There were firm thumbs on the door; Queen Briar was having her afternoon tea with Tallulah sitting across her and with Aamon standing behind the queen, awaiting orders.
"Now who would disturb you at this hour, Your Majesty?" Tallulah queried with slight annoyance. Everyone knew that this was Queen Briar's tea time. Sure she was benevolent and saintly, but she needed some time for herself too after a long day of work.
"It is Lycus," the person behind the door announced.
Tallulah and Queen Briar stared at each other with wide eyes before the queen scrambled to the mirror, looking at herself. Tallulah was right beside her, eyeing any button, stain, or dirt on her dress. Aamon could only stare at them with mild confusion because of their girlish fussing.
"Do I look okay?" Briar whispered nervously. She wanted to look her best. She didn't want Lycus looking at anybody else.
"A little sweaty but you are beautiful as ever, Your Majesty!" Tallulah assured.
Briar spun, nodding at Aamon to open the door for the king. She proceeded to her chair, acting as if she was drinking her tea. Aamon turned the knob, making way for Lycus.
Queen Briar stood, bowing in his presence. Tallulah did the same. She winced from realizing that forgot to hide the cup she was using. If others find out that she was having tea and snacks with the queen, they'd be envious.
"My king, what has brought you here?" Briar queried.
Lycus had his hands behind him. He surveyed the queen's room with bored eyes until his vision landed on Aamon.
"I need Aamon to do something for me. You do not mind if I borrowed him for a bit, don't you?"
Briar straightened up, smiling widely. "Of course, Your Majesty. What's mine is yours."
Aamon bowed at his waist. "If you excuse me then, Queen Briar."
Lycus turned around but was stopped when Briar shouted: "Wait!" with a desperate tone.
When she perceived that her voice had gotten too loud, she cleared her throat, trying to poise herself back. "You never visit me in my chambers, my king. Won't you stay and have tea with me?"
Lycus spared her a short glance. "I have important matters to attend to. Please carry on without me."
Briar's hopeful expression crumbled. Her posture slouched and she grabbed her arm as if she was supporting herself from collapsing from his rejection.
"I–I see. Please do not tire yourself too much, my king."
Aamon bowed once more, closing the door behind him. Once the door was shut, Briar sat, burying her face into her palms. Tallulah was quick to put her hand on her back, comforting her.
"I do not understand how he could brush you off like that. He does not understand what he has," she grumbled.
Briar picked her smile back before facing her best friend. "Hush Tallulah, someone might hear you and you'll get into big trouble."
The maid's frown grew deeper. "I don't care. He acts as if you're not his wife. As a king, he should be a role model to all husbands in this city."
The queen held Tallulah's hand. She was always angrier on her behalf. "He'll come around. I believe he's a good man. Canaan wouldn't be this prosperous if he was evil."
Tallulah was right. It wasn't as if Lycus was being violent with her or was doing something wrong, it was the fact that he wasn't doing anything with her at all that bothered Queen Briar the most. She didn't know what she was to Lycus. It felt as if being his wife was a mere title she put on herself like a child playing as queen.
Day by day, Aamon became more like Lycus' errand boy than the queen's. He would pick him up personally, even knocking against Briar's door which he never did before until recently. She couldn't disapprove of Lycus' requests. She tried asking Aamon what the king was making him do and the boy would reply with: "He would ask me to organize his books, send me to town to pick up bread from his favorite bakery, and to keep him company while he does his paperwork."
They were simple tasks that Briar could do. Albeit they could send a servant to town to pick up bread from the bakery but Briar was more than willing to go around for Lycus just so she could learn more about him. She didn't even know his favorite pastry!
Aamon was innocent. He was a young and dependable lad. Anyone could see that he had a bright future ahead of him. It was no wonder why Lycus liked to keep him around.
Yet… she felt insecure and bitter. He knew more about her husband than her.
