Chương 14: The two Dukes
"Louise-Marie! You still look as beautiful as the first day I laid eyes on you in our first year of Academy de L'échec." Duke Montfort took the Duchess's hand and gently kissed the back of it. He then looked at Duke Aumont and said coldly, "Vermin. You're looking well."
Duke Aumont stomped his foot and pointed at Duke Montfort, "You hear that! It's been twenty years since we've even run into the bastard and it's the first thing he says to me! You know damn well my name is Fermin. Feeeermin, not vermin!"
The Duchess laughed lightly, "Settle down both of you. Gerard, Fermin and I are here to talk about our children. It seems your son has been showing a little interest in our daughter, and we just wanted to say, we are not opposed to the idea of their marriage. Despite the rumors about him, we have found your son to be quite extraordinary."
Duke Montfort sighed in relief, "Thank you, I am afraid that I spoiled him when he was young. I had thought we lost the only chance to make a good man out of him. If Celeste was here with us today, she would be very happy to hear that the two of them are getting along, when she heard your daughter would be attending the Academy this year, she was hoping the two of them could connect. We didn't want to come to you directly with a marriage proposal because of his past. We wanted him to prove himself worthy of a proper marriage."
The Duchess smiled and nodded, "I was very surprised by him, truthfully. You know, it was him that brokered the arrangement between our two houses and the third prince. I have no doubt that he will make a fine Duke."
As they spoke a servant entered the room, "Your grace, another visitor has arrived."
Duke Montfort nodded and said, "You can have them sit in the parlor until this meeting is finished."
"I beg your pardon, your grace, the visitor is Lady d'Aumont. I thought your guests might wish her to join as well." The servant explained.
Duke Montfort raised an eyebrow and looked at Duke and Duchess Aumont who both looked surprised, "Send her in Bitterman."
A moment later Madeline was escorted in looking miserable. The Duchess gasped, "Madeline! What's happened to you?"
Duke Aumont balled his hands into fists and bellowed, "Did his boy hurt you?"
Madeline shook her head and said, "Mother, Father, your grace, Guy has been hurt." She sobbed, "Prince Wolter von Plettenberg challenged him to a friendly spar and then purposely injured him! The second prince was behind it."
Duke Montfort sucked in a breath. "Wütendes Menschenreich, good, good." He started to pace around in his room, "How is he, Lady d'Aumont, you look terribly worried."
"The doctor gave him a potion and said he would be fine after a month. He had some broken ribs." Madeline replied as she was hugged close by her mother.
Duke Montfort nodded his head. "Fermin, I have the urge to march troops right now."
Duke Aumont put a hand on his shoulder and nodded, "If it was my son, I would feel the same." He thought for a moment and then said, "This trouble is connected to my family as well. Prince Andre crossed my bottom line, and it seems this was also his doing."
Duke Montfort asked, "Who is still backing that prick?"
Duke Aumont said, "Besides his Majesty you mean? House Foix, who are destitute and House Taillefer."
Duke Montfort grinned and said, "That's it then, House Taillefer is giving the bastard his balls." He rang for a servant and started to draw up a document, "I'm going to cancel my orders and shipments to his territory, let's see if that gets his attention."
Duke Aumont laughed and said, "Let me do the same! If yours doesn't I know ours will!"
The Duchess who was holding Madeline in her lap said, "I think it's time for me to go pay a visit to Her Majesty."
*****
A few days later in the palace, the second prince was laying back on a lounge chair as Lady Foix fed him grapes. A page entered and dropped to one knee, "Your Highness, a message from Duke Taillefer." He extended a hand holding out a scroll.
The second prince said, "Go ahead, read it to me, m'lady." He waved his hand arrogantly.
Lady Foix cleared her throat and then read, "Dear Prince Andre, We assumed you understood that House Taillefer supports his royal highness Prince Olivier. Sincerely, Duke Taillefer."
The second prince grit his teeth and cursed, "That fool will regret this!"
A few moments later another page threw open the door and announced, "Her Majesty, Queen Annabelle."
A half pause later the Queen drifted into the room almost as if she were floating. Her soft voice sounded, "Andre, send the servant home."
Prince Andre frowned and said, "Mother, Lady Foix is my guest."
Lady Foix got lippy and spoke out, "I am his fiancé, what you say to him can be said in front of me."
The Queen raised an eyebrow and then turned to the page and said calmly, "Have this servant taken out and beaten." A moment later two burly guards dragged her out of the room kicking and screaming. The Queen smiled and then said, "Andre, we have arranged another marriage for you. The Emperor was pleased that you have been showing his son around personally and has decided that you can marry his daughter Princess Helga von Plettenberg. Your father has agreed since you have taken the initiative in building our relations with Wütendes Menschenreich at the expense of three great houses of your own kingdom."
"Mother, that woman only has one eyebrow!" The second prince whined.
"Which great House wants to engage a daughter to you, a brat who tosses away good brides for rural milk cows?" The Queen answered coldly, "You'll be leaving for Wütendes Menschenreich with their Prince tomorrow morning. Remember to bring furs, it's cold there."
"Mother, just reinstate the marriage with House Aumont, say, I made a mistake or something. At least that girl is pretty." The second prince begged.
"Lady d'Aumont is already engaged to Lord Montfort." The Queen stated factually. "Your father has high expectations of him, when he learned what you had done to one of our kingdom's greatest minds, he was ready to disown you, for some reason, I decided to save you. So, do your duty, marry the uni-brow and stop scheming against people you can't afford to offend."
*****
Madeline took her turn with Guy as usual. She had been using the time to catch up on her reading since Guy was asleep most of the time. She would look up from time to time to check on him. As she turned the page she looked up and saw him staring. He said in a hoarse voice, "Hey."
Madeline smiled and replied, "Hey."
He kept watching her until she blushed and looked away. He asked, "Will you marry me, Lady Madeline?"
Madeline juggled her book and made a squeak as it clattered to the floor, she turned and looked at him as she stammered, "W-what?"
"I'm serious, I love you. Will you marry me?" He asked in his hoarse voice.
She collected her book from the floor and then brushed some hair out of her face, she sighed and then said in a soft voice, "Ask me when you are better. So I know that you mean it."
He smiled and closed his eyes again. She peaked at him again. His eye opened and she pulled the book up to cover her face pretending to be reading. He closed his eye again and drifted back off to sleep.
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