Chapter 34 #2
“Right. That would be treason, I think,” Elías commented.
“Honestly, I’m asking you Eli. How am I supposed to ignore what happened for the rest of my life?”
“You don’t. You learn to live with it. By ignoring the affair, you disrespect both the boy and the Prince. If you wish for your marriage to work–and it must work–you must be clear with them both.”
I moved my bishop. “I’m not sure I care if it works. I mean, will Sameer even forgive me enough to entertain that idea?” I asked. “Do I care?”
“He will. If he wants the marriage to work,” he murmured. He copied my turn.
“Elías… I don’t think that I can do this,” I confessed.
“Of course you can,” he said. “Move your-”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “No. Not the game! I’m being serious here. Mr. Evergreen is to be Sameer’s best man. He’ll stand right next to him in the cathedral. Right next to me. He’ll be barely further than the Prince is.”
“And?”
“And… What if they see?”
“Who?”
“Everyone. The kingdom. His family. Mine. What if everyone in the venue, everyone in the world sees how I long for Cyrus Evergreen? What if they see how I love him and how I don’t love their prince?”
“It’s your turn,” he said.
I hastily moved, the pawn was taken.
“Focus.”
I tried, randomly choosing a course.
“There you go,” he said. “I’ll retreat.”
I looked down. “...D4?” I said.
“Are you asking me or telling me?” he checked.
I shook my head. “I’m frightened I will fail Oreia. I know that this is all my fault. I know that I deserve it, but I don’t want to fail. I don’t want to hurt our country the way I’ve hurt myself.”
He took another pawn.
“Damn it,” I muttered.
“Svana, I let the first two ‘damns’ slide,” he said. “There won’t be a third.”
I groaned pathetically, muttering. “Even as Queen I cannot curse.”
“Castle yourself,” he offered. “Better safe than sorry.”
“And I should trust you?” I asked. “You’re my opponent.”
“I’m also your Lord Commander, Your Majesty. I’m sworn to protect you.”
“I don’t believe the Oath extends to chess, Ser. I–”
“Castle yourself,” he said.
I did. He took another piece.
“You just told me to move there,” I argued. “Ugh! You rat!”
“Look at the board, Svana,” he said. “Play the board, not the piece in front of you.”
“I’ve never understood why you say that! You cannot play the board unless you play the piece in front of you. It’s literally a game of steps.” I moved my queen. He blocked it. “See?” I said.
“Do you?” he asked. “Yes. It’s a game of steps. Steps you need to think about. You don’t simply walk out your door and arrive in the garden. You make a plan to get there. You move from the foyer, to the porch, to the sidewalk, down the path, to the garden. Yes or no?”
“I’m bearing my soul to you and you’re badgering me about gardens…” I gestured vaguely. “And bishops.”
“You’re moving your Bishop, then?” he asked.
“Yes? I don’t know.”
“Good. I’ll defend.”
“Good? You’re winning,” I said.
“Don’t give up,” he told me. “Now. Back to your question; I’m of two minds.”
“What minds?” I moved a piece. “Go on. Do what you want with it."
“Thanks. I’ll take it.” He went and then again. “Do you see it yet?"
“See what?” I asked.
His fingers left the one he meant to move and he settled in his seat.
“My two minds are this: one, the pragmatic approach. The approach I’d give your father.
You apologize to both men at the same time.
You establish a hard boundary between you and the Blade, and you devote yourself to your marriage, never leaving yourself alone with Mr. Evergreen again. Take back e5. Your knight.”
I frowned. “Stop helping me.”
“Would you trust a different piece?” he asked. “Look at it.”
I did. I rolled my eyes. “...I’ll take it back.”
"Good. Queen to your knight."
"Are you very serious?” I cried. “Fine. I’ll pin your queen with my rook. Is that what you want?”
“I’ll take your rook. Watch the board."
“Watch the board?” I moaned. “You are the worst. Can I not win one game with you? Just one?” When I glanced down, I paused. “Wait.”
“Now you see it,” he said cheekily. He gave a wink.
I had to double check it. I met his eyes. I didn’t answer. Then I took my turn, hesitantly sacrificing my queen. He went, exactly as I had wanted him to, then I went. I took a piece and then another. “I, uh, I’ll take your bishop next,” I said. “I guess.”
“Good,” he replied. He sat coolly.
“I…” I couldn’t believe it. I shook my head. “But…”
“It’s called a Queen’s Sacrifice,” he explained, conceding his loss. “The words you’re looking for are check and mate.”
“But…”
“In chess, the Queen is the most valued piece. It doesn’t matter if she was a pawn first or born into the role.
