Gasps and confusion fell upon the port city of Brest as an ongoing standoff between Poul Nielsen and Prince Alexander unfolded. The atmosphere was tense, with the Royal Guards tasked with guarding Prince Alexander aiming their rifles at Poul, creating an intimidating vibe that hung heavily in the air.
Sara, having boarded the ship as instructed by Poul, couldn't shake off the sense of unease that washed over her. Something was amiss, and she couldn't leave Poul alone to face the brewing storm. She made a split-second decision, abandoning the safety of the ship and rushing back towards Poul and Alexander, her heart pounding with worry.
"Stop this, Alexander. I'm begging you," Sara pleaded.
Alexander glanced at Sara who was standing in front of Poul with her arms spread.
"Sara?! I told you to stay on the ship!" Poul raised his voice, but Sara was unfazed.
"Penelope…you are truly alive!" Alexander stammered. "Don't worry, I will get you out of here from your kidnapper and make sure that this insolent vile would pay the price of taking you away from me, from your family to the British Empire."
"No! He didn't kidnap me, I came with him willingly," Sara interjected, her voice filled with determination. She locked eyes with Alexander, trying to convey the sincerity and truth behind her words. "The reason for my going is because of love..."
Prince Alexander's expression wavered between disbelief and anger. "How can you defend him?" he spat, his voice tinged with betrayal. "He's a deceiver who has manipulated you into thinking he is something he's not. I won't let him corrupt you any further," he continued. "And I don't really understand….I can't understand, how to understand…how…how come you have loved a person you have never met before in your childhood? This is not making any sense…there is only one logical reason behind your mysterious behavior, which is that he had corrupted you."
"No! I'm not corrupted, I'm telling the truth!" Sara's voice rang out, filled with sincerity and desperation. She could see the disbelief in Alexander's eyes, the struggle within him to reconcile the reality before him with the beliefs he held so strongly.
"Sara, get out of here, we expected this to happen, so let them take me. Don't worry, I'll be back with you in no time," Poul said in a reassuring voice.
"No, you won't get away from this easily, Poul Nielsen. I will make sure of it, that you won't return to your normal life," Alexander growled.
As Alexander was about to order his guard to move forward and detain Poul, someone stepped in.
"What's going on here?"
Alexander's gaze flickered to the man who chimed in, it was a French police officer. Behind him was a police officer with their pistol trained at the Royal Guards.
"Drop your guns and step away," the police officer commanded, his voice booming around them. The tense standoff now had an unexpected twist, as the local authorities intervened.
The Royal Guards, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the police, hesitated for a moment, and pulled out a letter from his pocket.
"I have this letter here from your Government, officer, that we are within our right to detain this man in your country as it has violated one of our laws," Alexander explained as he handed the letter to the police officer.
The police officer glanced at his men before grabbing the letter from Prince Alexander. He carefully examined the document, his brow furrowing in concentration.
[After careful consideration and consultation with the relevant authorities, we are pleased to inform you that the French government grants its approval for the detainment of Mr. Nielsen by the British Empire within the territory of France, in accordance with the details provided in your letter.
We understand the gravity of the alleged violations of British law attributed to Mr. Nielsen, and we recognize the importance of upholding justice and facilitating international cooperation in such matters. Accordingly, we assure you that the French authorities will extend their full support and assistance to the British Empire during the detainment process while ensuring that all applicable French laws and regulations are duly observed.
We emphasize the importance of adhering to due process and safeguarding the rights of the detainee throughout the entire operation. The French authorities will closely monitor the proceedings to ensure that Mr. Nielsen's rights are respected, and any necessary legal provisions are strictly followed.
]
After reading the letter, the police officer looked up from the document, his gaze shifting between Prince Alexander, Poul Nielsen, and Sara. His stern expression softened slightly as he took in the tense atmosphere and the conflicting emotions playing out before him.
"I have read the letter carefully, and it seems that the detainment of Mr. Nielsen is indeed permitted under the agreement between our governments," the police officer stated, his voice firm but measured. "However, it is also crucial that we ensure the proper observance of French laws and the protection of Mr. Nielsen's rights during this process."
"There's no need to do that, officer. We will just be bothering you. Our government wanted Poul Nielsen to be taken to the British Empire as soon as possible. Further obstruction would damage the relationship between our nations," Prince Alexander interjected, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I demand that you comply with the agreement and allow us to proceed with the detainment."
The police officer sighed, his gaze shifting from Prince Alexander to Poul Nielsen. "Fine, but on one condition. I want your men to drop their weapons, it's scaring the people around."
Prince Alexander paused for a moment, considering the request. He knew that the French police officer was right - the presence of armed Royal Guards was only heightening tensions and causing alarm among the bystanders. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he nodded in agreement.
"Very well. Lower your weapons," he commanded his men.
The tension in the air dissipated somewhat as the guards obeyed the order, slowly lowering their rifles and pistols. The police officer nodded his approval before turning his attention back to Poul Nielsen.
"Mr. Nielsen, you will come with them peacefully and without resistance. As per the letter given to me by Prince Alexander of the British Empire, the French Government has granted him full authority for your arrest and that we shouldn't interfere."
After saying that, the police officer stood by and watched. Seeing them on idle, Prince Alexander turned his attention once more to Nielsen, his anger towards him swelling up again.
"Detain that man," Alexander ordered.
"Yes Your Highness," one of the royal guards stepped forward and moved to apprehend Poul Nielsen. However, before he could lay a hand on him, Sara stepped between them, her expression determined.
"I won't let you…"
"Sara, stay out of this," Poul said. "Don't worry, they won't do a thing to me, that I promise you. Just contact Jonathan and Morgan and tell them about the situation."
"Oh no, Penelope is also coming with us," Alexander said.
"That is not what the letter said, Alexander," Poul countered. "The letter specifically stated that I should be the only one you should take. If you take her, that would be a violation of the agreement between your government and the French, isn't that right, officer?" he asked.
The police officer nodded slowly, acknowledging Poul's point. "You are correct, Mr. Nielsen. The agreement stipulates your detainment, and any deviation from that would indeed be a violation. Prince Alexander, I'm afraid the letter does not grant permission for anyone other than Mr. Nielsen to be taken into custody."
"But Penelope is a British citizen," Alexander said.
"Not anymore, she is an Avalonian now."
"Under a false identification, which is illegal, therefore the British government doesn't recognize her change of nationality, thus she remains a British citizen," Prince Alexander argued.
"Even if that was the case, she is on French soil, not British. So the jurisdiction of the French authorities should be respected," Poul interjected.
"You really are good at twisting your words to suit you, Mr. Nielsen," Alexander interjected, his frustration mounting. "But I will not be deterred by your cunning tactics. Penelope is an innocent woman caught up in this mess, and she deserves to be protected. And stop calling her with the name that doesn't belong to her. Her name is Penelope, not Sara."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but you can only take Mr. Nielsen. If you take the girl, we would have a problem," the police officer interceded. "Look, you can go with Mr. Nielsen now, or you can choose to disobey our orders and risk damaging the relationship between our countries. The decision is yours."
"Fine, I will only take that Albian," Alexander relented.
"Go, Sara. Tell them…" Poul said.
"I will come back for you, Penelope. I will save you from whatever he did to you," Alexander said as he watched his royal guard cuff Poul.
Poul was then taken away by the guards, escorting him to the ship that belonged to the British Royal Navy, anchored at the port. As Poul was led away, Sara was consumed by a mixture of fear and determination. She knew she had to act quickly to ensure Poul's safety and find a way to take him back from the clutches of Prince Alexander. With a nod, Sara turned away from the scene and disappeared into the crowd
