Chapter 11. Why didn't she show up?
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"Your Majesty, what are you looking at that you don't realize I've entered?"
The sudden voice behind him made Kalos slowly tear his gaze away from the window.
Dalton stood before him. He heard no sound of when he entered. His eyes widened slowly.
"Is there anything about today's meeting that concerns you?"
Dutifully, Dalton scrutinized the king's complexion.
"No."
Judging by the nonchalance in his voice, he looked fine, but he'd been so focused on something a moment ago that he hadn't noticed he'd entered.
He was standing by the window for some reason.
Dalton didn't recognize him for more than a moment, but it was strange to see him standing there for so long. It was uncharacteristic of him, and it made him worry. It was his job to know all of his lord’s worries, even the ones that didn’t seem to be bothering him.
"I can't help but be concerned that you're staring so intently out the window when there's nothing to see."
Dalton could read nothing in the king's face.
"Indeed. There was indeed nothing to see."
The unchanging, nonchalant tone of the king's voice told Dalton that it really was nothing, but his gaze remained fixed on the king.
Kalos turned and moved with his usual heavy steps toward his desk.
"I'm just tired from lack of sleep. Don't worry."
Dalton, now completely convinced, looked away and placed the list of tribute requests for each kingdom on the desk.
The king's eyes were as sharp as ever as he picked it up and studied it, and the two began to go over it carefully.
***
Prince Roman had returned after a long absence, and was on his way to find Rute. His normally gentle eyes turned cold as he spotted an unwelcome figure walking down the hall.
Corneline Havilt.
The coldness clashed silently as their gazes met, but outwardly it was polite and natural.
Roman nodded lightly at the young lady's polite greeting, then brushed past her.
The servants and maids who followed them also walked in silence. Their footsteps echoed dizzily along the long hallway as they moved away from each other.
Roman kept a stoic expression on his face, but inwardly he was furious. How could the honor of House Harbilt be bestowed upon Kalos?
'I can't help that foolish, brash boy. He'll have to get his ass kicked to wake him up.’
The Duke of Havilt shook his head in disgust, as if to say that he's a handout, but Kalos didn’t know it.
'Forget about that unworthy child, and think only of the next king.’
He didn’t know if it was the young lady or the Duke who was really thinking about power, but he pretended not to notice. He still desperately needed the Duke of Havilt's support.
After his mother's untimely death, his foundation rested with the Duke of Havilt. It was deplorable that he had to lean on him, but it was necessary for the greater good.
Days like today reminded him of his mother, who had died in a freak accident, buried in the snow, and he felt more regret than nostalgia. She was the strongest force supporting him. Still, you never know what will happen to people.
You become who you are meant to be.
As he continued on his way, Roman's face continued to look grim.
***
"I can't tell you how good it is to see you face to face."
Kalos knew that's how the empress dowager spinned the request that he should come more often.
"I'll try to do better."
Of course, he just said that to please her.
"You should try to be closer to Corneline, too. It's about time."
The empress dowager knew that Kalos didn’t visit often because he didn’t want to see Corneline, but she kept pushing him to marry her, and she still said the same thing every time they met.
"Empress Dowager is truly consistent."
Kalos never called her grandmother. He made it clear to her that he didn't want to call her that. It was his way of punishing her for disrespecting his dead mother.
Even now, he understood. That the Empress Dowager was unwilling to have a young lady from a poor family as Empress. The former king fell in love with a woman of a poor family, not the already appointed lady Isabella, and gave birth to Kalos. She died shortly thereafter.
“It sounds like you’re reprimanding me.”
"Is that how you heard it, Your Grace, I was only stating the facts."
There was an invisible edge to the polite voices they exchanged.
The Empress dowager felt that things would only be right when Isabella was Queen again. Little did she know that she had tried to kill him.
"I understand what you mean and I will make sure that none of this worries you."
He understood, but he was saying that he, the king, would make the decision. No matter how politely he spoke, the hidden meaning of his words irritated the grandmother. With every word he spoke, she felt him rising against her. But she never let it show. Just like now. Her expression gave nothing away.
Kalos thought the Empress Dowager was truly remarkable. To be so tireless at her age, with all this strong will going on all the time.
He bowed sharply and turned to leave.
Just then the door opened and Corneline entered with graceful steps.
"Your Majesty."
Her voice was languid, and a smile spread across her face as usual. It only made Corneline, who blushed like that at the mere sight of Kalos, look pretty in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
Corneline gripped the hem of her dress as gracefully as she could and bowed her head. The greeting was flawless and perfect, and Corneline’s breath caught slightly in anticipation. But disappointment washed over her immediately.
Kalos walked right past her.
Not even a glance. She'd put so much effort into her appearance, and the king hadn't even glanced at her. Nonchalantly. Stroking her pride.
Still, she managed to keep the smile on her face, conscious of Her Majesty's gaze. It was the result of constant training.
‘How like the first time the former King and Queen Isabella met.’
Corneline’s smile continued to grow as she watched the closed door, the Empress Dowager trying to comfort her. She had heard the Empress Dowager say many times that the two of them had been awkward at first, and that the former King had been reluctant.
If it takes time, I'm confident. Patience is a virtue that is not lost on anyone.
Corneline approached Her Highness, expecting, as always, the following.
***
This was Trisha’s favorite time of day, sitting quietly in front of the fireplace in the evening, staring into the flames without a thought. It wasn't peaceful, but at least it wasn't sad or distressing.
Come to think of it, she hadn't seen the Wolf King in days. If only they didn't keep seeing each other like this.
Tanya was already stirring. Trisha felt like she needed to stay up a little longer before she could fall asleep, that tired-but-not-sleep state.
Maybe she could feel Aaron's energy tonight.
Her eyes drifted away from the flames to Tanya's cloak on the far wall.
Her own red cloak was too conspicuous, so she would borrow Tanya's and slip out at Aaron's signal. He waited for her every day, so she could run out at any time.
Turning her gaze back to the fireplace, her eyes filled with orange flames, the color of her hair.
Time began to flow languidly around her.
***
Kalos loved the silence. The smell of old paper floating in the air in the silent study relaxed him. It reminded him of his esteemed father.
That's why he often came to the study. He liked this feeling.
The other day he was interrupted, but today he was content.
Rising from his seat a little earlier than usual, Kalos headed out the door, intending to go to the stables. But then he realized something.
As he quickly descended the long flight of stairs, he suddenly heard a different sound.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
It was the unmistakable sound of running feet. Moreover, it was a woman's footsteps.
Hmph.
He wondered why she hadn't shown up. He hadn’t seen her in a few days, so it's about time.
She was running so fast.
"I'm sorry, but I was here before you yesterday and today.”
‘What is she going to say this time?’
A vague sense of satisfaction washed over him as he heard the footsteps running faster and faster.
Kalos stood still in place, squinting in the direction of the sound.
***
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