The first time Kiran met Rowan, he was twenty-two and Rowan was just shy of twenty.
Kiran dragged his feet as he answered his mother's summons, trying to tamp down his frustration. Why she had needed him to sit in on an audience with the prince was beyond him. Darian was the heir to the countship and a capable one at that. And since the country was in mourning for the late queen, he doubted that the prince had come to extend an invitation to a party.
If it had been a matter concerning the countship, Darian would've been invited, but Morris had said that the countess only wanted to see him. Kiran had been looking forward to going to a university and his mother's summons had interrupted his comparisons between his top three choices, leaving him less than pleased.
However, when he entered his mother's office, he started to understand why his mother had sent for him. Although Prince Rowan had done his best to make himself presentable, it was obvious that the young warrior was a wreck. Despite the quality of his clothes, there were dark circles under his eyes and he looked like he hadn't slept well or had a decent meal in days.
His mother said softly. "This is my second son, Kiran, Your Highness. How can we be of service to the royal family?"
The prince straightened and Kiran could see him dig up a smile that was undoubtedly meant to be charming but fell short. "I was hoping that you and your family would be willing to come and spend some time in court. My father and I would be most grateful."
Kiran bit back a scowl, how could he possibly think that they would be able to leave their lands during this time? However, before he could speak, his mother did. Her voice was calm but filled with genuine remorse, which surprised Kiran, "I'm sorry, Your Highness. But it's just not possible for us at this time."
The prince swallowed hard, determination filling his expression, "Surely a little break cannot hurt. After all, I know that you have plenty of trustworthy people to oversee your lands. It's something that my mother always admired about you, how well your lands were run. If you come to court right now, you'll be able to meet up with the Etolian merchants, something that I know you've desired for many years."
The countess held her hand up before Kiran could reply, "I'm sorry, but we just cannot at this time."
Kiran was sure that this would be the end of the entitled young prince's demands. However, his mouth nearly fell open when the prince offered with increasingly generous offers if they went to court.
Finally, when Kiran was about to lose his temper and throw the arrogant princeling out, his mother cut off the prince. "Your Highness. Rowan. Why don't you simply tell us the reason that you really came instead of making offers that we must refuse."
What happened next was something that Kiran would never forget. Desperation and grief etched clearly on his face, Rowan stood and crossed until he was directly in front of the Countess. Before Kiran could even begin to move to defend his mother, the prince had sunk to his knees in front of her, his shoulders hunched and head held low as he begged, words pouring hoarsely from him. "Please, Countess, I need you, the whole country needs you. Since we lost, m-mother."
He swallowed hard before managing to continue. "Since we have lost the queen, my father is inconsolable. He is lost to the mate grief and will do nothing but remain in his darkened chambers and mourn her. You are my last hope. You have always been the queen's closest companion and most trusted advisor. Because of her illness and now my father's grief, the court is teetering on the brink of collapse. I've done my best, but it is not enough. I don't know who to trust anymore. With the queen gone, most of the court is vying for power. Add in that the queen's long illness that caused necessary tasks to go untended and the situation has become critical. I can't hold all the pieces together anymore. I wish I was exaggerating, but if things don't change very soon, our country will tear itself apart. War is almost a foregone certainty, either with a foreign nation or within our own borders. I can't fail my country like this, I can't fail my people. Please, I'm begging you in the name of your friendship with my mother to come to court just long enough for me to get ahead of this situation. I know I shouldn't ask this of you, but I have nowhere else to turn. Please, please, Countess."
His mother's dress rustled quietly as she knelt in front of the prince, pulling him into a gentle embrace. A sure sign of the prince's utter exhaustion and despair was how he sunk further in the countess's embrace. She said warmly, "Poor Rowan. You've been through so much and you're still standing. Rose would be so proud of you, even as she would rip a strip off of your father for allowing such things. However, I truly cannot come to court at this time. Our lands have been suffering horrific flooding and my people need me here now to prevent further losses."
Rowan's shoulders slumped in defeat, "I understand, milady. I'm sorry for having imposed on you."
