The Adulteress Queen

Chapter 10

The first time I met with Lady Gine, she seemed to be the only member of their family in the castle at the time. Lord Bardock was at the Harrenhal Castle with Sebastian, attending to some business regarding the finance of the crown. Lord Raditz was out, likely visiting one of the w***e houses he often frequented, or sparring at the castle with the guards. I thought Faustos was out as well, since I had not seen him for the duration of my visit with Lady Gine.

So when he approached me near the castle door as I was leaving after concluding my business with Lady Gine, and politely asked for a word in private, I became giddy at the surprise. I smiled kindly, keeping an appropriate front for Tien as I calmly asked Tien to go ahead and wait for me at the carriage. Faustos smiled as we watched Tien leave and he led me to a chamber far from the door and in a distant hall from where I had been with Lady Gine. There was not much furniture in there. It must have been relatively unused, probably used for storage, but I didn't need any special room. I had been hoping this visit would give me the chance to be alone with him again, though I could not be long. Tien was waiting.

"Katarina." Faustos said with a large smile as I spun towards him after entering the room, not wasting a second to plant my lips against his while I wrapped my arms around his neck. After a long kiss, I pulled away, my arms remaining where they were as I smiled shyly at him.

"Faustos." I replied after our kiss as Faustos smiled back at me and rubbed my lower back in our embrace.

"I wish you could stay longer." Faustos said with a mischievous smile. I frowned at his subtle suggestion. He leaned in for another kiss, but I pulled away, spinning with my back to him and crossing my arms as I pouted in disappointment.

"Is that all this is to you?" I asked resentfully, refusing to turn and see his face for fear that my words could be true and I would see it written all over his face.

"Is what all this is to me?" Faustos asked innocently, approaching me from behind and wrapping his arms around me, his chest snug against my back. I turned my face slightly towards him, still frowning in spite of his sweet embrace. He kissed me on the cheek, and then pulled back slightly as if observing me to gauge my reaction to him.

"Why do you want to be with me?" I asked in a disgruntled tone, immediately regretting the words as they left my mouth. It was too late to take them back. I only hoped Faustos's answer would not be words I wanted him to take back as well.

"I like you." Faustos answered immediately, as if he put no thought at all into his answer. I waited for more, but when I realized that was all that was coming from him, I contorted my brows in confusion, then laughed briefly in disbelief.

"What else?" I pressed as Faustos released his hold on me. I slowly turned around to face him, eyeing his expression expectantly. He seemed to be speechless as he gazed at me with a frown. "That's it?" I asked incredulously.

"I really, really like you." He replied facetiously as he crossed his arms with an amused expression.

"Is it that simple?" I asked as I shook my head in annoyance. Faustos smirked at me in amusement before grabbing my shoulders gently.

"Is that so bad? Or are you looking for me to complicate things?" Faustos asked mockingly as I frowned at him. "Because I think, with you being married to the king, that we are complicated enough already." He added in a carefree attitude. I glared at him angrily. The situation was complicated, but we were far from it. Maybe I should just forget him and try to make my marriage work, however daunting that effort might prove to be. But that wasn't what I wanted. Even if things were better between me and Sebastian, he would always have or want Rebekah in one sense or another. And I wanted Faustos. I wanted to complicate things with him.

"Yes." I said to him with a confident smile. He looked confused after the long pause in our conversation. I shook my head at him and sighed. "Yes, I want things to be more complicated between us. I want to know everything about you." I clarified as I wrapped my arms around his waist and nestled my cheek into his chest. As I hugged Faustos, thinking of knowing more about him reminded me of something.

"Why did you dislike my arrangement for Lady Rebekah and Lord Yamcha's marriage?" I asked him curiously. Faustos did not flinch, but I could hear his heart beat quicken against my ear before he gently pushed me away.

"What makes you think I disliked the arrangement?" He asked with a tone and face of honesty. I studied him for a moment, and he truly seemed clueless as to what I was addressing. He leaned back slightly, pulling back the curtain of the window just behind him and gazing through it.

