Arc 3 - Long Awaited Moment
Chapter 48:
La perdición de su existencia
"Your Majesty, Queen Racliffe, your son, the Crown Prince, has come by your request." A maid said as she stood outside the drawing room to the Queen's quarters. Within moments, the queen told them to enter, and the maid opened the grand doors before stepping to the side, allowing Clarence in with a bow of her head. He briskly entered the room, his demeanor icy as he passed the maid, who quickly closed the doors behind him.
"Leave." The queen said, looking at her ladies-in-waiting with a sharp stare. With curtsies to the queen, the women hurried out of the room, the maids with them opening the door and closing it behind them as their dresses swished around them in their attempt to quickly leave.
When Clarence and his mother were finally alone, she sighed and sat up from her languid, laying position on the dark purple chaise lounge in the middle of the drawing room. Her long nails slithered out of her long, red housecoat as she gently patted the spot next to her, "Clarence, come sit next to me. There are some things we must discuss."
Clarence glared at the spot next to his mother, but with a look from her, he unwillingly sat at the edge of the chaise lounge. She looked down at the distance between them before she frowned and looked away.
"I heard you haven't been feeling well. Your siblings have been very concerned about you, as have I and your father. I'm surprised you even decided to come see me, seeing as you've been rejecting every request I have made to come see you." The queen said, continuing to look out the window, her hand still resting between her and Clarence.
"I was worried it was contagious. You and father are getting older, and I do not want to take the risk of making either of you sick." Clarence said, his tone cool and his eyes forward. Finally, the queen looked over at Clarence, retracting her hand and instead using it to push her long hair, tied into a loose braid, behind her shoulder.
"Don't lie to me, Clarence. You've known ever since you were a boy that I hate liars." The queen said, matching Clarence's cool tone. Her sharp eyes kept on Clarence's face, but he remained unflinching to her gaze, something that weeks ago would have made him cower in fear, "What is this truly about? Do you not want to get married? Do none of the girls that have been picked satisfy you?"
Clarence shook his head and got up, walking over to one of the windows in the queen's ornately-decorated drawing room. All around him were ostentatious displays of wealth, from the expensive vases that sat in the corner, untouched, to the foreign perfume that radiated around the room, making Clarence feel nauseous. He hated coming into this room, ever since he was a child, when his mother would parade her well-behaved young son to guests.
"No, Mother. As I told you, I was not feeling well. Tonight, however, I feel much better." Clarence said, controlling his frustration with surprising ease as he turned towards her, "I am excited to meet the young women you have picked for me. I'm sure they are all excellent choices."
The queen stood as she stared at her son quizzically. She approached him and laid a hand on his shoulder, and her other on his forehead, pushing his bangs up with her ringed hand, "Maybe you are sick. There is not a chance that my son would speak this way of marriage."
"On the contrary, Mother," Clarence said, grabbing his mother's hand off his forehead and holding it in his own cold hands, "I am very excited to meet them. Marriage will ensure that no one can question my legitimacy as heir to the throne."
The queen smiled, her pink lips lifting in relief and joy, as the light wrinkles around her eyes creased, "I'm glad you understand, Clarence. Your father and I only want what is best for you."
"Of course, Mother." Clarence gently reclaimed his hands from his mother's grip and pulled her in for a hug, "Thank you for always taking care of me." The queen's eyes opened in surprise, shocked by Clarence's display of affection that was very unusual for the two of them. But as her shock passed, she lifted her arms to hug her son back.
As the queen held her son, smiling gently at the unusual display of affection, Clarence smiled maliciously, his eyes narrowing in determination.
...
The sounds of clattering horses drifted out from the snow-filled courtyard, breaking the tranquil silence in the air, as horns were blared in a welcoming tune, followed by the castle knights standing at attention by the doors of the palace, awaiting the royal guests. The decorative plants and bushes were lightly covered in white, powdery snow. The only things not covered in the courtyard were the guards and the impending carriages full of guests impatiently waiting to enter the palace's large courtyard.
"I'm glad you've come to see the candidates, Clarence. I was worried even after our talk last night that you would not be here this morning, but here you are." Queen Racliffe said as she stood in front of the mansion on the tall balcony above, her eyes focused in front of them towards the garish carriages making their way past the metal gates of the palace. When Clarence did not reply, she continued, "There will be many candidates to choose from. Have you looked over their profiles?" The queen's gloved hand rested on her son's right shoulder, pressing lightly against the fabric of his royal uniform.
