Days passed and soon the king and queen of Amouria settled into their life of ruling. Adrien held meetings with the counsel. Rosalyn was tutored in how to preside over the court during the open gate sessions. Session that commoners were allowed to seek and audience with the ruling king/queen to voice concerns. In their spare time they were in the library or record room seeking answers. At times Adrien couldn't make it to those. He made it appoint to make sure Chandler still had his educational tutoring lessons with Rosalyn, because Adrien had begun doing physical tutoring lessons with the lad. Teaching him the art of swordsmanship and fundamentals of warfare and politics in the form of games like chess.
Adrien didn't know what could be done yet about Elonia, but this boy proved capable of becoming worthy to be a Steward to the kingdom of Amouria, should something happen to Adrien and Rosalyn. Or if they never produced an heir. After one particular sword training session with Chandler, Adrien found himself with a scrape on his upper arm. He cursed himself for not having a court physician and made a mental note to get one. He had under estimated Chandler and paid a minor price.
Adrien debating on going to Maddy to see if she thought it needed a needle and thread to stitch it up. Upon pondering this notion he realized that Maddy in all her brilliance probably thought everything needed a needle and thread for a bit of stitching. He decided to wait on going to her for such an inquiry and just requested linens and hot water to be brought to the West Wing so he could tend to it himself.
. . . . .
Rosalyn certainly had her work cut out for her. Between her lessons with Chandler, and now receiving her own lessons on how to properly take up her position as queen, she found less and less time seeking answers on the distant, yet very close, threat. There were days that the only time she saw her husband was when they woke, and when they retired for bed at night. She found those days the hardest of them all.
There were days that Chandler came to the library exhausted for his lessons. Something about learning to fight with a sword. But Rose thought nothing of it. The lad was coming of age and it wasn't out of the ordinary for a young man to learn to use a sword.
After a day of her own lessons, and much reading in the library, Rosalyn finally headed back up to the West Wing. On her way, she ran into a servant carrying a pitcher of hot water and a few linens. She took the supplies and dismissed the servant, as they were going the same place she was. But why?
She pushed the door open to the royal chambers, her hands full. "Is everything all right, Adrien? A maid was bringing these up when I passed," she said, not yet seeing the injury on his arm.
. . . . .
"Oh, Rose. I wasn't expecting you. Yes, everything fine. Just got myself a bit of a flesh wound while tutoring Chandler in swordsmanship. The boy's got decent strength in his arms. Must be from all the help he gives his father and mother around here." Adrian said and hissed just a bit as he removed his tunic and jostled the fabric across the fair sized slice on his upper arm. He was at least holding the dripped wound over the wash basin so it did not leak onto the area rugs.
"I figure a hot rinse and a secure wrap is all that will be necessary. Unless its still bleeding by morning. Then I will have Maddy stitch it up and promptly take tomorrow to hire a proper court physician. Could you set those on the dresser within reach? You're welcome to help if such a practice doesn't make you uncomfortable." He stated, knowing some persons did not do well in the sight of blood.
. . . . .
Rosalyn wasn't one of those people. Having been married to Gustave, she had learned quickly how to clean and dress a wound. It seemed that every other hunting trip, he would come home with a new laceration, sitting around while she cleaned it. Sometimes she had to stitch his skin back together as well...
So she didn't mind helping Adrien with the wound on his arm. "So you are the reason Chandler always seems tired, or wishes to leave my lessons early. How am I supposed to tutor the lad when he's got his might caught up on swords?" She questioned, taking Adrien's arm gently and dabbing at the wound with a damp washcloth.
. . . . .
"You do make a valid point. I will see about moving his lessons with me earlier in the day, so he has ample time to recooperate before your lessons. How are his academic lessons going? Does he seem clever to you?" Adrien asked of Rosalyn as she assisted with washing out the wound.
. . . . .
"Very much so. He is bright, and very intelligent for his age. Eager to learn, when he can keep his eyes open," she muttered, casting him a slightly accusatory glance. "He had a future to look forward to. Perhaps one day he may even boast a title here in the palace."
. . . . .
"He still has a future to look forward to. I'll set up another time for training, so that it does not interfere with academics." Adrien promised as the cleaning of the wound was done and the wrapping of the bandage began.
"Should he prove capable and worthy, I intend to bestow upon him the title of deputy crown prince. It is a royal political position, being the third man in the kingdom. The holder of the position becomes crown prince in the event of the absence of the crown prince and the king of the country. In the event of vacant posts of the King and the Crown Prince at the same time. A male steward in a sense, if I were to pass before you, you would need someone trustworthy to rule beside you for the remainder of your years. Someone who would rule after we both pass if there is no crown Prince or Princess to do so." Adrien explained in completion as the bandage was nearly finished and ready to be tied off.
. . . . .
