Royal Disaster

Chapter 12: Taking home the price

Alastair

Emrose was sitting across me inside the carriage. We were a few hours away, and she was fast asleep. She was so damn beautiful I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her pale skin and chestnut hair, both of which complimented her beauty, completely mesmerized me. I tore my eyes from her plump lips, which did a very great job at tempting me that night in the woods, when she was as she is now..asleep. But I was true to my word to her brother. I never touched her. My eyes went to her body. She was an eighteen year-old, but her body screams otherwise. Had I not ask her age, I would have thought she's in her mid-twenties. I used to take older women with a body like hers, but no one ever came close to her beauty.

I knew from the moment I laid my eyes on her yesterday in the woods that she would be the reason I would defy my father's orders yet again. When she looked for me in the woods, not caring about the dangers of that forest, it made my heart swell. How could a fragile girl, protected by her family from the world, dare to go in that dangerous parts of the woods just to save a man she barely knew? I was completely in awe of this woman.

I was selfish for taking her away from her family. I lied when I told her I was doing this to give her what she wants, when the truth was.. I was doing it for my own personal interest. I could never have left that place without bringing her with me. Just seeing her was enough to send me through the edge. I was addicted.

"Are you alright?" She asked softly, her voice still sleepy. I hadn't notice her wake up, I was so lost in my thoughts of her.

"Uh.. Yes." I sat straight, and cleared my throat. "Everything's fine. I'm just quite weary, that's all."

"You should've taken a quick nap then." She stirred and adjusted her position in her seat. "You can do that now. I'm already up. I'm sorry I slept on you. I didn't mean to."

What was she apologizing for? She didn't realize how much of a treat it was just watching her sleep. "It's alright, I need to be awake. We're nearing the palace."

"May I ask what type of work I'd be doing in court?" She asked. The curiosity in her voice was evident, so was worry.

The whole ride from her house, I thought of which position inside the court would she be placed into. I couldn't bear the thought of putting her in the kitchen or anywhere else in the palace without men noticing her beauty. I would get into trouble just by looking at men looking at her. So I decided to put her in a place where only women can be around her. "You'll be secured a position in Princess Adela's household."

"I shall become a lady-in-waiting?" her voice sounded astonished. "But aren't those supposed to be for noblewomen only?"

"You became one the moment you followed my order to leave your house and come to court with me." I assured her.

The rest of the trip, we talked about the duties she needed to fulfill once she entered court. I gave her a general overview, but I reassured her the do's and don'ts are to be explained further by Lady Farah, the head lady-in-waiting.

Lady Farah and Lord Benley had been the best things that happened to me inside the castle, so far. They always went out of their way to make sure I felt loved after my mother died. They stepped in and took in a young infant under their care, until my father, the King, took me from them when I was seven years old. I guess he realized he was old and if he wanted to train his heir while he was still alive, he needed to legitimize me. My life has never been quite the same for the years that came...

The carriage is slowing down, and I can hear the sound of the trumpets. That familiar sound when a royal arrives.

"We're here." I told Emrose. She shifts nervously in her seat. "Don't worry, no one is going to hurt you here." I smiled at her to make her feel secure.

The gates opened and the carriage went in. I breathed heavily, knowing I have to face a bigger hurdle when I meet my father. I was still uncertain what my punishment would be, but I have a hint it won't ever be close to comfortable.

The second I entered the palace, I instructed Lord Benley to escort Emrose to Lady Farah. "She'll know what to do with you. I'll be with you in a bit." I told her, and she smiled. Her face was unsure, but she obliged and curtsied before leaving.

I made sure she was out of sight before I would face my father. And when I was certain she couldn't see or hear the conversation I would be having with the King, I pushed the heavy corridor open. I saw my father standing in the middle of his crowd of advisers and dukes discussing a serious matter I have no doubt I was involved in.

"The King of Frankorum is offended by your son's behavior, your majesty. There are rumors that Frankorum is considering the Kingdom of Iberio's offer to wed the princess." One adviser spoke to my father. They still didn't notice I have arrived.

"If that happens my king, we will undoubtedly lose one strong ally against the Merica. Their king is dying. It's only a matter of time before Robert Birlinn assembles his Merican army and attacks us." Sir Humphrey, another one of our advisers declared.

"Alastair must get his act together to seal this marriage with Princess Adela. Should he defy again, we will be forced to have an alternative. And we need it quickly, Your majesty." The adviser who spoke earlier said. "The infantry Merica lost during that battle at Stirling Castle was nothing compared to the cavalry we had to sacrifice." I suddenly felt an invisible load drop on my shoulders. It was as if the safety of Ethandun was on my shoulders to carry.

The Mericans and Ethandians were always at war with each other the moment Ethandun tried to sieze Merica's biggest fortress, the Stirling castle, a year before I was born. That attempt to conquer Merica sparked the war. Peace was soon restored when Merica's king, King Grant offered a treaty with us. Given that he has ethandian blood running in his veins, he decided to spare Ethandun and refused to attack our country while he is still alive. That treaty was honored to this very day.

However, his brother Robert Birlinn, had none of it. He was obviously just waiting for King Grant to die before making his attack. Rumor has it his son died during the seizure of Stirling Castle during the war. And he's waiting to return that favor to my father, through me...

"Father." I finally spoke. I had to face my him one way or the other.

Everyone turned their heads. Except my father.

"What are you to do with the woman you brought to court?" He asked, without looking up at me. He continued to stare at the table in front of him.

"I offered her a place here in court as payment for saving my life, father. Nothing more." I was a liar and I felt disgusted by myself. But this was one step to protect Emrose.

I heard my father breathe heavily and then sighed. "Make sure that's all she'll ever be, Alastair. There are more important things to put your mind into. The impact of your irresponsible actions caused an unnecessary risk to this betrothal." He paused, "But you still have chance to redeem yourself. Prove to me and to the men in this room that you can make this country safe."

"Marry Princess Adela." He said as flatly as possible. It was not a request from a father to his son.

It was an order from the King of Ethandun .

..