"Is there something I should know about Lady Rebekah?" I tried again, asking forcefully. Faustos looked surprised as he looked from the window to meet my eyes.

"You mean, your close friend, Lady Rebekah?" Faustos asked me suspiciously as he narrowed his eyes at me. He crossed his arms and calmly awaited my answer, and I suddenly felt like a fool for asking.

"Well, what about Sebastian?" I asked instead, shaking away all the ruffled thoughts swirling through my mind at Faustos's unexpected responses. Faustos contorted his face into a disbelieving frown, looking at me as if I was crazy for asking such a question.

"Is there something you'd like to say, Katarina?" Faustos asked directly as he glanced out the window again, moving faster this time. I considered accusing Faustos of protecting Rebekah, of knowing of her true relationship with Sebastian. I opened my mouth to speak, too late. Faustos's eyes widened before he turned from the window and extended his arms towards me, gently brushing me towards the chamber door. "You'd better go. Sir Tien is on his way back." Faustos urged as my eyes widened in alarm. We had been talking for too long, I realized.

"Listen, Faustos. This cannot continue between us." I whispered to Faustos as I paused just before reaching the door. He frowned at me, looking hurt by my assertion, and I smiled reassuringly. "Not the way we've been doing it. I-" I began as Faustos placed a finger to my lips with a gentle shush.

"If you want to fight, we'll fight. If you want to just talk, we'll just talk. I'm easy." Faustos whispered speedily to me with an amused smile. "The next time you come here, meet me in the west tower before you see my mother." Faustos said hastily with a nod towards the western direction. "There's a separate entrance there." I turned to leave, opening the door as Faustos said something else I didn't catch.

"What, my lord?" I asked him carefully, being in the hall now where someone else might overhear me.

"Swords. I love swords." Faustos answered with a wide smile. I contorted my brows in confusion as I attempted to understand his reasoning for mentioning such a trivial detail at a time like this. "You said you wanted to know everything about me. I figured we'd start with something I like." Faustos said with a smirk. I smiled and shook my head, then laughed at him as I left to meet Tien, who was already at the door when I opened it.

"Your Grace!" Tien exclaimed in surprise as I swung the door open.

"You need to be more patient, Sir Tien." I scolded as I left the house and walked towards the carriage with Tien by my side. "From now on, when we come here, wait by the carriage for the duration of my visit. I will return to it when I am ready." I added sternly as we continued walking. I smiled to myself as I climbed into the carriage, excited about our plans to meet again soon. The anticipation of our next encounter had me continuing to smile for the duration of the ride back to the Harrenhal Castle.

I returned regularly to visit with Lady Gine, as fastidious planning was required in order to offer to the young peasants an education they had never before dreamed of having. During my first rendezvous with Faustos at Montpaus involving lengthy talking, Faustos artfully evaded answering any of my questions pertaining to his past with Rebekah or Sebastian. I tried keeping my distance from Faustos after that infuriating encounter. In spite of my frustration with him, I had come to accept the futility of the notion to distance myself from Faustos. I could not stay away from him, and he never held a grudge, no matter how I behaved. From then on, on days when Faustos was not away from Montpaus, he made a habit of waiting for me in the west tower.

The meetings with Lady Gine went well, also. Faustos's mother proved to be an intelligent woman who understood the importance of education, unlike her moronic husband who adamantly opposed her involvement whenever he was around to witness our meetings. Fortunately, she handled him well and I did not need to argue with him on the matter. Sometimes just listening to Lord Bardock's arguments against my project fueled my fire, though.

Lady Gine was there, expecting me when I arrived at Montpaus on one of my more recent visits, though I was early. I hoped she had not noticed my arrival yet. Tien knew well by then to wait beside the carriage until I concluded my business with Lady Gine. So I had Tien bring the carriage around the back way in an attempt to be inconspicuous, and left him to wait there. I expected to have enough time for a quick rendezvous with Faustos before seeing Lady Gine.