A deputy crown prince. Someone to rule in their absence, and assuming Rosalyn would never bear children. Did Adrien really doubt her so? "Well, I believe we must worry about finding a steward to occupy Elonia before we need to raise the kitchen lad to be a king," Rosalyn snapped. Why would such a title be given if he trusted that he would have an heir?
She finished tying off the bandage and stood up from her position beside him. "I will take care of this," she muttered, going to pick up the pitcher and extra linens.
. . . . .
Rosalyn was right and Adrien knew it.
Training a servant lad in fighting and politics was the least of their priorities. Elonia's sorcerer Elias needed to be faced once the current queen passed. While publicly Rosalyn was expected to return to rule upon Queen Camellia's passing, meant he couldn't kill her outright; Adrien knew it was only a matter of time before Sorcerers Elias would cause some tragic accident that would relinquish Queen Rosalyn from the throne of Elonia. If Adrian was a signed King Consort of Elonia then he would have to relinquish his right to the throne of Elonia to the Lord Chancellor Elias. Or risk his own life, which meant his country becoming rulerless.
Beyond that matter after Elias was dealt with, they needed to find a trustworthy steward of Elonia. Or he and Rosalyn would have to live apart. Her in Elonia and he in Amouria. That search along with how to deal with the sorcerer had come up equally futile. Leaving him frustrated and seeking solace in training the lad for the very distant future of Elonia.
It wasn't right of him to do that, especially concerning its implications towards their marriage. Adrien realized this error and reached out to Rosalyn taking her hands before they grasp the pitcher and soiled linens. "You are right. Amouria is the least of the concerns right now. The two more important matters have been feeling so futile these past weeks I just...sought after a temporary feeling of achievement in training the lad. You have every right to be upset. I did so without thinking about the deeper implications." Adrien released her hands and sighed heavily, sitting down in a very relaxed, accepting, non threatening, openly manner.
"My apologies Rose. I will not ask your forgiveness at this time, for you have every validation to be upset. All I ask now is that you show your emotions to me. Be them positive or negative. Tell me what you're feeling. Show me if you desire. I will listen, I will endure. You have no need to hide them or yourself from me." He stated, keeping in mind her months of enduring her first marriage where she had to feign joy and surpress her every discomfort. It was likely why she had voiced a 'logical' desire to take away the soiled linens; allowing her todepart from his company. To hide her anger, sadness, disappointment, and whatever other emotions that weren't positive from him. A learned behavior she quite possibly held onto subconsciously from before. While it wasn't the act of giving each other space that was an issue during a disagreement; the suppression of feelings towards him would be if he allowed her to practice the adaptive behavior she learned out of survival.
. . . . .
When Adrien released her hands, Rosalyn turned again to take up the basin and soiled cloths. All those months she had been with Gustave taught her that her thoughts didn't matter, and if she spoke them to the displeasure of her husband...there would be consequences. But Adrien was not Gustave. He was not a cruel, manipulative man. He wasn't a monster.
She had not seen the training of the lad as a way for her husband to distract himself from the stresses of Elonia. She had been far to worried about Elias to consider something to ease her mind. She had to do this. She had to find a way to stop him. Not because Adrien would not help her, but she would not let him. The sorcerer had made it very clear to her that she was to return alone, and she would not jeopardize her husband's life.
But all that was pushed to the rear of her mind in light of the reason Chandler had been so clearly eager to leave his lessons early. Slowly, she turned back to Adrien, who sat on the edge of their bed. Calmly, relaxed, non-threateningly. After his beastly outrage the first time she laid eyes on him, he had shown her nothing but kindness. So she did not know why she was expecting anything else from him, but she felt her stomach twist into knots as her mind readied to defend herself for speaking her mind.
"Why is it you took it upon yourself to train the lad to be a king? This deputy crown prince, as you called it. Do you believe I will never bear you a son? Do you think so little of me?"
. . . . .
Adrien shook his head, his movements very slow deliberately non-threatening. "Your worth to me will never be equated by means of bearing posterity. Our visit to Elonia left me . . . " Adrien took in a deep breath as his eyes met hers.
". . . frightened."
He removed his eyes from hers so he could look down at the floor, a futile attempt to hide his shame at admitting such a emotion. "After our reunion, my greatest fear in this life was losing being able to associate with you again." He began explaining, recalling the time after she became a widow and appropriately visited the castle as a guest and friend of the crown.
Adrien swallowed in attempt to keep his voice level. "But our visit to Elonia changed that. No longer was my greatest fear me losing you. But in its place became what if you lost me. If war, famine, sickness, or assassination took me from you, you would be in the same situation as your grandmother faced. Only she thought she had a trusted adviser. While here, there is no such position. We have the counsel; which does reduce the chance of corruption. But there isn't someone I trust to aide you if you had to rule Amouria solo. Someone with pure heart, impartial to royalty or political gain, who you could rely on for advice and means of protecting you when necessary."
