Morning Mistress Monroe

                                    

                                          
Monroe woke to an empty bed. She looked around her small room to see that the Prince's clothes were gone. She threw on her dress and ran down the stairs. She opened the door and his horse was gone too. Did he really just fuck and run?! Monroe thought. 
"What's wrong?" Monroe turned her head to the left to follow the voice. She was now looking at her oldest and dearest friend Tullia. 
"Tullia, it's nothing. Don't worry. How are you?" She asked. 
Tullia frowned. "I'm not letting you get away that easily. Let's go inside, get some breakfast, and you can tell me what is bothering you." 
"That's the problem. I don't know if I can tell you." 
"Well why not?" She asked. 
"Because...it's hard to explain." Monroe sighed. "I think I may be way over my head with this one." She frowned. 
"With what?" Tullia asked. "I only want to know because I am your friend and I want to help you." 
"I..." Monroe was interrupted by the sound of a large cavalry of horses approaching the tavern. She looked out the window over her friends shoulder and saw men of the royal guard. 
Her heart dropped and she started to hyperventilate. 
Tullia raised an eyebrow and turned around to look at the horses. 
The door to the tavern opened and a man walked in. 
"What is this?!" Monroe's father, Eckhardt shouted from the door to the stairs with Niklaus standing beside him. 
"His royal highness, the Prince of Thavalon. Prince Adler Focarda." The man announces to them. 
Tullia and Monroe both stood up. They curtsied while Nik and Eckhardt bowed. 
Adler confidently walked into the tavern. He approached Monroe and placed his hand on her chin. He lifted up her head and looked into her eyes. 
"Monroe Lunar." He lightly kissed her lips and realized her chin. 
Adler turned to face her father. "Mr. Lunar, Sir, I am here to ask your daughter if she would join at court as my loving and devoted mistress." 
Eckhardt looked at Monroe and then back at the Prince. "I don't know what my daughter has done to attract your highness' affections." 
"The better question would be what did she not do. I fell for her just by watching her every move and how she lived." Adler turned back to Monroe. "Do you want to come with me?" He stepped closer to her. 
"I..." 
"Please say yes." He begged. 
"Sire, I can't leave my family. They need my help here." 
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll make sure they have the money they need to keep this tavern in business." He assured her. 
"And my friend, Tullia..." Monroe gestures to her bewildered friend. 
"You will need ladies to care for you. She can come alone. I already have a lady picked out back at court to help you, and I was going to allow you to chose the other anyway." He grabbed her hand. "So, will you come?" 
Monroe grinned. "Yes, your highness. I would be honored and delighted." 
"Wonderful." Adler kisses her hand. "Quickly, go pack your things." Monroe let go of his hands and headed behind the bar. 
She bowed down before leaving the room. "Your highness." Monroe then turned and went upstairs. 
Tullia left to pack her things as well. 
"How is it, your highness, that you came upon my daughter?" Eckhardt asked. 
"I came to your tavern one evening. Life at court was very stressful and I was looking for a way to relief that. I was just looking for a drink, but I found way more. Your daughter enchanted me and I couldn't resist coming back to see more of her." Adler explained. 
"Well, thank you, your highness. It is a huge honor just to have you in my tavern." Eckhardt smiled. 
"You have a lovely establishment here and don't worry, I will keep this place alive. You don't need to fear the lose of your daughter." 
"Highness, I care less about my tavern than I do about the safety and well being of my daughter." 
"Do not worry about her either. You can trust me to keep her safe. I have a great love for her, one I've never felt before." Adler smiled. 
"Thank you, your highness." 
Monroe opened the door with two bags in hand. 
Prince Adler snapped and a man went over and took them from her. 
Monroe nodded her head as a thank you and walked over to Adler. 
"Are you ready to go?" He asked. 
"Yes." Monroe smiled. "I've never been more ready for anything in my entire life." 
"Good." Adler walked to the door. 
Monroe turned around to say her goodbyes to her father and brother. She then joined the prince and stood at his side. They walked to the horses. Tullia arrived shortly after with her things. She bowed to them and then climbed on the horse behind Monroe. 
With a flick of the reins, Adler and Monroe headed back to the castle where judgement awaited.