Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
“The first marriage I propose is with Prince Beau and Duke Albert,” Emperor Hugo announced.
Elias kept his face neutral as his father’s voice rang out in the negotiation chamber that had been provided for the council of Zephyrias and Voltaria.
“All those in favour?” Emperor Hugo glanced down the long table that filled the room. The councillors rapped their fists against the dark wood of the table, indicating their ascent. “Any opposed?”
Silence followed.
“Excellent.” Emperor Hugo beamed and clapped his hands, as he so often did when one of his proposals went through.
Of course, most, if not all, his proposals clearly came from the empress. He just had the honour of being her mouthpiece. The emperor, like almost all the councillors, both Zephyrian and Voltarian, were firmly under her thin, perfectly lacquered thumb.
“Then Prince Beau shall marry Duke Albert.” Emperor Hugo smiled at his younger son.
Beau grinned. The empress, who sat between the emperor and Beau, placed a hand on Beau’s arm, smiling fondly. Then her gaze swung to Elias. Her smile grew sharper. Her grey eyes gleamed.
Elias frowned, as if confused that Beau was marrying the duke. After all, as far as Elias knew, Beau should be marrying Prince Gerard.
“And … ah …” Emperor Hugo cleared his throat. “The second marriage …” Emperor Hugo didn’t beam or clap anymore. In fact, he did not meet Elias’s gaze. Nor had he that entire council meeting.
“Well … the second marriage … Um … that will seal the peace treaty … well, that will be between …” The emperor took a deep breath. “It will be between … um … between—”
“The second marriage,” the empress said, voice clear as a bell—her gaze remained fixed on Elias—“will be between Prince Elias and the dragon warrior prince, Gerard Drachen.” She held her head high. “All those in favour?”
The rapping of fists on tables echoed.
“Any opposed?”
Silence.
“Excellent.” The empress leaned back in her chair. She tilted her chin up.
Elias had never seen her so satisfied with herself.
Meanwhile Emperor Hugo stared at the table. His cheeks flushed red. He’d just betrayed his eldest son. And not for the first time.
A week ago, he’d heard Elias’s words and his repulsion at the idea of marrying Prince Gerard. Still, his father had participated in arranging the betrothal of Elias to the dragon warrior.
Of course, Elias had known the emperor would do that. He could always rely on his father to do as the empress wished. To forever put his wife’s will above his firstborn son’s. Emperor Hugo might feel somewhat ashamed for forsaking his son. But that never stopped him from doing it.
Elias stared down at the smooth wood of the table. He was used to being let down by his father. In fact, he expected and had relied upon it.
So it didn’t hurt at all.
Not a bit.
“Two excellent marriages, Your Highnesses,” Councillor Allard of Voltaria said. She leaned up the table, as if desperate to get closer to the empress.
“Yes, indeed.” Councillor Beaumont of Zephyrias nodded his balding head. “May peace reign for thousands of years in our kingdoms.”
Sycophants. The lot of them! All vying for the empress’s attention and approval. They’d probably lick the soles of her feet if she’d let them.
Of course, their desperation to please her made sense. She held all the power. And if any councillors did not support her, they suddenly found themselves no longer councillors.
Many laws had been approved by the council that clearly benefited Zephyrias over Voltaria. But the Voltarian councillors voted for them every time.
Elias hoped Matteo would do better. He did not think his hope was misplaced. After all, Matteo took duty seriously and was rather obsessed with justice and fairness for all. He did not take after his mother one bit. Probably why Elias actually liked him. Although, he was a little dull.
“King Drachen was pleased too when we informed him last night of the marriages,” Empress Emmeline said.
What the fuck?
Did the empress forget that their kingdoms functioned as a constitutional monarchy? She did not have the right to make a decision and go ahead with it without the approval of the council! But from the smiles and nods from the twenty councillors at the table, he knew none would oppose her.
Matteo might. Or at least he’d be displeased with his mother’s failure to go through the correct process of their kingdoms.
“And what is your opinion, Prince Elias?” the empress asked.
All eyes fixed on him. Well, all except his father’s.
Elias took a deep breath. He straightened. He smiled.
A flicker of uncertainty flashed through the empress’s eyes.
“I, too, am pleased with this marriage.” Elias’s voice rang out.
“I would be honoured to marry such an esteemed and honourable man. The dragon warrior, a prince.” He threw a glance at Beau.
“He is known for his strength, intelligence, and bravery. To stand beside Prince Gerard in public, to be associated with such a man, would be my greatest honour.”
The chamber filled with applause. The empress’s smile fell. Beau scowled, not even trying to hide his feelings.
“Wonderful! Wonderful!” His father clapped the loudest, as if he knew Elias would be pleased to marry Prince Gerard, as if Elias hadn’t a week ago spoken of how he did not wish to marry Prince Gerard.
“It was the empress’s idea.” His father smiled at him. “She knew it would be best for you.”
Elias looked away. He met the queen’s stony gaze. Her lips puckered, as if she’d drank off milk and was trying to hide it.
Well, I did it. I stopped Prince Gerard from marrying my snivelling, shitty half-brother.
And he’d managed to get himself married to the man instead. Elias sipped his glass of water as a lightness spread through his chest and limbs.
I am going to marry the dragon warrior. He will be my husband.
Unfortunately, Prince Gerard didn’t seem to want to interact with Elias, if him fleeing from Elias that other night was any indication.
How will he react when he discovers that we are to marry?