As Philippa prepared herself to march towards the great hall, frustration and longing burned within her, as she felt a palpable sense of impatience. Her steps were resolute, and her gaze fixed firmly on her destination. The weight of her emotions, her yearning for Baldwin, seemed to have transformed her into a singularly focused force.In her path stood William, the ever-watchful advisor, whose expression bore a mix of curiosity and concern.

Philippa’s POV :

William, always the voice of reason, asked with a gentle tone, “Your Majesty, may I ask what is happening?” His inquiry served as a lifeline in that charged moment. Summoning my determination, I faced him and replied firmly, “I must see the King without delay. There are matters I need to discuss with him.”

William regarded me with a thoughtful expression before responding, “Your Majesty, I understand your urgency, but perhaps it would be wise to wait for the right moment to approach the King. He has been preoccupied lately.”

My frustration was palpable as I replied, “I’ve waited long enough, William. I must see him now.”

“The king is in the great hall, and is preoccupied with… ” Without giving William a chance to finish, I strode purposefully towards the great hall. My impatience and frustration had reached a breaking point, and I was single-minded in my pursuit of King Baldwin. William, taken aback by my resolute resolve, He hurriedly followed, determined to provide reason and guidance amidst my frustration, the click of his boots echoing in the corridor.

As we approached the great hall, there was an abrupt change in the ambiance – the peaceful quietness of the castle’s corridors gave way to lively commotion in the halls. The people there were preoccupied with their work, oblivious to the intense feelings that were stirring inside me.

William gently reached out to reason with me once more, “Your Majesty, please, let me speak with the King first. I will ensure that he receives your message.” But my resolve was unyielding, and I pushed forward, determined to confront the King and seek the answers I so desperately needed.

As I approached the grand entrance of the great hall, two knights, loyal to their king, stood guard, their imposing figures blocking my path. My determination and the sense of authority that radiated from me were undeniable. I didn’t hesitate for a moment. With a firm command, I uttered, “Move!”

The knights, recognizing her resolve and perhaps realizing the gravity of the situation, exchanged a brief, uncertain glance. Without a word, they stepped aside, allowing Philippa to pass. As her heart raced with anticipation, Philippa summoned her inner strength and pushed aside the massive doors, granting her entry into the grandeur of the great hall. Each creak of the ornate wood seemed to echo her resolute determination.
The room beyond was bathed in the warm, golden hues of the setting sun, casting long shadows that stretched across the polished stone floor.

With the doors gently closing behind her, Philippa’s attention was entirely consumed by the figure of her husband, King Baldwin, standing regally at the far end of the great hall. Her eyes locked onto his, and for a brief moment, the entire world seemed to fade away. She was oblivious to the presence of other noble grand knights who occupied the hall, her focus singularly directed towards the man she had been longing to see. Meanwhile, William remained outside, torn between his loyalty to the king and his concern for the queen.

The atmosphere in the hall was charged with tension, a palpable undercurrent of unspoken emotions. Philippa took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation that lay ahead. It was a moment of reckoning, a confrontation of the rift that had grown between them. She approached Baldwin, her heart heavy with a mixture of longing and frustration, ready to break the silence that had enveloped them for days.

Baldwin’s eyes widened in shock and surprise as he beheld his queen, Philippa, standing before him. Her sudden appearance had caught him off guard, and for a moment, he was lost for words.

Philippa’s POV :

“My queen,” he finally managed to utter, his voice a mixture of astonishment and uncertainty. He had not expected me to seek him out with such determination and disregard for the formalities of their royal surroundings.

“I have come to speak with you, Your Majesty,” I said firmly as I approached Baldwin.

Baldwin, initially caught off guard, quickly attempted to diffuse the situation with a gentle tone. “I appreciate you coming here, my queen. Perhaps we can talk later. I’ll visit you in your chamber tonight,” he suggested, his voice holding a note of reassurance.

I felt anxious and flustered as I locked eyes with Baldwin. I haven’t seen him in a week, and my nerves were getting the best of me. I took a deep breath before speaking, trying to keep my nerves under control. “I-I understand, Your Majesty. You seem quite busy,” I said, turning away to hide the blush that had crept onto my cheeks.

But I couldn’t ignore the urgency of my feelings. As I was ready to leave, a sense of impending separation gripped my heart. I couldn’t bear the thought of him avoiding me again, and with newfound determination, I faced Baldwin once more.

With a resolute and unwavering tone in my voice, I spoke up once more, my eyes locked onto Baldwin’s. “No,” I declared firmly, a sense of finality underscoring my words. “Enough of this…” My statement seemed to hang in the air, casting a weighty tension over the moment.

Baldwin, realizing the depth of her emotions, fell silent, compelled to address her concerns immediately.

With regal poise and my head held high, I confronted Baldwin. I was determined to have a conversation with him, and I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Without skipping a beat, I spoke with a controlled confidence. “Your Majesty, I came here to talk with you. And this is not a request,” The conviction in my words left little room for argument, and I waited expectantly for Baldwin’s response.

