The King's Favorite Men

Chapter One

Chapter One

1740 Kingdom of Wisteria

The Kingdoms of Luminoso, Pirius and Brabant bordered the Kingdom of Wisteria. These kingdoms often fought amongst themselves. The reason for this was usually politics and the struggle for the possession of natural resources. In the past decades, the kingdoms found a common ground with the help of diplomacy and now peace reigned between them, albeit a fragile one.

Plains covered most of the territory of Wisteria, but on the border of Luminoso the Snowy Mountains rose. They got their name because their high peaks were snow covered for most of the year. The climate of Wisteria was temperate with dry hot summers and mild winters.

The Pearl Sea washed the southern borders of the kingdom. Countless merchant ships sailed from the shores of Wisteria to deliver exquisite goods and barrels of wine to various lands that had access to the sea. Heavy galleons equipped with guns guarded the kingdom"s maritime frontiers. And military galleons escorted the caravans of merchant ships to avoid attacks by pirates or hostile states.

Artists, writers, playwrights, and poets admired the nature of the kingdom emphasizing it in their work. The creative people of Wisteria have given the world a lot. As well as outstanding scientists, the universities in the kingdom were highly valued and many foreign students came to the prestigious universities.

Wisteria was famous for making high-quality perfumes, fabrics, luxury goods, and wine. Dry wines made in Wisteria were especially valued. They often named the wines after the locality where they were made.

The inhabitants of the kingdom worshiped two ancient deities the God of the Sun and the Goddess of the Moon. It was believed that they created the world and people in time immemorial, and also gave life to other gods and spirits. Temples of the God of the Sun and the Goddess of the Moon were found throughout the country. Some inhabitants worshiped the God of Love, Hunters - worshipped the Forest Hunting Spirit, a young man who, with the help of a bow and arrow, kept order in the forests. Winemakers - honored the Spirit of Wine, a good-natured old man with a red nose. Farmers - honored the Spirit of the Earth, a girl with long hair, decorated with flowers. And pastoralists respected the Spirit of Livestock - a woman in fur clothes embroidered with stylized images of horses.

The Kingdom of Wisteria was ruled by King Arelin III of the Bragan Dynasty. The King was handsome, loving, but he preferred to take minimum participation in the rule of his kingdom leaving this burden to ministers and advisers. The young King himself continually had fun in the company of beautiful gentlemen. King Arelin liked men.

As soon as the King was officially considered an adult male, at the age of sixteen, he accepted four brothers from the Noble but impoverished Mei-Nel family into his retinue. All four favorites were beautiful, slim and desirable. Arelin appreciated the charms of the Mei-Nel brothers: each of them shared the bed with the King in order of priority, the brothers were with him in turn. But, alas, an epidemic broke out in the capital and two of the four brothers died. The King also suffered from this disease, brought in by ships from hot countries, but with the help of skilled court healers, he was able to recover.

In the interests of continuing the Bragan dynasty and for political reasons, the King would have to enter into a marriage. The advisers looked for a candidate worthy of the King for a long time.

They chose Princess Marie-Celestine from the Kingdom of Azaliya, who had no common borders with Wisteria. The royal advisers made this choice, guided by political motives: Azaliya had a favorable strategic location, had access to the Pearl Sea and, if necessary, could provide military support.

Arelin understood that he should continue the family of the Bragan dynasty, but in every way possible delayed the decision of marriage. Recently, he has been hiding in his hunting castle Prunus with his favorites. Arelin did not want to leave his shelter for any reason. The advisers and ministers were extremely concerned about the behavior of the King. Of course, they attributed his actions to youth, ardor, and his unwillingness to take responsibility.

Finally, when another royal messenger returned from the Prunus hunting castle with the news that the King categorically refused to return to the capital. The ministers and advisers themselves went to Arelin with a request.

The King did not expect to see his officials at the castle as it was so remote from the capital. Arelin knew perfectly well why they had come such a long way through the royal forests. He was dissatisfied with such a large delegation of court officials showing up on his doorstep. The castle was relatively small and the statesmen had to settle a few people in each room. After all, there were few rooms that were free. One of the advisers brought with him a portrait of the possible candidate for the King’s bride.

The King, recently returned from the hunt, still dressed in a leather jacket and pants. His slender strong legs were clothed in long high boots. He agreed to accept several dignitaries. The whole appearance of Arelin emphasized his extreme discontent.

As the dignitaries greeted their monarch, the old minister looked at the King with a longed-for gaze, but immediately became embarrassed and turned his attention to the deer horns that adorned the nearest wall. What to do, the King was so handsome, that even his dignitaries sometimes trembled from carnal desire. The situation at the Royal Court did not allow them to show their feelings.

