Back In Vire....
Traders moved on smoothly with their work,shouting prices over to the hearing of buyers across the street.
One might ask why they had recovered so quickly from Daren's death; and to the bystander,that was disrespect.
However,they believed life continued and they had to move on. Grief might have fallen into the Valen household,and it was not theirs to hold.
As events unfolded with time,Reya became an exceedingly important topic, ranging from gossip to warnings and advice.
"Don't you dare end up like that girl!" A mother would say to her daughter. "She is a curse. A taboo in flesh!"
"Unbelievable! She really killed her father??" Another would gasp,inquisitive and eager to hear the latest news.
"Yes,she did! And I tell you,that girl stabbed him with a knife. A pretty large one,"demonstrated the servant girl in dramatic gestures,hands atop her stomach and bearing a false frown. "Just like that, Lord Daren fell! I witnessed it."
Another girl chimed in,"That's true! I heard her mother's scream. The forlorn woman passed out too, "
"I was there too!"
Before a fire blazed,it required a spark - which Reya,in all her naivety, had graciously set on,unaware this inferno would consume all towns combined.
Those who really knew the story sealed their lips.
Those who claimed to know added their own spice.
And those who knew her expressed sympathy or cared less.
Gladly,such troubled persons belonging to the latter was the prince himself. Someone who had promised with all his heart to marry Reya.
"Mother!," the heavy,ornate doors of the Queen's chambers flung open before the guards could ready their swords,his boots clicking loudly in the quiet hall.
"Hm?" Queen Catherine turned with a smile."If not my most valuable possession,who else would it be?"
Edgar's jaw clenched,balling his fists.
How could she be this calm and happy when her empire was burning?
Being the only prince within the palace vexed him,for the simpering eyes of the women never failed to follow him. The maids tittered and blushed when he passed by.
More than once,some had been caught tripping off the staircase or losing consciousness by his charm.
"I demand a word,Mother!"
"Hm? Sit down for tea first! Then we--"
"It's crucial compared to tea!"
Queen Catherine, once adored and handpicked for her unearthly beauty, set her teacup down with mastered poise. Dabbing her mouth with a lace napkin that alone cost an entire town,she faced Edgar with a charming smile. "What's bothering my perfect son?"
Seeing no change in Edgar's expression,she sighed ," Oh,do not tell me you came to shatter my peace for that girl?"
"You know!"
Catherine rolled her eyes. "Why shouldn't I? I rule the empire!"
"And you've done nothing about it, Mother?"
"What needs to be done?" She stood up,ordering her maids to check the softness of the seat. "What do you want me to do?"
Edgar growled,tired. "I expected you to care. She is my fiancée. "
"And you expect me to cut or behead anyone who stains her name? She bought that for herself. "
"Mother!"
For a brief moment,the maids thought she would rebuke or have him punished for talking against her.
His childhood had been met with the dismissal of his maids under the claim of treason. His father perished suspiciously, and no one knew how,and this mother of his was always tangled with state affairs.
The only time she spoke to him was to set him up with some large bosom plastic doll-faced woman or rebuke him.
"Lady Seraphine Deylaire is quite a darling," she smiled,relaxing into the soft cushions. "Gentle,well-mannered,smart and raised with perfect care. I made sure she's been through all the necc--"
"Reya is my woman and--"
"Was! Edgar..she was!" Catherine set her cup down - a little too fast,visible to realize she was brimming with rage already. "She's a present of the past," returning her smile.
The doors opened just then,a maid cautiously making her way in. "Forgive the interruption,Your Majesty."
"Rise!" Said Catherine,adjusting one leg on the cushion and another on the table. "Speak!"
"Lady Meredith Valen is said to have disappeared from the estate after the incident. No one knows where she went. "
The queen raised a brow. "Unfortunate."
Edgar sighed. "I don't get why you keep saying that. The young girl may be the brains of Vire, but she walked into the mouth of the dead herself! And you know well what I mean when I say that. If she were your daughter, I'm certain you would have saved her. "
Time slowed as the queen looked up deeply into Edgar's eyes,appearing as if she were contemplating.
If hope was really a person,that must have been Edgar since a smile found its way on his face, believing he finally convinced her.
"You have dinner with Lady Seraphine this evening. Now leave me alone. I need rest,"
Edgar's face twisted.
Reluctantly, he made his way to the gates,turned sharply right ; the guards leaving the main door ajar. He moved swiftly with simmering anger underneath his features only to collide with her.
The same girl he was being forced to wed.
"Sire!," Seraphine smiled,her voice soft like lilac.
He was rather disgusted than impressed, for all he sensed was pretence.
"Forgive me,Lord Edgar," she sweetly brushed her curls behind her ear. "I was hoping to meet you. I see my luck is good today?!"
Edgar stepped back,"I'm busy!"
"Everytime I want to see you,you're busy. Can't you make time for this wife of yours? It's quite lonely slee--"
Before she could complete her sentence,he walked out on her. Quite rudely too. Seraphine blinked twice,mouth agape for a while; clearly stupefied and humiliated.
"My Queen?," she run into Catherine's chambers bursting into tears. "He doesn't fancy me"
Catherine didn't lift her gaze,busy with her hair. "He will"
"He walked out on--"
"The wedding is in three days. In life's beauty and death's coldness, he will wed you,whether he desires you or not"