Smart boots scuffed the garden path as a young agitated King Motto marched with no clear destination in mind.  The garden was quite beautiful as Hector had said it would be, but his heart ache seemed worse than before.<br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://66.media.tumblr.com/f9d734240a8be463be8e445c51d6eb20/tumblr_inline_p667kakazY1trff3p_540.gif">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“Lovely indeed.”</span>He muttered, stopping suddenly to glare at a green butterfly perched on a white rose.  No not even the crisp flower and soft winged creature could ease his troubled mind.   He drew his sword and with an angry sound, he slashed the poor rose free.  Down toppled the beautiful white and green did flutter away.  The fresh cut landed near his foot and Motto mourned.  Regretting his temper, the raven-haired ruler crouched to pluck up the rose and study it.  It was still very pretty but it would die soon.  Was this flower like Princess Genevieve?  Beautiful and …???  Frowning, Motto felt embarrassment at his own crooked thinking.  This rose was nothing like Genevieve!  He stood quickly and threw the flower further down the path.  It fell less prettily this time and the King stood staring at it for a short moment.  The unfortunate blossom had done nothing to deserve the abuse.  He had wronged it.  Again.  Groaning anew, Motto rushed forward to retrieve the rose when he tripped, stumbled and careened into the tall hedges that lined his path.<br/><br/>Cursing, he found his sleeve was caught on three separate branches while others poked his cheek and backside.  Growling, he pulled only to stop for fear of damaging his coat.  Realizing it wasn’t his<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Father’s</span></span>coat, he fought harder to free himself; cutting away at the hedge interior with awkward movements and tearing himself free with a triumphant roar.<br/><br/>And Genevieve was there.  Before him.  Her hair..was rather becoming.  Motto stood there with a bleeding cheek and vine still clinging to his pant leg.  He stared at the beauty and forgot his reason for being in the garden.  He forgot about the rose and the hedge.<span style="color: #00BF40"> "My Princess.." </span>He did his best to remain calm and not grovel at her feet.<span style="color: #00BF40">"I would know why you left my bed last night.  Tell me."</span>