One of the advisers ventured to tell the purpose of the visit and handed the King a small portrait framed by an elegant gilded frame.

Arelin took the portrait in his hands, measured it with an attentive gaze. It depicted a young pretty woman. Her face had pronounced lips and a small nose, framed by wheat-colored hair, seemed plump and very serious.

Arelin grinned evilly and threw the portrait on the floor.

“Have you decided to marry me to an old woman?” the young King was indignant. “Why should I marry her?”

The Adviser picked up a portrait of the princess and said, “Your Majesty, Marie-Celestine, may not be beautiful, and she is seven years older than you, but she is smart, educated and healthy. Her mother gave birth to eight children and not one of them died in infancy. She will give you healthy offspring. After that, you have the right not to visit her bedroom.”

“In addition,” added the second Adviser, “an alliance with the Kingdom of Azaliya will help maintain the delicate balance between Wisteria and neighboring countries. And do not forget Your Majesty, that the lands of this princess are very rich in useful natural resources. And the fleet of the Kingdom of Azaliya is quite strong and numerous.”

Arelin grinned.

“It would be better if this Marie-Celestine was a man.” He spoke but was barely audible.

One minister, standing next to the King, heard these words.

“Ah, Your Majesty, I appeal to your responsibility to the kingdom! I understand that you will never love Marie-Celestine. You don’t need to love her! Let her give birth to your heirs! The ministers and your advisers do not intend to oppose your preferences.”

The King carefully watched the minister.

“My preference? What is that?” Notes of indignation and irritation sounded in his voice.

The minister realized that he had made a mistake. He bowed before the King on one knee and said, “At the time of your grandfather, same-s*x intimacy was considered obscene. Now the times have changed, society has become more liberated. Although there are still many opponents of freedom of choice. Everyone knows that you, Your Majesty, give preference to men, not women. I understand you. we all understand perfectly. Your beloved men will not help to continue the royal Bragan dynasty. You need a wife.”

Arelin sighed heavily: the minister was right - the royal dynasty must be continued. And for this you need a woman. After all, only a woman can give birth to a child.

“I do not want to get married!” Exclaimed the young King desperately. “But I am ready to obey, and accept the choice of the advisers and ministers. Send Princess Marie-Celestine gifts on my behalf.”

A few months later, Marie-Celestine arrived in the Kingdom of Wisteria, surrounded by a small retinue. And two months after that the wedding of King Arelin and Princess Marie-Celestine as well as the Queen"s status ceremony for Marie-Celestine took place in the capital"s temple of the God of the Sun.

For the Queen’s ceremony, the bride and bridegroom had to put on special clothes made of golden brocade that emitted the sunlight. The heads of the King and Princess were decorated with ceremonial headdresses in the form of the sun with the rays coming from it.

Hand in hand, Arelin and Marie-Celestine entered the arches of the Temple of the Sun, which was located in the center of the capital Dianthus. They were followed by a large metropolitan nobility, the ministers and advisers. There were many guests. The temple of the Sun, built five hundred years ago by the founder of the Bragan dynasty, to which Arelin belonged, was a spacious and majestic dome-shaped structure, accommodating many people. The wedding ceremony was held by the High Priest of the Sun, a gray-haired old man who looked vigorous enough for his venerable ninety years. He gave Marie-Celestine the status of Queen of Wisteria.

After the temple ceremony, the capital was embraced by the people as they took to the streets, the central city square was crowded. The King ordered barrels of wine put in the square and treat everyone so they could drink to the health of the newlyweds. In addition to drinking, the townspeople were offered other entertainment. Acrobats, jugglers, and magicians performed in the square. Bards performed songs glorifying the King and his wife, now the Queen. The musicians played various musical instruments: the townspeople, flushed with wine, started dancing. In the evening, the sky above Dianthus lit up with festive fireworks. Everyone was happy, everyone, but the King.

Over the past few days he was tormented by one thought: what will happen on his wedding night? He hoped not to blunder in front of his young wife. After all, since Arelin reached adulthood, under the laws of Wisteria, he had the right to enter into intimate relationships, he shared his bed only with men. The girls did not attract him.

Marie-Celestine was well aware of her husband"s carnal preferences and had nothing against them. She understood that Arelin was a man, but she was a woman, which means she is unlikely to attract him. And therefore, Marie-Celestine had a difficult task: how to encourage her husband to fulfill his marital duty? Moreover, the King must fulfill his duty on the conjugal bed regularly. Otherwise, the Queen would not be able to conceive a child.

