The meeting went very well, we came to a solution. I'm still curious why The Queen isn't doing anything to stop this war.
Now I'm sitting on my balcony, I'm planning to go on a ride. I finish my cup of tea and make myself ready to go riding on one of the horses. As I'm walking down the stairs in the castle I see people looking at me and whispering something to each other, I don't even bother to smile because why would I be nice if I get the impression that they are gossiping about me. I don't pay any more attention and eventually make my way to the halls. Everyone is looking differently at me, have I missed something or are there false rumors about me? Immediately my head screams The Queen, and I'm sure she's behind this but I will look dumb and pretend that I'm so stupid that I don't notice them.
Finally I reached the stables and asked one of the stable boy's to prepare a horse, he also talked very strangely to me, he replied to me every time with a simple 'yes ma'am' and 'of course milady'.
As I rode out of the castle grounds through the forests, I felt like usual, the normal girl who was just born into a wealthy family and had expectations to live up to. My parents didn't believe that my brother would be the Duke, they thought it was me. A long, long time ago my brother used to be drunk and gave all his money to spend nights with prostitutes and other whores. My parents were planning to disown him,but before that happened my brother changed and here we are. Closer than ever.
These landscapes are amazing, the waters flowing through the mountains into the river, the fallen trees, the leaves on the ground. I'm riding up a mountain, as I follow the path I see the castle from afar and only then you realize that right here and right now there is nothing that can stop you from doing what you want, except flying and really unrealistic stuff like that.
When I'm back down on the stable ground, I see raindrops falling on my leather gloves and when I look around I see that rain has surrounded me. Thunder, that's what I hear, and that's what scares me, I'm surrounded by trees. Once I read a book that said that when there is thunder you shouldn't hide under a tree, that's what I remember. As I try to find my way back to the castle as soon as possible, I realize that I'm lost, and I'm drenched.
I try to look in all the directions if there is something that I recognize or if I see the king's roads I know the way but of course I find neither.
The rain is pouring now there is no hiding, my horse is exhausted and I'm freezing from my wet clothes.
"Milady?"
What is he doing here?
I turn around and see him, the man I vowed myself to stay away from. I know that whatever I try I will always see him.
"Your Majesty?" I ask him, it is so unreal that I can't believe that he is truly here, just as drenched as I am and probably as exhausted. He is sitting on his horse, which makes him even taller than I'm used to, his hair is drenched and messy, he is holding his hand up just above his eyes to see me better and his clothing looks less fancy than I've seen from him.
"What are you doing here?" He asks me and I open my mouth but close it quickly.
"I was going for a ride and then it started raining and I got lost." I said, removing my gloves to be able to smooth my hair back. He looked at me and nodded.
"I don't know how you got here Your Grace, and which way you took but we're far away from the castle, we are not going to make it before sun down back, I'm spending the night in one of the mansions from the Valois, would you want to go there?" He asked me, I gulped. I wasn't aware that I was so far away. I gave him a nod.
"If you wouldn't mind Your Majesty."
"Not at all." He said, offering me a smile.
"May I ask, Your Majesty, what are you doing here at this time?" I asked him cautiously. We were now riding on our horses to the mansion The King spoke about.
"I had a meeting with one of my ambassadors in Callais."
"Why didn't you go with a carriage, Your Majesty?" If I must admit I'm getting used to 'your majesty'.
"It would take years before I arrive there and I like spending time with my own thoughts away from the crowd." The last part was a breath, I could barely hear yet I understood what he meant.
"I understand."
We arrived in front of a very big mansion that was painted white and was surrounded by trees. It looked so luxurious and I could see servants inside walking and cleaning the massive house.
"Is this it Your Majesty?" I asked him as I continued to admire the house, or palace.
"It is indeed, everyone is aware of my arrival, I'll make sure that you're welcomed as well." He said with a genuine smile on his face.
"That's not necessary, Your Majesty." I told him, he frowned at me before ignoring my question.
We got off our horses and a few servants came and brought them to the stables. We walked towards the grand doors where we were welcomed by a few guards and maids.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty, we have prepared everything you could wish for." A maid said. She was blushing and she hugged her body so that her breasts could almost explode out of her dress.
"I've brought a guest with me, I hope that her stay will be just as delightful as mine." He said, seriously at the woman, she gulped audibly and looked at me, I gave her a smile and in return I got a face from her as if she would vomit. I have nothing to prove to her so I let it go.
We walked into the house, I'm not even sure if you can call that a house but still . Everything was made out of marmer and the halls were so beautifully litten.
“Your Majesty, this will be your room.” The woman said as we stopped in front of big wooden doors. The King nodded but didn’t enter his chambers, he still stood beside me waiting for something.
“Is something wrong Your Majesty?” The woman questioned. The man next to me shook his head.
“No, I just want to see where she is staying.” He spoke to her. She didn’t say anything and just walked towards the room at the end of the hall.
“This is where the Lady will be staying.” She spoke with disgust. I’m sure that this woman will put snakes under my covers and frogs in my bath. I let out a laugh at the idea.
“Is something funny miLady?” She spoke as she opened the doors and waited for my answer. I could feel The King's eyes on my head waiting for an answer as well.
“Yes, You.” I said, with the most fake smile plastered on my face as I entered my room for the night. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, it wasn’t bad at all. The King immediately walked towards the windows and sweeped with one of his long fingers over the windowsill.
“Find another room.” He spoke with his deep voice, the woman’s eyebrows raised at the King's comment.
“Excuse me, your Majesty?” She spoke, her voice suddenly changed. The King looked at her, but didn’t say anything.
“This room is fine, your Majesty.” I told him, he studied my facial expressions a bit and clenched his jaw as his eyes turned back to the trembling woman next to me.
“No it is not,” He stepped forward, “Dust is flying around,” Another step, “cobwebs overrule the corners.” Now he was standing in front of the woman. “Do you want to be fired? Then keep going.”