"Now announcing, Duke Silvercrest of the Silvercrest Dukedom!" A guard yelled.
Damien made a slow strut inside the throne room. Surrounding him was a row of royal guards leading up the throne where Victor sat. His dirty blonde hair with ocean blue eyes matched well with his snowy-colored skin tone. His expression of silent seething. For a thirty-nine year old, he doesn't look a day over twenty-five. However, wrinkles are bound to happen if he continues to frown like so.
Next to Victor was his main wife, Queen Yolanda Peruvia Alabastrum. She was the daughter of Duke Windham, a Dukedom with a long-standing history in the kingdom. Her long blonde hair and emerald eyes were strikingly captivating. Her skin tone of light marble and expressions borderlining boredom and fatigue.
In a brightly lit room of red and gold, those two figures stood out the most. Lavished in the kingdom’s finest silk and jewels, they eyed the young Duke Silvercrest. Damien got on one knee to pay his respects.
“I’m here, your majesty,” Damien said.
“Yes you are; yet it wasn’t you that I truly called for,” Victor spat.
“My apologies. Fantasia has had a long day and simply needs to rest.”
“I see that the both of you are very close, seeing as how you’re on a first name basis.”
“Aye, she’s special, that’s for sure.”
King Victor’s eyes glowered in Damien’s direction. Rumors were circulating that both him and Fantasia spent the night together in his estate. Just the fact that it happened, and Damien wasn’t denying it, made it even worse.
If it turned out that Damien winded up with an illegitimate child, that child would be the next heir to the Dukedom. That’s exactly what the king didn’t want.
“Do you forget that she’s my wife, Duke Silvercrest?” Victor questioned.
“I dare not forget, your majesty,” Damien answered.
“To spend a night with one of the king’s wives, let alone a foreign noblewoman, did you not know the rumors that would spark from this?”
“It couldn’t be helped. I found her to be lovely the moment our eyes met.”
When Duke Silvercrest said that, the throne room lightly erupted in whispers. It’s no surprise that the king had abandoned Fantasia. For the wife of the king to share a bed with his brother, you might as well call it treasonous.
Victor’s eyes squinted, “You mean to tell me that you fell in love with Lady Everdeen at first sight?”
Damien lifted his head to meet Victor’s eyes, “Yes. I hope that you don’t find fault with this notion, your majesty.”
The king smirked, “You do realize that she already has Marquis Hannington, yes?”
Damien flinched. He didn’t know why. It’s confirmed already by his intelligence, and Fantasia herself, that nothing came out of the Marquis and her. For some reason though, he feels a certain way when his name is brought up when it comes to the both of them.
“I just hope that our one night together meant something,” Damien admitted.
It wasn’t a lie. Damien purposely pushed himself into Fantasia’s arms in hopes that once everything’s said and done, their marriage would be a kind one full of respect for each other. He didn’t want to get married out of duty alone. He also didn’t want to get caught up in one of the king’s schemes and lose his life without a possible heir.
Queen Yolanda held an uninterested expression while the conversation played out. Normally, she wouldn’t be here next to Victor. It’s a surprise that she poked her head into another concubine’s business like this.
She finally spoke, “Duke Silvercrest, have you truly fallen for our liege, Lady Everdeen?”
Damien looked at her direction, “Yes.”
“To act on impulse based on your feelings alone, it’s very unlike you, Duke.”
“For our liege, I wouldn't mind acting on impulse again."
Damien caught the queen gripping tightly on the armrest in the corner of his eye. A corner of his lip curled up in satisfaction. Yolanda’s expression remained unchanging.
“You should think about your reputation a little bit more, Duke Silvercrest,” Yolanda warned.
A pot calling the kettle black. Classic.
“My reputation isn’t something to worry about, your majesty,” Damien assured. “I’ll be sure to ask for council in case I need to mull it over.”
August Winifred was standing to the side with a bandage around his neck. Yolanda eyed the Baron.
“We’ve heard about your altercation with Baron Winifred when he attempted to bring the concubine before the king," Yolanda began. "Duke Silvercrest of the Silvercrest Dukedom bares his fangs upon those who even take one look at his lover. That's what the nobility will whisper about. Are you truly not afraid of damaging your reputation?"