The nearby kingdoms and noble families had prepared booklets with photos and other information about the candidates that the king and queen had chosen as possible candidates to the throne. It was now Clarence's job as the future king to choose his bride. Twenty women would arrive at the palace, staying in the queen's wing of the palace. These women would eat, sleep, and prepare themselves at the palace, staying one month inside the palace until Clarence selected his future wife.
Clarence, standing next to his mother with his hands on the railing, smiled a weak smile and said, "Of course, mother." Though Clarence felt no attraction to women, he knew of his duties as the future king of the kingdom. At this moment, he could only think of how picking a wife would help him secure his position as king. If he wanted to hunt that elf, he needed more power and backing, and the only way to do it was to secure his position.
Yet Clarence felt himself becoming sick after their talk the night before, when he returned to his room, pressing through the various profiles prepared by the butler for him to view. As he looked through the profiles, he found himself becoming less and less interested in the women, finding himself only briefly looking over their names and faces before he pressed on to the next woman, losing his interest more and more as the perfumed papers passed by his hands.
I don't want to do this, but I must. Clarence tightened his smile as the first carriage arrived at the front of the palace. The nearby guards walked to the front of the carriage and opened the doors, allowing a young woman to step out onto the ground with a white fur cloak wrapped around her shoulders. The girl was attractive, short in stature with long, straight blonde hair. Her lilac dress flattered her pale skin tone as she took the hand of the nearby knight, stepping out with a small, pretty smile on her lips.
"That's Gianetta DeFrank, the future duchess of the southern river district." The queen stated as the girl was led towards the entrance of the palace, her cheeks flushed with excitement. The queen smiled, speaking quietly to Clarence in a voice not much louder than a whisper, "She's a sweet girl and a promising candidate."
Looking at the girl, Clarence lost interest quickly. He only passed his eyes over the young woman and smiled politely before he looked towards the next carriage, his impatience thinly veiled as he looked forward, hiding his true expression under his princely guise. With his expression hidden, Clarence turned towards the queen and asked in a calm voice, "Mother, may I return to my room? I would like to freshen up before I formally meet the candidates."
The queen moved her hand off of Clarence's shoulder as she looked at her son's face. "Are you sure you don't want to see your prospective brides? You look handsome enough now." The queen moved a stray piece of hair out of Clarence's face, her expression worried.
Feeling somewhat irritated, Clarence calmly said, "I'll be gone for just a moment. When I come back, I'll formally greet them all." He stepped back out of the queen's reach, leaving her hand to rest awkwardly in the air. Queen Racliffe could only agree to Clarence's request by nodding her head before he gave a small nod and walked off of the balcony, back inside the palace.
"Maybe a wife will snap him out of this mood he is in." The queen sighed, returning her gaze to the front courtyard, where another marriage candidate was being led inside the palace. "If not, I worry for his future. So many eyes are on him. So many sharp knives waiting for a moment to strike." Her stare turned distant as she turned to face the palace, where Clarence had disappeared into. The queen's face darkened as she looked on at the exuberant palace.
…
Clarence's steps hastened as the chains on his uniform jacket jangled quietly in the silent hall. His dress shoes tapped against the decorative flooring, freshly cleaned for the candidates' arrival. As Clarence's figure walked by, the stationed knights greeted him with a bow as he passed by, but Clarence did not make any motion to respond, he instead continued briskly walking down the main hallway. His expression was flat as he turned down to the side hall towards his bedroom.
As he stopped in front of the door to his bedroom, Clarence lifted his hand onto the knob and stopped, letting out a heavy breath before he grasped the door knob and pushed open the door. After he walked in, he carefully shot a look over his shoulder before he soundlessly shut the door behind him, locking the bolt with it.
"How were the candidates?" Sitting on the armchair in the sitting room, adjacent to Clarence's bedroom, was Alywin, dressed in a formal purple suit. His bangs had been pushed back out of his face and styled gently, making him look less troublesome and more like a gentleman. Though, there was no smile on his face. Instead, Alywin looked troubled.
Clarence loosened his collar as he walked across the room and sat down on the couch, sitting with his legs open and his arms draped around the back of the sofa. He shut his eyes and responded petulantly, "Alywin, I don't want to do this." Sitting like this, he looked tired. Dark circles were barely visible under his eyes.
