CHARLENE'S COMPANY
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Banquet Hall,
The Imperial Castle,
Capital City of Tronder,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Early hours of the morning,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
Prince Rayzenn Crestings strode into the Banquet Hall of the Imperial Castle, paying attention to the fact that his brother had withdrawn to his duties by the hour he was there.
Butler Weston and the maidens were the only ones scuttling about, preparing the late breakfast table for him, before they could clear the halls and make ready for the hours of lunch.
The only other person present there was the Regent Queen, Aunt Eliza. She was a poised and prim looking woman with a heart made of gold, but a mind solid with business and purpose. The young Prince walked over to where she stood, bowed, took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckle, saying, "Good morning."
Her smile was most feigned, like she hadn't much reason to be truly delighted by his greeting, for her concerns scaled a much farther part of his future than he was bothered to care for.
"Your father wishes to meet you today", she said.
That was enough to leave an unsettling feeling within. Ever since his mother's demise, King Jesse's health had seen no true improvement, despite heavy medication.
This only warranted for a quicker arrangement of events such as the Kingdom's division and the Princes' inheritance and coronations.
Such, in turn, required Rayzenn's marriage. A one that he expected would be most estranged, for he did not believe that a maiden could love him for his soul, past all the wealth and status his prospect would offer her.
Overall, the nightmare of being wedded would need to precede all else. And Rayzenn was not prepared for the commitment. It was most probable that that was what his father would be wishing to speak to him of.
"I will meet him before I leave", the Prince said, receiving a slow, unsatisfied nod from his aunt.
As he took a seat for breakfast, she sat beside him and began to unfold the subject of her concerns:
"Regarding last night, you will need to visit the Duke Walterus in person at his manor this morning"
The young man of straight long hair looked up, disoriented. "Does he not visit me at my palace? What is the difference today?"
The woman shrugged, like she had no reason to instigate it. "I had told him that you would come by for a change. After all, the town of Crimsonton falls within the province of your domain, and it would be pleasant if you could pay visits and get familiar with the people that would soon be yours", said she, sweeping an imaginary lock of hair off her forehead, as though something could have dared escape her tight grey bun.
From the fact that her eyes were not meeting his and her constant demeanour of bringing hands towards her face, Rayzenn could discern that there was more to it than just what she was relaying to his heed.
The young man of black hair nodded, dabbing a napkin of linen against the crumbs near his mouth and taking the fork back in hand. "And?" he asked, raising a brow.
"What do you mean? Is that not sufficient a reason as it is?" his aunt asked, eyes fluttering about the hall, before she asked Butler Weston to fill his already brimming goblet with water.
"I will visit Duke Walterus without ado, of course, but is that all the business you have for me to meet him? Would it not be odd that I pay a grand visit for a matter as trivial as this?" Rayzenn asked. "I have the matter of expecting Knight Erion of the Western Wing, in confrontation of last night's beast rampage or vigilantism and how his knights have fared during the event. He must be arriving at the castle this morning with any reports on what he has found or failed to find and any casualties."
"Ah, about that", the regent queen nodded, "I have arranged for the Knight to meet you there as well, at the Duke's Manor. Duke Walterus had mentioned that Head Knight Erion would be a guest at his place this afternoon and I had him know that you will have your presence there, in attendance, for a sweet change of events" was the answer.
The young prince of green eyes stared at her contemplatively. He would not hesitate to commit to any of her wishes in all honesty, but if she was hiding her intentions, it worked his every nerve. "I see you have taken my plans for the day into your own hands", he sighed.
"All in good intentions, son", the woman smiled, tapping her fingers on the table.
There was a long and strained pause, before Aunt Eliza wet her lips and began to speak of something, with great hesitation, like her mind had decided that it would no more be burdening her in her silence and would be spoken: "So the Duke has a lovely daughter, who is presently not betrothed to any man. She is most pleasant to the eyes and a woman of noble heart and disposition."
"I am aware of Miss Charlene Walterus", Rayzenn responded, knowing fully well that this woman was the subject wherefore his schedules that day were spinning the way they were.
"Yes, then you would know that she is unrivalled in all things a man would expect of a wife. She is of your province and would make a greatly desired queen", the aunt said, eyes momentarily falling into his gaze and then scuttling away to the table, pretending like the conversation wasn't the sole principal of her senses.
"Good upbringing", the young prince nodded, wiping his hands, for he had finished breakfast and was inclined to leave the Banquet Hall, but was solely kept for reason of his Aunt's society.
"Would you not consider marrying her just for the sake of this old hag, Rayzenn, my dear?", she asked, her voice sounding earnest.
Something about her desperation drew his eyes to look at her. After a moment of contemplation, the young man sighed and broke a tired smile, "Alright, I will consider it", he resiled.
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