THE SILVER LINING
Chapter 2:
Forbidden Fruit
The news of young Prince Adrien's rescue did not go unheard of throughout the kingdom.
While it is sad to say this, it is nevertheless prudent to say that Reginald's seemingly-selfless act laid the groundwork for Agreste's imminent downfall.
And its queen – determined to seek out the silver-masked rider who had saved her son – unwittingly led the wolf into her den...
He was sitting at his desk, looking through a notice about the inspection of the local flour mill, when someone came rushing breathlessly into his study.
Reginald didn't need look up from his papers to know who had entered. Of all the servants at his small estate, only one of them ever approached him directly.
"Yes, Nooroo?" he asked, his tone implying how much he was hoping for good news.
"My... My master..." his personal manservant huffed. "We... We have a visitor!"
This gave Reginald cause to look up.
Nooroo was a thin boy of a man – clean-shaven and gangly with a rounded head. His short tufts of hair were bright lavender, as were his glowing, bulbous eyes. Such colourful characteristics were common from those of Chengise descent. Nooroo's parents had originated from the lonely islands that had once been its own empire before it merged with the kingdom of Dupain many years ago.
Reginald peered inquisitively at his manservant, searching for answers. "I don't recall sending out any invites, nor was I aware of any messages about an upcoming guest. Who is it?"
Nooroo almost keeled over with excitement as he responded, "The queen, my master!"
Now the silver-masked lord was standing, the parchments on his desk forgotten. Reginald's eyes widened with intrigue. "The queen?" He tried to sound surprised. "The Queen of Agreste has come to my house? Whatever for?"
"You don't know, my lord?" Nooroo drew closer and explained, "The little boy on the horse you rescued last week? He was the queen's son!"
Reginald tried not to sneer, and instead offered Nooroo a look of perplexed delight.
"And now Her Majesty and the prince have requested an audience with you!" the purple-eyed manservant practically squealed.
It was almost too good to be true. Then again, Reginald had made it easy for the queen to track him down. For one thing, not every nobleman in the kingdom wore a silver mask day and night.
Reginald pointed sharply to the door of the study. "Well, what are you waiting for, Nooroo? Go down and greet Their Highnesses and tell them I will be down in a moment."
"Yes, my master, right away!" Nooroo bowed hastily and sprang towards the door, his cape of deep-purple velvet blowing behind him like the wings of a butterfly.
Once the bumbling fool was gone, Reginald finally let his smugness shine on his face. He picked up his jewelled cane and strode out of the room.
As he made his way down the hall towards his bedchamber, some of the candelabras lining the walls burned brighter, the flames stretching high with exhilaration.
Reginald frowned and clenched his fingers, and the candle lights returned to their normal size.
I'll have to be more careful with that from now on, he thought as he brushed a gentle hand over his naval, where a beautiful, amethyst brooch sat. Can't ruin the surprise just yet, now can we?
The moment Reginald stepped out into the main hall in his grey and purple uniform, several pairs of eyes fell upon him.
The most important of which were the eyes of the queen and her little boy, both an astonishingly-clear green.
Hmm... The boy looks more like the mother than the father, Reginald thought as he approached the royal entourage with the appropriate posture of a lord. All the better. The last thing I need is another Gabriel.
Prince Adrien was now wearing a dashing green uniform with accents of gold. His glistening mop of golden hair had been combed cleanly to the side – a far more appealing sight than it had been when Adrien had been riding that horse. All together, the little prince reminded Reginald of a toy soldier. It was exceedingly – and disgustingly – adorable.
The queen, on the other hand...
One look at her, and Reginald finally understood why the common-folk referred to her as the "fairest one of all".
Hair of sunshine that was partially done up in a braided crown while the rest fell about her shoulders. An elegant face that gleamed like a pearl. A gown of sparkling fuchsia that swished around the queen when she turned to face the handsome lord in front of her. Bright pink lips that were so thin, yet they rose up into a lovely bow of a smile.
At last, after ten years of plotting and warring and deceiving, Lord Reginald had finally come face-to-face with the daughter of King Leopold.
The prize of Gabriel's betrayal; the source of Reginald's shattered heart.
"Is this him?" the queen asked her son, though she never took her eyes off of Reginald.
Adrien nodded. "Yes, Mother – this is the rider who saved me! He even has the mask and everything!"
