THE POISON HE CRAVES FOR

Tristan sighed aloud as he watched the once quiet street. People were beginning to come out and do their things.Those who had to go to work were on their way and some were just cycling around the street. Once again he wasn't able to sleep. His mind had been preoccupied with a few things, one of which was the recent request his cabinet members keep asking of him every time they met! 'Don't they get tired?' He wondered since it was becoming quite tiring for him. The knock on his door was proof that he won't be able to get any rest for the rest of the day as his personal aids were already there to prepare him for every meeting demanding his presence for the day. 'Why did you have to die father?!' He wondered to himself. He was not prepared for the responsibility when it became his. "Come in" Tristan answered to the knock, his voice void of any form of emotion. "As king, you can never let your subject read your feelings!" His father had once told him... And now he is King, he finally has been able to understand why those words mattered. "Good morning Your highness, I believe you had a wonderful night rest." Aldegar repeated his every morning words. But as usual, Tristan made no response, although he is devoted to his task genuinely but Tristan cannot seem to like him ... He doesn't know what the feeling is... but he just knows he needed to be wary of the man. With a clap of his hand, the ladies scurried around as they prepared for the King's bath and readied his outfits. One of the previous acts Tristan had stayed his ground on was refusing to let them bathe him! The previous Kings, his dad included had enjoyed being washed by these ladies. He couldn't imagine them knowing what he looked like without any clothes on! Done with his bath, they helped groom his hair and face. "You look radiant as always Your Highness, the cabinet is ready to welcome you in their presence." Tristan eye-rolled. 'Really, Aldegar words were all rehearsed.' Tristan had no doubt he could trade positions with Aldegar and he won't get caught! As his feet took him to the meeting hall, he couldn't help sighing inwardly, he knew exactly what the major topic of discussion was going to be and he wasn't really in the mood for such a discussion. We can do this! * ** *** And just as he had guessed, they had to bring it up as the last topic for the day... 'Is it so impossible to end a meeting by discussing only politics and not interfere in my private life?!' Tristan wondered as he watched them all voice out their arguments. "Your highness, indeed you are a magnificent ruler, one whose name is being praised all over the kingdom but those same mouths which sing your praises can't help but also cry and wonder when they will get to sing the praises of their Queen, Your wife... Please Your highness, for the sake of the kingdom's prosperity, why not consider our suggestion and take a queen already." 'Well his speech got longer and more sentimental today.' Tristan thought to himself as he readied himself for the next speaker 'I guess this is where he speaks, his friends had all made their contributions...' he thought as he stared at a certain direction. "You have taken over the crown for almost a year now Your Highness, I believe it is time you consider choosing someone to occupy that empty seat next to you." Tristan smirked at his confidence. 'Having him as a father-in-law wouldn't have been bad,I could have just made sure his thirst for power was controlled by me...' he thought to himself. Oh how fun would it have been... But then, he could not forget her! and he did not plan to either... For years, she is all he could think of, her eyes, the silkiness of her hair, her tender soft skin, her scent... They hunt him! he craves for her so much that he doesn't seem to know howw he was still able to remain this sane! 'Not here Azariah' he cautioned himself. Tristan stayed silent for a long while, just staring at them. He knew they were all waiting to hear his response, as usual, no one had been able to talk since Lord Adalberht finished his speech. Being an uncle-in-law to the previous King and possible father-in-law to the present king did give him some sort of respect among the rest. The type of respect that needs to be curbed to avoid future nuisance. His gaze stopped on the very man who instigated this daily plea they made. "Exactly Lord Adalberht, it has only been a year since I became king. So why the rush for a queen?" I asked. Vampires live for centuries, why should they try to pressure him into marrying when he wasn't ready... When he was yet to find her! "The laws did so Your Highness, Centuries ago, a law was made that every King has a duty to his people by providing them a lady whom they could consider a mother. And due to those laws, we are able to make this request of you." The historian Acheal said. Acheal is one of the oldest members of his cabinet and a very close friend of his late father, he also is the father to one of his closest friend and ally. Hearing his words made him halt a bit in his response. This is a man he truly respect and f**k it! 