PRICE OF ROYALTY

2.Theo the arrogant

1.      Theo, the arrogant

I stared at the convoy of Varci entering the palace gate through my chamber’s open windows. No King Leon there, I sighed.

“Princess, the King is here to see you,” The page posted outside my door announced.

“Let him in,”

My father walked in, nodding at his personal guard to close the door after him. Once we were alone, I rushed to him, burying my chest into his outstretched arms.

“Father,” I silently cried. In this whole palace, it was only him that I would miss once the seven days of marriage were over.

“You will make a beautiful bride dear,” he patted my hair.

“Only if mother was here to see it. Wait, can she come to my wedding?” I drew back, looking into his eyes with hope. He averted his gaze, avoiding my eyes.

“She is now married in a faraway country. She gave up the right to be your mother when she married one of the Lords,”

“But can’t she come to the wedding even just as one of the guests?” I held his palms, wishing he could see the longing of a mother in my eyes.

“I’m sorry Elizabeth,” That was his polite way of turning me down.

“Well, you are the King and I’m no one except your child by my mother when she was your mistress. I understand that this is out of your reach father,” I smiled even though painfully.

“I will miss you,” He admitted with a sigh.

“But why King Leon? I could have married anyone else not a king betrothed to my sister,”

“Why not? Because you think you don’t have the right to be married by a king? You were born to be a queen and you should never see it any other way,” I wish I could believe that but when you have grown up with people scorning you for being the royal bastard, it gets hard even for the word of your own king to be believable.

“Now come on, the convoy must now be in the throne room. Let’s see what they bring with them,” He stretched his palm and I took it.

“You mean who,” We both laughed at that as he led me out of the door.

Servants bowed at us all the way while my father’s guard followed at a close distance, his blue armor clanking lowly. The Page of the throne room announced our arrival and in turn Lords of Gatiah and the convoy from Varci bowed. I stood by his side, the Queen briefly glaring at me before she faked a smile.

“Prince Theo of Varci,” My father acknowledged the man who had stepped forward from the convoy. His attire was of the most expensive fabric and from the way he stood with utmost arrogance, his right hand resting on his sheathed sword, I could tell he was a royal.

“Your Majesty,” He smirked and I decided at that moment I didn’t really like him. His looks however were beyond a painter’s imagination; so well sculptured.

“So who is this …Proxy? Don’t tell me your brother sent you,” King Leon’s brother? Well if he was as half good-looking as Theo, then I was in for quite the envy from women.

“Unfortunately, yes. I wouldn’t risk my brother’s head,” He replied rather rudely.

“Well that is quite an assumption Prince,” My father rested his chin on the tip of his index finger.

“One can never be too careful. Which is why the proxy is in the princess’s chambers as we speak. Only she will ever know his identity,” Several gasps and murmurs filled the throne room.

“Silence!” The king ordered and immediately the room fell silent.

“How dare you sneak in a man into my daughter’s chambers without informing me?” His temper was noticeable in his tone.

“Maybe if you had been there to meet our convoy, I could have divulged this little piece of vital information to you,” He was quite the king of rudeness. From the corner of my eyes I caught a light smile touch Queen’s lips. She was clearly enjoying all of this.

“You could have sent a fore word,” My father countered rather defiantly.

“I suppose I could have, couldn’t I?” Were the royals of Varci this arrogant?

“Well, your convoy better get rested and fed. The welcome banquet will be starting once darkness falls over the city completely,” Father said rather dismissively.

“Of course. Just one more thing, the wedding days have been reduced to three with today being accounted as day one. You’ll forgive this abrupt change of affairs but Varci needs its queen soon enough,”

“This is outrageous,” Father was furious now.

“I have to agree it is. A bastard princess being the queen of Varci, the Great kingdom of Gold,” He smirked again.

“First marriage by proxy, then you sneaking the proxy into my daughter’s chambers without my permission and now you insulting my daughter. Better watch what you say to me next time you open your mouth because I would not hesitate to have your head on a spike,”

“Why? Because I called her a bastard? There is no harm in pointing out what is already there, now is it? I was bastard too like her until my father due to his love for me, decided to have me legitimized,”

“Are you saying I don’t love my daughter?”

“We would never know, now would we?” He bowed once again before he led his convoy out of the throne room.