9. Blood, Wine, and Tolerance
T he next evening, the moon had fully risen by the time Adrian made his way back to the palace after training with his soldiers. He ordered a lukewarm bath straightaway. He enjoyed a short soak, washing away the sweat of exertion, and dressed for the blasted family dinner with the help of Devon. He chose to wear the crimson suit his mother preferred because it made him look like his father. It was ostentatious, but he’d oblige his mother’s tastes in the hope it would soften her against her normal nagging.
When he was ready, he made his way to the dining room they were using that evening. His parents were already there, looking impeccable as they sat in suffocating silence. His father was at the head of the table, wearing a suit similar to Adrian’s. They shared a secret smile, knowing they’d had the same thought.
Adrian bowed respectfully. “Good evening, Father.”
His father nodded acknowledgment. “Adrian. ”
Adrian turned to the other end of the table, where his mother sat in an elegant purple gown. Jewels ringed several fingers, adorned her neck, and sparkled in her hair, which was up in a sophisticated twist.
As a child, he had always wondered why she dressed up, even on normal days. He now understood that it was a display of power, like the colors they always wore, announcing their status to anyone who looked at them.
It trickled down to the lower ranks; the nobility allowed to wear more color in richer fabrics than the upper class, who was, in turn, allowed to wear more than the lower class, who was very limited. He thought of Rose, having nothing but the dress he gave her, eating only scraps no one else would touch.
Bowing to his mother, he pushed such thoughts from his head. “Good evening, Mother. You look very beautiful this evening.”
She smiled, her gray eyes sparkling with the compliment, but it soon turned knowing. “You are trying to soften me for this discussion you know I wish to have with you and your brother.”
“Guilty,” he admitted as he took a seat. The table wasn’t long; there was a chair between himself and where his father sat at the head, and another between himself and where his mother sat at the foot. Dimitri would sit directly across from him.
His parents each took a sip of their wine as Adrian’s cup was filled, and Dimitri walked in, also wearing a crimson suit.
“Great minds think alike, boys.” The King chuckled.
“Devious is more like it, and underhanded, thinking you can manipulate me with clothing.” Though her words had a slight edge, the Queen smiled fondly at Dimitri.
“I am not trying to manipulate you, Mother,” Dimitri replied sweetly, bowing before he sat. “I am rather looking forward to the spring ball. I’m sick of the snow and cold.” He looked toward the tall, mullioned windows showcasing the hills of white glittering in the moonlight.
“I am glad to hear that, Dimitri. Your brother has already admitted guilt in plotting against me.” She shot Adrian a sharp look.
“It’s a suit, Mother, not a ploy to cancel the ball.”
“You would,” Dimitri said, lifting his wineglass. “You didn’t make an appearance during the tea last week because of a hunt with Duke Whitstead and Benedict.”
As their mother’s eyes narrowed on him, Adrian glared at his brother.
“I am very disappointed to hear this, Adrian,” she said as the first course was served—offerings of fruit, cheese, and crackers. “I was told by your staff that you were busy working. If I’d known you were off playing with your friends, I would have had you hunted down.”
“I wasn’t playing . I am having a new hare hide hat made for you, and a new cloak for Father from a stag.”
“Must have been large.”
Adrian grinned, appreciating his father, always on his side. “I’m having the antlers formed into handles for a set of knives. Now that new rates have been settled with the dwarves, my blacksmith will be busy.”
“Excellent.”
“No business at dinner.” His mother sighed and then focused again on Adrian. “There will be no hunt on the night of the ball.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Adrian gave her a tight smile.
She rolled her eyes. “We should schedule a hunt later in the spring. The nobles always enjoy good sport.” She delicately nibbled a piece of cheese before motioning for the plates to be taken away. The next course was delivered promptly, a steaming vegetable soup .
“That’s a good idea.” Dimitri lifted a spoonful of the steaming soup, blowing on it to cool it before he sipped. “Adrian will have a legitimate use for his pet.”
“Larkin hunts daily, getting rid of palace vermin. Even without him I would best you, as I proved recently with my sword.”
“Cocky ass,” his brother muttered, making Adrian grin.
“Dimitri! No language at the dinner table.”
“Apologies, Mother.” He didn’t look the least bit sorry.
Adrian took another sip of wine. “It’s a pity, isn’t it, that no amount of extra practice will ever best my natural, inborn talent?” Dimitri’s expression darkened, but their father interrupted with a laugh before their long-standing quarrel could continue.
“Listen to this confidence!”
“Of course, Father. You taught me well.”
