"Grand Duke Erden of Mistvale." The Emperor muttered, more to himself than anyone.
"I see no introductions are necessary since you obviously know who I am." Duke Erden stood at his full imposing 6'2" height, matching that of the Emperor's stature.
He wore a similar ombre scaled warrior's bodysuit as Gwendolyn, except his was in black fading to a dark silver. The only touch of decoration he wore was the dull silver Prime Warrior clasp at his throat holding his black cape on his shoulder.
It was completely in contrast to the Emperor's pristine white robes. Like the Grand Duke, Rex wore no other decoration save for the thick gold band around his head, denoting his position as Emperor of the galaxy.
The two men faced off on a black and white chess board where the rule of the game was simple. The one who gets the queen wins the game. There was only one catch.
There was only one queen and the queen's color was BLUE.
Steely grey eyes gazing unflinching at frosty violet eyes. Each gave no grounds, expecting none in return. The air crackled with electricity as the two strong men stared each other down.
Finally, as the visiting white king, Rex made the first move.
"So, Erden. You seem to think that you can marry my wife within the week even though she is still legally my wife."
Ooohhh. The small crowd around them nodded. That was a legitimate concern.
How was it possible to marry someone who was already legally married?
There had to at least be a divorce, and even in this day and age, divorces took time to file and be recorded. There was even a cool down time period of around thirty days before the decree was even allowed to be processed.
As a person of royal lineage, it was even more difficult, not less, for Gwendolyn to divorce and remarry. Most definitely, there would be serious hoops having to do with titles and accumulated wealth to have to maneuver through.
It would neither be quick nor clean.
"As you know, Rex," Erden threw back his head with confidence. "Possession is nine-tenths of the law."
Aaahhh. The small crowd murmured.
That was also true. This was law throughout the galaxy. A person could not be stripped of something that had been in his unchallenged possession for a certain length of time.
Of course, no one knew what the 'length of time' would be for something of this nature, not to mention the fact that each region of space had its own set of idiosyncratic system of laws that were slightly different from each other.
"Were she to be an object for possession, perhaps." Rex threw back. "Except she is a person, a full citizen of the galaxy."
This was true! Lady Gwendolyn was a living, breathing human being, and she was being pulled back and forth between these two men as if she had no voice of her own.
"She is absolutely a full citizen of the galaxy." Erden nodded. "This gives her the chance to choose where she wants to live and be with the man she wants to be with."
Erden slammed his fist into his palm. "Whatever her choice is, I will defend her right to that choice."
"She made her choice a long time ago." Rex threw out. "She and I have two children together. One of them is still underaged and needs to go home."
Rex turned to Gwendolyn. This was between the two of them. Why was he talking to this man?
"Gwen. We need to talk."
Gwendolyn faced him, unafraid. "We do need to talk, Rex, and we are talking now."
"No. I mean we need to talk in private."
"No Rex. There is nothing between us that needs to be said in private. Let's get it out in the open. Clear the air." She waved an airy hand full of light-hearted calmness.
Truth be told, Gwendolyn was a nervous wreck. She had been dreading this day ever since she left Erenveil space, knowing Rex would most likely come after her.
But there was a strong warm hand touching her back, lending her inner strength.
It was the young woman who had called herself Gwen's daughter-in-law. Her touch was calming and energizing at the same time.
This strong woman who faced the world with fearless eyes, faced down opponents that made people quake with fright, and slayed all those who came at her with physical weapons.
With Candace in her corner, supporting her, Gwendolyn suddenly felt empowered.
"You are right, Rex." She smiled at him. "I made my choice twenty-six years ago to marry you because I fell in love with you."
Rex smiled at her. There was still love between the two of them.
"I waited twenty-six years for you to fall in love with me, Rex, but that didn't happen, so now, I'm choosing to move on with my life."
Rex's mouth firmed. "Gwen, there has never been any doubt that I love you."
"I have no doubt that you love the woman who gave birth to your children. I thank you for that. I think, however, it's time that I find a man who is in love with me as a person, not me as the mother of his children."
"Gwen—"
"Rex." She held up her hand. "Think about the excitement you feel when you see Anastasia. Think about your emotions when you spend time with her. The exhilaration, the warm closeness, the desire to be with her because you are in love with her."
Rex was silent. He didn't have to think that hard. He had only been away from Anastasia for a couple of days and already he missed her so much he could barely stand it.
If it wasn't for the fact that he needed to bring Gwendolyn and Lyra home, he would have never left Anastasia. Already, he was clamoring to be back by her side. His body needed her so badly…
"I can see it in your eyes, even now, how you feel about Anastasia." Gwendolyn smiled wearily. "I want to find a man who thinks of me in the same way that you think of her. Is it too much to ask to be loved like that?"
"Gwen, life is never that cut-and-dried." Rex sighed. "What makes you think that you will be able to return that sort of love to a man who would be able to love you in that manner?"
"What makes you think that I won't be able to?" Gwen stared up at him with indignant blue eyes.
"Because you love me, Gwen." Rex returned her gaze with steady violet eyes. "You won't be able to love another man in the same way that you love me."
"You make it sound as if I am incapable of ever loving again. That's simply not true." Gwendolyn shook her head.
"Gwen," Rex's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Don't throw our love away. I may not be able to give you the sort of romantic love you want, but you will always be assured of my love for you."
"The love you have for me is not enough, Rex." Gwendolyn threw up her hand. "You throw me a few crumbs of affection and I eat it eagerly because I'm starving for your love."
Gwendolyn's eyes misted.
"Anastasia is no better or worse than me as a woman. Why is she given a banquet filled with your love every single day, and I am given a small roll to keep from dying of hunger once every other week? Why am I not worthy enough to be loved like her?"
Rex squeezed his lids shut and shook his head. Was this how she viewed their relationship as? Was she starving for his love?
"Gwen. I did not realize you felt that way. We can work on our marriage so you won't have to feel so deprived. Will you throw everything we have away on the off-chance that you will be able to find a man who might POSSIBLY feel what you are hoping he will feel for you?"
"That is not an off-chance, Rex." Erden spoke up. "It is actually very real. Gwendolyn is an exquisite woman. She deserves an exquisite overflowing love, not your left-over dregs."
He pointed directly at the Emperor's face.
"You cannot give her that exquisite abundant love that she deserves. Don't ruin her chances to be happy with your selfish need to hold onto someone you don't care that much about."
"How dare you!!!" The Emperor's face twisted, his cheeks reddened with anger.
"I dare because I am the man who loves her in the manner to which she is deserving! I have no one other than her, and I solemnly swear that I will not have anyone other than Gwen for the rest of my life."
"But she is my wife." Rex snarled back at Erden.
"She is just another Royal Consort to you." Erden slammed back. "But to me, Gwendolyn is my moon, my sun, and all the stars in my sky."
The Grand Duke Erden held out his arms in a grand gesture.
"She is my EVERYTHING!!!"