Another day came, six months had passed since Aamon lived with them. The queen was determined for Lycus to acknowledge her as his wife for him to love and cherish. She wasn't a mere piece of furniture.
Briar and Tallulah had studied Aamon's routine under Lycus. Every morning he would spend his time in the library choosing books that may interest His Majesty. By midday, he would go out and buy bread and by evening he would bring dinner to Lycus' office and stay there until it was time to go to bed.
"Here he comes Tallulah!" Briar whispered as they peeked behind the pillars leading to the elevator. The guards had noticed them earlier on but they dismissed them as this was a mission that only the queen wanted to accomplish on her own.
Aamon sauntered with an air of charisma and supremacy around him. It was easy to notice that he wasn't a commoner. His colorful eyes pierced their direction which made the two ladies jolt. Aamon's stern appearance broke into a smile. He bowed to their direction.
"Your Majesty, it is nice to see you."
Briar and Tallulah's faces were red with embarrassment. Briar was dressed for long walks. She was wearing brown leather pants, a corset over a ruffled sleeved tunic, and boots.
"Are you heading out again, Aamon?"
Aamon inclined his head. "Yes my queen. King Lycus wants some pastries again."
The two women stared at each other with eyes full of resolve before trapping the boy in their intense gaze.
"My husband is making you work too hard. Why don't you take the time off and let us pick up the bread from the bakery for you," Briar offered.
The teen was hesitant. He didn't want to be accused of abandoning his duties but since this was the queen, maybe it wouldn't hurt to rest his feet. Besides, she didn't seem to be offering. The way she stared at him felt as if he was being intimidated.
He brought out a pen and a paper, writing down what the king liked. He handed the list over to the queen who snatched the paper from his hand and hurried to the lift. The teen wanted to give more instructions but she and her maid were in such a hurry.
"Rest well Aamon!" Tallulah bid.
Aamon shrugged, smiling. She was the wife, she must be aware of what the king was allergic to.
The pastry chef was surprised to see the queen buying bread herself.
"Your Majesty!" the old baker greeted, nearly kneeling.
"Hush! Please, I am just another customer. Do you have the things listed down here?" she queried.
The baker took the list and nodded. "Of course! I'll put them in the bag for you. Would you also like to try our new pastry? It has a sweet almond taste, I call it banket. It's a hit!"
Tallulah nodded. "I had it yesterday, it's really good!"
Briar was convinced. She couldn't wait for Lycus to fall head over heels for her. "Okay, put it in."
The bag had eclairs, canelés, apple strudels and the bankets. Right after retrieving the goods, they hurried back to the castle and went straight to Lycus' office. Tallulah had to calm the giddy queen, instructing her calmly to take deep breaths before knocking on his door.
"Come in," was his gruff response.
Tallulah cheered for her best friend as she peeked and went in with profound hope and determination. The first thing that Lycus gave her was a frown. Usually, when husbands see their wives in the midst of their work, their fatigue would wash away in an instant—their wives were supposed to be their place of rest. But instead of adoration, Lycus stared at her with a look of disappointment.
"Where's Aamon?"
Briar steeled herself. This wasn't the time to back out. She'll prove her worth to him.
"He…sprained his ankle. I told him to rest," she lied. She had to. If he finds out that she dismissed him just because she wanted to take his place, there was no doubt that Lycus would get annoyed.
The king released an amused sigh that made Briar swoon inside. "Clumsy boy. I told him to not run." He placed his fountain pen down, standing up and pulling a chair for Briar. "Since you are here, come and have tea and bread with me."
This was the best day of her life. She had to control the wide smile conquering her lips. She sat down, placing the pastries on the ceramic plate. Lycus eyed the banket.
"Did Aamon recommend this one?"
Briar swayed her head. She'd take all the credit she could get. "No my king. I chose it myself. The pastry chef said that it was their best seller." There was a knock on the door. Tallulah entered with Lycus' approval. She pushed a wooden three-layered food cart with a tea set on a tray at the very top. Tallulah and Briar quickly gave each other a glance, sharing their excitement.