"Your Highness, manners," a tall, dark-haired crane of a woman murmured to the prince.
"Sorry, Nat." Adrien bowed to Reginald and said, "Reginald, I'd like you to meet my mother, Queen Vivienne."
The nobleman offered a deep smile and bowed low at the waist.
Until Her Majesty raised a delicate hand and said, "Please, don't. It is I who should bow to you."
Reginald slowly straightened, forcing his face to soften with astonishment.
And inside, he fought the urge to vomit.
He wanted so much to take that pretty little hand of hers, pull her forward, and drive his own hand through her heart so he could crush it to dust, just like he did her husband. He wanted so much to force Gabriel's son to watch it all while begging like an infant.
Sadly, he could not twist a finger on the queen, or lay even a scratch on the prince. This was Reginald's curse, and now he had to play a different game in order to quench his thirst for revenge. Step by step, he reminded himself, like pieces on a chessboard.
Vivienne's eyes sparkled at him with gratitude. "You saved my dear son from that terrifying accident," she said, "and now I owe you a debt that I can never repay. It is... truly an honour to meet you, Lord Reginald." And with that, she sank into a deep curtsy.
Adrien, the woman he called "Nat", and the rest of the queen's companions followed suit.
Reginald played the part of the grateful, flabbergasted host very carefully. "I... Thank you, Your Majesty. And... Well, I must protest that the honour is mine." He dipped his head again, smiling at Adrien. "I just... Had I only known that it was our very own prince, I..." He cleared his throat and pretended to rethink his next words. "Forgive me. I'm just grateful that he is all right."
"As am I," the queen said, stroking her son's head. "But nevertheless, such a heroic deed must not go unrewarded. Tell me: what gift might a nobleman of your stature ask of your queen?"
Reginald immediately shook his head. "You are most courteous, Your Majesty, but... any amount of gold you could possibly give me would be a waste."
"Oh?" Vivienne raised a sharp eyebrow, and then smiled. "Then perhaps something more rewarding than gold. Adrien tells me you have much wisdom and kindness, and such virtues are never a waste in my court. Lord Reginald, how would you like to have a seat on my Royal Council?"
Now he was getting somewhere. "Your... Your Majesty, I..."
"Please say yes!" Adrien urged, those wide green eyes of his enlarging further. "You'll love the castle! And you can teach me how to ride better! Please say that you'll come!"
The crane-woman behind him rolled her eyes to the ceiling with a giddy sigh.
"He's right, you know," Vivienne said, giving Reginald an inviting look. "You would be one of my closest advisors, and your influence over this part of the kingdom will contribute greatly to our council. It's your decision, of course, but I must insist that you come with us." She placed a hand on her son's shoulder. "Adrien seems very fond of you, and it would be a shame to not have someone he can look up to while he is still so young."
Once again, the prince nodded eagerly, his little mouth bearing his teeth – some of which were missing – in a joyous, pleading grin.
A seat on the council, and a chance to get close to Gabriel's son and heir? Reginald almost laughed. This is too perfect.
And with those thoughts in mind, the silver-faced nobleman scooped up Queen Vivienne's hand and kissed it gently. "In that case, Your Majesty, I happily accept your offer."
The beaming smile on the queen's face, along with the delightful cheers of her little boy, only made that dark hole in Reginald's chest purr with sadistic pleasure.
Summer wilted into autumn.
There was not one moment in that time period when Adrien didn't enjoy Reginald's company.
Aside from the prince's private lessons and his hours spent playing with his best friend and constant companion Nino, Adrien would often wonder around the castle looking for Reginald.
If he wasn't at a council meeting or off dealing with internal crises in the kingdom, the nobleman would take a momentary reprieve from his duties just to spend quality time with the little prince.
Reginald would fascinate Adrien with stories of all things magical and mysterious, and the boy would listen each time with quiet, curious intent.
He taught Adrien how to properly ready and mount his horse. If the weather was nice, they would take a short trip on horseback to visit the neighbouring villages.
At one time, Reginald suggested to Queen Vivienne that her son start learning fencing and swordplay as early as possible. It took some time for her to come around, but eventually she conceded that it was the best thing for her son and heir. So Adrien finally began his training, but he decided to use a quarterstaff just to keep his mother from worrying too much.
Suffice it to say, Adrien grew fonder of Reginald with every passing day.
And the happier the little prince was, the more the queen noticed.