The King laughed again. “Indeed, my boy, indeed.” He looked to Dimitri frowning into his soup and said, “I heard about this sword fight. The troops were quite impressed. I heard your form was impeccable, both of you. Regardless of who won or lost, you boosted morale and motivation.” After a short pause, he added, “Vampires will always have the advantage, Dimitri. We are naturally stronger, faster, and more agile. That is why you must be smarter.” He tapped his temple.
“Yes, Father.” Dimitri pushed his soup bowl away.
A lull fell, the Queen quietly sipping her broth. “Back to my previous point about the tea.” She daintily dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “Young Julianna has been desperately looking to see you, Adrian, now that her family is back in the capital.”
Adrian almost rolled his eyes as the servants took the soup bowls away. “Lady Julianna doesn’t desperately look to see anyone.”
“Not everyone is the Crown Prince. ”
A sweet roasted pork dish was served, and with it, Adrian and his father received cups of warm blood.
Cutting his meat, Dimitri said, “It’s a shame the human pond you must fish from is so small, brother.”
“The next human prospect is the daughter of the Marquis Huntington, and that is unacceptable!” the Queen said, taking a dainty bite.
“Adrian is not going to marry Lady Clearwater simply because you think she is a high enough rank,” his father said, making his mother’s cheeks tinge pink. “There is much more that goes into considering a match. The Huntingtons have earned many military accolades.” He looked to Adrian. “Perhaps Lady Eloise could give you advice on archery. I hear she is quite impressive.”
“It is inappropriate for a lady to know such things.” His mother sniffed. “Her duty is to her home.”
“If it’s any worth, I will surely make a good match,” Dimitri said after a long silence while he ate pork. “Who do you think I should aim for, Mother?”
Aggravated by his brother’s groveling, Adrian said under his breath, “Someone who hasn’t already spread their legs.”
Dimitri’s eye twitched, but their mother didn’t notice as she sighed. “I am not worried at all about you. You always make wise choices.” At Adrian’s cough, she glared at him. “You, on the other hand, are always disagreeable.”
“Selective,” the King argued, swirling his blood, “which I approve of. Make sure it’s a good match before you settle.”
“Our sons need powerful wives to support them, Florian. I will not let them marry nobodies.”
“I did not tell him to marry a nobody , Eileen, but to wait for someone he generally cares for and is sure he can tolerate a lifetime with. ”
Cheeks pink, she asked, “Why do you always cast me as the villain forcing them?”
“You are hanging your approval over their heads and trying to force a decision that does not yet need to be made.”
“The days pass, Florian, each one bringing the future closer. Is it wrong to want that future secured?” She looked to Adrian as the King sipped wine. “Is it selfish to crave new life in the palace?”
“Don’t worry, Mother. It will happen.”
Adrian gave a short nod, agreeing with Dimitri’s words and wanting to ease his mother’s mind. “I cannot promise Lady Julianna is the one for me, or Lady Eloise for that matter, but I promise to give the marriage hunt more effort.”
“I hope so. Lady Julianna has strong support from her family and takes an active part in their businesses. She’s smart, very pretty, and quite taken with you. Your children would be beautiful.”
“Let it rest,” the King snapped. “He knows his duty.”
The Queen sat back in her chair, drinking more wine. When she motioned, one of the servants refilled it before moving around the table to top off every glass.
Adrian, meanwhile, gave his father another appreciative glance. He winked back and motioned for the next dish, which consisted of various breads and a variety of jellies. After it was delivered, the King said, “Now, I want to hear about this slave that’s been gossiped about so much.”
“Must we speak of such a thing at dinner?” The Queen sighed.
“I am curious,” his father replied. “She has been all over the papers, but her owner is very evasive.”
“Indeed,” Dimitri agreed with a grin for Adrian. “Come, baby brother, share all the details of your attachment to this slave.” He took a large bite of white bread with raspberry jam .
Adrian turned to their father, disregarding Dimitri. “It’s just a slave Larkin took a liking to. He protects her fiercely.”
“As I understand, she was being publicly flogged when you purchased her,” his mother said. “I’ve heard she’s quite unruly and obstinate.”
Adrian sipped wine, his blood gone, resigned to the questions. “Her work is praised, and she doesn’t cause waves with the staff. More importantly, she contents Larkin.”
“Why was she being whipped?”
Adrian hid his discomfort by drinking more. From what he’d gathered from public records, Rose had been flogged for disobeying her last master, but he knew no details.
“You do know her history?” his mother pressed at his silence. “You pulled her from a little nothing town, Adrian. You brought her here, singled her out by adding her to your staff instead of leaving her in the washrooms, let Larkin terrorize my friends over her, and you know nothing about her?”
Across the table, Dimitri watched raptly, clearly enjoying the conversation.
“How do you know she’s not stealing from us?”
“You’re being dramatic, Mother.” Adrian sighed. “The slave traders have given me no information yet, but are searching their records. Her closet is checked daily. She does nothing but work and sleep.”
