@Draconian ------------------
"I've made my decision."
"But your majesty-" Zannrick began, such defense in his tone towards the man like none he'd ever shown before. "I do not think it's wise to marry so little below your station- just for.. for appearance. Just to.. to
appease."The Grand Duke had been sitting at his desk, a small pair of spectacles resting at the bridge of his nose. He complained of head aches as he reach at such an hour, and eventually caved to the idea of using a pair of glasses. He turned towards Zannrick. He knew the man over half his life, and trusted his own life within the man's hand. He had been raised practically from birth, shaped into the perfect body guard for Allerian nobility- and the perfect, lethal weapon for a king. He always held Zannrick's words with the greatest regard, the highest esteem- and he knew the man far deeper than he ought...
So he knew this was a long time coming. When he made the mistake over a year ago and bed the mysterious woman after the storm....
It was just that, or so he thought- a moment of passion after a storm. But it had become so much more complicated, especially after the passing of his wife...
Perhaps it had been the right moment? Perhaps fate was just meant to be... but it couldn't be denied between the pair that Hope was already his son, and the child- though young as he was, was already a growing figure among the population as a sign of Hope-...
Of Peace. For that fateful day in the church when the child had come... He hadn't realized such consequences could rise.
Calent shook his head and sighed, tired. The flickering candle light illuminated the scars and creases from his growing age- even more evident at his recent shaving, his beard now cut short and sharp.
"Times are changing, Zannrick," his voice pressed, authority behind it- but he still felt Zannrick's resolve. The other man growled.
"If anything, a show of good will towards your enemy would mean to marry
his mage of a sister, unify the two warring houses- where at least the child would be of pure noble blood! This- this proposal.. to play off of the people's emotions because of some
child-"Calent stood up suddenly, and Zannrick had his mouth open to speak, but closed his mouth, baring teeth.
"We've discussed this, Zannrick," his green eyes were sharp as the men's gazes bore into one another like two heated knives. The sensation evoked from the pair of them was palpable in the air. "And I have thought of this a great deal. With the dying funds... the will of the church... and the rise for answers..."
"Think, my lord. Think before you make such a heinous mistake! Do you dare make yourself so weak as to bow not only below your station, but to your rank superior throughout the land?"
Calent cut him a look, but said nothing, turning from him as he paced over by a nearby wall, a colored tapestry bedecking it with armored men riding atop white horses- a famous march into battle.
"I've made my decision," came his firm reply, back to Zannrick, eyes hard upon the wall.
"Then you have doomed your reign, Grand Duke," the white haired man replied, words chilling, promising of a poisoned fate to come.
Calent closed his eyes, sighing.
"My stance has no waned over my thoughts on the laws, Zannrick.." he said finally, turning to finally look at the other man again, whose face was now red. Zannrick was beyond livid, but he held himself straight and at attention- the perfect soldier.
The perfect mold. He knew despite his displeasure, this man would protect him and his legacy at all costs...
Even if it went against all he stood for. That much he knew- and would never question it...
Especially not after... the night with Medina...
And when he watched her.. helped her...
and the woman lost her child.
"The announcement will be made on Sunday. We're penning a letter to Serendipity-"
"Serendipity!?" Zannrick's voice grew with alarm. Calent seemed unphased.
"There will be peace talks. And I will bring my new adopted child and bride. There, in unbiased lands, I will speak with Duke Harmond directly and we will go over with the queen our plans to unify the country once more."
Zannrick's eyes were positively flaring now- and if that blue color could cut- the world would have burned.
After a time, he finally found the words.
"Peace talks."
"Yes."
"With... The Queen."
"Yes."
"In Serendipity."
"And you will go, as you always have, at my side, as you always will be."
Zannrick tensed, nearly turning away from such a sentiment and swallowed down so much hate, so much venom that he could have breathed
steam.After a long moment of silence, with no motion except from the flickering candles and torch lights... he finally said, "Very well. Let me know when you wish to prepare."
The man remained at attention, eyes boring into Calent but aside from rage- the other seemed almost.. unreadable. After a time of studying him, he gave a slow nod.
"You may retire for the night. I will call for you again in the morning. You are dismissed for the rest of the day to break."
"Yes, your highness."
Zannrick couldn't even remember how he had gotten out of the room, or when he had entered down the stairwell, or how he had gotten to the top- to a lonely spot far, far away from the hustle and bustle within the palace....
And with a shout, he began to slam his armored fist into the wall over and over and over again, until finally he dropped to the floor in a heap, crying out in pure rage as he held onto his bleeding and broken hand.
What the fuck had become of his world? What had the Grand Duke just done?
