Chapter 6
Cai
How did I get myself into this?
I escorted Lady Meredette outside while making a mental note to extract some sort of revenge on Thatcher for placing me in this position.
Meredette was the complete opposite of Elara.
It probably wasn’t fair of me to compare them. I walked alongside her through the palace gardens. Meredette had eyes of coal and a long, sharp nose above full red lips. She was tall too, her height almost reaching my own. I watched her mouth curve up into a smile.
Our conversation thus far had been rather strained. Thatcher hadn’t told me about the visit until the last moment. He knew I would find some sort of excuse if I’d found out about it in advance. I’d merely been informed that I had a meeting with one of the nobles regarding an urgent matter. It was only as Lady Meredette’s carriage rounded the gravel path in front of the palace entrance that Thatcher appeared alongside me with a wicked grin. I was certain he now stood somewhere by a window, enjoying my discomfort with that same grin.
“You certainly have gardens that can be boasted about, Your Majesty,” she offered, trying to make conversation, but it felt formal, forced. The truth was we probably didn’t have anything in common other than being born into rich families. I missed the way Lara always spoke her mind. She didn’t care for things like propriety or worry about offending me. Most of the time, she was brutally honest. But she was real.
“Well, if there is to be boasting, it definitely won’t be me doing it.”
She looked at me from under long lashes. “No? How so?”
“I can take credit for spending a lot of time outdoors, but I definitely can’t take any credit for the state of the gardens. My mother manages them,” I explained.
I had placed my arms behind my back in the gentlemanly fashion I was used to. But this did not keep Meredette from hooking her arm into mine as we continued our stroll, my arm now bent in an uncomfortable manner. And yet, changing my posture would give offence. We weren’t alone, of course, my guards trailing closely behind, just far enough for them to pretend they couldn’t hear our conversation.
“Do you like to be outside?” I attempted to continue the overly polite exchange. I didn’t have the time or capacity for courting. Not that I could stay mad at Thatcher for this either. He was only trying to help as he saw fit. He was trying to be a good friend.
“Good heavens, no. In the winter, it’s much too cold to go outside. And the Norrandish summers have too many insects.”
I couldn’t argue. The summers here could not only become uncomfortably hot but were accompanied by the annoyance of flying insects, especially around bodies of water, of which Norrandale had plenty.
“I prefer to be inside painting if I’m not on social calls.”
“You have an interest in art?”
“Very much so,” Lady Meredette replied with sincerity.
“Well, you know the palace has a lovely art gallery should you ever wish to visit it.”
“A garden, an art gallery — what do you lack, Your Majesty?” Her smile was flirtatious.
“Oh, I lack plenty, to be certain.”
She chuckled. I hadn’t meant to flirt back. I was just trying to be... nice.
“I heard rumours that you were planning to host a ball soon.” Which could only be attributed to Thatcher. Damn him. Her eyes gleamed with hopefulness. Was she entertaining the idea that she would receive an invite from the King himself?
“And do you always believe everything you hear?” I replied, trying to dodge the question.
Her face fell.
“You’re not hosting a ball, then?”
I half smiled, attempting recovery. “I wasn’t planning on it but perhaps a ball could be fun.”
Her grin quickly returned and there was no doubt she would leave our meeting and tell every person she came across that she had personally been informed by me about a ball I would be hosting.
I looked at Meredette again, but she was occupied with some pink flowers that I couldn’t remember the name of. I half listened as Meredette made some comment about the flowers while I looked to the horizon where the kingdom of Everness lay. I hated her hopefulness when I had no intention of courting her. I had no intention of courting anyone for a while. Especially if there were Argonian spies in my kingdom.
“I’ll admit I was surprised at Your Majesty’s invitation.” Meredette drew my attention back to the conversation.
“Oh?” was the only word that escaped my lips.
“Well, with all the changes at court, I didn’t think you’d have time for... social affairs.” She chose her words carefully as if testing the waters. Of course, she would make assumptions of her own even if no clear intentions had been stated. Who wouldn’t?
“Well, I like to stay busy,” I replied without thinking and then realised the words hadn’t come out exactly the way I wanted to. This only seemed to encourage Meredette.
“I’m very glad we finally got a chance to meet properly. Lady Gwen mentions you so often and she always has the nicest things to say.”
“She is like a younger sister.” Whom I was going to have a very stern conversation with regarding her interference in my affairs, or rather the lack of affairs.
“She’s been a very kind friend to me.”
I wasn’t sure how to reply, so I gave her a polite smile.
“And what else does His Majesty like to do in his free time?” It was becoming practically torturous now. And even though most men would probably have killed for the chance to be on a walk with a beautiful girl like Meredette, I could only think of the million other things that required my attention.