She moves freely. She takes what she wants.
She has no regrets. Everyone fears her, and no one expects her to relinquish such power or to expose herself to real danger.
That’s what she has Knights for. The move’s a shock to the unprepared, but it does make for a rather showy win, if done properly, don’t you agree?
Pull that in a tournament and they’ll talk of you for years. ”
“I wouldn’t have known about it with your help.”
“Aye, but it’s alright to ask for help, Your Majesty. Your father asked me for advice all the time. He didn’t always take it, but he still asked. If you ask me for help now, I’ll tell you of my second mind.”
“…What’s your second mind?” I asked.
“It’s not so pragmatic. It’s greedy really.”
“Tell me anyway,” I said.
He peered out the window and the hint of sunrise, then knotted his arms. “My second mind wants to see you happy. It wants to help you find a sacrifice–something to trade in order to prevent this marriage from happening. I’m not sure it can be done, but I’ve always got time to consider strategy and I love a challenge. ”
“We have hours until I’m married,” I said. “I won’t even see the Prince before our wedding..”
“Aye.”
“What do you suggest? A new treaty?” I asked. “Is that even possible?”
“Yes. Technically. But it’d be better to amend the one your father wrote.
” He stood and walked to the desk, pulling open a drawer and retrieving a copy of the Treaty I didn’t know was there.
He unrolled it and laid it flat on the desk.
“While he was aggressive in his tactics, your father did enjoy creating solutions and I enjoyed helping him.”
“Solutions. Alright. How would he solve this problem?” I asked. “If he were the one in my place. If he wanted to avoid a marriage, how would he save himself?”
“The King was ruthless,” he said.
“And I’m desperate,” I told him. “If you think there’s a way, a way to… I just can’t see myself with him, Elías. I cannot see myself touching him, or kissing him, or…existing with him in a room without wanting to smash a vase over his head. If there’s a way to escape, please. Let’s find it.”
“How long have Sameer and Agatha been together?” he asked.
I thought about it. “Since they were kids. Cyrus told me that Sam had intended to propose to her. That he had a ring, but then I came along.”
“Good. When did you become aware of their connection?” he asked.
“You know that. At the ball. I caught them together with his pants unfastened.”
“Thus it's reasonable to assume a physical relationship was well-established by your arrival to the empire? One that might threaten the integrity of your union?”
“You’re arguing chasity?” I asked. I almost laughed.
“The Treaty explicitly calls for it,” he said.
“The Treaty calls for my virginity,” I said.
“And Sameer’s.”
“It does?” I asked.
He nodded. “Have you not read it?”
“No,” I said. “Father just told me what it said.”
He pointed to the clause, stating both parties would abstain from relations outside the marriage to preserve the royal line from the risk of heir-contestants.
“Alright but… What are you suggesting? You suggest blackmail?” I asked.
“No, blackmail is how your father would avoid the marriage.”
“But I’ve done the same?” I said. “You think I should expose the Prince for the same terms I’ve violated? I—But then wouldn’t that expose Miss Agatha, too?”
“Yes.”
“But that would inflict obscene damage to her reputation,” I said. “She wouldn’t just be forever parted from the Prince. She would be labeled the reason for the Treaty’s failure. And if War came of it– Elías, in either event, she would never marry.”
“Yes.”
“I-I mean, it’s not like their relationship is very well-hidden.
No. I think everyone at least suspects it.
Aster, Agatha’s sister, is the capitol’s gossip.
She would definitely know. Their little group of ladies seem to know everything about everyone but I…
I don’t know. Once others got a hold of it…
Sameer might recover; he’s a man; he’s the Prince.
But Agatha would not. She would absolutely not recover and she would…
She has always been so kind to me. And Sam…
Sam’s not evil. He’s… He’s in love. I can’t say that I am any better in my own affections for Mr. Evergreen.
I have done many things in the name of love, things that I would not have expected I would do this time last year.
But… No. No, I won’t damage their reputations like that.
I can’t. And I certainly won’t ruin another woman’s life for the very sins that I commit for myself.
She doesn’t deserve it. No one does. But especially not someone who’s just following her heart. ”
“Good. I’m proud of you,” Elías said.
“For what?” I asked. “For being a decent human being?”
“Yes. I’ve served your father for many years, I know how power corrupts. You should be very proud of yourself. I am.”
“...Thank you.” I sat taller, more confidently. “Alright then. Now that my soul remains intact, how would you approach it?” I asked.
“Me?”
“Yes, you,” I said. “If you were in this situation, what would you do?”
“You would not like my approach,” he said. “You’re better off making your own plan.”