Every time we stopped and caught our air, he kissed me again and again, his lips hungrier, nibbling, thrilling my body, awakening my inner soul.

My stomach began to tingle, and his skin felt hot as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

I desired this, I desired the way he made me feel, and I desired him…

As his weight softly pushes and leans me against the tree while his tongue devours mine and holds me there while I writhe in his arms where his hand goes through my thin crimson fabric of my dress as he places his hands beneath my skirt and touches my thigh.

Someone coughed in the heat of the moment, as we came to a halt before going any further. We both looked around to see who was there and found Abu and William standing there, William looking ashamed as he placed his palms on the boy’s eyes.

We quickly separated, with Baldwin collecting his mask from the ground and me situating myself.

“I don’t think you need the ladder any longer… should we leave?” William inquired.

“No…” he murmured, embarrassedly looking at William. “It’s fine… I think we need to go, William… ” Baldwin replied as his face turned scarlet red and he looked at me, shyly saying, “I’ll see you, my queen..” he said with a smile as he patted William’s shoulder.

“Well… I’ll talk to you later, My Queen ” William replies tentatively as he clears his throat and follows Baldwin with a sigh.

“What just happened?” Abu inquired as he mischievously smiled at me after William and Baldwin had left.

“n-nothing, and it’s not your concern,” I say, turning red.

“But I saw it… It was really spicy,” he said, leaving me stunned and embarrassed. “Hey! you brat! wait up!” I cried as I followed him.

Meanwhile, a party of knights has recently returned. After a month of mission for the sake of the Holy Land, it was Roger de Moulin and his knights who entered the castle gate.

Peter, a Paige lad who was like a little brother to him, greeted him. “Welcome back, Ser Roger,” the youngster said as he dismounted his horse.

He says, messing up Peter’s hair, “It’s great to be home.

“you have to tell me everything on what happened to your adventure! did you kill any Muslims? or a ravagers? ” the young lad demanded.

“More than that.. we just saved a group of Caravan’s merchants crossing Jordan from a group of thieves,” he said to the lad.

“That’s incredible! I wish I could grow up to be like you… a brave knight,” the child exclaimed.

“You will… just don’t forget to practise” He added with a wonderful smile, “Here I brought something for you,” he said as he handed the boy an exquisitely carved dagger.

“woah! It’s beautiful Ser Roger! Thanks!” exclaimed Peter, “and what is that?” he added, pointing to a ruby hair pin Roger was holding.

“Oh… this… it’s a gift for a Lady I’m excited to see… It’s been almost a month since I last saw her, and I’m worried she’ll forget about me,” Roger remarked sweetly.

“A lady? Which of those ladies are you referring to?” Peter inquires.

Roger gave Peter a friendly smile. “And you’ve been seeing a dozen ladies for as long as I can remember… and you don’t usually bring them gifts,” Peter continued.

“Your too young to understand lad… well, let’s just say… I am kind of interested in this lady… she is different from the others,” he said to the perplexed boy, “so tell me what’s going on here in the castle while I’m away.”

“Oh.. yes.. Lord Sinclair’s wife just died from plague”

“That’s awful,” Roger said hastily.

“But, thanks to the Queen, the town is quickly recovering from the plague,” Peter continued.

“Queen?” Roger wondered as he came to a halt.

“Yes… Our new Queen,” Peter says.

“When you say Queen… Our king just got married, is that it?” Roger wondered.

“y-yes… that is why we have a Queen… ” Peter replied to a puzzled Roger, “you don’t know? He got married?”

“no… I wasn’t aware.. and w-who is the new queen? and does his majesty know that he is married? I mean, I know him and he will absolutely disagree with this.. don’t tell me the archbishops are behind this?” he talked quickly to Peter, looking anxious and disbelieving.

“No.. actually his Majesty proposed to Lady Philippa… it wasn’t a surprise since the Lady is really Beautiful, kind and smart… no wonder the king was captivated by her,” Peter explained.

“Wait?! What?!” Roger exclaimed, shocked. “He married Lady Philippa?!” he continued. as he clenched his teeth in apparent anger and clutched the Ruby hair pin.

“Yes… Ser Roger, is there something wrong?” Peter inquired, concerned.

“no…” Roger sighed, “I- I have to go… I need to speak to His Majesty,” as he stormed away.

In the meantime, Philippa, Omar, and Abu are working on fresh medicines for the people of Jerusalem. Philippa, on the other hand, appears to be daydreaming and smiles to herself as Omar and Abu gaze.

“What happened to her? And why is she smiling like that?” Omar inquired of Abu.

” I don’t know she’s been like that after…. ” Abu paused and stared at Omar.

“After what?” Omar inquired.

“after she discovers there is a black mulberry in the castle grounds,” Abu responds promptly.

“Well… that’s strange,” Omar said, looking at Philippa, who was humming.

“My Lady…,” Omar said.

Philippa said, “yes?”

“What is that?” he questioned, looking over Philippa’s work.

“Oh this?” Philippa asked, “I’m actually making my antibacterial cream.”

“anti… what?” Omar inquired.

Philippa’s POV:

“Antibacterial ointment can be a great way to keep minor cuts clean and prevent infections, so I’m making it. It’s quite easy to make actually.. all I need is coconut oil, castor oil that I prepared weeks ago, beeswax, and a double boiler, I also actually added lavender and lemon essential oils seem effective as antibacterial, according to studies, and I Add honey to the mixture for more antibacterial benefits.”

“Is that effective?” Omar inquired.