Alywin sat forward, his expression serious as he leaned in with his hands knotted in his lap. "You and I both know you have to do this."
"Just because I have to do it doesn't mean I want to." Clarence said, sighing to himself as he opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. "I have to act interested in these women, but I would rather have my teeth pulled than deal with them. Most of them just want the position as queen anyway." He sighed again, running his fingers through his bangs as he sat back up, looking towards Alywin with an irritated expression. "I don't even want to speak to any of them."
Alywin and Clarence had discussed these marriage meetings in the past. Part of the reason Clarence had been so insistent on their trip was to leave the palace and his nagging mother so he had time to mull over the candidates without outside assistance. Looking over the candidates and their profiles, Clarence felt sick. The thought of having to romance the perfumed and dressed ladies made him nearly mad. What he wanted was a woman who was willing to be with him for appearance alone. He could not, however, be open about this thought. If the queen were to find out about this, she would be the first to chastise him and force him into a marriage of her choosing.
Alywin's gaze moved to the side as he thought for a moment, tapping his finger on the side of the chair as he said, "After you produce an heir, you only have to be with her for appearances." He stated casually. "And after you marry one of the candidates, you will have the backing to take over the throne. What will you do with that position?"
"I'm not worried about appearances." With his legs crossed in front of him, Clarence smiled a genuine, warm smile at the thought of it. Leaning forward, facing the side of the room, Clarence stated in a voice much unlike his own, "Once I inherit the kingdom, I can use the kingdom's resources to find the elf that tried to kill me yet again. This time, I lost to him, but I guarantee next time I will not be the losing party. I'll need to gather loyal servants to help me too."
Yet again about that elf. Alywin thought to himself worriedly. After returning to the palace, Clarence's attitude had noticeably changed. Any topic discussing elves would lead back to that particular elf, so much so that Alywin avoided the topic as much as he was able. "Clarence-"
"Once I find that elf and defeat him, I'll have the knights drag him behind a horse carriage for the entirety of the journey to the palace. Then I'll drag him down to the dungeon and torture him from day to night until he wishes for death." The prince's smile widened disconcertingly, "But I won't let him die so easily. He'll serve as a perfect example of what the Yursear Kingdom does to traitorous elves such as him." The venom in his words chilled the room in the air, and Alywin paused, feeling a chill run down the base of his spine as he looked at Clarence's dull, bottomless eyes.
As Alywin was about to speak up, there was a knock at the door, followed by the voice of one of the palace servants. The anxiety in their voice was unhidden. "Your Highness, it is time for you to greet the candidates."
Queen Racliffe would not let him rest without greeting each and every candidate. It was unfortunate Clarence had only glanced over the profiles, only taking in their names and faces. He could only hope that the girls that had been selected were agreeable at least. Clarence sat up from the sofa and adjusted his tie as he stood, fumbling with his long fingers as he attempted to hasten his pace, knowing better than to make his mother wait, especially for something so important.
Seeing his difficulty, Alywin stood up from the chair and approached the prince wordlessly as he lifted his fingers towards Clarence's neck, where his collar had been wrinkled, "Let me fix this first." Alywin said, running his fingers down the delicate fabric of the tie. He grasped the tip of the tie and crossed the pieces of fabric in front of Clarence's chest. His movements were short and fluid, moving the tie's fabric with an adept sense. His warm, moist breath sprayed close to Clarence's neck. With his nose so close to Clarence's nape, he was able to smell the faint, spicy scent of cologne, and his cheeks were lightly tinged pink as he inhaled the faint scent of the cologne as he unconsciously moved closer, feeling lost in a trace.
It only took a moment for him to pull through the fabric and knot the tie, but Alywin slowed his movements. Finally, when he adjusted the knot at the base of Clarence's neck, Alywin's face was only inches away from the prince's chin, his fingers loosening the grip on the tie's fabric as the tips of his fingers grazed the tips of the tie, feeling at a loss. "Thank you, Alywin. You've always tied my ties better than the servants." Clarence said admiringly, looking at the neat blue tie with a smile on his face.
"Of course." Alywin said with a small smile as Clarence approached the door, his hand resting on the door knob. "Good luck with the meetings."