She pulled back and cupped his face, smiling gently at him, "I did not say that I would not help. My second son, Kiran, shall accompany you back to the palace and help. All of my children grew up watching the count and I. Kiran is the most politically savvy of all my children. He shall help you to unsnarl the snare that has wrapped around your feet."
Rowan looked over at him, questions clear in his gaze. Kiran had nodded, not willing to put out the tiny spark of desperate hope in the prince's eyes. And after all, it was his duty and privilege as a noble to serve the future king. Mother had smiled and stood, "Good, that's settled. However, you need to eat and then sleep. You look worn to a thread. You can't fight a battle in this state."
In a true testament to Rowan's exhaustion, the prince had meekly nodded and followed her obediently.
Kiran waited until the room had emptied to let out a quiet sigh. He'd been planning on going to the academy. Still, things surely couldn't be as bad as Rowan thought they were. The prince was distraught from losing his mother, dealing with the country now must seem like an impossible task. A few weeks to let the prince grieve and recover and Kiran could be on his way.
With another sigh, he stood and headed to pack. Mother hadn't even asked if he wanted to go but her word
was law and he would be helping the prince for as long as it took. Which
hopefully would only be a couple of weeks, leaving him plenty of
time to enroll before the term started.
X
To Kiran's shock, the prince had not been exaggerating. Even with them working in tandem to put out fires, it took nearly six months for things to reach a point of stability. They'd been getting only three or four hours of sleep a night, if that, and they'd lost weight as well. But slowly, they managed to turn the tide.
It was in the eighth month after Kiran had come to the palace when Rowan sought him out. The prince had gone to one of the Duchess's parties and Kiran had not expected to see him until the next day. He'd stayed behind to catch up on some work in his office, grateful that he wouldn't have to deal with any politics on this day.
Thus, he was surprised when there was a heavy knock on the door. Glancing at the clock, half-past one, he called for the person to enter.
Rowan entered, his expression carefully composed. Kiran narrowed his eyes. While he had seen that look multiple times, it had never been directed at himself. Had he heard something in court that Kiran himself was not yet aware of?
Rowan nodded at him before standing in front of the fireplace, staring tiredly down at the dancing flames.
Silence stretched between them for several minutes before Kiran finally decided to break it. Setting aside his quill, he asked, "What brings you to my office when you should be at a party? Even if you dislike parties, you know that it is necessary."
Rowan didn't look up from the fire, "I received a letter from your mother a few days ago. She inquired, discreetly, into the state of affairs here in the capital and your health. She mentioned that things have calmed down in the countship now."
Kiran shrugged, "That's good to hear, I suppose. But I don't understand what that has to do with me."
Rowan sighed, finally meeting his eyes. "Things are stable now. I know that I interrupted your plans but I was out of options. However, Countess Iris was correct in gently reprimanding me. When I sought your family's help, I was overwhelmed. However, should you wish to leave now, I should be able to handle things now."
Kiran froze. It had
been months since he'd even thought in passing about leaving for the
academy. Truthfully, the main reason that he'd wanted to go to the academy was
that he was bored.
It seemed, what he had truly been in search of, was a challenge. Kiran stared down at his report blankly while he thought things over. He'd truly pitied and disdained Rowan when he'd first met the prince, thinking his grief had overblown the situation. Instead, the situation was as dire as Rowan had stated. Even more surprising, the prince had gone to work right beside him. He had earned Kiran's respect, something he did not give lightly.
Taking a deep breath, Kiran looked up and met Rowan's eyes. "I believe that I shall stay on for a little while longer. After all, I'd hate to see all of our hard work be in vain."
Relief easing his tense expression, Rowan said carelessly, "Well, if you want to leave, just let me know and I'll make all the necessary arrangements."
Kiran had nodded and Rowan had disappeared as abruptly
as he came. The next morning, Kiran had sent a letter to his mother and that
was that.
X
Still, that wasn't to say that Kiran agreed with every decision that Rowan made. When Rowan had first started 'courting' Angelina, Kiran had vehemently opposed to it. They had worked too hard to build things back stronger and Angelina would be nothing but a liability. She was a selfish, greedy woman who knew nothing of what was required to be a good ruler.
