Eri had been disconsolate, but Queen Eyren was much worse, she was indifferent. She looked at people without speaking to them if she could, she used the most basic courtesies to excuse herself and, of course, she did not participate in the meetings.
Runaesthera, princess of Artemia, had brought her family to Meyrin a couple of weeks ago at the request of King Bestolf, who intended to use Eri as part of his plan to disinherit his son, a spoiled brat named Bestenar; but of course Runa was very careful not to call him that, she considered the feelings of his mother, who had already lost her daughter and had enough with Eri reminding her of her for no one to vilify her son, no matter how much damage he had done. If only Frey wouldn't forget so often that the queen was in the room.
That day Runa had once again gone to the throne room to discuss alternatives to King Bestolf's succession plan. She found it abhorrent to participate in such a matter as a representative of another kingdom, but it was inevitable given the king's insistence on including Eri. Runa would have to be firm, she would not accept any agreement that would put her on the throne directly, such a deal would turn the people against her, it would be seen as a diplomatic invasion of Artemia, that was the kind of thing that started wars, she had learned that from her father, King Alistor of Artemia.
Luckily for everyone, Prince Bestenar's rebellion had fallen before it began, most of the people of Meyrin thought the same as the king, that the prince had abandoned them in their worst moment. Barely a handful of soldiers had joined him and one of them ended up betraying him, handing him over to the royal guard and he was now a prisoner... in his rooms in the castle.
However, it turned out that although support for the prince was scarce, discontent with the king's plans had joined the voices of those who thought Eri was dangerous, and called the royal family of Artemia "dragon sympathizers", it was incredible how a thousand years of joint struggle were forgotten for a prejudiced and unfounded fear. Eri had spent the days following her altercation with the prince wearing her emerald pendant day and night without anyone asking her to. Lady Meracina was mortified that she didn't want to take her flying lessons. Luckily the blood on her nails had been the result of clenching her own hands in anger. The dragoness's devotion to her mistress seemed to intensify as the days passed.
That day they were not going to get anywhere either, the king was stubborn, the queen did not say anything, although today at least she had attended, the counselors were learned and intelligent men, but also slaves to law and tradition.
"I fear, your majesties," said Rimpidon, the oldest counselor, "that we find ourselves in a no-win situation. Perhaps if the king were willing to appoint a seneschal from among the candidates for regent that he has already proposed..."
"No!" The king sounded even more energetic than the previous five times he had rejected that proposal. "I am willing to appoint a guardian if my heir is young, but a seneschal could secure his own dynasty, besides I still don't understand why..."
Runa stood up, her princess pose in all its splendor, "we will not allow you to name Eri your heir, King Bestolf, you have to accept it, she is not Erina, you cannot recover your daughter through mine." Frey stood up too, he didn't say anything, he was showing her that he supported her words, although he gave her a reproachful look.
The king seemed red as a pumpkin for a moment, after which he let out a long sigh. He looked down and his eyebrows fell heavy over his eyes that already showed the shadow of lack of rest.
"You are right, Princess Runaesthera, I guess I am not thinking straight." He approached his wife, who looked at him and took his hand, still with her distant expression, "maybe all this is my fault..."
"Your Majesty," said Frey, "I might have a proposal if you are willing to listen to me."
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Bestenar paced back and forth like a caged beast, locked in his room. His father had denied him even the dignity of a cell, he did not consider him dangerous, how could he? He had fallen like a fool into the trap of that soldier, he had thought he really wanted to help him, to join his cause. In the end he was a mere opportunist, that's why he shouldn't have counted on mere commoners. They knew as little about loyalty as they did about decorum.
His face still hurt where that... knight had hit him, a vulgar peasant who dared to use the title of prince, unthinkable, the Artemians must be crazy to allow such an atrocity, no, they definitely were, they had wasted a dynasty of elven blood no less out of sheer stubbornness and now they had a dragon in the line of succession, none other than the dragon that had devoured Erina.
Erina, she had been everything both their parents wanted in an heir, if things were like three hundred years ago, or as they still were in kingdoms like Atyr, he would have been heir from the beginning. But things were as they were, and Erina not only had the right by being older, she was so strong, so smart, so hatefully perfect. No, hating her was something he had never been able to achieve. He would have to hate her, he would have been glad when she died, instead he had spent almost a month locked up so no one would see him destroy his rooms. He was only eleven years old then. He was away from home, and although his cousins had treated him as befitted his status as crown prince, the only person who could have comforted him would have been Erina herself.
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There was a knock at the door, what a good joke, as if he would open the door himself any other day, now that he couldn't leave it was ridiculous.
"Guard, let in whoever it is." At least he still had that right.
The peasant Freydelhart entered accompanied by his father, fabulous, only the monster-girl was missing to make his day miserable.
"What do you want? Do you already have the date of my execution?"
"Shut up Bestenar," the useless fat man of his father was in a bad mood again, how bothersome to deal with him, "you haven't even done anything so bad for something like that, your weak attempt at rebellion doesn't even count. But don't tempt me, you have everyone against you right now."
