I spoke loudly, for the whole room to hear, “If my passion for you is a crime, then I don’t want to be innocent. The crowd turned and stared down the usurper, then looked at the King, waiting for his command, “Leave these lands for good, never lay your eyes on my daughter again. Prepare for your departure, you leave tonight!”

Two guards, one short one tall, entered the hall swiftly, picked up the young man and carried him through the great hall doors.

As the young man was tossed down the castle steps, he was confounded by the nature of his predicament, “how could sleeping with the King’s daughter possibly led to this outcome?”

JLS