"It would be a lie if that wasn't already the case," Damien retorted. "I'm already the war hero and hope of the people, your majesty. I have done nothing but bare my fangs for the sake of those I care about."
If looks could kill, Queen Yolanda would bury Damien six feet deep seven times over. Her facial expression was no longer of disinterest. A slight frown showed a hint of annoyance.
Victor frowned, "You are indeed the hope of the people and a war hero through and through, Duke Silvercrest. That doesn't mean you can steal another's trophy."
Damien fought hard not to raise an eyebrow, "A trophy is an object, your majesty. I would never take an object of importance away from you."
There was a moment of silence. Everyone already knew what that line meant. The trophy was Fantasia. Damien corrected the king by telling him that Fantasia isn't an object. The atmosphere was clearly tense but August broke the silence.
"Your majesty, if I may?" August coughed.
"Speak freely, Baron," Victor allowed.
"It's taboo for a woman to have more than one lover and one husband. Even if she is the deposed queen, she should have some tact."
Baron Winifred looked at Damien and continued, "Unless she chooses between Marquis Hannington and Duke Silvercrest, she would be dragging the royal family down with her in a huge scandal. We should start divorce proceedings if she continues to make the royal family lose face."
Damien said nothing. It's not like he didn't want the divorce proceedings to happen. It would be better for things to speed up so he could drag Fantasia away from the royal palace.
His mind wandered. Why did he want to drag her away? It's just a respectful relationship built of mutual understanding and trust. He wants to get back at his brother and she wants to leave the palace. There shouldn't be any love involved. At least, that's what he thinks.
Victor continued to look at Damien, "You would be known as the Duke who caused a rift between the two nations if you continue this debacle. Is this what you want?"
Albeit, it's what the king wants. Granted, it's not going to happen regardless. However, before Damien could retort, a commotion was heard outside the throne room.
"You can't come in without a prior appointment!" shouted one of the guards.
"This is important! I need to speak to the king immediately!" A voice shouted back.
"What's with all the commotion?" Victor's voice boomed.
"Your majesty! Marquis Hannington is here without prior appointment! We're trying to turn him away!"
Victor smirked, "I'll allow it. Let him come him."
Once the doors poured open, the Marquis came rushing into the throne room. He stopped halfway once he realized that Duke Silvercrest was right in front of him. His heavy breathing echoed throughout the throne room.
"My apologies for interrupting, your majesty," the Marquis bowed. "Duke Silvercrest, if you please…"
"Go ahead, Marquis. You're out of breath," Damien sighed.
"Stand, Marquis Hannington. I wish to know the reason why you're out of breath," Victor assured.
Yolanda looked between the Duke and the Marquis. The drastic contrast between the two isn't surprising.
One was devoted and held great loyalty to the king and another was a spiteful brother. One man did great deeds to get to where he was at and another simply had a title passed down due to legitimacy.
Now they both have one thing in common, they had locked eyes with the deposed queen and fallen head over heels.
"Your majesty, I had received news from the church," Marquis Hannington began. "We have a new Saintess!"
—
Soon, night fell once again. I was never summoned by the king after Damien left. Donna had gone out to tell me that the news was announced that a Saintess had been revealed.
There was uproar and commotion from every side of the palace, except mine. It was a good thing that I wasn't summoned when that announcement came out. The king and queen would question why I was out and about by the church in the first place.
I could give them a good excuse that I went to pray but no one would buy it anyhow. Everyone in the church halls had seen both Damien and I going on a stroll to and from the High Priest’s office. The crown would get suspicious.
So instead of going back out, I sent out two letters. One for the King of Proscotti and one for Damien. I made sure that Damien's letter was delivered personally by Donna. The King of Proscotti's letter had to be delivered by a pigeon that Damien was able to provide for me.
All and all, it was turning into a quiet night. I held the necklace in my hands as I laid in bed. I thought about Damien when he would go out of his way to put the necklace on me and listen to me when I told him to stay still and sleep beside me.
A man who listens. That's rare.
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