The Challenges of Parenthood and Governance
The baby, who had been the subject of teasing, remained oblivious to the jest. She could neither express her feelings nor contribute to the conversations surrounding her.
The next morning, Altria arrived at the castle with a stack of official documents, only to find the office hall deserted. Her stomach rumbled with hunger, adding to her confusion about the absence of the royal couple.
"Where are His Majesty Lott and Her Majesty Morgan?" Altria asked the palace maids, her gaze sweeping the empty hall.
The maids, blushing and taken aback, struggled to answer. They were all too aware of the ruckus that had emanated from the royal chambers the previous night. Morgan's loud voice had been heard throughout the palace, leaving the maids sleep-deprived.
"It's difficult for us," one of the maids mumbled. "There's only one man in the palace, and he's incredibly devoted to his wife."
Altria noticed the blush on the maid's face and grew curious. "Could it be..."
Before she could finish, the maids seemed to panic at the direction her thoughts were taking. They were wary of letting Altria guess too much about the private lives of the royal couple.
"Are they perhaps in the kitchen?" Altria speculated.
The maids exchanged glances and chuckled. It was clear that Altria, known for her noble demeanour and dedication to her duties, was not one to make such guesses correctly. The maids had seen many things, but Altria's complete focus on her responsibilities was almost amusing.
"You're not far off, but let's just say you're not exactly right," one of the maids said, her tone lighthearted.
Altria, deciding not to probe further, placed the documents down and quickly left for breakfast. The maids were left to deal with the aftermath of the royal couple's nocturnal activities.
Lott, feeling the toll of the previous night's activities, walked to the office hall with a weary gait. Morgan, unable to get out of bed, felt like she was walking on clouds. Her exhaustion was palpable.
"Did anyone come by just now?" Lott asked the maids.
"Knight Altria was here," the maids reported.
Lott sighed, recognizing the implications of his recent actions. "I see. I suppose I owe her an apology for her early morning visit."
He mused about the situation with a hint of amusement. If anyone was going to remain loyal in Camelot, it would certainly be Altria. He jested internally about the need to safeguard the palace's cook in the future.
Resolving to tackle the documents quickly, Lott processed them efficiently. He then informed the maids of his intent to rest, dragging his exhausted body back to his quarters. "Rest is essential," he told himself. "I can't let this become a regular occurrence."
The next day, Lott was in no better shape. He was still unable to get out of bed, much to Morgan's dismay.
"You're to blame for this," Morgan said, playfully but with a hint of frustration, as she lightly punched Lott's chest.
Lott could only smile in response, understanding her point. "I suppose I'm paying the price for a few nights of indulgence."
Morgan, determined to take over the political affairs, declared, "Starting tomorrow, I will handle the official documents. You need to rest."
Lott, with a mixture of reluctance and embarrassment, listened to Morgan's plans. "But, you know, I've been holding back for ten months. Surely, two nights can't be that bad?"
Morgan, unyielding, insisted, "Two nights are not worth the exhaustion I've endured. You need to stay in bed and recover."
When Lott expressed his surprise at Morgan's mention of finding another woman to keep him company, she firmly rebutted. "You're mine alone. I won't allow you to entertain other women. You need to rest and regain your strength."
Lott was bewildered by the implications of her words, unsure of how to respond.
Meanwhile, Morgan, now handling the official documents, was grappling with the challenges of governance. The noble class, seizing the opportunity during the royal couple's absence, had begun to exploit civilian resources and annexe lands.
"This cannot stand," Morgan fumed as she tossed the documents aside in frustration. "The nobles are becoming more corrupt by the day."
Her determination to address the issue was clear. She resolved to take action and restore order, ensuring that justice would be served and the integrity of their rule upheld.