'Why did you have to contribute Acheal?' Tristan thought bitterly to himself. He knew he wasn't one of Adalberht's followers and he only did his duty but he would have preferred if he had stayed silent. Smacking his lips, Tristan thought of the best way to resolve the issue "Well then, since it is the law, I can't disobey now can I?" He amiled which got most of them raising a brow "I will think about it, but while I am doing the thinking, announce it to the whole kingdom and make sure those who aren't staying in the kingdom should also hear of my message. Any lady of marriageable age who is interested in being queen should come and prove why they deserve the title. Considering how busy I am, it is almost impossible for me to go out there and get myself a wife." Tristan announced with a straight and serious-looking face, while inside of him, he was dying of laughter. Their expressions... Damn hilarious! As expected, one of the ministers began to talk "But... But your highness... There is a perfect" Tristan cut him off... "A perfect candidate?" He asked raising a brow "Why is she perfect?! Because she is your daughter?" Tristan heard the minister gasp in horror as his frightened eyes looked towards Lord Adalberht. 'Why the fear? Is he worried Lord Adalberht will think of his daughter as a threat or is there something I do not know of?' Tristan wondered. He looked towards Aldegar, his praises might be rehearsed but Aldegar is a reliable aid. One gaze and he understands the King's message. "Of course not Your Highness, my daughter is very clumsy and will only bring to the royal family shame... I will never dare think of her as a perfect candidate for Your Highness" what a great dad he is... "She sounds like a fun person, I will expect a private introduction with her." Tristan smiled widely while he watched him shiver in his pants. 'If by chance whom he fears is Lord Adalberht then I need to destroy that bond or whatever it is. And what other way to destroy such than to tease him with the one thing no creature can resist?!' Power Power is something that no creature can resist. The temptation of him being an in-law to the king and not just a follower of another will make him betray his master or whatever he is to him... Lord Adalberht's penetrating eyes looked towards the King, but a glance from Tristan had him looking back down. Tristan smirked at that... "I believe the meeting is over, I will be expecting you all to convey my messge." He told them before walking out of the room. Tristan of course had an ulterior motive as to why he needed such a message sent far and wide. He never did believe he was the only one unable to forget her, he is hoping when she hears of the news, she will come for him. *** "Your Highness, her esteemed lady will like an audience with you" Tristan nodded taking a turn towards her wing. "Hello mother" He greeted without emotions, but one could hear the mockery in his words. Ever since his dad married her years ago, not once have they shown genuine emotion towards each other, not that they needed to anyway. They were only civil to one another! "I heard you keep on declining the request for you to take in a queen... Tell me son, what exactly is the problem with Estella that you are unwilling to consider her as queen" Tristan knew very well she wasn't expecting a response from him yet, so he didn't bother giving one, instead he took one of the delicious looking berries and ate "She is well trained, groomed to lead. She is the perfect candidate so why are you making a drama out of this Tristan?" Hearing her call his name made him realize her uncle might have pressured or so kindly asked her to make him marry his daughter. This is one of the rare moments she shows an emotion. "She truly might have been the best candidate but I doubt I am the perfect match" Chuckling a bit "I mean, we are cousins after all, right? Oh no, she is my aunt isn't she? But not once have we ever related and I honestly don't plan on starting now." Tristan shrugged. Lord Aderberht would of course have been a great person to form relations with since he was advanced in the knowledge of politics, but his daughter, he doubt he could live with her under the same roof without choking himself to death! "Not technically, I didn't give birth to you so you two are not related. As for not having any good relationship with her, you two will develop it at a point. Moreover, what the kingdom need is a queen and not a wife! Except, the gossips are true" She asked her voice raised a little from her soft spoken one as her eyes looked down towards his hips. What gossip is she referring to?! "Oh mother, you do know listening to gossip will only cause more harm than good right" she glared at Tristan as he had repeated the exact same thing she told father and him once while they were having lunch. There had been whispering among the workers about a certain warrior who always goes into her room, dad had brought it up while we had lunch and she had chuckled while saying those words. It gives Tristan enormous joy knowing he could repeat those words back to her! "That is true. Thank you for worrying about my health son" she said her nose flaring red from suppressed anger which made the smile on her look hilarious What could have gotten my dear mother this annoyed?... "You shouldn't thank me mother, I am only fulfilling my duty" as much as this back and forth bickering was fun, Tristan had to leave since there are things he needed to do. "I will be leaving now" He let her know as he headed towards the door "Estella is your bride. I will expect you to pick a date for the wedding before I help you out son." The warning behind her words was so loud to his ear that he could only smile. Where are you?!... Tristan wondered as he walked in the direction of his next meeting...