I skipped past the castle walls towards the west tower, opening the door from the outside before I ascended the stony staircase. When I reached the upper floor, I smiled when I saw Faustos was already waiting for me. He must have been waiting for a while, because he had fallen asleep on the hardened mattress of the bed, which was the only piece of furniture adorning the dusty room in the tower. I laughed to myself as I stepped up to the bed, sweeping a lock of black hair across his forehead and away from his eyes. I could watch him sleep like that for quite a while, but I wanted more from our visit. I shook his shoulder gently until he stirred. He looked up at me, his eyes shooting open in alarm. I stepped back as he settled and realized where he was.

His eyes softened and his expression relaxed as he smiled at me and softly said, "Hello, Katarina."

"Hello, Faustos." I echoed back to him, sitting slowly on the bed. We looked into each other's eyes, just absorbing each other for a moment.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep." Faustos apologized with a yawn.

"Let me guess. You wore yourself out grappling with Raditz before you came here?" I asked. It would not be the first time, and Faustos certainly did not smell like he just came from a bath. Faustos laughed and rubbed his head in embarrassment.

"Maybe." I kissed him, just a light kiss. I loved his lips. I loved his body. I loved his spirit. It did not start off like that. Those secret visits we had were not all about s****l encounters, not after my fight to deepen our relationship.

I remained slightly bitter over Faustos's lack of sentiment towards me in the beginning, until, over the course of our weekly visits, I realized that was Faustos's way. I learned that Faustos had a deep love for all types of fighting, including the grappling he often practiced with his brother as well as the sword fighting he displayed and mentioned to me before. He also loved to eat. The man was a connoisseur of elaborate meals and delicacies, a love we both shared. He knew the lords and ladies from this kingdom well, as he grew alongside many of them. I told him about the Starsands Kingdom, about my childhood, growing up without a mother. I told him how my father remarried once after my mother's death, but the new queen proved to be infertile and never gave him another child. She died only two years after their marriage in a tragic horseback riding accident. I was never close to her, and my father refused to remarry again after losing two wives. It was only when I indulged too deeply in details of people Faustos did not know or details of my more feminine interests that I would lose his attention. He cared for me, and it showed in the little nuances and subtleties that one who does not know him well would not notice, as I had not in the beginning. Many weeks we visited just to talk and connect to one another in that way. Today would be one of those visits, I thought.

Maybe I was wrong about that. A few kisses and caresses later, our passion mounted and I longed for his intimate touch. I moaned as I rolled off the bed after our bout of lovemaking, adjusting my clothing and hair in a concise manner that he and I had mastered by now. It would be so nice just once to be able to lie in bed with Faustos for hours afterwards. To stay. Maybe sometime we would find a way to do things differently. I sighed as I kissed Faustos one last time, preparing to leave when he grabbed my wrist.

"Katarina." Faustos paused, seemingly distraught about something. I felt nervous, like he was about to say something I did not want to hear. "I have to warn you. My mother will probably share some news with you about me that you will not like." I frowned with deep concern. Was something wrong with Faustos?

"Faustos?" I asked, needing to hear more, needing him to tell me as I quickly worried for him. "Are you ill?" He laughed bluntly.

"After what we just did, Katarina, do you really think I could be ill?" He asked incredulously with a smirk. I growled irritably at him. This was no time to play with me, and he understood that after my subtle warning. He became serious as he answered me. "No, Katarina. I'm not ill. But you should go now." He said, nodding towards the window. I walked to it, looking down to see Tien away from his post, heading towards the castle doors. My guard's protectiveness was making this very difficult. He would discover us some day, if he did not already know. If it did come to that, I believed I might entrust Tien with my secret. He was completely loyal to me, and already had formed a dislike of Sebastian.

