My adored queen

5

"Why didn't you come to the reception? Weren't you informed?" ignoring the mess in the room, the scattered bottles, and the self-proclaimed king, the ruler decided to start the conversation with the reason he had come. Robert always found excuses on the eve of reception day to find "important matters." Sometimes he went hunting, sometimes for a walk, but he always disappeared from the capital for a few days. Today he was present in the palace, but did not show the high mercy of coming down to the people.

"Yeah, they said something like that," the heir chuckled and sprawled on the sofa again, rubbing his eyes.

"When will you start behaving responsibly? It's your duty to attend the reception of your subjects. You want to be king, but believe me: you're not ready. You're irresponsible, and I'm not eternal. When you take the throne, you'll have to listen to your people," Leonard tried to instill truths into his descendant, standing proudly before him, but the crown prince had other views on life. He chuckled skeptically and jumped to his feet... No, he fell back onto the sofa, unable to stay upright. However, he did not remove the mask of sarcasm from his swollen red face after a good feast, which his friends had been celebrating for three days almost non-stop, since the recent hunt.

"Like I have nothing better to do! It's not a royal affair: to wipe the noses of smelly pig farmers!" the heir declared, waving his hand away, knocking a half-full glass off the table. The red liquid, spilling on the soft, light-pastel carpet with embroidered flowers and figures, added bright colors, seeping into the fibers. Watching the glass roll under the chair with blurred eyes, the prince muttered to himself, "Whatever, they'll clean it up..."

"Is that why you trampled a field of wheat chasing a hare? Do you even know that you live at the expense of pig farmers and farmers? And this clothing, and the wine, and the luxury—all at the expense of taxes from artisans and peasants! Do you remember how you disrespected the army half a year ago? They are your main servants, protecting your peace! Do you know how many illegitimate children of yours are growing up in the provinces? Do you know how many women you deprived of the chance to create a strong, happy family? Did you ask what happened to the forest you burned down? Sometimes I don't believe you're my son. If you weren't a prince, you would have been excommunicated long ago and banished from the empire, but you don't appreciate the second... tenth... fortieth chance I gave you. You don't deserve everything you have! Being born into a royal family is not enough, Robert! These are your subjects, and I will teach you to respect them! Get up," grabbing his son's hand, the king forced him to his feet, but not for long. The prince tried to break free and fell back onto the sofa, shouting,

"They are my servants! Born to serve me and satisfy my desires! If I want, I'll close all those shelters and funds, turn them into brothels, at least there'll be some use. Enough, father! Enough being merciful when you can be majestic! We were born into a dynasty, and therefore, it's a sin not to use the privileges!" the crown prince delivered a whole tirade, mixed with drunken hiccups, seeing himself as worthless in his father's eyes. Eyes that grew colder and more distant with each passing moment.

"You are not worthy of these people... They will not accept you. Neither the advisors nor the cardinal..." the monarch said sadly, turning away from the one he had given life to.

"You're wrong. Luckily, I'm their only heir. They'll love me as I am," Robert said self-confidently.

"You're mistaken. No one in this life has disappointed me as much as you," Leonard said majestically, looking indifferently out the window, without even turning his head towards his son. He had once again encased his soul in stone so that no one would see the pain inflicted by his unworthy descendant's outrageous irresponsible behavior. "From now on, I forbid you to leave the palace and this wing unnecessarily, and if I hear about even one more r**e of the ladies-in-waiting (don't think I've forgotten that scandal) or entertainment with the maids, I will make you regret your birth. I have done many good and bad things in my life, but the worst thing that could have happened to me and the kingdom is you. You are not worthy to be a prince! You are entangled in darkness, living in a web of vile intrigues and satisfying your base desires. You are harming not me, not even your mother, but only yourself. You are killing yourself, Robert. I am very ashamed; you have once again disgraced the dynasty and the kingdom... Find the strength to accept the punishment that will find you. And don't cross my path..."

No, the king did not shout. He spoke, but with such force that the window panes rang with tension. He sharply opened the room door to leave his son alone with his sins. This conversation was the last straw; now Leonard had no doubts about the correctness of his decision.

