30. Haldric #3
The servant bowed and hurried off. Haldric was supposed to speak now with a batch of Sanjarkan merchants from Derimay about renewing a trade agreement, but it could wait.
Instead, he charted a course back to his rooms. Once there, he took a few minutes to freshen up, combing and rebinding his hair with a leather tie and switching to a clean set of clothes.
Checking his reflection in a mirror, he grimaced at the heavy golden circlet that sat upon his brow. It looked so out of place to him, as if he were a child playing dress-up. In a way, he supposed that’s exactly what he was.
A soft knock came at his door. He tried to settle his nerves, smoothing down the front of his coat as he squared his shoulders and adopted his most regal stance. It would not do to display any weakness that might make Katalin doubt whether their arrangement remained worthwhile.
He opened the door with a stiff smile and even stiffer bow. “Lady Katalin. It is an honor to see you, though I admit, I was not expecting your presence today.”
“King Haldric,” she said with what seemed like a genuine grin.
The expression helped set him partially at ease.
“It’s good to see you again. I apologize for the lack of warning.
I set off for Ilthabard as soon as I heard.
My mother sent a missive, but I imagine things have been somewhat chaotic here as of late. ”
Haldric muffled a grimace as he thought of the mountain of paperwork and letters piled up in his study. He’d done his best to sort through the most critical, but Lady Galax’s must’ve slipped through the cracks. “Indeed, but we’re managing. Would you care to come in?”
He moved to step back from the doorway, pausing when Katalin shook her head.
“Actually, I was thinking we might go for a walk. After sitting cooped up in a carriage for the better part of a week, I could do with some exercise.” She offered him her arm and a wink.
“Care to repay the favor and show me around your home this time?”
His smile grew more genuine as he took her proffered arm. “Of course. Come with me.”
He led her through the halls, pointing out different rooms and his favorite paintings as they passed. After the stress and horrors of the past week, it was strangely cathartic to view the palace as a place of beauty rather than tragedy.
“I’m so sorry about your father,” Katalin said after a time, squeezing his arm. Her voice trembled with sympathy. “I wasn’t certain whether I should mention it—no doubt you’ve had your fill of condolences by now. I can’t imagine how hard all of this has been.”
Her genuine concern sent sorrow rippling down his back. With everything else going on, he’d barely had time to stop and grieve.
“Thank you,” he said, squeezing her arm in return.
“Even knowing his time was short, it came as a great shock. And then this incident with the rebels…” He cleared his throat, afraid he’d said too much.
He didn’t want to give her second thoughts about their alliance.
“Though of course, they pose no real threat to Ilthabard. We have the situation well in hand.”
He snuck a glance at Katalin to gauge her reaction, relieved when she simply nodded. Belatedly, he wondered if he should tell her of his lost memories and the Grand Magus’ curse. What if she wondered about his absence these past few months?
Yet, that would require informing her of his time spent with Benjin, and that seemed a topic better left unspoken.
Instead, they chatted about silly little things. Katalin shared more stories of her rambunctious youth and discussed the latest doings in Luxem, though by her own admission, that mostly amounted to ‘tedious trade deals.’
Haldric found himself relaxing as the afternoon wore on, much as he had the first time he’d found himself in Katalin’s presence. She had a certain warmth about her, a way of putting him at ease. Perhaps…perhaps it wouldn’t be so hard, learning to care for her someday.
That day might be sooner than I think, he realized with a sinking sensation. Now that his father had passed, the pressure would be on him to marry and secure an heir. After his father’s funeral, talk would no doubt turn to a royal wedding. Perhaps that was the true reason for Katalin’s visit.
“I’m afraid we don’t keep a garden like the one you have in Luxem,” he said as he led her out into the palace’s central courtyard. “This is the closest we have.”
“Some stunning masonry and carpentry,” she remarked, gazing about at the palace’s exterior and the other buildings nestled along the courtyard’s edges. “I noticed that when I arrived. Though, forgive me, it is a bit plainer than what I’m used to. You Ilthabardians do so value your efficiency.”
He chuckled. “That we do. We leave the embellishments to you and the Sanjarkans. Come, let me show you around.”
They were passing by the stables when a figure appeared in the entrance.
Haldric glanced over and almost lost his footing when he realized it was Benjin, dressed in his usual disheveled robes.
He appeared to be in the middle of an errand, a stack of parcels clutched under one arm.
With the Grand Magus gone, it had fallen to Benjin to complete his remaining duties as best he could.
When Benjin noticed Haldric, he froze, his pale eyes widening. Then, he spotted Katalin, and his face went blank as he bowed, his curls bouncing. “King Haldric. Lady Katalin. A pleasure to see you again.”
“You as well, Benjin,” Katalin said, sounding delighted as she clasped his hand. “It’s good to see another familiar face. We should set aside some time soon to catch up—lunch tomorrow perhaps?”
“You’ll be staying for a while then?” Benjin asked, a hint of tension underlying his words.
Haldric shifted beside Katalin as she grinned. “At least a couple days until after the Summit and I’ve finalized things with King Haldric.”
Haldric’s gut squirmed. Benjin managed a feeble grin, though his lips were pinched like he’d tasted something sour. His eyes darted to Haldric before looking away. He had yet to meet Haldric’s eyes since the conversation began.
“Lunch sounds great,” Benjin said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to. Enjoy your romantic rendezvous.”
He hurried off, his back hunched and shoulders tensed. Haldric watched him depart, longing to follow. When he realized he was staring, he turned back to Katalin and pasted on a smile. “Well then, shall we continue?”
She studied him for an uncomfortably long moment, then shrugged and returned his smile, taking his arm once more. “Of course! Lead on, Your Majesty.”