It wasn't long before she realized that this Lord Reginald – this mysterious, masked man – was becoming something like a father to Adrien. The boy consistently looked to him for guidance and support, and was never afraid to speak anything on his mind. During one conversation, Vivienne overheard the two of them laughing, and the very sound of it made her heart flutter so strangely.
She hadn't felt like that since... well, since her dear husband had been killed by that wicked sorcerer, Lord Hawkmoth. Vivienne remembered how dreadful she had been over a year ago, when the royal messenger delivered the news that had broken her heart.
No one knew what had happened to the evil wizard after he had slain Gabriel during that fateful battle on Storm's Hill. But Vivienne knew from experience that when it came to Hawkmoth, there was no telling what had happened. Ever since Adrien had been born, Hawkmoth made it his life's work to eliminate the royal family of Agreste if it was the last thing he ever did. Despite the other nobles confirming that the sorcerer was long gone, Vivienne could not shake the feeling that someone as determined and unwavering as Hawkmoth would flee like a coward so easily.
Since then, all the queen ever wanted was for Adrien to be safe and happy.
And now, just when she thought she would sink into the abyss of her lonely sorrow, Vivienne felt warm and whole again.
Maybe... Maybe Adrien wasn't the only person Reginald had rescued.
The queen finally decided to come clean about her feelings one blissfully-calm afternoon, when the weather was just teetering on the edge of cold.
Vivienne took Reginald's arm and led him into her favourite part of the castle courtyard: the apple orchard. At this time of year, the leaves that hadn't fallen danced and shimmered like ruby and copper in the wind. Fat apples dragged the half-naked branches downward until they nearly touched the ground.
As they approached the central tree of the orchard, Vivienne broke the casual conversation with a heartfelt decree: "My Adrien thinks the world of you, Reginald. And so do I."
She couldn't tell if he was blushing because of that mask, but her companion looked away bashfully. "Your Majesty is too kind," Reginald said.
"Please, I insist that you address me as "Vivienne"." The queen grasped his hand tightly and turned to face him. The wind tugged at her hair and blew it about in her eyes, but it didn't bother her one bit. "You are my friend as well as my wisest counsellor... but I must ask you this," Vivienne said earnestly. "What do you think of my son? And please, be just as open with me as you are with him."
Reginald blinked a few times before he glanced away, deep in thought. For a moment, it looked like he was struggling with his words. Is he being shy? The idea almost made Vivienne smile.
Then the look vanished, and the silver-faced nobleman replied, "The prince... Adrien is a remarkable boy. I see so much of your traits in him: compassionate, daring, and willing to do what is necessary for the good of others." Reginald kissed the queen's hand, making her face warm from the rush flowing through her. "I am truly grateful that you both consider me a friend."
Vivienne was blushing entirely now. It was so bizarre, looking into this man's eyes and seeing paradise within those crystalline orbs of blue. But the queen welcomed it all the same.
"Then perhaps... if it's not too bold to say..." Vivienne stammered in a faint voice, "... you could be more than just a friend."
Now Reginald was looking at her as though he was watching the sunrise.
So the queen continued, "My darling boy has many things in his life, except for the one thing he desperately needs: a father. Since I lost Gabriel, I knew it would be hard for Adrien to grow up without someone other than me who could..." She paused to take a deep breath and stared deeply into Reginald's mesmerizing gaze. "... who could love and care for him just as much as I do. Over the past year, I had yet to find a husband with an interest in my son." Vivienne smiled. "Until now."
"My queen..." Reginald began as though he was in shock. His mouth hung open a bit, but no more words came out.
Vivienne stepped closer to him, so that the only thing separating them was their conjoined hands. "Reginald, I know this... is quite uncustomary, but I..." Her heart beat so fast in her throat that she could barely speak. "My only wish is that you... that we... Oh, goodness me!" She huffed an laugh and looked away sheepishly. "I'm completely out of character!"
Reginald laughed with her. "Nonsense," he said, giving her an enticing eyebrow. "But perhaps I can help ease your troubled heart."
And with that, the nobleman knelt on one knee, and Vivienne felt that miraculous fluttering inside her chest once again. Surely this is some kind of magic, she wondered hazily.
"Vivienne, my dearest queen," Reginald said softly yet deeply, "these past few months with you and Adrien have been such a gift. And nothing would please me more than to see that wonderful boy getting exactly what he deserves. What you both deserve." His mouth curled upward. "So... Will you marry me, Vivienne?"