"I'll be back after dinner." Opening the door, Clarence was greeted by the bowing butler, who had been patiently waiting for the prince. Clarence nodded his head towards the butler in greeting and then turned to Alywin one more time and shot him a small smile before he walked through the door frame. The door was quickly shut behind him, and Alywin was left to stand in the middle of the room, alone in silence.
As Alywin walked to the arm chair and sat back down, resting his head on the back of the armchair, there was the sound of rustling from the ceiling above, followed by the sound of a small thud. Alywin rested in the chair with his eyes closed, his head tilted backwards over the back edge of the chair, his hand thrown lazily on his face to block out the sun. Just as he lifted his hand over his eyes, he felt a warm hand fall over his own, gently resting on his hand just over his knuckles.
"We need to talk, Alywin." Theo's joking tone was more serious than normal as he lowered his head closer to Alywin's face, looking the relaxed young man in the eye with a heavy gaze.
Moving his hand from under Theo's palm, Alywin responded with a surprised tone, "What are you doing here? I thought you left already."
"That's not important." Theo shook his head, "There's no time either. You need to leave the palace immediately." The way Theo spoke was relaxed, but there was concern hanging in his words that was difficult to hide, "Come on, pack whatever you can grab. You should-"
Alywin sat up, standing face to face with Theo. "I should what, Theo?" His tone was hard as he continued and said, "What could possibly make me want to leave, after we've spent so many years trying to get me established in this kingdom?"
Walking around the couch to the front of Alywin's gaze, Theo sighed quietly to himself. As he moved in front of Alywin, his eyes were full of worry, making Alywin feel anxious at the other man's heavy stare as he asked Theo with a curious tone, "What's going on, Theo?" Alywin's eyes narrowed as he looked up at Theo, standing only inches away from Alywin now. Theo stood so close that he could see the tufts of dust that had settled on his head from the path he had taken inside the castle.
"It's-" Theo stopped himself, running his fingers through his hair before he finished, "It's Malcolm. He's returning to the Yursear kingdom. He's set to arrive at the palace in less than a month."
Alywin's face shifted from anxiety to surprise, and then back to anxiety as he rubbed the space between his eyes and said in a low tone, "Impossible. Why would he-" As his thoughts trailed, he then suddenly stopped and lowered his hands, his eyes shooting back towards Theo as he asked in a concerned voice, "Does Clarence know about this?"
There was a short pause before Theo said, "No." He looked up to Alywin and met his worried gaze with his own, "I came as soon as I heard from my contacts." Theo grabbed Alywin's arm roughly, pulling him towards the door, "There's no time. We have to go. If it's not too late already."
Alywin aggressively pulled his arm back from Theo's tight grip as he said between thinly pressed lips, "What are you talking about? So I should just leave?! No Theo, I'm staying. Whatever happens, I'm not leaving Clarence."
Theo faltered momentarily, before he shook his head, lowering his arms in defeat, seeing the determination in Alywin's eyes. Theo had seen this look many times before. Nothing would change Alywin's mind now, "You're a fool, Alywin. This won't end well for you."
"Then help me so it doesn't." Alywin said, holding Theo's arm while he stared at his old friend, "Help me stop this."
"I don't even know how to save us, much less stop this." Theo whispered, "May the gods help us."
...
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Huge thanks to Hunny for reworking this chapter, as it was fighting back hard. Huge thanks to y'all for reading as well ♥♥ Things that I've been waiting for are finally happening (*^^*)♡ Clarence's mind is warping more and more, and it's beginning to affect those around him in different ways. I'm happy to write more Theo in too, as he is my baby boy, and he deserves more love ;u;
Also I felt the Spanish conveyed the meaning of the title a little better than the English. Lately I keep getting ads in Spanish, and the other day Hunny got a voicemail in Spanish from someone, so it feels like the Spanish is chasing me a little haha. A lot of people dis Spanish, but it's a super commonly spoken language, and it's really fun! I'll try to use it more in the future in the titles when it feels appropriate :D
Any guesses on who Malcolm is? Hunny and I have been biting at the bit to get him in too (´｡• ω •｡`) ♡ Can't wait to show the marriage candidates and the drama to come. We'll be focusing a little more on Clare/ Alywin for now, but Silas's time will come! Thanks always for reading, and we hope you continue to enjoy YMtK! ♥ Hunny said to know what happens sooner, visit that ko-fi button ;D