Capítulo 16: Chapter 14: The poisoned Chalice V
"Yes, please go ahead."
"Our kingdoms have been in treaty for years now which have made us unfondingly allies to a certain vigour. A marriage to seal that treaty is all is left of that fondness."
"You are proposing a marriage to me, King Ratarod?"
"On behalf of someone of course. Do you think I dare insult you by proposing you be my second wife?"
"Is there anything you are incapable of?"
He laughed, gaining a bit of watchfulness from those gathered at their table. "You flatter me princess."
She looked at him. "It's queen now."
"Oh sorry. Did I say that? I must have been so used to calling you that...Queen Sharma."
"Hm-hm." She picked up her goblet.
"Even in my dreams, my lady, I wouldn't think of taking you as a second wife."
"I don't know if I should take that as an insult or a compliment." She drank her wine.
"It's a respect. One I shouldn't fail to give to a Queen. Talk more of the ruler of Aridal."
"If you are stating that as an apology, it is accepted."
"Of course. My suggestion is that, since you are searching for someone to whom you can love, I would suggest my brother, Artirad."
Sharma looked at Artirad who was seated close to Verlock by her right hand side of the table and was having deep conversations with his man servant. He was a fine man. "You spoke about love. You think I will be charmed by the handsomeness of Artirad enough for me to fall in love?"
Ratarod smiled. "I am only saying why don't we give it some time. A month? Three months? Perhaps, in those times, you will find him worthy to be your consort. If he isn't within those months, he can return back to Rabadon."
"So you are selling your brother off, like a slave to please you?"
"Careful Sharma. You are also speaking of the prince of Rabadon."
"What can I say? That is how it looks like to me."
"There are some things we don't say even if that is what we see. I like my brother Artirad and I seek what is best for him and for the interest of my Kingdom. I am not throwing him at you, I am only suggesting a way out. You want to marry for love and you are not permitted to marry a commoner. Why not fall in love with a noble and a powerful one at that. That way, you fulfill your duty and your desires."
Sharma looked at him, he seemed sincere about his intention.
"Three months. If three months is too long for you, you can shorten it to two. Keep him in Aridal, in this palace for three months. Watch him, engage him, involve him in matters. Go for hunting together and decide for yourself if you are both suitable for each other. If you do not find him worthy, he will return to Rabadon. No worries. If you find him worthy and fall in love, then we will plan a marriage. A marriage to join both kingdoms. I would be joyful if the latter persist."
He sat up and picked his goblet, watching Sharma as he drank his wine.
..
..
"Isn't King Ratarod being too obvious?" Romayo asked Verlock refilling his cup.
"Do you hear what they talk about?"
"It's bad manners to listen to their conversation. That is also considering the fact that they are speaking to themselves...alone." She sat down in the empty seat beside him. "I did hear in passing though, King Ratarod calling Sharma Princess." She chuckled.
"He didn't?" He laughed.
"He did."
"He must want to have his head then."
Romayo cleared her throat signalling to Verlock that someone was looking at him.
He turned his head to his right and saw Artirad staring at him.
"You are speaking about the King Ratarod, might I remind you?" He said.
"Oh...I am sorry for my impudence, Prince Artirad." Verlock bowed slightly. "The wine must be getting a better of me."
"Unlikely that you may want to stop drinking it then?"
Verlock looked at him and picked his goblet. "Tonight is a feasting night. A time when we drink wine." He stood up and carried his goblet, walking away from the table.
Romayo looked at him as he staggered away. She shook her head. "So much for the regent. He cannot drink a goblet."
"You must be the Queen's guard?" Artirad asked her.
Romayo smiled. "Yes, I am." She sat in the chair Verlock had just stood up from. "The lady Romayo of Shatuna."
He took her hand, "You are a noble." He kissed it.
"Our family has served this kingdom for years. It is an honour that I get to do my fair share."
"And for a queen."
"It wouldn't have happened otherwise."
"Putatively."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I mean, she is a queen ruler. It is only rightful that she acquires a female guard."
"It doesn't have to be. But she made it happen. As she is the first queen ruler, then I am the first woman guard of Aridal. Feels good to be trampling on history together. All those rules and traditions." She looked at him as he drank his wine. "Forgive my cousin for his impudence. It was a mere conversation between family."
"Excuse me?
"My cousin. The man who just left?"
"You both are related?"
"Yes." She smiled. "I told you our family has served this kingdom for years and I am happy to do—"
"Your fair share?" He interrupted.
She looked at him, both smiling. "Yes. My cousin Verlock is the regent and my uncle who is away is the King adviser."
"Dutiful family."
"As has been."
She picked up a piece of flat bread on the plate in front of her and cut some pig meat from the center piece. "I heard Rabadon is known for hunting and that your father was a very good hunter."
"Hm. Yes. My father was called the lion of Rudah. My grandfather known as the conquerer of manhasaphet. They have repeated history dated back to the years of the white Lords and Great king Shartock until the kingdom was divided into six greats."
"You know your history."
"I tell tales...that is, when I am not in the palace giving opinions on state matters. I do have a thing for music."
She smiled. "Your brother is the known king Rabadon. What is your role in the kingdom as the King's brother? I would hate to offend you as I quite didn't know of your existence until today."
He grinned. "I wasn't always in the kingdom. I was taken to a monastery at a young age."
She gasped. "Are monasteries also for King sons?"
He laughed. "I was a bit rebellious in my younger age. I was taught to behave. Apparently. I came back two years before my father died."
"Which is recently."
"Yes."
"It must have been hard."
"No. It wasn't."
She nodded, not believing. "So, prince Artirad and monk of monastery.."She laughed. "How do you see the world now that you spent most of your time locked away?"
"Locked away?" He laughed. "I wasn't locked away. I grew with the times, just not in the kingdom."
"But truly, how do you see the world?"
He looked at her, her hair plaited back in a french twist and her eyes shining with the lanterns that ignited the hall. "It is...a cruel place." He said, having no intention to add another phrase.
Romayo nodded as she picked her meat, "Indeed it is. Indeed."
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