"Goodbye, Faustos." I said quickly, not even turning to see him as I lifted my skirt and quickened my feet down the stairs to the outside. Tien was drawing close to the castle, and I was not ready to gamble my secrecy on his loyalty yet.

"Sir Tien!" I yelled with a wave after exiting the tower. I hastily approached my guard, hoping he would stop where he was and wait for me. Fortunately, he did, and I looped my arm in his as we met. "I asked you to wait by the carriage, Tien." I reprimanded. He frowned apologetically as we walked to the castle.

"Yes. I am sorry, your Grace. You were gone for quite a while, and I saw Lady Gine outside without you, so I became concerned." Tien looked suspicious about my whereabouts, but did not question me. I suspected that he suspected the truth, but would never confront me about a mere suspicion.

"Did you speak to Lady Gine?" I asked, deflecting the focus from my whereabouts.

"Yes. I told her that I was waiting by the carriage for you, and would bring you right around." I cringed at that news. Lady Gine was a sharp woman. She would decipher of her own accord where I might have been while my guard was waiting by my carriage. I took a deep breath as Lady Gine came into view, picking some flowers from her garden and gathering them into a basket. She stood and curtsied with a welcoming smile. I smiled back, waving in return as I prepared for what I presumed would be a long meeting today.

Once inside, Lady Gine and I discussed the educational improvement of the children who frequented our facilities. I recently convinced Sebastian to pay a significant salary to a specialized instructor named Maester Shu, who would edify children in groups at our schoolhouse daily. He was well known throughout the Starsands kingdom for his effectiveness, and I sent for him, happy that he complied in coming all this way to provide his service. Lady Gine was happy with this new development, and our business regarding education was finished. We usually followed with some small talk and gossip. Today I dreaded this part. As much as I dreaded it, I needed to hear the news regarding Faustos. I sipped some pomegranate juice thoughtfully as Gine ordered a servant to fetch us some snacks.

"Lady Gine, how fare your sons?" I asked kindly with a smile. Lady Gine smiled back as the servant reappeared, setting a platter on the table between us full of cheeses, breads and crackers.

"Raditz is a perpetual bachelor, your Grace. That man is getting too old to remain unattached. I am worried about him, and Bardock refuses to push him into marriage right now." Gine scoffed and nibbled on some cheese.

"I suppose it is not necessary, with him being heir to this castle. He is still young enough. The ladies will flock to him for his looks and fortune, even if he is getting older." I replied, setting my glass on the table with a slight laugh as I pitied poor Lady Maron. "Even if he remains unattached, Lord Raditz will have all he ever needs here." I said thoughtfully, agreeing with Lord Bardock on this issue, which was a rare occurrence. If Raditz was not looking for marriage, I would not see a need to push it on him, though a parent might feel differently. I knew the Sons would want their son to pass on their castle to a son of his own someday, yet with my personal experience, arranged marriage was something I did not wish on anyone.

"Yes, as much as I abhor the idea of Raditz waiting any longer, I know he will eventually marry, your Grace. In his case, he can wait." Gine eyed me keenly, and I realized she was itching to tell me something. "Bane, though, is an entirely different situation."

"Oh?" I asked, bringing a napkin to my lips as I attempted to feign only mild interest. Inside, I was dying to know what Gine had planned for him. Though I hated to admit I already suspected where this was leading.

"House Son is highly respected throughout the kingdom. Wouldn't you agree, your Grace?" Gine asked me pointedly. I nodded. The Sons were one of the oldest family lines in the Harrenhal Kingdom, and with Lord Bardock serving as Hand of the King, the name commanded respect even more so.

"Even if Montpaus passes on to Raditz, Bane is still an excellent match for any lady." Lady Gine gloated proudly. "He is next in line for Raditz's inheritance until his brother fathers children. In addition to his name and fortune, he is handsome, charming, and vigorous." I nodded with a blush. I certainly agreed with everything Gine said, though his name I would never have. Gine smirked at me, and I was sure she caught sight of my blush before she spoke again.

