[Music Recommendation: Bulgasal ~ Nam Hye Seung, Jeong Junghoon]
Inside the royal courtroom, the ministers waited for the Crown Prince as they conversed amongst themselves.
"Have you seen her? The Crown Princess of Orion?" A minister asked, his question piquing the curiosity of others, so everyone’s ears perked up to listen.
The other minister whom he asked cleared his throat, keeping his voice down to make sure nobody heard him, "I heard from the maids that she’s a wild one. Last night, her dressing was not one befitting a princess, and she even left her body bare!" This had the other ministers gasping, while some spat, judging the princess they were yet to see.
"Very much like the Crown Prince. I heard he spends most of his time with women like that. Do you think he saw the princess in a place like that?" Another asked, little whispers and murmurs erupting in the room as everyone judged the Crown Prince and his new bride.
"Talking about people behind their back is seen as a quality of losers, not the Ministers of the royal court." Nicholas walked in on them, his countenance calm with a smile which he kept handy.
The ministers quickly bowed deeply, "Prime Minister Nicholas."
"You know talking badly about the royal family can get you punished, even killed for plotting treason against the Crown," Nicholas continued walking until he was now standing close to the throne, which was his position in the royal court.
The minister who had started the rumor cleared his throat, "We would never! Please pardon us, Lord Nicholas. We promise not to do such again," the other ministers bowed.
Nicholas sighed, waving his hand for them to stand back at their position.
The door close to the throne opened, and Adric walked inside, with Rowan behind him.
"Your Royal Highness," everyone, including Nicholas, bowed.
Adric sat down, his eyes on Nicholas who was also staring back at him. "What report do you have to make, Minister George?" He finally looked at the minister he had called.
"Your Highness, we went to Valonia to collect the remaining debt they owed Avon. And there was your seal which says they no longer owe us," the minister of debt affairs informed.
Adric nodded, "That is correct, Valonia no longer owes us. Is that all?" The minister shook his head and bowed.
"Your Highness," the minister of war was the next to speak, "The lands Avon has conquered have already been reformed, and development has started. But we need more lands to really show our strength above other kingdoms. We now suggest conquering Orion," Other ministers nodded in agreement.
"Yes, your highness. Orion is already small, with the marriage pact with them. We can as well take the entire kingdom to become Avon’s," Minister George chimed in.
Adric nodded, "Not a bad idea. Orion is also a home for most merchants, and business booms there." The Crown Prince hummed in approval, turning to the prime minister he asked, "What about you, Nicholas, what do you think?"
Nicholas cleared his throat, "Having more lands conquered by Avon is not bad. But suggesting taking an entire kingdom is something I wouldn’t really advise Your Highness to indulge in."
"Why?" Adric asked, reclining on his throne, he crossed one leg over the other with his hand holding up his face. A small smile played on his lips.
Nicholas raised his face to look at Adric, "It’ll affect your marriage with the princess. And she might not trust you."
Adric chuckled, "I see my personal problem is now added to your work as a prime minister. We already know marriage between two kingdoms is always a fragile pact, and this one is no different. Unless there is more, does the prime minister perhaps have developed feelings towards my bride?"
The other ministers cleared their throats, shocked by the question. They all stayed silent to hear what the prime minister would say.
"I would never have such ill thoughts. I already know better than to keep my eyes off what belongs to the Crown," Nicholas bowed.
Adric twitched his lips, "I thought so too; you wouldn’t be that reckless." He nodded, "This meeting has now come to an end. I’ll consider the suggestions of every minister. Put it in writing and submit to me, but for now, prepare for the wedding, which would be taking place during the next full moon."
"Long live the Crown, Long live your Royal highness," the ministers bowed before leaving the courtroom.
Adric tapped his finger on the chair, watching as the ministers left quietly. The last to leave was the prime minister.
"Nicholas," Adric started, "You know how much I hate people touching my things. We grew up together, so you should know better."
The prime minister raised his head, looking up. He turned to look at Adric, "The princess is not an object."
Adric’s lip pulled up, but he didn’t smile; his eyes now had a calmness look in them. "By marriage, she belongs to me."
