If our engagement banquet was a grand event, then our wedding reception was a monumental celebration, the likes of which I never could have imagined. The celebration centered around the same banquet hall, however the First Prince had opened the entire wing and garden for the revelers to enjoy.
In the banquet hall where we were seated, countless servants, dressed in finery that rivaled that of the guests', wandered the crowd with trays of champagne and spirits, deftly navigating the densely packed space with ease. The buffet stretched along an entire wall, offering dozens of dishes, from appetizers to entrées, constantly being replaced and changed as the night progressed.
The room was decorated with white flower arrangements so elaborate and artful that it was hard to believe they were real. Jewels, art, and centerpieces were scattered in strategic locations, each worth a small fortune on its own and nothing more than an ostentatious display of wealth. Yet somehow, despite the overwhelming lavishness of the scene, it was undeniably beautiful.
Our table was at the center of the banquet hall, on a platform overlooking the dance floor. In an undoubtedly controversial decision, Rastari and Uncle Alek were invited to join us at the table, receiving the same treatment as the ducal house representatives. I was seated between the First Prince and Andrian, and I was grateful to see that my family was on the other side of the Second Prince, where I wouldn’t have to interact with them.
The seating arrangement was clearly planned to isolate the western and southern duchies at one end of the table where they would cause the least problems. The eastern duchy was paired with the beastmen, and the northern duchy was the barrier between the two groups, seated across from myself and the two Princes.
The scenery was majestic, the food was delicious, and the company was pleasant. However, I couldn’t relax and enjoy the moment because I was too anxious about what was to come. The Second Prince was behaving far too well. I wondered if our plan had failed. Perhaps the information hadn’t reached him, or perhaps we had misjudged how he would use it. But if the plan had worked, when was he going to strike?
“His Majesty, the Divine King chosen by the Gods, King Everys de Vray has arrived!” a voice called out over the crowd, silencing the music and chatter instantly.
A quick glance at the Second Prince told me that this was the moment he’d been waiting for. His bland face was brightened with the smile of a man who believed victory was at hand. Perhaps it was. The weight that had been placed on my shoulders suddenly felt exponentially heavier.
The King raised his hand to greet the crowd before his voice sounded, echoing through the banquet hall, “Greeting Lords, Ladies, Royal kin, and Royal guests. It is my honor to be here to witness the first dance between the freshly married couple. I trust you have all had time to enjoy the buffet, so let’s get on with the dancing.”
He definitely did not sound honored to be there. My impression was that he would rather be anywhere else, but he maintained the minimum level of decorum by coming to witness the first dance. Traditionally, the King would have attended the wedding as well as the celebration, but either due to apathy or prejudice, this would be his one and only appearance tonight. I understood why the Second Prince had been so quiet up until now. This was indeed the best possible moment for him to strike.
In accordance with the King’s demands, Andrian and I rose from our seats and proceeded down to the dance floor. Neither of us had practiced for this moment, but the First Prince assured us that the orchestra would play a simple waltz, similar to the one we had danced at our engagement banquet.
We stepped out onto the empty floor and took our positions. We had agreed that I would lead, as I knew the dance best, but we each wrapped an arm around the other’s waist, neither of us taking the position for the ladies’ part. Even if it was supposed to be a performance for the nobles, this moment was for us and we would dance however we pleased.
The music began and I forced myself to forget about the King, the Second Prince lying in wait, and the nobles who would look down on us for being who we were and loving each other. I didn’t care about my father, the treaty, or anything else; nothing mattered in that moment except the man in my arms and sharing this one dance before the inevitable disaster that was to come.
We didn’t stumble or step on each other’s feet like before, not that it would have mattered if we had. We moved to the music with the grace of two people who knew each other's bodies as well as we knew our own. From the first note until the last, we moved in perfect sync, ignoring the crowd, our eyes only for each other.
The orchestra finished playing and our dance was done. This would normally have been the moment for the crowd to cheer the bride and groom, but we weren’t a bride and groom, and everyone in the room was waiting for the King to begin the applause.
Silence reigned for a moment before a slow clapping sound could be heard. However, it was not coming from the King.
“Very nice,” the Second Prince said as he continued his mocking claps, “You’re very convincing, both of you. Marquis Julien, you quite enjoy flaunting your loose morals in front of your father and the King, don’t you?”
The King’s voice was full of rage as he burst out, “Eduard, you will be silent. Now. I have made my stance on this very clear. The Beastlands issue is entirely under Elantro’s authority, and he has chosen a treaty and peace.”
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“Your Majesty, father of mine, please listen,” the Second Prince entreated the King, “As both a Prince of this nation and your son, it is my duty to inform you that this marriage is a sham, one that the beastmen and the Marquis are using to cover up their grievous misdeeds.”
“You have my attention, don’t waste it,” the King informed him with absolutely no warmth in his voice for his son.