“I’ve been out horse riding a lot recently.” It always seemed like a good excuse to get out of the palace.
“I’m quite fond of horses,” she said softly.
“We are fortunate, our stables have magnificent breeds.”
“I have no doubt, Your Majesty.”
The conversation seemed to have run out, and with nothing left to say, we continued our stroll in awkward silence. I noticed Alastor near one of the palace doors. “If you’ll accept my apologies, my lady, I’m afraid I must cut our conversation short.”
Raised as a lady should be, Meredette kept face, though I could tell she wasn’t too impressed.
“I have a very important matter at hand that needs to be discussed,” I said, gesturing towards Alastor.
“Of course.” She bowed. “Don’t let me keep you away from your duties.” I nodded when she said, “Don’t forget the promise you made of a ball.”
“I won’t.” I forced a smile before hurrying off.
“Everything all right?” Alastor asked upon seeing my expression.
“Just keep walking,” I muttered under my breath, not looking back as I walked past him.
“That bad?” he questioned carefully, as he followed me inside.
“No.” I sighed, slowing our pace. “I just...” I shook my head, not wanting to continue the subject. Despite the tapestries and curtains, our voices still echoed off the stone walls.
“What news is there regarding our prisoners?” I looked around and made sure there was no one nearby to eavesdrop.
“Nothing,” Alastor replied. “If Aries sent them, whatever he promised or offered made them willing to risk their lives. We all know how loyal those damn Argonians can be.”
“Well, something’s got to give,” I replied. “We can’t keep them there for ever. It’s too much of a risk.”
He nodded before stalking off.
The palace was bustling, every servant and courtier appearing to be on their own mission. Most of the time, I preferred to have the palace lively and full of guests, but today everything felt like a distraction from my duty. I saw Meredette climb into her carriage as I passed one of the open windows. Soon gossip would begin to circulate about whether or not I was courting, as well as the prospect of a future queen. I knew I couldn’t put it off for ever but... I sighed again.
When I got back to my chambers, I locked the door behind me. I couldn’t remember the last time that I had locked my bedroom door. But I needed to be alone. Even if it was for a few seconds. It was a hot day, though we were well into the autumn season, and I pulled off my jacket with frustrated impatience. I opened one of the windows and sat on the bed. Lying back, I tried to enjoy the breeze that entered through the open window. There was the undeniable scent of wild thyme in the air. It grew vigorously in the meadows close to the palace, in clusters of purple during the summer months. I didn’t know flowers, but I’d know wild thyme anywhere because its sweet scent reminded me of Lara.
I didn’t have any appointments scheduled until much later in the day and I was perfectly happy to hide away. I needed time to think. Needed to make sense of everything that had happened in the past few days.
The matter regarding the Argonian spies weighed on me like a chest plate that was too heavy and constricting.
Across the ocean, Argon was a kingdom that’d been after our land for centuries.
Our forefathers had battled each other on and off until the time came for me to step onto the battlefield myself. King Aries had barely inherited the throne at that time. Though I’d met him on a few previous occasions, it was his younger brother whom I faced on the bloodied field. I knew Aries couldn’t easily forgive me for the act of killing his only sibling, but had I been a fool to hope the peace treaty would be a standing agreement?
I wasn’t alone in my room for long before there was a knock at the door. I sighed heavily. Maybe if I pretended to be sleeping, whoever was there would go away.
“Your Majesty?” It was Jack. Jack didn’t make a habit of asking for me if it was not important.
“Yes, Jack, what is it?” I called out.
“I think Your Majesty should come downstairs.”
“Why, did the Argonian spies finally decide to speak?” I sat up quickly.
“No, Your Majesty. I mean, I think you should come down to the throne room.”
The throne room? What kind of matter required my presence in the throne room at this time of day? No events had been scheduled as far as I could remember.
“What’s the matter?”
Jack hesitated on the other side of the door. “You have a visitor.”
I really didn’t feel up to socialising. Nor could I think of any possible guest who would immediately require my attention.
“Tell them I will see them at dinner when I have finished my other duties for the day.” I waved a hand in dismissal even though Jack couldn’t see me, and rolled onto my stomach, pressing my face into the sheets. Sleep. Sleep would be so wonderful.
“I really think you should come down now, Your Majesty.”
With a huff I stood up and marched to the door. “Who is it, Jack?” I unlocked the door and yanked it open. “Who could possibly be so important that they need to see me right this instant?”
Jack looked at me with his mouth slightly open. He shifted from one foot to the other nervously.
“Queen Elara, Your Majesty.”