Chapter 40: Chapter 40

The visions and nightmares kept creeping inside Aurora's head. They haunt her to the point she couldn't sleep, all she could see were flames whenever she closed her eyes or opened them. She called out for her mother sometimes when she felt the heat was increasingly more difficult for her to maintain. When she woke up she was all alone and sweaty. She was also panting hard as if she's been running a mile. The night was still young and the kingdom was asleep. This was way too much for her, hence she stood up and walked to the table which was inside her chambers. There was a white parchment paper, a large bird quill sharpened and an ink made up of concoction of gum arabic, oak gall, iron sulfate and water.

Aurora sat down on the table and placed her hands on her head thinking what to write. Who to write to and how to go about with the whole process, she knew there was only person who can help her and it was her mother. She wrote all about the nightmares and how she urgently needed her grandmother as she was the only one who could help. When she finished writing the letter, Aurora placed her mother's name at the top, "Huyan of house Guyana." And she trusted none other than Lord Balrus to deliver the letter to her mother. Only Balrus would find a way to reach Huyan.

While at the same time, Princess Aeryn was making her own decisions regarding saving the realm. She wrote to their uncle from her father's side, Prince Arcadia Arteides who lived in Marinus. He was known as the Lord of Marinus, a city famous for trading and gold just a few miles outside Maldonia. Unlike his big brother King Luca Arteides, Prince Arcadia wasn't a nice person at all. He deserted Maldonia and started his own kingdom where he calls himself King because he never liked the idea of being ruled. Now his brother was dead and his nephew was on the throne, well... let's say he was waiting for a tiny show of weakness to take Sweet Waters throne.

Princess Aeryn thought she was helping Artemis by writing to their uncle and informing him of Artemis's decisions. She urged her uncle to speak to her brother for the good of Maldonia and House Arteides. And if possible, arrange a marriage between Prince Arcadia's daughter and Artemis.

In between the lines, Princess Aeryn suggested. "Aren't we supposed to make tough decisions for the crown uncle, if the so called king is full of madness? I beseech you to come to Blackmount when you have the time and speak some sense to your nephew. I believe he may listen to you, uncle." The signature at the bottom was widely clear that it was the princess. The royal sigil attached at the top of the envelope made that letter even more important.

Early in the morning before everyone else had awaken, Princess Aeryn reached out to the mail senders and crown correspondences. She gave the one who she trusted the most and told him to ride hard to Marinus and give Prince Arcadia the letter. After that, Princess Aeryn felt she had done a service to the crown and went back to sleep. Aurora woke up and she went straight to Lord Balrus's chambers with a letter in her hands.

When she arrived at Lord Balrus's chambers, she didn't even knock. She barged inside and found Lord Balrus on bed covered with linen, and to her surprise, she found a man in there and it was none other than Saigon. These two were in the midst of what people called, "Morning sex.". To her shock, Aurora dropped the letter on the floor and quickly walked outside.

Ashamed and embarrassed, Lord Balrus pushed Saigon out of the bed and ordered him to leave. Saigon reached out for his robe, slippers and then walked out of the room in a hurry with his head down when he passed through Aurora. It was well known about Lord Balrus's condition as a eunuch, but being involved in buggery activities was a secret he kept for years. Since he found no pleasure mating with opposite sex, it was men he turned his head to. When he first tried it with a man, somehow it felt good and he's been doing that every time he had a chance to, or when he felt like the need to do it.

Lord Balrus's head was low and he was scared. This reminded him to make sure he locks the door next time. He always locks the door, how come he forgot to do that? What if it had been someone else, perhaps princess Sansa. If she knew he was having sexual intimates with her paramour, he would be hanging from a rope by then.

"Come in..." said Lord Balrus while still shaking from what just happened.

Aurora slowly walked back inside the room and picked up the letter she dropped early on from shock. "I can come back next time, my lord." She said.

"No, my lady. I apologies for what..." Lord Balrus for the first time ever in his life was speechless.

Aurora walked to him. She didn't care who Lord Balrus pleased himself with nor was it her business, but she still advised him. "Be more discreet next time. Saigon is a well-known womanizer. He fucks anything that moves, he could spread this —"

"I don't know what came over me Aurora. I deeply apologize." Repeated Lord Balrus still with his head down. Aurora lifted him up.

"I brought you a letter. I need this to reach out to my mother."