He walked with measured steps through the long, winding corridors, approaching his chambers, unaware that someone was already waiting for him in his study.

"Mastermal," Leonard nodded to his old friend, who sat comfortably in an armchair, and walked to his desk, taking his rightful place. He picked up a report left by Daniel for review, ran an indifferent eye over the first lines, but pushed it away, unable to concentrate. He sighed heavily, resting his elbows on the tabletop and running his fingers through his thick curly hair. The cardinal chuckled quietly.

"I take it the conversation went well?"

"Like all the previous ones," the king sighed.

"And what did you decide?"

"I will issue a decree," he replied curtly.

"So, you're sure?" the cardinal sighed heavily, guessing what he meant. Not that he was against it, but he was worried. Changes are not always for the better.

"Now all doubts have disappeared," Leonard nodded, gesturing vaguely towards the cabinet near the door. "Help yourself to something to cheer you up..."

Mastermal suppressed a light ironic smile and approached the cabinet where the king's collection of spirits was always kept. Only the best. He took a tall-stemmed glass, pouring into it a light, sun-yellow liquid from a faceted jug. He looked back at his friend, who was intently writing something on paper, and closed the cabinet. Since the doctor had discovered those cursed tuberculosis, the monarch had been forced to give up everything that could harm his health, including alcohol.

"Now the seal and signature," he muttered to himself, giving the decree official status.

"May I take a look?" the cardinal asked, and when the sealing wax on the paper had dried, he took the will and ran his eyes over it. A second time... A third time... "Do you think she can handle it? Marchioness Annie is very capable, but the queen and Robert will make her life miserable, and what will the advisors say? Do you realize you are giving the throne to a twenty-year-old girl who knows virtually nothing about governing the state?"

"Firstly, I'm not dead yet. No one knows how much time I have left, maybe a few more years. I will prepare Annie, but in a way that she suspects nothing. Secondly, you will not leave her. You will always support her, advise her, and not let her stray from the path. She is a brave and courageous girl, she will not let herself be offended. She has everything it takes. She should have been born my daughter, not Ileria's. But what can you do when a child makes a mistake in which family to come to? She is like a spitting image of me. I will die peacefully knowing that the kingdom and everything that belonged to me will belong to her. Annie will take care of it, I believe in her as I have never believed in anyone. But this decree will be a secret; you will keep silent until my death, and then announce it to all the people according to tradition."

Mastermal sighed heavily, rubbing his hand. Of course, he chose the marchioness over the crown prince, but he still could not help but worry about the young woman. He had known her since childhood, being a spiritual mentor to both the king and his niece, but no warm paternal feelings changed the fact that the kingdom was being handed to an inexperienced person.

"Maybe you should at least tell her? It will be a shock for the girl..."

"No, she will be the last to know. Annie is very compassionate and loves me. If she finds out about the illness, she will drive herself crazy with worry and tears. I don't want her to see me weak. Let her remember me as a powerful ruler. I have no doubt that she will quickly come to her senses after the will is announced. I will leave her a letter, and you will give it to her after my death. She will understand, I'm sure. I will write it tonight..." he put down the pen, sighed heavily, and leaned back in his chair, imagining his niece as queen and regretting only that he would not be able to see her like that.

"Why rush? You yourself say you're not dying yet," his loyal friend wondered, putting down the glass with unfinished alcohol.

"God's ways cannot be known in advance. Better early than late," His Majesty philosophized. And he was absolutely right. "Okay, I'll hide the decree in a secret place, and you, keep your tongue tightly between your teeth. I promised Anni a horseback ride yesterday. While she hasn't left for Alvina, we'll take the opportunity."

"You'd better rest, my lord," the cardinal shook his head, wrinkling his nose like a small child.

"I'll rest in the next world," the king said cheerfully and rose easily from the chair, heading towards the door. Mastermal followed him with his eyes, allowing himself a skeptical smile. Then he could not imagine that in exactly a week the monarch would be gone, and a hurricane of events would burst into the life of Lantonia.