump. If anything, he could order you, if he wanted to."

"Of course he could! That's what makes it so confusing. What exactly are you saying?" she asked, frustration seeping into her voice.

"I'm just saying, maybe there's another reason for all this. Have you asked him why?"

"Didn't give him much of a chance to talk at all," she admitted. "He lied to me. I didn't exactly want another word out of his mouth."

"Do you love him?"

His question shocked her. "I mean, it's far too soon to tell anything like that, not that it's even remotely a possibility now anyway!"

"Why not?" he asked bluntly.

"You of all people know we can never be anything more than playthings for them. When there are genuine feelings, nothing can ever happen. Just look at your situation," she gestured towards him, then slowly pulled her hand back in as she realized the words that left her mouth. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't've… I just thought of anyone here, you'd get it."

"No need to apologize. You're right." His usual playful demeanor was gone. He wasn't her goofy, idiot brother right now. The look in his eyes made him seem so much older. "She and I can never be because she's the rich one and I'm the servant. We can never fully be together because it would ruin her and her family. So, what's stopping you?"

"He lied to me. Were this to continue, I'd likely have a target on my back from the Medici queen herself."

"As long as you don't try to rock the boat of succession, you'll be fine. You can be with the one you care so much for, all that's stopping you is fear." He sighed deeply. "I love her so much that I'm willing to risk being executed every time I see her while also helping her with her suitors. I spent all day yesterday making her some special basket for someone I may lose her to forever, all out of love. So again, I ask, what's stopping you? What are you willing to do for love?" He leveled his gaze at her.

She wiped her tears and sniffled." I had no idea… I'm sorry. That… that puts my situation into perspective, doesn't it?" she let out a soft chuckle. "You're right though. When did you get so wise? I still remember the idiot that chased all over hill and field after a getaway goat." They shared a laugh, her leaning her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her.

"Well, someone's gotta keep you lot out of trouble."

She ran her fingers through her hair as she made her way back to Nostradamus's chambers. She noted the lack of guards and walked through the open door. Sebastian looked towards the sound of familiar footsteps. His eyes were pleading with her, but he kept his mouth shut.

She'll speak when she's ready… if she's ever ready.

"Where's Nostradamus?" she asked, noting he wasn't in his bed and didn't hear the sound of him toiling away with the usual instruments.

"He went out to get more components."

She nodded, then sat by his bedside to resume wiping down his face. "Your body is trying to fight off the infection. We need to keep you cool so your brain doesn't overheat." She paused, then met his gaze. He could see the conflicted storm brewing in them. "What exactly are you wanting of me?"

It was torture to see the damage his lie had done to her. "Hopefully, love, if you want anything to do with me after this."

She closed her eyes as she felt them welling up with tears. "Why lie then?" she managed to whisper, her throat feeling tight.

"Since Queen Mary's arrival, we've seen a rather large number of English spies. When we first met, it seemed the smart thing to do. You were new, which, I'm sorry to say, made you suspicious."

She soaked the cloth, wrung it out, then went back to wiping his forehead and cheeks. "That's… somewhat understandable. So, why keep it up? Why ask me to the boating party? Being royal probably doesn't hurt your chances with women, especially servants."

"All the wrong women. I wanted to be sure that if you wanted to be with me, it was for the right reasons. I was going to tell you last night, I swear. I had it all planned out. I was going to tell you on the boat. I may have had an extra glass or two of liquid courage in the hopes it would help loosen my lips a bit," he smirked slightly, thinking of how beautiful she looked in the torchlight, then sighed wistfully. "Then, a guard pulled me aside and told me the king wanted me to ride off to deliver a message. That's when I was attacked as it ended up being an ambush."

"That's why your face was so flush all night," she allowed herself a tiny smirk.

"Well, that wasn't the only reason. You did look stunning in that gown. I'd love to make it up to you properly if you'll still have me." He gazed up at her, holding his breath as he awaited her answer.

"I think… I'd like that, however," she said with a careful tone, "I've seen lines of succession change in an instant. If you want to be with me, I won't be trapped in some gilded cage."

He let out a sigh of relief. "Thank the heavens for that!" He laughed. "Then you and I are aligned in that matter, at least. I may be the bastard prince, but I enjoy the freedom my brother could never have. It does tend to make him a little bitter at times, but he loves his country enough to always put France first and remain in that gilded cage, as you so eloquently put it. I have no desire to take his place."

"What are you wanting out of… this?" she gestured between the two of them. "When you say love, do you intend to court me or is this some… fling? I don't want a whirlwind romance, then to be thrown away as if I'm nothing."

He reached up to caress her face, wincing from the pain caused by his moving. "One thing I need you to understand and understand clearly is you will never be nothing. As for what I intend with you, I would like to properly court you."

She leaned into his touch, kissing the palm of his hand. He found himself pulling her face to his own. She didn't resist. Their lips met, soft at first, then a passionate hunger overtook them both. She stood to ease the strain of him holding himself up. She slid her hand up to his cheek, stroking it with her thumb as the kiss deepened. It seemed like an eternity in their little bubble of time that felt removed from this world and all the complications that come with it. A gruff clearing of the throat shattered their trance as Mona yelped and quickly pulled away from him.

"Well, you two seemed to have resolved your differences," Nostradamus gave a slight knowing smile. "And you," he continued, "seem to be feeling much better."

"Yes, with a bedside manner like hers, I feel much improved," Bash smirked.