"My Queen, is something the matter?" asked Nora as she looked at Wura as she looked absent minded.
"Would you believe me if I said that nothing was the matter?" asked Wura and Nora shook her head no.
"*Sigh*" said Wura as she sighed.
"My Queen, if something is bothering you, I might be able to help" said Nora.
"I appreciate the gesture Nora but…" said Wura as she paused while thinking.
"I mean, I have done everything expected of me up to late… but taking over the Queen's office is something else entirely" said Wura, she felt like she was be giving up the little freedom she had left if she did so, she would never be able be herself again.
"I do not want to do it…" said Wura as she paused and she looked at Nora.
"What do you think Nora?" asked Wura.
"Me??" asked Nora in confusion as she pointed to herself.
"Yes you Nora, what do you think about this whole matter?" asked Wura.
"Ahh well my Queen…" said Nora as she hesitated.
"It is alright Nora, you can speak freely" said Wura as she smiled, she really needed some advice right now, and she knew that Nora always had the best advice.
"Well my Queen…" said Nora as she hesitated and Wura smiled at her.
"If you ask me my Queen, I really do agree with Lady Marli" said Nora as Wura did tell her that she could speak freely.
"The Kingdom needs a Queen, we have been in need of one for twenty four years now my Queen" said Nora as she replied honestly.
"So you think I am selfish?" asked Wura as she smiled.
"No… not at all my Queen" said Nora as she shook her head.
"Just as Lady Marli had said, no one is to force you, it all depends on if you are ready or not my Queen" said Nora.
"My Queen, your title has nothing to do with your views and beliefs as a person, and you have clearly expressed your displeasure with taking up the Queenly duties" said Nora.
"I just expressed my own view on the matter my Queen, I am sure that the Kingdom will be happy to have their Queen personally address them, but at the same time, no one and pressure or force you my Queen" said Nora as she bowed.
"Hmm" said Wura as she seemed to be thinking, Nora had a point, the kingdom needed a Queen, and she was sorry that she was not the capable, dependable Queen that they needed, she really was, but for the sake of her own sanity and peace, she could not take up the post of the Queen's office, she was not ready at all, she was only eighteen after all.
"Thank you for your advice Nora, I really appreciate it" said Wura as she smiled at Nora.
"You are welcome my Queen" said Nora as she smiled.
"Well I now have my answer… and it still remains no" said Wura as she smiled.
"The decision belongs to you and you alone my Queen" said Nora as she smiled and Wura was deep in thought, she wondered just how things came to this point.
…
"Enter" said Liam as he was in his office working.
"I did not think that you would be here" said Mero as he walked into Liam's office.
"And yet here you are" said Liam as he smiled and he looked up from his desk as Mero sat down across him.
"Because I knew this should be the first place I should go to look for you" said Mero.
"Hmm, good choice" said Liam as he smiled.
"I thought you would rest?" asked Mero as his eyes moved to Liam's bandaged left hand.
"Why do I need to?" asked Liam as he looked at Mero.
"It is only a little cut, it shall heal in due time" said Liam as he carried on writing something.
"You do know that you are not taking care of yourself" said Mero.
"I do not know what you are talking about Mero" said Liam as he replied simply.
"Have you eaten yet?" asked Mero.
"No" replied Liam plainly.
"When was the last time you have eaten Liam?" asked Mero as he narrowed his eyes at Liam.
"Not too long ago" replied Liam casually.
"You do know that you need to take care of yourself as King?" asked Mero.
"Well yes, but I have not felt hungry, so I am fine" said Liam.
"Hmm" said Mero as he did not believe Liam at all.
"When was the last time you saw your wife?" asked Mero as Liam stopped what he was doing as he looked at Mero with an indescribable gaze.
"Not too long ago" replied Liam as the truth was that he had not seen her in days, not since his Father had passed and he was coronated King.
"Have you ever stopped to wonder how she feels about your new behaviour?" asked Mero, he only hoped that if Liam would not consider himself, maybe Wura would help him to.
"She is probably fine" said Liam.
"You say probably" said Mero.
"Yes, at least she will be relieved not to see me" said Liam.
"You know Liam, when this all started, I did warn you that marriage without love would never last" said Mero, he had more than enough experience, an example would be the marriage of that of his parents.
"Love is not everything Mero" replied Liam.
"Besides, that was then, now… now things are different" said Liam.
"Different how?" asked Mero as Liam did not say anything.
"Do you not care for her?" asked Mero.
"Of course I care for her, and I want her to be well, and she will be better without me" said Liam as he replied.
"And what makes you so sure?" asked Mero.
"Because she has said it countless times, again and again, it is clear that she is unhappy with me, and it would be best for me to leave her be" said Liam.
"You know Liam, the both of you are hurting each other, but you disappoint me more" said Mero.
"You do not understand Mero" said Liam.
"I was never one to force anyone to do anything" said Liam.
"And I never will be" said Liam.
"She will always have shelter, clothing and everything else she will need here, but we were never destined to be together" said Liam.
"And support? And what about comfort? Have you forgotten what your father told you?" asked Mero.
"I can never forget Mero… believe me, I can never" said Liam.
"But his advice would have been better suited for a normal marriage setting, and this… well this is now one of it" said Liam as he explained.
"I believe that we have spoken about this matter enough" said Liam as he shifted the conversation.
"Is there anything else you wanted to discuss with me?" asked Liam as Mero sighed, he knew that Liam was displacing his frustrations and drowning himself in work, and he was just too stubborn to listen to him.
"Yes, the matter of the Dukedom, what is your conclusion?" asked Mero as he was sure that he could come back to this later.
"Well I have already informed some of the Dukes, and we will look for a way forward" said Liam as he replied.
"It would not be advisable to cut off some of the duke families, they are there for stability, they oversee the Kingdom's low matters" said Liam.
"But the people want more fairness, or so I have heard" said Mero.
"Not all of them do.. only certain people do, and I am starting to believe that it is the East that began to spread ideas of lessening the dukedom" said Liam as he seemed to be thinking.
"Nevertheless, the Dukes are put in place for a reason, and there is no need for them to be removed from the titles of their forefathers" said Liam.
"So you think that this is a rebellion idea?" asked Mero.
"Yes, I do, and I am sure that it is from the East" said Liam.
"There is nothing they have not done to try and destabilize the Kingdom, they have tried many assassinations and all" said Liam.
"I am only surprised that they waited till now to spread such rumours, why could they not have done so during my Father's reign?" asked Liam.
"Well it may be because you have just become King, they see it as a delicate time to strike and send the Kingdom into peril, although they shall not succeed" said Mero.
"Yes, they shall not succeed" said Liam as he seemed to be thinking.
"How is your hand?" asked Mero as he looked at Liam's hand.
"Well it is fine, I have to change the bandages every now and then, but apart from that it is perfectly alright" said Liam as he smiled.
"Hmm" said Mero.
"I need to take my leave now, I have a meeting with Baron Melvin" said Mero as he stood up.
"Tell him that I apologize for not being able to see him in person" said Liam.
"I will" said Mero as he nodded his head.