As if anyone was ever on his side, no, never since Erina. "Well, speak already," he straightened his back, he was almost as tall as the peasant, he would not be intimidated.
"Prince Frey has proposed something to me that I don't think you're going to accept."
"Try me." He needed a chance for the old man to see that he was wrong about him, surely it would be another of his attempts at manipulation. But as always, he could subvert the manipulation.
"He says he can make you a better man," the old man had the guts to laugh as he told him that stupidity, "I told him that if he succeeds, I am willing to restore your right to the throne."
Of all the bad jokes the old man could have come up with, that was probably the worst, but it had opened the door for him, if he became king, maybe he could finally show that there was no one better than him. Only fools wasted opportunities. But he had to make sure he got the most out of any situation.
"I'm intrigued, what exactly is his plan?" He looked towards the wall, he shouldn't seem interested.
"You will do a year of pupilage in Artemia, you will receive counsel from King Alistor himself," now, that sounded interesting, "and you will join Prince Frey as his squire, I don't think he can make you a dragonslayer, but he can surely put some meat and humility in that skinny body of yours."
Squire to that peasant? Bestenar thought it was a very high price for the throne. Squires were essentially servants, but it could have been worse...
"Will I live according to my rank and category?" His father surely planned to make him live like the commoners, but he was not going to allow it, the only good thing the old man had given him was his ancestry and he would have to honor it. "Will I have the freedom to come and go as I please?"
"I told you, Prince Freydelhart," his father said to that savage who had punched him in the face, "he won't listen, his mind is set on silk sheets and expensive wines, he doesn't care about responsibility, he will never be worthy of a kingdom."
"Prince Bestenar, in Artemia you will have the comforts of your rank if you so require, but I fear that as my squire you will have to live where and how circumstances dictate. I am the high general of the kingdom, my duties take me where the weak need me. What I am offering you is not easy, hundreds of boys your age have applied for the position, and none of those I have accepted have made the grade. I am not offering to teach you only to fight with men or dragons, I am offering to teach you to lead. However, King Alistor will be the one to teach you to rule, and Countess Meracina has offered to add you to her lessons, she is the best teacher in Artemia."
They were offering too much, no matter how much they believed he wasn't interested, the truth was that he had always envied the treatment his father gave Erina, always surrounded by knights, governesses, scholars, she was the great project of the kingdom, and he had always been relegated to being a spare, studying on his own, with little success, and totally denied for combat. Still, he had to focus, get as much as possible, but for that he had to know...
"Very generous of you... prince." The title slipped off his tongue like a bitter taste, "I imagine you expect something in return."
The two men in front of him stepped aside to show that, indeed, he was on the worst day of his life, the dragon girl was in his room, she looked different, her face seemed dull, good.
"Whether you accept or not," said his father, more stern than furious, and he was always very furious, "you two have to talk, when you're done, tell her what you decided." The two prepared to leave, "I hope you behave yourself, son."
"Are you going to leave her alone with me?" What was he playing at? Was he testing him?
"Relax, she's not going to hurt you." His father gave him a mocking smile before leaving with the peasant and closing the door, the guards stayed outside.
Immediately they were both alone, face to face. The moment the door closed, the girl took off her necklace. In the act she revealed her evil nature, dragon horns and wings appeared confirming what he had always known, she was an evil creature.
"I'm a dragon," she said before he could open his mouth, "but I didn't eat anyone. I swear." Her eyes were moist even though she spoke stiffly, with her head held high, it reminded him of the lessons he took as a child about court etiquette.
"That's what you say, monster," he couldn't control himself, maybe by saying that, his chance of freedom, of recovering his rights had vanished, but seeing his sister's face in that monster made him want to strangle her, "but I know that's why you look like her. Dad says the Dragon King killed her, but surely your devilish father fed her to you afterwards."
"I can't eat people, and my dad says they found her, I know what it is to die, that people don't come back from that, but I didn't do that either. Anyway..."
The creature approached him and clung to his pants with that hand that no satin glove could make him think was tender, although... she had just done it.
"Please, forgive me," she said in a choked voice, she seemed about to burst into tears. If she did, the roof might fall in, "I don't want anyone to hate me, not even you."
"What's wrong with you, kid? Are you stupid? If you say you didn't do anything you shouldn't have to apologize, you should be demanding that I apologize." They had told him they were educating her to be a princess, what was she doing apologizing?
"It's just that I don't like you, not one bit." What the hell was she talking about? "You're mean to everyone, and you're ugly, I'm never going to marry you. But I still don't want you to hate me."
"You were listening that day, no girl, I don't have that intention either, I don't like you either, you're annoying and manipulative, besides being a monster, what I said was a lie." In the end, monster and all, she was six years old.
"Dad wants you to live with us, he's great, he wants to teach you to be great, but if you hate me you can't live in Grandpa's house."
So that was what was going on, he had to convince the monster to get closer to his goals. He could never do it sincerely, but for now, he would hold on until he had the chance.
"All right, girl, if you want it that bad, I forgive you."
The little creature hugged his leg. Maybe having her close was a good idea. Someday, she might be useful.