“One of my most trusted servants overheard two of the beastmen talking. These two men did not fall in love at first sight. In fact, they have known each other for a very long time and have been deceiving all of us,” the Second Prince explained, “Julien de Ramport was raised by his mother in the east and has been fraternizing with that creature since his youth.”
“I fail to see your point,” the King told him flatly. “Their relationship is offensive to the eye, yes, but I care not how long it has been going on for. Marquis, the penalty for entering the Beastlands is a fine of one thousand Vrays to be paid to the Royal authorities within one moon cycle. Ten years of interest will be added to that sum. Now that we have that settled, I shall retire.”
“Your Majesty, please wait. There’s more than just that. Julien de Ramport knowingly broke the law and crossed the borderland to seek out the beastmen. No one knows what he did there or why, but the result of his actions was the start of the war,” the Second Prince announced triumphantly, sounding far too pleased with himself.
With that, he had the King’s attention. He had my father's attention as well.
“Simona of Rovette, the first victim of the beastmen’s brutality, was Julien’s own mother and she was betrayed by her own son! Julien de Ramport was working with the beastmen all along!” the Second Prince shouted his accusation, pointing at me with a dramatic gesture. “At the very least, he led them to his own mother’s doorstep! And now, he is using this marriage treaty as a way to escape justice and permanently cover his tracks. Why else would he so conveniently volunteer to take his sister’s place? Father, Your Majesty, my King, I implore you to stop this madness.”
Behind the Second Prince, I saw my father watching him with what most people would consider a very calm countenance. However, I recognized the look in my father’s eyes. He was masking it perfectly, but he was furious, and all of that rage was directed at the Second Prince. The last thing my father would want was people questioning the circumstances of my mother's death.
“Elantro,” the King said in a displeased tone, “I want an explanation.”
The First Prince smiled and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. I would be happy to give you one. But first, brother of mine, I owe you an apology.”
“You certainly do!” the Second Prince demanded, “I tried to warn you over and over that a treaty with the Beastlands wa–”
“No, Brother,” the First Prince interrupted, his smile widening, “that is not why I wish to apologize. First, I wish to apologize for suspecting that you were involved with something that I now see you were not. My second apology is for deceiving you to serve my own purposes. However, my deception may have cleared your name when you did not even know it needed clearing.”
The Second Prince looked utterly perplexed by the First Prince’s apologies, as did the King. However, I was still uncertain whether the Second Prince’s name had really been cleared. Just because he raised questions that my father didn’t want asked didn’t mean he wasn’t involved.
“Duke of Ramport!” the First Prince addressed my father with fire in his golden eyes. “I accuse you of conspiring to start a war!”
“What nonsense is this?” the King demanded as my father jumped to his feet, feigning indignance. But I could see it. Behind that act was something I’d never thought I’d see. My father was afraid.
“Father, I know that the Duke has been loyal to the Royal family, but what he has done goes beyond the protection that loyalty can offer,” the First Prince explained calmly, “The Duke’s own men were the ones who murdered Simona of Rovette and I have a witness who can prove it.”
“Continue.”
The King only said that one word, but it was all the First Prince needed.
“The information regarding Julien de Ramport and the Generals prior relationship was released with my knowledge and on my orders,” the First Prince admitted as he turned to his brother, “Eduard, I truly am sorry for that. That conversation was orchestrated for this very moment to occur. I promise I will explain myself to you later, assuming you are not further implicated.”
The Second Prince’s expressionless face seemed to be making up for lost time as a fleet of emotions crossed it. However, the two emotions that stood out to me were betrayal and confusion. In that moment, I accepted that whatever else he might have done, and however horrible he might be, the Second Prince wasn’t privy to my father's plan.
“As my brother has already told you,” the First Prince continued, “Julien de Ramport is the son of Simona of Rovette. Simona did not die at the hands of beastmen, she died at the hands of the Knights of Ramport. We have been fighting a war for naught.”
“How dare you?!” my father shouted, “These are baseless accusations! You have no proof that my knights did any such thing!”
“Physical proof, no,” the First Prince admitted, “but I do have a witness. Julien de Ramport was present for his mother’s death and can attest to what happened that night.”
My father choked out a harsh laugh, “Your Highness, my son is a mute. He cannot attest to anything. When my knights found him, his mother was already gone. Although I would not be surprised at all if he conspired with the beastmen to kill that poor woman. I have politely claimed that we kept him hidden away due to illness, but it was an illness of the mind that we were dealing with. The boy is deeply disturbed.”
“Julien de Ramport is not disturbed, nor is he a mute,” the First Prince informed both my father and the King.
My father froze at that statement. The King merely raised an eyebrow and looked at me appraisingly.
There was a tremor in my limbs as I stepped forward.
I bowed to the King before raising my head and clearly stating, “Your Majesty, if it pleases you, I would like to share with you my story.”