ROME
As the argument and quarreling ceased, Rome decided that he had had enough.
Skye bent over and whispered, “Your Majesty, let me throw the bitch out.”
“Let her stay. We will have our time.”
He turned to the members of the court. “Monica has stated the obvious. However, the law also allows that if the king chooses not to be given an arranged mistress or bride, he be given time to choose for himself.” He paused and pointed. “Is this not so, Count Deliere?”
“It very well is, Your Majesty. It is indeed.”
He turned to the Baron of Estered.
“Baron?”
The Baron, afraid and obviously already under Monica’s spell, hesitated before replying.
“It is so.” The Baron began to reply, “But that’s a slippery corner, Your Majesty.” He cleared his throat as he spoke.
Rome hadn’t seen it before, but it was at this point that he realized that Monica must have turned the Baron to her side. She had deliberately planned to attack the king in this meeting and it looked like the Baron was in on it. She really was sleeping with him despite his wife.
Well, two could play the game.
“Why’s that slippery?” Rome asked, already knowing what was coming. Teriel had prepared him a while before this meeting began. He’d shared with him every possible outcome including mutiny. Rome had thought it was far-fetched but what he had experienced since the meeting began opened his eyes.
The Baron hesitated. Then he began with a stutter, “Your Majesty–”
“Your Majesty,” Kain interrupted the Baron, standing to his feet. “What he’s trying to say is simple. There is a clause to the invocation of that Law. If after the stipulated time, you are yet to get a bride or mistress- the court reserves the ability to have a vote on whether it still has confidence in your ruling. You may very well lose the crown if you lose the vote.”
“I’m sure it won’t come to that, Kain.” Count Deliere spoke. “Careful! Your manner of speech may suggest treason.”
All the while, Rome watched his father. Nathan didn’t move an inch or utter a word. He was here because he had to be, not because he wanted to be. Rome felt betrayed even though he should have expected it. The old king was unable to protect his own blood after all these years. He crossed and uncrossed his legs, watching the whole thing play out.
“I apologize if I am too forward, Your Majesty. But that law also states that the time must not exceed a fortnight.” Kain smiled at this point and sat down. He must have been very pleased with how all this had turned out.
Rome hadn’t expected anyone to bring up the limited time to pick a mistress or bride. That had changed everything.
A fortnight?
That was too soon.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to arrange a mistress, Your Majesty?” Count Deliere said.
“Or keep Erika, until you have a better option?” Nathan said, out of the blue.
Rome had to contain his anger and restrain himself from replying how he really wanted to.
“I’ll pass, Father,” He said smoothly, hiding his anger and disappointment in a casual tone.
That was all he had to say?
It was Teriel who whispered to him now, he sounded concerned. “Your Majesty, maybe consider it.”
“No, Teriel. Nobody’s giving me a mistress. I am not my father.”
As he whispered back, his eyes never left his father. Rome was determined not to become the man Nathan was.
The murmuring had begun again, gradually rising as he kept his cool.
“I’m not letting you give me a bride or a mistress. I will choose whomever I please.” Then he stood up. “I’ll take the fortnight. If there’s no mistress by then- you can do what you please. We are done.”
“Long live, Your Majesty!”
The murmuring broke into a loud cacophony of voices again as he walked out of the room.
*****************
ELORA
“Lucy!” A voice called from behind us. “Lucy!”
Lucy and I had been walking back from the kitchen. She had been telling me what door leads to what, and who and who had a thing. I had been mostly listening to know what doors and people to avoid. But Lucy was too good a storyteller to not be tempted. She made her life in the castle sound like a dream or a fairytale.
As it turned out, many of the servants had fucked or were currently fucking. Lucy even told the tale of a party for the palace workers that mostly included all kinds of orgies on their day off.
Denise had asked her to fill me in on the workings of the palace, and she had taken the job too seriously. By now, there was very little gossip in the palace that I hadn’t heard. That’s how much I had heard.
“Lucy!”
As we turned around, we saw Kano running towards us. He had something in his hand and he was slowing now as he approached us.
“Is that Kano?” I asked Lucy.
“Kano? Is everything okay?” Lucy asked him as he arrived.
“Yes!” He said.
His smile could have brightened the darkest night in Alkarod. He took off his cap and let his beautiful length of hair fall to his shoulders. Then he put a hand through it, pulling some strands behind his right ear. He was out of breath.
“Kano?” Lucy asked. She was worried now.
“Wait. Just a moment.” He said, bending and grabbing his knees with both hands. He took in a few deep breaths, then raised his head and looked at us.
“Hi!” He said to me. Then his eyes went to Lucy and his smile brightened. “I got you some flowers.” He presented what had been in his hand. It was a small bouquet. Five flowers at most.
“For me?” Lucy squealed.
She did a little dance and then received them.
“Oh, thank you, Kano. You’re the sweetest.” And she hugged him with her free hand.
“I’m glad you like them. I just saw them and thought about you. I hope they brighten your day. Talk to you later.” Kano said, putting on his cap and hiding his fine hair underneath the cap.
“Hey, wait!” Lucy said as he turned to go. “Do you know what happened at the meeting to depose the queen?”
“Oh! It wasn’t so good. King Roman’s throne is at stake. He has to find a bride or mistress in a fortnight or they’ll take a vote. You know he doesn’t want another woman.”
“Gosh! Many in court would be glad about this. The King’s law against slavery has greatly helped us. We’ll be back to the fire if they vote against him. Gosh!” Lucy’s smile faded for a moment.
“Hope things won’t go bad again.” With that, Kano touched her face and walked off.
And for the longest time, I watched Lucy as she watched him walk off. She was smiling so hard, that I thought it would break into a cry at some point.
Then she turned to me. “Did you see that? Kano’s so sweet to me.”
And as I watched her, I realized this could not have been the first time Kano was showing such wonderful gestures. I guessed I would see how far and where this was going.
“Oh, I most definitely did,” I answered. “And he’s just your friend?” I pried further, causing Lucy to blush deeply.
“Oh, come on! He’s just a friend, Elora. A good one. I don’t……”
And the rest of her words were covered by what seemed like a sea of voices as they came out of the palace. The meeting was over and apparently, they all had their opinions of what it should have been like.
I hadn’t gotten a chance to see who had arrived for the meeting earlier but as the throng passed I caught sight of each of the members of the court.
I spotted the familiar lanky frame of Kain, the Lycan from that night, and the feelings that threatened to overwhelm me earlier returned in a barrage that had my knees quivering. My mind shot to my siblings who were hopefully in our shared chambers.
I turned immediately and began to walk away as fast as I could.
“Hey, where are you off to?” Lucy called.
And from behind Lucy, I heard his voice. It was unmistakable even with the cacophony of noisy nobles. It was the same voice that I had heard that night.
“You there. Come over here.”
I froze.