Baldwin’s POV:

I looked at Philippa silently as she continued to speak her mind. Her words were direct and filled with a mix of confusion and frustration, as she voiced her concerns about my avoidance to her.

“I don’t understand why you keep avoiding me,” she began, her voice wavering slightly. “Have I done something to disappoint you?” Her words hung in the air, as I attempted to respond. I stammered slightly, trying to find the right words to say. “N-no, it’s not like that…” I trailed off, unsure of how to articulate the thoughts that were buzzing in my head.

I was caught off guard as Philippa cut me off mid-sentence. Her frustration was evident, and she was having none of my excuses. “And don’t tell me you’re doing this for my own sake…” she exclaimed, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Despite the gravity of the moment, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for my strong-willed queen. A faint smile crept onto my face as I gazed at her, marveling at her resolve and determination.

I opened my mouth to respond to Philippa’s frustrations, but before I could say anything, she continued to pour out her feelings. ” I will be the one doing the talking now,” she declared, her voice firm. She let out a heavy sigh before continuing. “Don’t tell me you’re doing this for my own sake because it certainly doesn’t feel that way. It’s utterly frustrating. And what about those gifts you keep giving every night without explanation? I don’t understand any of this.”

Her tone remained firm and unwavering as she expressed her pent-up frustrations, not allowing me in any room to interject. It was clear that Philippa had a lot on her mind, and she was determined to express it all to me. Despite the weight of her words.

I couldn’t help but smile at the fire in her eyes. I admired her spirit and determination, even if it caused me some discomfort.

“I certainly apologize, My Queen,” I quickly responded with a mixture of sincerity and a hint of amusement. “It was never my intention to cause you such distress.”

Philippa regarded me with a mixture of relief and continued concern. “Then why, Baldwin? Why have you been avoiding me? “

I sighed, my gaze dropping for a moment before returning to meet hers. I took a deep breath, my gaze locked onto Philippa’s.

The grandeur of the great hall bore witness to a rare and profound moment. Baldwin, his regal demeanor momentarily softened, found himself lost in Philippa’s unwavering gaze. His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken sentiments, until Philippa, the courageous queen who had always defied convention, chose to unburden her heart.

Philippa’s POV :

“It’s not because you’ve disappointed me. It’s just…I can’t…” Baldwin began, his voice trailing off, as if searching for the right words to explain his actions. But before he could continue, I, with a spirit unyielding, stepped into the silence.

My voice remained resolute as I continued. “You know what?” I declared firmly. “I’ve grown weary of this. I’m exhausted from pretending to be a passive, obedient noble lady who simply waits for things to happen. That’s not who I am. I refuse to be like the other princesses, idly biding their time and waiting for a chance to leave their mark on the world.”

As the words of my confession echoed in the room, I felt the weight of the challenge I had just presented to the norms that had oppressed them for so long. And I refused to back down, allowing my emotions to guide me. “I refuse to hold back any longer,” I continued.

I couldn’t contain my emotions any longer as I locked eyes with Baldwin, my heart nearly bursting as I began to pour out my feelings. “I…I have this strange feeling when I’m with you,” I began, struggling to find the right words.

“It’s difficult to put into words, but it’s a feeling of warmth and joy when I’m around you,” I continued, struggling to convey the depth of my emotions. “I care about you deeply, more than I can express, and it’s painful when you avoid me. I can’t pretend any longer.” I inhaled deeply, mustering my bravery. “I’ve loved you since the moment I first laid eyes on you,” I admitted. “I know I may not fit the mold of the ideal queen or lady, but I refuse to let that stop me from being true to myself and my feelings for you ” Baldwin was taken aback by my confession.

Baldwin gazed at her in astonishment. It was the first time he had ever heard such a bold confession from a lady, and it left him utterly stunned. For a moment, silence reigned in the great hall as their eyes locked, and the weight of their unspoken desires hung in the air.

I looked at Baldwin, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for him to respond to my confession. “Please…say something,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I held my breath, waiting anxiously for his reply.

As Baldwin began to respond to my confession, his own emotions threatened to spill over. But before he could say anything further, a cough from one of the grand knights who had been silently watching the exchange interrupted him. The sound broke the intense moment, causing both of us to turn our attention to the interruption.

As I turned around, my eyes widened in embarrassment as I realized that we were not alone in the grand hall. Behind us, in the grand hall, stood his venerable assembly of grand knights, their expressions ranging from surprise to deep contemplation.

And I had confessed my feelings for the king in front of these noble witnesses. my cheeks flushed crimson, and I started to stammer, “W-well, it seems that I’ve intruded on a very important meeting… I… I must be going now.”

The grand knights exchanged knowing glances, some with amused smiles, while others maintained their stoic expressions. I hurriedly made my exit, my heart racing with embarrassment and uncertainty about what the consequences of my confession might be.

The atmosphere in the grand hall had shifted, leaving an indelible mark on this unexpected encounter. As Philippa hurriedly left, a wry and amused smile tugged at the corners of Baldwin’s lips.