"My! Queen Katarina! If you weren't already married to our handsome king, I would think you were interested in courting my son, your Grace." I laughed airily, hoping the uncomfortable moment would pass soon.

"I do admit he is handsome. You should be proud, my lady." I admitted to a partial truth, knowing I could not deny my interest without further provoking any suspicion from Lady Gine.

"Just wait until you have children, your Grace." Lady Gine said before reaching for her glass. "You will want the best for them just as I do. Only a mother understands the lengths we go to for our children." Gine sipped her drink and set the glass down carefully with a long sigh. "I thought the idea was extreme at first, but Bardock insisted on expanding the reach of our name. I am proud of our arrangement now."

"What arrangement is that?" I asked anxiously. I could not even hide my anxiety now that she mentioned an extreme arrangement.

"It is because of Bane's favorable attributes that we were able to negotiate a match which would soon be sought by many lords in the kingdom if we did not secure the arrangement first." Lady Gine said with a proud smile and a look in her eyes that seemed to challenge me. "Bane will be married to Lord Satan's daughter when she comes of age. After the Towngrin and the Elites, House Satan is the wealthiest house in this kingdom, and she is its sole heir. By marrying her, he will be the next lord of Satan Castle. It is certainly a fine match for him, your Grace." Lady Gine sipped from her glass again before tilting her head in consideration of my reaction with a small smile. I stared speechlessly at her for a moment, catching my mouth agape as I quickly corrected my expression and posture. After a moment, I willed myself to speak while Gine stared at me curiously.

"Lady Videl is only ten years old, I believe." I mustered with a disbelieving chuckle.

"As I said, when she comes of age, your Grace. She is actually eleven now, and the marriage will take place when she is sixteen and flowered, as agreed upon with Lord Satan." Lady Gine showed no regret over the arrangement, and I wondered how she could practically sell her eighteen-year old son off like that to a young girl. The arrangement was good for House Son, not for Faustos. The Son name would extend beyond Montpaus once that marriage occurred, as they would have control over both castles and their lands through their two sons. Money and land did not matter to Faustos. I knew that.

"Does Lord Bane know?" I asked her curiously, reaching for my glass again and taking another sip of pomegranate juice as I waited for her answer. Lady Gine nodded.

"We told him a few days ago." She frowned deeply and looked down at her hands folded in her lap. "He is a stubborn one, your Grace. He tried to refuse the arrangement, though his father commanded it." I could not help glaring at her. How could they expect Faustos to readily comply with such an order? Lady Gine looked amused by my reaction. "My husband only wants the best for our sons, your Grace." Lady Gine added insistently as she met my eyes carefully. No. Her husband wanted to make the best use of her sons was more like it. I could see the hunger for power in her eyes. She was thrilled with the arrangement for reasons beyond wanting the best for her children.

I nodded in acceptance as I very slowly placed my glass on the table again, then leaned back into the cushions of my seat. I should not have let the betrothal hurt me, and I could not let Lady Gine see how much it bothered me. Faustos and I could not carry on forever in our way, with me expecting him to remain unmarried and committed to the queen with whom he was having a secret affair. Nevertheless, I was disappointed, to say the least. I should have appreciated the fact that his parents selected someone so young. At least this way, I would surely have Faustos to myself for the next five years.

"How are Lady Rebekah and Lord Yamcha's wedding plans coming along, your Grace?" Lady Gine asked, breaking the tense silence and drawing me from my contemplation as she changed the subject. "I am certainly looking forward to that occasion." I smiled and informed Lady Gine of my knowledge of the wedding details, relieved by the distraction. We ended the conversation shortly thereafter. I returned to the castle later, spending a much needed quiet, contemplative evening to myself after dinner concluded that night. I had a bad feeling as I went to sleep that night, as I forced my eyes closed tight and willed myself to sleep and forget about my worries. I was fighting a foreboding feeling of vulnerability that I could not shake.