The golden-haired queen placed a hand on her heart – By the gods, how it beat so fast! – and whispered with utmost joy, "Yes!"
Reginald's eyes gleamed with something alluring and mischievous, but Vivienne forgot all about it as he rose to his feet, pulled her into a warm embrace, and kissed her so tenderly on her soft, thin lips.
If Vivienne hadn't been standing with her back to the central apple tree, she would have realized that accepting the nobleman's proposal was a bad idea.
Because at that moment, one of the bright red apples crinkled like burnt paper and turned as black and rotten as the victorious darkness in Reginald's soul.
Ugh... I wish I had let the prince die on that horse, Reginald thought bitterly as one of the tailors finished adjusting his grand ceremonial tunic of purple, gold and silver. It was quite uncomfortable, particularly around the middle, and he was getting damn hot in here.
As though Fate was toying with him, Reginald heard a familiar voice from the doorway.
"Wow!" Prince Adrien exclaimed as he stepped into the room and gazed up at his stepfather-to-be from atop the ottoman. "You look amazing, Reginald! You sure are lucky to be marrying my mother."
The nobleman heaved a smile, despite his discomfort, and glanced over his shoulder at the prince.
Adrien was no less the little toy soldier, only now his purple and silver sleeves were puffy at the shoulders, making him look more like a court jester.
When I am king, I'll have to outlaw this ludicrous fashion.
"Thank you, my boy," Reginald finally said genially, "but it is I who is the lucky one today."
"I am too," Adrien said as he gazed off at seemingly nothing. "I'm finally going to have a real father; someone who will always be there for me." Then his face fell into a worried pout and he turned back to Reginald. "You will, won't you?"
Waving off the tailors, Reginald stepped off the ottoman and bent over to place his hands on the prince's shoulders. Step by step.
"Of course, Adrien," Reginald said, his icy-blue eyes bearing deep into the boy's green ones with pure, unadulterated promise. "No matter what happens, I am here for you. Truly and forever."
Until the day you join your "dear" father in the lowest pits of hell.
Adrien smiled at the man. "Thank you." Then he glanced over Reginald's wedding uniform and matching cape, and he sighed. "I hope for my wedding, I'll be just as dashing and handsome as you are."
Reginald chuckled. "I'm sure you will be."
"Meo-awr! Hiss!"
Reginald glanced sharply at his feet, where a tiny black kitten was staring up at him – fangs flashed, tail on end, and green eyes narrowed with the slits needle-thin.
That cat again... always sticking its nose where it isn't wanted, Reginald thought. He wished he could turn it into a cockroach and stamp it out of existence.
"Plagg, what are you doing here?" Adrien whined as he scooped the annoying little creature in his hands. "Don't be such a sour-puss, you silly kitty. Reginald's part of the family now. You'll learn to love him."
Reginald chuckled again and walked over to the large, round mirror hanging on the black-stone walls of his private chambers. He had brought it to the castle with him when he left his small country manor... along with a few other "souvenirs" that he kept hidden elsewhere.
"I wouldn't bet on it, Adrien," Reginald mused as he rearranged his twisted sleeves. "Black cats are particularly stubborn creatures."
Adrien giggled and stroked Plagg, making him meow more softly. "Yep, that's Plagg for you, especially when it comes to food," he said. "He's supposed to stay in my room during the wedding. I better put him back before Nathalie finds out." As he scurried to the door, the prince called over his shoulder, "I'll see you at the ceremony! I can't wait!"
Reginald grinned darkly and gazed back into the mirror. "Neither can I, my little prince," he spoke in a cold, sadistic tone. "Neither can I."
The amethyst brooch hummed to life with energy, and Reginald allowed the magic to pulse through his veins. He could see, hear and smell everything through the thick stone walls of the castle: the bustling servants, the anxious guests, the eager nobles...
... and the excited little boy running through the hallways, utterly oblivious to the fact that evil eyes were upon him.
"Just one more role to play," Reginald – Lord Hawkmoth – murmured with cruel suspense. "Then... the real fun begins."
MB: Yes, Nooroo is human in this universe. But I know what you're all thinking:
Why isn't he in "I Will Always Find You"? What happens to him? (Gulp)
Don't worry... you'll all find out soon enough.