“Yes.. I also added a strong antibacterial ingredient called hydrogen peroxide that I made, This compound is basically Saline water with an oxygen molecule, expressed in chemical nomenclature as H202. It’s naturally-occurring, formed by sunlight acting on water, and hydrogen peroxide is produced by both plant and animal cells…” I explain to Omar as I carefully filter the medicine into a bottle. “Well, it’s not as well made as the chlorine I made the last time because I lack some important ingredients and modern… I mean equipment to perfect it,” I explained.

“That’s amazing although I don’t follow but I can see the great outcome of this on the King’s health,” Omar said as he stared at me.

“yes… I usually apply it to the King as part of his medical routine, but I’ve just run out of it… and I’m making progress on making a Dapsone, which is an antibacterial agent that kills leprosy, but it’s still in progress… I need more advanced equipment to create one… for now… this will do”

“It’s already quite amazing progress, milady,” replied Omar.

I responds with a smile, “thank you…”

“I have received reports of condition from the town residents who were severely affected by the plague,” he stated.

“What is it?”

“More than 90 out of 100 townspeople have now recovered completely from the plague, and they are all grateful to you and your medicines.”

“that is wonderful news”

“Yes, they are truly grateful for their bear gift for you, your grace.”

“Oh my gosh, they shouldn’t bother… I mean, I was just trying to help,” I remarked.

“That’s how they show their gratitude to you, they’re in your debt, your grace.”

“But still…” I continues.

Omar gave me a small smile and said, ” I have to talk with the council, Henry the Archbishop of Toulouse wanted an audience, It’s a perfect opportunity to ask additional funding for this cause.”

“I’ll accompany you,” I insisted.

“no stay… finish what you’re doing… you’re the Queen… there’s no need for you to attend tribal affairs.”

“But,” I objected.

“Omar is right… just leave it to him; you should know that the Archbishop already dislikes you, so going there could be a problem,” Abu added.

“What do you mean by that?” I inquired, raising an eyebrow.

“I was just saying…”

“Abu is right, and I don’t want to put you in a difficult situation,” Omar continued.

“OK… but you have to promise that if there is anything I can do to help, let me know.”

“Of course…I will,” Omar responded, softly lowering his head. as soon as he walked out. I let out a sighs as I continues my work.

” I can’t help but wonder…” said Abu.

“What?” I questioned, looking at him.

“why did you kiss him? I know he’s your husband and you’re his wife, but you know he has leprosy? aren’t you afraid he might ” Abu paused

“might what?” I questioned, crossing my arms.

“nothing…” he said as he shifted his gaze away from me.

“That he might have given it to me?… are you afraid I might be contagious?” I asked.

“No… that’s not what I meant…” Abu sighed.

“Then what is it?” I ask, raising my voice.

” I am worried alright, I am worried of you because your health is frail, and you overwork yourself, and yes, I am worried that you might get his leprosy, and knowing there is so much you can do to help people… ” he bursted, and I was surprised to see Abu in this state.

“I don’t know that you worried too much for me… but you don’t have to… believe me, Leprosy isn’t that contagious…” I explained.

“How do you know?” Abu inquired.

“It’s because it’s difficult to catch, and it can take years to develop symptoms of the disease after an infection; however, people who catch the disease can easily be cured with antibiotics, which is what we’re doing…” I explained.

“I’m sorry,” Abu muttered, looking down.

“no.. I apologise.. I understand you’re just worried and…”

“My entire village was plagued by leprosy, and only a few survived… my father is one of them,” he expressed sorrow as I listened to him. 

“When I was a child, I really wanted to become a merchant just like my father, but he wanted me to become a philosopher since I really love to read scriptures and teach, but when the plague came and took my father away, I realised that I wanted to become a doctor instead so I could help my people “

” When I turned 14, I decided to leave. So I grabbed my belongings and left my village, promising to return and help them. I went out to learn and met other people, scholars from various locations till I was captured by slave traders for months. I was absolutely despondent and thought I would perish, I was hating myself and somehow wishing I hadn’t left my village, but you came and saved me… ” He said with a smile

“I am sorry to hear that…” I muttered, looking at him.

“When you said I was a great pharmacologist and botanist, I was happy…and I know you might have mistook me for someone else, and I didn’t know how I ever became one, but you encouraged me with your words and actions become my Ideal, that is why I am here, and I want to learn from you, and become a great person just like what you said,” he explained.

“Well, Abu, you’re already a great person. You’re very smart, mature and you help more people than you can imagine,” I say, “and I consider myself very fortunate to have met you.”

“You… you’re like a sister to me… so that’s why I’m worried you’ll get hurt or sick,” Abu says with a smile.

His words moved me; he was like a brother I never had. ” and your kind like an arse little brother to me… ” I said with a smile “you don’t have to worry I’ll be fine ” an I touched his cheeks he smile at me as we continue to work again

“I’m curious, do you like kissing him?” Abu inquired. “A-Abu!” I exclaimed as I suddenly turned crimson scarlet.

“Well… are you in love with him?” he asks again.

“Well.. it’s not like that… ” I responded hesitantly, “I-it’s complicated… you wouldn’t understand,” I tried to explain, feeling embarrassed.

“I can’t understand unless you tell me,” he says.

“You can’t expect me to answer something like that so easily! it’s embarrassing,” I replied as I pounded herbs in my mortar.

“Come on… you tell me… I can keep it a secret.”

“fine! I’m falling in love with him and I can’t stop thinking about him, so I kissed him on the spur of the moment and he kissed me back, which I am very happy about because it means he might actually like me, right?” I blushed and said

“On the context, no maiden has ever kissed a gentlemen on the spur of the moment, because noble ladies act prim and proper second I can see how the King looks at you as if he is longing for you… and it only means,” Abu explained, pausing.

“Yes?” I ask, thrilled.

“It could mean something, or it could mean nothing,” he explained.

“You know what you suck,” I rolled my eyes.