Between the Lines
A/N: What this is, basically, is a series of drabbles and one shots that will expand a bit on some of the things I mention in my long series. I will name where each drabble/one shot takes place in accordance to my Time Line, as well as the characters in them.
Story One: False Reassurance
Time Line: Right after One Eyed Jack ends. (Bit of Movie mentioned)
Character(s): Ilosovic Stayne & Iracebeth
Iracebeth was fuming. She had just heard the most vicious rumor from her courtier, Lady Big Ears. How dare Stayne have the temerity to throw himself at Um? How dare he try to seduce another woman? He would pay for his indiscretion, she vowed.
Ilosovic came into the throne room, giving her a small, insolent smile. "You called, Majesty?"
Iracebeth smiled, and Ilosovic felt his stomach shrivel up. When the Queen smiled, that meant trouble, and when she spoke in her calm voice, Ilosovic paled. "Stayne, I have heard a rumor from someone that you and Um were caught in the main corridor in, shall we say, a….compromising position. I want an explanation, now!" She barked the last line, and Ilosovic gulped, and then fell prone on the steps before the throne.
"Um forced herself on me. I told her, my heart belongs to you, but she is….obsessed with me." He mentally cursed himself for the lies he had just told, and bit his lip to keep from protesting when Iracebeth solved the problem in her usual way.
"OFF WITH HER HEAD!"
Ilosovic sighed and stood, knowing that she would want him to arrest Um himself. He was about to leave the Throne Room when Iracebeth called him back. "Yes, Majesty?"
Iracebeth was still smiling. "Stayne, do you remember the Masquerade?"
Ilosovic felt an alarm go off in his head. He shrugged. "You had so many before the King died; I cannot be expected to keep track of all of them."
"This was the last one. You remember, Lady Sullivan performed."
Ilosovic felt his mouth go dry. "I….suppose I remember her. Why do you ask?"
Iracebeth gave him a coy smile, and he had to fight back a wave of nausea. "Well, you did seem rather….drawn to her. But that's not true, right? I'm the only one you love, right?" She fluttered her lashes at him, and he winced, and then turned on the charm that never failed on her.
"Majesty, you are the only woman for me. No other will ever take your place, I promise. Do not listen to the vicious gossips of the Court. They are merely jealous fools who do not realize what a wonderful Queen you are. I will admit that I did find Lady Sullivan's voice most pleasant, but that is all."
Iracebeth was still skeptical. "You did seem a bit lost in thought after she left."
Ilosovic kissed her hand. "Majesty that was merely the effects of a very long day. I had been up since daybreak, after all."
Iracebeth smiled at him, coddled, and Ilosovic found himself marveling once more at her gullibility. "My mind is at ease, Stayne. You may go."
He bowed and left the Throne Room, feeling as always that he had dodged an axe blade.
'Still, a false reassurance is better than having none at all to give her.'
He just prayed that she would never be able to figure out the depths of his fascination with Lady Sullivan.