When the festive feast was over, and the guests were full and drunk, the singers hoarse from singing, the musicians rubbed their bloody fingers, the actors fell on stage from fatigue, the newlyweds headed for their chambers.

For a while they stood opposite each other in indecision. They were still adorned with luxurious clothes, and on their heads, the sun-shaped headdresses gleamed in the light of candles. The King and Queen knew that now the most important part of the marriage ceremony will begin, the official consummation - confirmation of marriage on the matrimonial bed.

Before the bride and groom had time to overcome their doubts, maids appeared to help the bride and groom take off their clothes and headdresses. From the shadows near the wedding bed, the High Priest came out and stepped into the illuminated part of the room. Gold jewelry on his robe flashed with bright sparks.

Marie-Celestine felt her legs begin to weaken. Not to mention the fact that she appeared naked not only in front of the King her husband, but also in front of the Priest. She would know of this tradition, so it wouldn’t come as a shock to her. The Queen was embarrassed by her nakedness, but she overpowered the feeling of shame and awkwardness.

The Priest took the newlyweds by the hands and led them to the marriage bed. The blanket was thrown back: a freshly laid bed with the finest silk linen attracted the newlyweds, but at the same time frightened them. The Priest understood their feelings. He quickly recited the proper prayer and tried to encourage the King and Queen.

Finally, the bride and groom lay on the bed. The Priest pulled a special curtain, he hid the bed from prying eyes. Then two advisers and two ministers entered the room. All of them, including the Priest, had to confirm that the marriage was consummated, the King and Queen became husband and wife not only in the temple, but also on the marriage bed. The witnesses were seated in chairs set up in a semicircle beside the wedding bed.

The marriage bed was illuminated by the meager candlelight penetrating the canopy. Marie-Celestine was shaking with excitement, like a leaf in the wind. Arelin was worried too. He lay for a while, then calmed down using his willpower and turned to his wife:

“My Lady, you probably know that I am in a predicament. But you and I must confirm our marriage.”

Marie-Celestine took a deep breath in order to calm down, moved closer to her husband and answered, “I am ready Your Majesty, to fulfill my conjugal duty and am ready to help you in any way so that you can deflower me.”

Arelin froze for a moment: “Has Marie-Celestine still not known a man?” His heart beat hard in his chest at the thought, and he asked, “My Lady, have you never had an intimate relationship?”

“I didn’t have a man.” Marie-Celestine honestly admitted. “But I had a close friend. I was often naughty with her in bed.”

Arelin gazed steadily at his wife and laughed quietly.

“Ah! You prankster, my dear wife.” he said and pulled Marie-Celestine to himself in the hope of feeling at least some kind of excitement.

But alas.

His wife was ready for such a course of events. She said, “My husband, close your eyes. Imagine that you are lying in bed with a handsome young man. Imagine…”

Arelin grinned.

“Really, you surprise me more and more.”

He obeyed: he closed his eyes and imagined one of his favorites. Marie-Celestine had prepared for the consummation. One of the King"s favorites secretly shared with her information about what kind of affection the King prefers. Of course, Marie-Celestine was not a man and could not do everything exactly as the favorite advised her, but she did something and pleased her husband. She excited him with oral s*x. This was enough to make the King excited and his “sword felt power and prepared for battle.” As a result, the consummation of the marriage was successfully carried out.

In the morning, the High Priest and witnesses officially confirmed that the royal marriage was performed both before the God of the Sun and on the marriage bed.

There was no love between the spouses, but they respected each other. After all, they understood that a political marriage was important for their kingdoms.

Like any royal couple, Marie-Celestine and Arelin III tried hard to conceive an heir. The King, who could only love a woman as a friend, had a difficult time fulfilling his conjugal duty. During intercourse with his wife, he sought his rich imagination and presented his favorites in the most seductive poses to his wife. The Queen, on the other hand, perceived her conjugal duties from a philosophical point of view, and did her best to encourage the King so that he could find the strength in himself to conceive an heir.

The spouses agreed that when several daughters or sons are born, they will cease to meet on the matrimonial bed and give each other complete freedom of action, within reason. The Queen will be free to have a worthy lover, and the King will quietly enjoy the company of his favorites.

Both sons and daughters were important to the royal family. In Wisteria, women had the right to hold public office. But with the succession to the throne, preference was still given to male heirs. Girls were considered heirs of the second stage and became rulers of the kingdom if there were no male heirs.

Kings also held important political unions with the help of their daughters, marrying them either to the rulers of neighboring countries, or to ministers or important military leaders. Therefore, sons and daughters were equally important to the royal couple.