[Music Recommendation: Castle Of Glass ~ GnuS Cello]
Adric left Oriana’s room, his steps heavy on the marble floor. He was even more frustrated now that he was leaving than when he was with her. As he got closer to the outside of the palace, he met two guards stationed outside.
"You two go and stand guard at the Crown Princess’s room for tonight," he ordered. He was going to look into the lurker after he was done figuring out his own problems.
Rowan followed him. "Did anything happen?"
Adric nodded. "Someone has been watching the Crown Princess. I think I know just who." He muttered.
Rowan noticed the tired look on Adric’s face and how disheveled his hair was. Something more than the lurker must have happened back in the Princess’s room. But he wasn’t going to cross his boundaries. Instead, he reported,
"I have sent invites for the ball. Madame Rosalie should be on her way since she’s in charge of the entertainment. Also, I sent one to Orion and Morado. I heard that Chief Cortez is there." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
Adric dipped his hand inside his pocket, bringing out a box of cigarettes. He took one and lit it. With his hands still roughly going through his hair, he puffed the smoke.
Rowan noticed that the Prince wasn’t listening and it looked like he had something on his mind. "Are you worried about the coronation? I’m sure it’ll go as planned. I have been watching everyone’s moves."
Adric tapped the cigarette in the air, letting the burnt part fall. He turned to look at Rowan. "How did the Princess know that something was wrong with me?"
"That? She was on her way to her own room. Did something happen?" Rowan asked. Taking out his own box of cigarettes, he lit one. He continued to look at Adric, who was tapping his feet thoughtfully on the ground. Something was bothering him, and it wasn’t the coronation.
"Did Princess Oriana do something wrong?" Rowan asked, taking a long drag before puffing out the smoke.
Adric didn’t know if it was Oriana doing something wrong or just him. He didn’t even know what was wrong. All he could think of was how soft and weak she was in his arms. Her small body, and tiny waist. The anxious golden eyes that darted left and right, and those silk gold locks that flowed down her waist. Thinking about her again, and how she always fit in his arms. Adric exhaled.
"What event are we having tomorrow?" He asked Rowan, not looking at him.
Rowan pushed the cigarette from his mouth, his hand dropping to his side. "That would be music and archery. But the archery would have to come first in the morning and the music for the night."
Adric nodded. "That’s fine." He paused, throwing the cigarette stick down and crushing it with the sole of his shoe. "Have you been sending supplies to our men at the border?"
"Yes, also the ones in the camp are recovering very well. We might not need a backup anymore. I also noticed that the swordsmith has more hands and the swords they’re making are strong and don’t break easily." Rowan informed.
Adric tapped his lips with his fingers. All this was the reason he needed Oriana. If his soldiers were okay and healthy, there was no use keeping her around when he wasn’t even sure she had anything given to her by her grandmother. It was time to let her go so she doesn’t get corrupted by the politics of the royal court. If she was put up to seduce and betray him, it would be because he forcefully held her back.
"Ehm.." Fidelis cleared his throat as he joined the small meeting.
Rowan bowed, dropping the cigarette stick he was holding. "Your Majesty,"
"As you were, Rowan," The King waved with a smile, "Feel free around me."
Adric raised his eyes to look at his father. "Is everything okay?" He was surprised to see that his old man was not yet asleep, considering his health.
"Everything is just perfect. I just wanted to stay around my son and enjoy the night with him." Fidelis nodded, going to stand near Adric.
Rowan bowed, ready to give father and son space. "I will now retire for the night."
"No, no. I meant my two sons." He said, calling Rowan back. "I’ve watched you both grow and become closer than just friends, so it’s okay to call you son? Yes, Rowan."
Rowan smiled. "It’s an honor to be called your son, Your Majesty." He bowed again. "I also consider you as my father."
Fidelis patted the young man’s shoulder before he continued. "About that, when are you going to get married? I want my two sons to get married and have children."
Rowan cleared his throat, looking at Adric for help, but Adric was still deep in thought.
"Never mind," Fidelis continued. "I’ll take it upon myself to get you matched with a good woman. You should start your own family too."
Adric chuckled. "Rowan wouldn’t settle down even if you got him the best woman. He belongs to the women outside, and the women outside belong to him."
"Your Majesty, I hope you only seek to find the truth, If yes there’s only one person between us who belongs to the women outside," Rowan tried to defend himself while giving Adric a look.
Fidelis started laughing. "I’ve really missed you two arguing about everything. I remember the first time Rowan arrived in the palace. He didn’t accept that he was beneath anyone. Some of the servants thought he was the second Prince. How time has passed," the three of them smiled at the distant memory that was still fresh in their minds.
"Any reports on our soldiers? While we are getting ready for you to take the throne, we should be ready for the war that always follows it." Fidelis continued, now with a serious tone.
Adric sighed. "Rowan has reported improvement. We are betting on that." He replied, pausing for a moment. Then he continued, "With the improvement, I don’t think there will be a need for the Queen’s army."
When he said this, Fidelis turned to look at his son immediately. "And?" He asked, knowing what next he was about to say.
"There won’t be any need to keep-"
Fidelis frowned. "Don’t say that. There’s a need to keep Oriana beside us." He turned to look at Rowan. "Do you think so too? That he should let the Princess go?"
Rowan didn’t know how to answer. Both Adric and his father were glaring at each other right now. "Well, about that.. If Princess Oriana wants to stay, I think she should be allowed to make her own choice."
"She wants to stay," Fidelis defended. "Adric, tell me why do you want her to leave? And without a wife, you can’t be crowned King."
Adric stared at his father. How was he supposed to make him understand that Oriana’s presence now bothered him so much that he was being frustrated? The war was all happening inside of him, as he was battling with his emotions.
"I’ll talk to her about it. If she decides to stay, then that’s fine. I’ll let her stay."
Fidelis smiled. He was very sure Oriana would want to stay. He had spoken with the girl, and she was really in love with his son. "What about you? What if you decide you want her to stay?"
Adric raised his eyebrows. He wasn’t sure what his father wanted to hear, but the glint of mischief in his old man’s eyes at the moment spoke volumes.
"Goodnight, Father. You need to rest for tomorrow."
Fidelis grinned. Adric wasn’t denying that he wanted Oriana to stay. He just didn’t want to be the one to keep the girl back. "Sure, I should get some rest now." Turning to Rowan, "You should also find a woman and start a family."
"I will, Your Majesty," Rowan bowed as they watched The King walk back inside the palace.
Adric’s eyes narrowed as he watched his father. "Is it just me, or do you think my father is up to no good?"
"It’s not just you," Rowan replied, standing straight.
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