"Have the King been woken up?". Lord Bellwood asked the maid that served him tea.
She bowed and answered. "To that, my Lord, I don't know. The Queen have taken the duty from us ever since her last birth".
"You may go". She bowed again and left.
"Someone should tutor our dear king on when to satisfy his sexual desires and when to not". Bellwood suggested to the rest of the Associates that sat round the wooden table.
"Then I'm guessing you are suggesting based on your capabilities and abilities". Lord Jon who sat by his side, observed.
"Should that not be the duty of the Lord of Information and Inculcation?". The suggestive Lord fired back as he eyed Lord Jon.
"To hell with you". The words left his lips as he got up and held his neck collar in a bid to strangle Bellwood.
"Enough you two. You men always sought out opportunities to fight amongst yourselves. Quit this nonsense and get seated. We did not come here to end your feud but to escort the King. Stop behaving like boys and sit down now". Lord Apollo of Accounts, a man with a grey hair and grey mustache and a garment which resembled the emblem of the priests, scolded the men but none seemed to heed.
Even with his words, the fight became intense, this time with Lord Bellwood forcefully removing Jon's grip off his neck and turning swiftly to hold his neck.
"Halt this abominable thing you two and listen to the words of Lord Apollo, now!". Lord Titus, the Lord of Construction and External affairs added to the voice of Lord Apollo when he saw the fight heading to the worst.
Getting up and rushing to the two Lords who had turned to children battling over a mite matter, Lord Ethan tugged Lord Bellwood out of his stance of strangling Lord Jon.
With a force greater than that he was exerting on Lord Jon, Bellwood fell on the cemented floor and hit his back against the wall. Lord Jon's neck displayed different shades of red as Lord Ethan aided him to his seat.
His eyes reddened as he touched the traces of pain on his neck then with the swift movement of an agile monkey, he rushed to Bellwood's side of the floor and pounced him. Lord Ethan had not yet recovered from the shock, the quick movement of Lord Jon had pushed him to, so Jon was restrained by Lord Titus before he could give Lord Bellwood a drastic blow on his head.
"Guards!...Guards!!..Guards!!!''. Jon was still struggling with Titus and Ethan, who had joined the restraint squad, when two guards came to take him off possession of the two Lords.
"It is a shame and a big disgrace and also punishable for nobles to fight in the court of the King. Take him away till sanity is returned to him". The Lord of Accounts completely wary of the fighting Lords, handed the unrepentant fighter to the King's Guards.
Receiving the command, the guards moved into action and led Lord Jon out of the Castle. Lord Bellwood sat, curled up on the floor. Pains held him captive and the urge to go after the guards and beat Lord Jon to his death, showed him freedom, but he denied himself the freedom and endured the torture of the pains.
"That bastard. He knows not how to control his temper and you scoundrel, you know not how to control your tongue. You know he never did liked the position he is occupying but yet you decided to push him to the edge". The Eldest Lord said after the Lord of Information and Inculcation was escorted out of the court.
"I guess the Lord of Humanitarian Approach have finally learnt his lesson". Lord Titus said with a voice that told Bellwood to end the feud and face reality. The reality of him being a Lord and not a warrior.
Lord Bellwood bent his head in embarrassment and after a while rose it up. "Yes, I have". Humiliation stricken was he that answered the Lord of Construction and External Affairs.
"All this fighting and misbehaviours are really getting me sick and weary and yet The Diadem is yet to unravel himself. One must say, the dead don't wait to be buried before dilapidation". The Lord of Commerce, Lord Ethan bade their attention and focus back to the main matter. The King's arrival was yet to be known.
Like the walls had ears, the Diadem stood in the court with guards at his sides and his bride at his right. Every noble and guard present at the room bowed their respect to the King while the maids who were about leaving the room after their duty, curtseyed and left immediately.
All kept standing until the King had made his way to the throne and his wife got seated by his side. Until he sat and said "You may be seated", no one dared to move or say a word.
"How many heads are in the trip?". Albert asked after the Associates sat down.
"Three hundred in total, Your Grace". Lord Ethan answered briskly.
"My children are not coming along. Only the lad will be, to comfort us". Dokatridge IV said after he had struck a quick glance at his wife.
There was no need to do that. She would not challenge his authority, no matter what. He was her husband in the bedroom but out here, he was her King, her ruler. He always made the right decision for the family and for the people. He always had her and the children at heart whenever he was to decide on something. For that she would be eternally grateful.
One more thing that will make her forever submissive and grateful was the fact that a little request of hers in the dern was granted by him in the open. If she had never fully loved him before because she did not get a chance to know him before marriage since it was arranged, then her entire love and adoration goes to this man that can take little things seriously.
"I love you". She whispered in her mind not to his hearing but when he turned and smiled sweetly at her, she understood that this man hears even the slightest whisper.