"Your mother? Huyan is deceased."

"I learnt it yesterday through a washerwoman down the slums that she isn't. If there's anyone who can find her, it's you my lord. I trust you."

Lord Balrus was grateful. "Thank you, my lady." With that Aurora patted Lord Balrus's shoulder and walked away.

Lord Balrus placed the letter on top of the table and laid down still reliving what just happened. He released a long deep breath which he didn't even know that he was holding. Saigon as Aurora thought him to be was a spy and he was working for Princess Aeryn. At first it was to spy Princess Sansa but he ended up sleeping with her, and his second task was to test Lord Balrus's masculinity to which Lord Balrus failed badly.

Princess Aeryn was looking for a reason to exile Lord Balrus from the capital. With three months to come until Artemis returns to the capital, she was ought to act fast and smart. How does she get a control over Aurora while Lord Balrus lingered inside the palace protecting her? She had to get him out of the way and what a better way to destroy a man other than a buggery scandal.

During the Princess's usual tea time in the garden, Saigon came to her with news. "Did you manage to get to him?" Princess Aeryn asked straight away. Saigon nodded with a smile.

Princess Aeryn was overwhelmed with joy. "I knew it!" She screamed with joy.

"May I sit with you, my princess."

"Yes, yes, please do Saigon. Now, tell me everything..." Saigon sat down and fixed his robe. Princess Aeryn called out for more tea and pastries from the servants.

"Before I proceed, someone walked in on us this morning."

"Who is it?"

"I believe it was the kitchen wench."

"A kitchen wench? There are many scullions Saigon, who is it in particular."

"Aurora Kholin."

Speaking of impeccable timing, Princess Aeryn felt like everything was working on her favor. A smile escaped her lips as she sipped the tea. More pastries were brought at the table with another cup of tea and Saigon drunk to his fullness.

One particular person was looking at them from the palace, and it was Princess Sansa. She was envious of the friendship between Princess Aeryn and Saigon, more to say she was also jealous.

Lord Balrus reached out and stood beside Princess Sansa. "Jealousy much?" he teased her.

Princess Sansa was startled by Lord Balrus's sudden appearance. "My Lord?"

"People are looking at you, my princess. You don't want your husband to know of your infidelities. He will send you back to Nemphis and all you will look at will be sheep, goats and streets reeking of mud and piss."

"Or maybe I can go back home."

"Your father hasn't yet replied to your letter. I believe he's really cut you out of his life for good. If I were you, I wouldn't be so hopeful."

Princess Sansa sighed. "What do you want from me?"

Lord Balrus smiled at her. "Take a last look at your lover, this is the last time you'll lay your eyes on him."

"Wh-what? What do you mean by that, my lord?" Princess Sansa's face showed every bit of confusion. She looked at Saigon enjoying the tea with Princess Aeryn and then she turned back to look at Lord Balrus.

Lord Balrus remained silent. However, his silence was a clear answer as to what was going to happen to Saigon. Indeed, that particular tea was the last beverage Saigon ever had. He and the princess were planning to charge Lord Balrus with buggery and the penalty was death or exile. Lord Balrus knew of the plan before it could be executed. During the hour of the wolf, Saigon found himself at the top of the palace five stories high and with a rope around his neck, surrounded by three men wearing masks. Saigon screamed but no one came, he pleaded but then again no one listened.

Lord Balrus came out of the shadows smiling with his hands up front and a crown on his head. Now here is where we are conflicted as to what crown did Balrus put on to witness Saigon's execution. The three men who conducted the act claimed Lord Balrus wore the crown of King Cristin Arteides. But it was too dark for them to know what sort of crown he wore. Not to mention they were too busy with executing Saigon to even pay attention. The good folks later on explained that Lord Balrus himself spoke of the day and he claimed that he had Turias Arteides's crown on his head, the fiercest king Maldonia has ever known. They claimed Lord Balrus was drunk that day when he said those words. But we all know Balrus wouldn't dare utter those words out in public, he was way smarter than that. Hence, it still remains a mystery.

Saigon couldn't believe his eyes when he was Lord Balrus with a crown on his head. "Barlus?" He muttered.

"It is I, my love. The king of Maldonia without a crown. It seems finally I have one." Lord Balrus smiled at Saigon and then he pushed the chair from which Saigon's feet rested.

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