The King
servants have been slaughtering away in the kitchen, preparing choice food. By the time my family
side. Routinely they riven off and they both claim a seat at the head of the tw
ue velvety walls embossed with golden artistry, a simple yet elegant candle chandelier that looms above. Standi
archway that connects to the main kitchen. Separately, they both tend to the Domus and Domina, filling their cups and cutting
ther and he loves me. A formal relationship between father and child. I respect the fact that he has accepted
that a noblewoman ought to. Every discussion revolves around it, but despite it, I can sense her car
se that is what
father and my mother. Well. That
aimed at the chandelier, a glossy blue euro pillow in his one hand, the other is fisted
ove his plate then picks up his reading glasses by the end of the long rod. He examines the t
face. From a pensive study to a look of sheer astonishmen
ost inaudible, only comprehended because he only
gious and dictates the will of my words
chment and his glasses back on the pillow. He flicks a hand of approva
always like an older relative to me than a Regnum servant. Only in the Domus
low and I thank h
understand my father's bafflement. B
heirs to be prospective successors. The High King has agreed to comply to the ancient protocols of Shalem. To initiate the King Trials. Every eldest descendant of a Domus, one of pure blood must be sent
gruff
y the hand o
Urus-el
e the Hi
eyes sear with pain, I blin
y, he abandons my side. I glance at Seliah and her eyes have swelled to
the
way that could change the line of succession. Many Domuses in the Decuria saw it as their chance. If His Majesty failed to produce enough h
ng look, urging for h
e candidates will undergo for the High king to search out the worthy amongst the nine. With te
pairs her ability to produce heirs and secure her line. The surge was many moons ago, but its affects ripple still. My m
e only living purebl
tement echoes. Her honeyed brown hair wrapped up in tw
will, because she is our daughter and who is more worthy than she? Our Hera no longer needs to wed,
am the sole descendant, but I am certain that they impl
arrogant chumps wrote that in a time where a man's vitality was shown in the number of sons he fathered. That
en, " I point out. "
xir. "Do not speak of the bastard! The High King has called f
ce like the rumble of the obsid
acteristically quiet,
is a half-blood. She is h
ycles ago, father's desperation reached a peak. He did not stray from my mother because of a lack of love for he
's half me and
y her one eye is the shade of the ocean like mine a
ah in and claimed her as his own, and had her legitimised. By law, she is no longer a bastard but my mother refuses t
embodiment of our
a noble or a roy
ten eclips
rms, and rule with a wisdom and kindness that you have inherited. But you also raise the Valwa's standing in
the second equinox is near their summer
nods se
ds fall to my lap and my gaze follows. "Father... even if. I do not think I am worthy
her in his dominion to begin the King Trials." He rests back in his seat and lays his elbows o
ated in his tenor. I look up at h
s. "I will not fail you, father. I
forward to haul up
e in salute. We all
gh Queen of Urium
ay you
*
finity. I sit burrowed in my cushioned corner, against the marble pillar. After dinner, Seliah and I retire
winning the King Trials. I never wanted to be a Hera, let alone a q
l the nine provinces to contend with, their burdens become mine. And I would always put them above my
o be done. L
worries out and seek
by aflame lights. The most prominent is the king's castle on the horizon, its frame unseen, only outlined by golden li
y with the waters of the Shire, the gentle swooshes of the spillway. The sleek robe of water
ght se
, sitting at the foot of my bed. Her gaze flung as far as king
se the King Trials, we will lose each other. If I am defeated, I marry into th
n, I will
asking in our timed freedom, doing as we please to some extents. It was al
I can't under
xes her gaze on me,
slits, the soft fabric sprawled across the comforter. "Should not royal-born de
King would always have enough heirs of his own, bastard born included. But the High King is a loy
ria from overreaching. It is as if they foresaw
not change what
ense of reason. "But it still
has," sh
to her and she
e yawns between us, further than the distan
azed floor. Soon Seliah sets herself on the same ledge opposite me a
give
at our lives were one way and now it will be something completely different. No more rides into town... brea
responsibility, but it is not your home. Your home will be the Pantheon when you are
her unfound
use I am a female. We both know that they intended ma
, the very thing they looked down upon, they will have to lo
o sit upright. "Now, how much d
al moments and shr
to make him a friend." A mischievous look glints in her dark eye. "I have been wai
" I co
age," she con
Domuses sons in hopes that what? If
ods s
n the tests. The true competition should not be with the contesta
proved her point. "By cancelling who
r. "You just want t
explode i
and two daughters." A lightbulb expression brightens her face. "We ac
hem. Eilos's daughters: dainty, high-pitched voices, exce
's rather a wild one, imprudent, averse to any form of responsibility.
softly
e, the famed Regnum of warriors that bore the greatest fighters in Urium histor
me the realm's history as if we did not have
"Just allow me t
n approvin
t son, Vin
her kings' sons regard him as a close friend. His either
blood. He is your biggest competition; he has the support of future rulers. You are all
indifferently
xtends her leg t
though it d
es, sombre lines inscribed on her forehead. "If you cannot do it for yourself, do it for the realm, the people deserve a ju
hanging around my neck. H
ook at her straight in
ues. "Kingdom of Mela, Regnum of Sal
despicable and disg
ooks away, muffling a laugh.
at the solstice ball, an annual event where all elite convene at the biggest ball of the y
urrounds him is notoriety, rumours spun by bored
ey were meaningless, and rumours gain their source somehow. There is always a mor
de. "You think he is capable of it...
gets fellow noblewomen like us because he knows if they come forth. That if they expose him, they expose themselves
rms like insects are crawling on her. "I cannot
s to her chest and wrap
Erindor," sh
ove to one side for a mome
ce. I know little about him, but I suppose that is a good thing. He does not have even a hint
at her e
He deserves to win; he would be a true High King that the r
I think it is the first time I saw you had genuine interest in someone. Fortunately, he does not know tha
He was trying to court me, and it scared me. I
s serious. "You ne
nnect m
our rival. And believe me, he knows that, and he will treat you as such. Good or not, humble or
l afar, I no
arching for the answer. "Actually, I am not acquainted with Domus Chelia's son
nded the solstice balls and other unifying events in which they all
ey all blur together. Especially in the social season, how draining. The small talk, fake flattery and act
while and finally, I say,
ff the ledge. "I think it is best if we end f
ere tonight? My chambers are all the way on the other s
of guest chambers that you can rest a
ot act all grown and forget the days that I sheltered you in my ch
to fear them and now I have them caged, so when needed I will cause othe
uts mid-walk. "And any who tries, they will rue