Duty Precedes the Heart
~
Avenues of the Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Darkling hours of Nightfall,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
Prince Rayzenn turned towards the street he had come from where Amelia had gone safely home, looking into the distance wistfully, like his heart was aching, before he said, "I cannot believe I am regretting that loyalty I admired her for, now that she is yielding it to another man."
A heaved a sigh before turning to his men who all looked equally upset on his behalf. Nate, the Calvalry chief spoke, "Do you know the man she's with now?"
The dark haired prince folded his arms and nodded, before answering, "Head Knight of the West Wing."
"You mean Erion?" Reid asked in shock. "He couldn't even keep his men on patrol when the hounds were attacking her village!"
Rayzenn shrugged, "I hope he can take care of her at least. But I'm not sure he will."
"That's his problem. You can save her right after he does not fulfil his duties", Nate winked, easing the heavy moods.
"Well, he isn't doing a great job as of now. He barely saw her back to her cottage safely. And she still remains loyal to him. I cannot wrench her away to myself. And I wouldn't want to ruin a relationship and expect her to follow me away from something she is committed to. She isn't the sort of person who would yield to it", the Prince said.
"What did she see in him today that she hadn't seen in any other man all these years?" Reid, the archer sighed on his friend's behalf.
"I believe she only saw him today. I saw her lingering about the courtyard right before the confrontation with the Head Knight", Prince Rayzenn shrugged his shoulder.
"Finding a loyal woman who would love a man for his person is a myth at this point", Nate shook his head. He had voiced the concerns of all the men gathered there in conversation, for they shared like views in the matter.
"I believe the real problem at hand is that the Regent Queen expects you to marry as soon as Prince Francis is wedded. The Kingdom's partition would await it. You will have to decide on marrying, despite your hesitations", Zebedee, the Naval Captain said.
The dark haired heir to the throne nodded, "I am conflicted. Should I really stop pursing this maiden and turn to my duties? Or do you believe that someday, she would break her relationship with the other man and I can claim her for myself?"
Aaron, who would oft remain silent and reflective during conversation spoke up, saying, "I would advise you stop building you hopes towards marrying her. You have, but a couple of months at most to select a bride for yourself. Once Prince Francis is married, your royal wedding will be expected in the next month. I doubt this young lady will have such a fragile relationship with a Head Knight, who is beyond her range of suitors."
Zebedee nodded to him and added, "If anything, there would be a definite degree of chaos and rumours if you are found marrying a peasant girl that you know nothing of. And it is fairly certain that the Regent Queen would have her hopes up in the name of some wealthy daughter in our province."
The Prince looked at the men, feeling crest fallen, knowing that they were right. It would be a fantasy far from reality to pursue Amelia. He heaved a sigh and nodded, "I see no fault in what you say. It is the right thing to do, in the long run."
Aaron nodded, saying, "There is word on the street already, that you will be marrying Duke Walterus' daughter. All the folks at the tavern were talking of your potential prospects and interest towards her, when I was spying."
Prince Rayzenn seemed conflicted. "I have no objections against marrying her. She is a fine woman that will be wise in being a queen and leading the Kingdom", he nodded. "But will she be faithful to me and love me despite everything, instead of be allured by the sole prospect that I will be King?"
"I am most certain she will, Sire. Miss Charlene is known in her companions for her loyalty", Zebedee said.
"That is true to what I heard as well", Aaron added, for he had spied the Vintage Tavern that night during their disguised expedition. "The men were speaking, drunken. And Knight Erion was talking of how he had wished to pursue her, but she is a woman that shows no interest in any man unless she is in a relationship with him. I believe the knight had tried to win her hand, but had failed."
"I see", the crown prince nodded, feeling fairly appeased. It was liberating to know that the woman Aunt Elisa desperately wished for him to marry was a woman of modest character.
He looked up to see that Reid and Nate were silent listeners in conversation, seeming as forlorn as he was feeling deep down inside. He knew that they were the sort that would dream against the odds and hope for the unnatural to happen.
But Aaron and Zebedee were more practical gentlemen considering possibilities and advising him as per reality, without hoisting false hopes within him. Thus, they were the ones he needed to listen to at a time as this, when he was at fraught with himself.
"Miss Charlene is a woman of loyalty and will deserve all your love, however. So you will need to stop thinking of the other young lady. Once and for all", Aaron said, giving his shoulder a pat.
Prince Rayzenn nodded, "I believe you are right. I have wronged her already, for I paid her no attention earlier today during the visit to the Walterus Estate. But it will not happen again."
~