Finley's POV
"Your Majesty," I said, getting down on one knee and bowing slightly in greeting to the king. The throne room was a marvel of opulence. Rich tapestries adorned the walls, depicting scenes of historical victories and mythical legends. The floor was a mosaic of intricate patterns, and the high ceiling was supported by grand columns. The king's throne was an imposing structure of gold and velvet, a testament to his power and authority. To the king's right was a smaller but equally ornate throne, undoubtedly the queen's. To his left, another throne sat, covered with a cloth.
"Be seated," he pointed me to one of the chairs in the throne room and I sat down. Meeting his eyes, King Edmund regarded me with a scrutinizing gaze. He was truly intimidating, more than he was rumored to be. Well then it's a good thing I don't scare easily.
"You are the one tasked with taking care of my son, Sir Finley?" he asked, his voice echoing through the hall.
"At your service, Your Majesty," I replied, resisting the urge to add, "the one and only." I doubted the king would appreciate that.
"I need him to be taken care of properly," he said, his tone carrying a warning. The words leaving his mouth sounded caring enough But there was something else, something about his tone, a lack of genuine concern. He did not sound like a concerned father. My mind went back to Prince Edward getting drunk after meeting with him. I can't exactly do anything about it.
"Yes, Your Majesty," I simply said, nodding my head
The king's eyes flicked to the covered throne beside him. "It's important he uses his medication. Those herbs are vital for his well-being." His tone turned bitter. "It's a sad burden to have such a prince as an heir."
I clenched my teeth at his words, lowering my head to hide my new found disdain for him. His words made my blood boil. How could he say that about his child, his only child?
"It's a pity my darling Elizabeth can't bear me another heir, and I would never hurt her by taking another wife. But never mind, Edward will have to do," the king said more to himself than to me. I could hear the fondness in his tone when speaking about the queen and the change in tone to that of annoyance and dismissal when speaking about his own son. I kept my composure, balling my fists at my sides. I might just reach out to strangle him if I don't, but we couldn't have that. He was the king, after all. Before I could respond, the door to the throne room opened, and my commander walked in. I stood and saluted him.
"Ah, Thorne, my good friend," the king bellowed, his voice resonating around the room. I had no idea the commander was friends with the king.
"Your Majesty," the commander said, bowing. "Sir Finley, I see you're already in attendance."
"Oh yes, he is a punctual lad. You see, Finley, Lord Thorne and I are very good friends. Yes, very good. He advises me a lot. He was the one who told me what a skilled knight you were and recommended you for Edward. In fact, he has been amazing in the health of the king. Maybe you can be that to Edward, though I doubt that severely." He praised the commander and still found a way to belittle the prince. I needed to get out of here before I did something that would leave me beheaded.
"Ensure the prince does not leave the castle," the king shouted, like his normal tone wasn't already loud enough "He hs been known to run away. And make sure he takes his herbs properly. You can leave now. I need to have a meeting with my friend."
"Yes, Your Majesty," I replied, bowing once more and leaving the throne room, trying to keep my anger in check.
I hadn't gone too far when I heard footsteps behind me. The commander fell into step beside me. "How is your new duty, Finley?" he asked in that fatherly tone he always possessed.
"Interesting," I admitted. "Different from what I'm used to, but I'll manage."
"Good, good. That's good to know. Do your best in guarding the prince and, like the king mentioned, ensure the prince takes his herbs," he reminded me again. "It's crucial." We stopped in our tracks as he stared at me.
"I will," I assured him, though the repeated emphasis on the prince's medication was starting to wear on me. The prince had been taking his medication, albeit with supervision, but he had not outrightly refused, even with a bit of hesitation. I wondered again what ailment the prince could be battling that was so severe.
He put a hand on my shoulder and told me goodbye, heading back to the throne room while I made my way back to the prince's chambers. I knocked and let myself in when there was no answer. As expected, Prince Edward was still awake. He looked up as I entered, his expression a mixture of irritation and boredom. What's new?
"Go away," he muttered.
I looked at the now covered food he had been eating and then back at him. "I'll wait until you've eaten," I replied, expecting him to dismiss me. To my surprise, he nodded.
"Fine." He sighed like my presence was bothersome. I didn't mind though, he at least hadn't chased me away.
I went over to him and brought the tray over and began to feed him. Spoonful by spoonful, he accepted the food without complaint. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
As I fed him, I couldn't help but wonder what the prince's story was. The secrets that resided between the castle walls The prince was a complex individual, and I had a feeling this was just the beginning of a long journey but for now, I was just content that he was eating. One step at a time.