Lycus picked up the banket, sinking his teeth on the pastry. He only made one attempt at chewing before his face was struck with rage. He spat the bread out, throwing it on the table.
"Are you trying to kill me?"
Briar was shaken. "What's wrong? Is there something in the bread?"
He held his tightening chest, glaring at the queen. "I'm allergic to nuts, you nitwits!"
Tallulah was vexed by Lycus' manner of speaking. "You can't just say that to your wife!"
Patchy and raised rashes began to surface on Lycus' tan skin. His breathing became wheezing. The door opened and Aamon, upon seeing the state of the king, rushed to his side and assisted him back on chair.
"My Lord, did you come in contact with nuts?"
Lycus grabbed Aamon's arms, pulling him close. The younger male radiated with a green light which gradually made the hives on his skin subside. His breathing became normal.
Silence overruled them and Briar couldn't bear the guilt.
"Forgive me, I didn't—"
"Get out," Lycus cut her off.
"My king, I—"
He grabbed his cup of hot tea, splashing it to her. "I said…LEAVE!"
Tallulah pulled the dumbstruck queen, evacuating her from the enraged king's room. Her skin was red from the tea but what hurt her more was the way he stared at him.
Her maid called Pope Uri to help with her burns. The pope didn't want to intervene between the couple but seeing that their marriage was growing sour, he had to give his advice.
"Give him time. Love should not be forced. Love is a flower that should bloom at its own time."
Pope Uri brushed his palm over her face that had grown blisters, wiping the burns and leaving no physical trace of the earlier quarrel.
"Shouldn't we have married because of love? Did he not love me when he decided to marry me?"
Uri didn't want to lie. "He married you because the kingdom needed a mother-figure."
She was for the kingdom but not for him.
Aamon did not show up the next day. He was pulled out of the queen's command and was to only serve Lycus for the rest of his life. As much as Briar wanted to protest, she had no right to after nearly ridding the ruler of this country with his nut allergy. She surrendered Aamon as a gift. Years went by and they saw that boy grow. He was more beloved by the people more than the queen. He stood by Lycus' side more than his queen. People saw more of him and less of Briar. Slowly, Aamon's light overshadowed hers.
She hated him yet she couldn't show that. It would be much easier if Aamon had a visible stain on his attitude but the young man was courteous and even made ways for her to eat on the same table as her husband much to Lycus' annoyance.
Aamon was standing behind Lycus as he ate at the grand dining table. Briar had grown thin and pale but she was in a good mood today. Tallulah was right behind her.
All throughout the dinner, it was Briar who initiated the talk. Lycus was forced to answer with short responses because Aamon would repeat whatever the queen was saying.
"I heard there was a monster in El' Azar chasing scholars out. Did any of the tamers manage to catch it?"
There was complete silence.
"Your Majesty, did they manage to capture the beast in the old capital?" Aamon repeated.
"Not yet. The beast is strong. I'll send one of the cardinals to handle it once they get back from their missions."
"I…I see. Why not send Theo? I believe he is capable enough."
The king made no signs of answering. His behavior towards the queen drove Tallulah mad.
"How about Theo, Your Majesty?"
"Rorik is overprotective of him. I'll never hear the end of it once he finds out I sent his boy."
Briar chuckled. She stared at Aamon. His growth was definitely surprising to many. When he first came here a few years ago, he was malnourished and tiny for his age. The king had taken care of him well. He was lean and muscular. He was dressed like a prince and talked like a scholar. He was kind and respected. Briar heard he was good with the sword too. He frequently sparred with the cardinals.
"How about Aamon? He is competent. He could—"
This time, the king answered without Aamon repeating. "He's meant to stay by my side." Lycus wiped his mouth and left the napkin on the table. "Let's go, Aamon."
Why did she even ask?