However, for the first time, Rowan had refused to heed his words, going ahead with his plan as he pleased. Several times during the first few months of Rowan and Angelina's courtship, Kiran considered leaving the palace. However, there was nothing that he could concretely point at for his dislike of the duchess beyond the fact that her words and actions rarely aligned.
However, things came to a head one day. He'd been making his way through a back way, the servants' path taking him through a garden that was often used by noblewomen for tea with close friends. He'd nearly groaned with he'd heard the duchess's voice. However, his mother's name caught his ear and he stopped unconsciously. And the words that fell from the viper's lips about his mother were beyond the pall.
So furious was he that he'd had his resignation letter in hand when he went in search of Rowan. Either the duchess left or he would. However, when he approached Rowan's study, he heard shouting. Wondering what had set Rowan off, he paused and listened. To his surprise, Rowan was furious, saying that if the duchess ever dared speak ill of the countess again, not only would their deal be canceled, she would be exiled to the furthest convent he could find.
Moments later, the door had opened and a red-faced duchess had fled. She'd glared at him but kept going. Rowan saw him through the open door and beckoned wearily for him to enter. Kiran did so cautiously, shutting the door firmly behind himself.
Rowan saw the letter and said tiredly, "I suppose that's your resignation letter."
Kiran moved closer, "That depends on what deal exactly you have with the duchess."
In the end, Kiran had reluctantly agreed that the deal made sense, it kept some of the more powerful nobles in check from demanding a political marriage, explaining how she was the only noblewoman high-ranking enough to make it difficult for people to object.
So Kiran had taken back his letter. But that didn't mean his opinion had
changed of that woman at all.
However, when he'd brought Rowan the papers finalizing the mate hunt, he hadn't been able to hide his smirk, although thankfully they'd both been too distracted to notice. Finally, he was getting rid of that eyesore.
X
But as the mate hunt grew closer, Kiran found himself growing increasingly concerned. Although Angelina was a pain, she was a known entity. While Rowan indulged her to a certain extent and she was acknowledged as the leader of society because of it, Angelina had always been replaceable. He doubted Rowan would be anywhere as sanguine about the idea of replacing his true mate. The royals were devoted to their true mates, part of why his majesty had gone to pieces after the queen's death.
The mating bond was untouchable. No, whoever was Rowan's mate was his mate, end of discussion. But would a lady of humble birth be able to navigate the complicated dance of dealing with a court? Or what if she proved to be stupid, cruel, or greedy? No matter how many different ways he turned it over in his head, Kiran could only foresee it turning out well in the slimmest of scenarios.
Finally, the mate hunt arrived and Kiran dutifully attended along with the rest of the court. However, as the days went on and Rowan didn't find his mate, Kiran began to regret it for an entirely different reason. Although most people wouldn't be able to see behind the prince's carefully constructed mask, Kiran could see the pain and disappointment steadily growing.
Then, on the final day, Rowan had miraculously found his mate. She wasn't a stunning beauty but she seemed to possess a quiet confidence that drew Kiran. He found himself studying her, trying to puzzle out the mystery that was the prince's mate, Alyssa of Anaria. According to what he could remember, Anaria was a small province located on the southern coast. While it hadn't been a troublesome area, neither had it produced anything noteworthy.
Seeing the look of wonder in Rowan's eyes, Kiran knew that it would be up to him to thoroughly investigate the lady for any assets or threats, so he quietly slipped from the room to start. However, he'd barely begun when a page burst into the archives in search of him. Spotting him, he blurted out that there had been an attempt on the lady.
Throwing his dignity aside, Kiran had run through the halls, anger swirling through him. Whether or not she was a threat, who would dare to make an attempt on the prince's lady? When he reached the prince's study, he found Rowan inside, still livid over the turn of events. He'd done his best to soothe Rowan before heading out to discover the truth behind this matter. He's worked too hard alongside Rowan to allow the country to fall now. Whoever had dared such treason would rue the day they'd ever even considered it a good idea.
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