“She has a closet ?”
“I refuse to let her sleep in the cellar with the rest of the slaves, and she is unable to be housed with the maids.”
“I should think not!” His mother looked to his father. “Tell me you agree this slave needs to be put back in her place.”
The King swirled his wine, watching the fluid spin. “I am sure there is a reason our son gives his slave such special consideration. He is well aware of the stir he is causing in pushing normal bounds.” He looked up to meet Adrian’s eyes.
“Quite. But for Larkin, it is worth it. Speculation is rampant, but none of it is negative.”
“Indeed. The ladies all seem to be swooning over your, ahem, benevolence .” He smiled wide with amusement.
“I see no need to change such positive public favor. I have found in the slave a hard worker who causes no fuss even when others abuse their power over her.” His eyes flicked to Dimitri. “She is loyal to me. I have rewarded that loyalty in a way that I see fits her station.”
“Unheard of,” his mother grumbled, draining her wine again and motioning for more. “She is a slave . Slaves deserve no reward. Her entire life revolves around pleasing you. You are acting absurd.”
“Speaking of absurd,” Dimitri put in slowly. “She is currently sick. Adrian has had the benevolence to put her in his Gold Room until she is healed.” He sipped more wine as he leaned back comfortably in his chair. “The doctors are treating snow blisters and fever. She is quite unwell, this special slave.”
Their mother blinked disbelievingly. “Doctors . . . Gold Room . . . You’re allowing her in bed ?”
“Oh, it’s not like that, Mother.”
“What will the nobles think when this gets out? Allowing a slave upstairs, giving her medical treatment, giving her special attention as if she matters , allowing her in your bed ? Are you addled, Adrian? This is the worst kind of impropriety!”
“Oh, for Goddess’s sake, Eileen, let it go. It is causing harm to no one.”
“No one? No one ! It is damaging our reputation!”
“No, it’s offending your sensibilities, which are too strict anyway. Adrian is handling this well. Let him be. ”
“Things will turn! The commoners may be eating this up, but the nobles will not be pleased. It may not be tomorrow, but moods will change when things escalate, and they will escalate. Mark my words, no good thing—”
“Enough.”
The Queen continued as if he hadn’t spoken, “—will come of this. She will make a mockery of you—”
“I said let it go!” the King thundered, pounding the table. After a controlled breath and a sweep of his hand through his hair to recompose himself, he continued, “You will not talk of this again, Eileen. Adrian has my full approval to do whatever he wishes with his slave.”
His mother’s face, drained of color at his father’s outburst, turned blotchy red. “So, my opinion doesn’t matter. As usual, my voice will be silenced. You will continue grooming him to be just like you—”
“Of course,” his father cut in with a cocky grin. “He will be the best.”
His mother scoffed. “Won’t be long before he takes her to bed then, will it? And whoever he chooses to marry will have to turn a blind eye.”
“Who he chooses to bed is his own choice. He has needs like any male and should satisfy them.” He speared Adrian and then Dimitri with a warning look. “Discreetly.”
While Adrian appreciated his father’s unwavering support, he was embarrassed at the turn in the conversation. And the servants, all looking uncomfortable and pretending not to overhear, would need to be paid off. They were all loyal or wouldn’t be allowed in on this private meal, but sometimes extra compensation was required to keep them that way and stop wagging tongues. The King would handle that.
Dessert was brought, and along with the little cakes and candied fruits, coffee was served. No one touched it, his father instead ordered more wine .
“Perhaps I should be more like you, Florian, and take a lover on the side. Flaunt him to the kingdom by giving him a nice manor and showering him with gifts. Your newest whore adores her new garden, doesn’t she?”
Adrian’s father stared at his mother for a long moment, slowly turning his wineglass in his hand. Finally, after taking another deep sip, he replied calmly, “You knew about Colette long before we were married, wife. Don’t act as if this is new. You get all your pretty jewels and lavish dresses and the highest rank in the kingdom. What care is it of yours if I give her a tulip garden? You’ve always liked roses.”
“You are my husband, and you’ve made me a laughingstock.”
“Only in your own head.”
“Oh? How many bastards do you have now then, hmm, husband ?”
“None. As I promised you all those many years ago, the children we make together will be my only. You are my only Queen.”
“I am but a figurehead.”
“You knew what you were getting into the day you married me. Do not pretend otherwise. None here pity you.”
“Bastard pig.” When she stood, both Adrian and Dimitri stood with her. “I apologize, boys. I am too tired for more of your father’s wolf shit.” She threw her napkin down on the table. “Have a pleasant night without me.”
She swept away as she was prone to.
But not before the King called, “Don’t worry, wife, we always do.”