"It is yet to be confirmed. I heard that she’s not the actual Crown Princess of Orion," Nicholas’ words were polite. "Also, since when did you care about people? A few minutes ago, you were ready to conquer her Kingdom."
Adric exhaled, "Sounds like you’ve gotten quite close to the princess; you now defend her. I’m glad she’s made friends," he smiled, pushing his leg down to stand on his feet. "Do you know why the feline kills off its offspring when it perceives a foreign body around it? To end any future threat, in case the kitten has been mutated which would become a weakness."
Nicholas raised his brows, "I- You can’t! She’s a human being."
"Didn’t say she wasn’t," Adric smiled. "Just letting you know, I won’t tolerate weaknesses," he walked away, leaving behind a worried Nicholas.
Nicholas raked his hand through his hair, a memory of his childhood with Adric flashing in his mind for a moment.
Adric had this flute given to him by his birth mother, and he warned everyone that it was never to be touched. Young Nicholas, who always loved to play with Adric, thought the warning was for other persons and not him. He decided to play the flute, only for Adric to break it and burn it with a smiling face. The event of that day was what caused a rift in their friendship. That day, Adric still had a smile on his face while he burnt down the flute, banning the use of that particular instrument in the palace.
’I warned you not to touch it, didn’t I?’
The words of Adric that day rang in Nicholas’s mind, and he sighed. "He wouldn’t do anything to her, would he?"
. . .
After walking around the palace all day, Oriana was finally exhausted. She was yet to explore other sides of the palace, and she was already tired. She found a small, clean pond close to a shed; removing her shoes, Oriana dipped her leg inside the water. She hummed in approval when the water touched her leg, making her feel relaxed.
With the pond behind the shed, anyone sitting in the shed wouldn’t be able to notice that someone was there unless a sound was made. So Queen Gwen now walked towards the shed with her train of maids behind her. When she sat down, she ordered other servants to leave, except her personal maid.
"Did you write a separate letter to him?"
Oriana, who had her eyes closed, opened them the moment she heard the Queen’s voice. Was she supposed to stand up and go greet the woman or just stay hidden?
"I did, Your Majesty. He will be arriving with his family by noon tomorrow," the maid reported.
Gwen sighed, "Light this up for me," the Queen raised a stick of cigarette. Then she puffed the smoke into the air.
Oriana widened her eyes; the queen, who had promised to straighten her out, was smoking? Wow! She smiled to herself, so much for being a prim and proper Queen; now Oriana couldn’t come out even if she wanted to. If the Queen should find out that she was there, the woman might even accuse her of eavesdropping; who knows what else she might do.
"Should I get everything you need ready for tonight, or should I leave it for morning tomorrow?" The personal maid asked.
Gwen shook her head, "Leave it for tomorrow morning. I should look fresh, at least. Do you think I’m having wrinkles?" She raised her face.
The maid shook her head, "You still look very much beautiful and even young," the servant praised.
Oriana’s lips curled; the woman still tried to look good for her husband despite the years they had spent. Though she was mean, there was also a part of her that was good; she loved her husband. The princess smiled.
"I can’t wait for him to come already. Staying around this sick man makes me feel sick. It’s been long I had a real man actually touch me,"
Oriana turned her head; what? Adric’s mother was having an affair? She wasn’t getting prepared to meet her husband?
"But he would arrive with his wife; should I make preparations for a different room for them?" The personal maid asked.
Gwen hummed, "Well... let’s see, Curtis likes his-" the Queen turned when she heard a small noise behind them.
Oriana fell into the water when she heard her father’s name. She tried not to make a move, but the water was too cold, and she was shivering.
"Who is that?" Gwen stood up from her chair, "Show yourself, and you might live,"
Oriana held her breath; the woman wouldn’t let her live if she finds out that she was the one. But more than that, her father was having an affair with Adric’s mother?
"Who is there?" Gwen’s voice was heard again; she stood up from her chair, now walking towards the pond, her feet steady on the ground.
Oriana gulped when she heard the woman coming; it was over for her. She would definitely get caught, her dress was floating in the water. It was better for her to stand up and explain herself.
"You?" Gwen pointed.
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