"My feeling of helplessness in other pressing matters, made me turn to what felt like a contributing solution in this less pressing matter, training Chandler to be that confidant. For then if I should die unexpectedly I could rest easy knowing that you, and or our posterity, would have someone we both considered a friend, ally, pure in heart, bright in mind, and loyal to our family out of pure love not status potential." He concluded, standing up so he could approach and place a chaste kiss upon her brow. "I should have discussed such a family matter with you before initiating upon such thoughts. It was not my intention to display lose of faith in you my love. I do think we both enjoy teaching the lad, even if the intent of such lessons is removed. If it pleases you, he can continue his daily lessons with you. While my lessons will be less in frequency and certainty after your own so his mind is not hindered by a worn body. Please, speak your mind. I want to hear your thoughts and feelings, Rose."
. . . . .
Rosalyn took a moment to process his shared thoughts. Teaching Chandler was not a matter of her not having children, it was a matter of her husband no longer being by her side. It was something she had a difficult time imagining: a world without her husband. "In the event you are no longer with us, there is not a soul more fit for the position than Chandler. Even through his boyhood innocence, I can tell he would make a good adviser, and ruler."
"The memory of Gustave weighs heavily on my mind as of late. His cruelty, especially towards my lack of producing children. There is nothing in this world that I want more than to give you children. So when you mentioned training Chandler to be deputy crown prince, I thought..." A quiet sigh escaped her lips. She had taken his worries and turned them against herself, thus overreacting to the situation... And felt quite horrible about it.
Rose reached upward and cupped his cheek gently, bringing his eyes to meet hers. "I want to put your mind at ease, Adrien. If you wish to continue teaching the lad, I won't get in the way of that. As long as your lessons follow my own. After all, a prince needs to know how to read."
. . . . .
"A child of our own flesh and blood is not my concern Rose. Whatever will be, will be and I will be content come what may. It was not long ago I told you I would be content in later years of life to place someone in stewardship of Amouria so that you and I could live free of all but each other. I meant every word. You do not need to burden your mind with the idea of bearing me a child is what you want most in life. I would rather you focus your mind in matters of your own heart and what you desire most in life. For I am truly selfish and already have what I want most. And that is you as my eternal companion. A child would be a blessing; but it is not a necessity." Adrien reassured placing his hand against her own that cupped his cheek so that he could turn and place a kiss on her palm.
"We shall continue to teach Chandler. And I will hold my lessons after yours so that he is of sound mind and body." Adrien affirmed and with that stood up and approached the bell system on the nearby wall. With a pull of a string it send a vibration through to a bell that summoned a servant to the West Wing. "Dispose of the soiled linens." He spoke and with a understanding courtesy the maid servant gathered the linens that had been used to dress his arm wound and quickly departed.
Something Adrien said triggered his mind to ponder a moment, a child a blessing but not a necessity. Who had a child that wasn't a necessity to their circumstances? He wasn't entirely sure where his mind was going with this thought until he looked at his torn family picture that he refused to have mended. For it served him as a reminder of the beast within himself that needed to be controlled.
King Stephan Roi and his wife had many a years to live. While Princess Dawn and Prince Phil would simply live in their shadow until death claimed Prince Roi decades from now. "A child of not necessity...What of...Princess Dawn and Prince Phil to fill the role of Stewards? Either they could steward over Amouria and we relocate to Elonia or they to Elonia? King Roi has decades to live and rule over the kingdom of Fleurence. We could invite them here and discuss this proposition of uniting the three kingdoms under a triad." He voiced, his mind finally catching up with this inner thoughts and piecing it all together.
. . . . .
For so long she had endured the spiteful words of Gustave, chastising her for not doing the easiest job a woman has. Gustave had all but hated her for not bearing him sons, or children in general. But children were more crucial in this marriage than in that one. If the king and queen did not have an heir, then the kingdom would fall out of the DeLavergne bloodline. She had just assumed that Adrien would behave the same way towards her if she didn't fall pregnant soon, and news of his teachings of Chandler had just amplified those fears and doubts.
But wanting a child more than anything was no burden upon her. It is what she had wanted for as long as she could remember. She had even told herself that she would have a family with Gustave, just so she could start a family of her own. It is what she had wished for when Adrien had burned the Yule log on Christmas after their engagement. The thought was not a burden.
Rosalyn's thoughts shifted elsewhere when he mentioned Princess Dawn and Prince Phil. She had only met them a handful of times, on their honeymoon, but they were a lovely pair and she had enjoyed their company more than she had expected. "I think that would be an excellent idea. If the two agree to it, of course." With a steward in Elonia, Rose and Adrien would not have to live separated from one another, which was a concern voiced loudly when they had first learned of her lineage.
"With summer still fresh, we could could even invite them within the coming weeks. Though our home is beautiful, it can become suffocating at times. With the weather still warm, and gardens still in bloom, it would be much easier for the lot of us to escape for a few moments." Talk of ruling kingdoms could be exhausting. Rosalyn found herself wanting to escape in Elonia more than anything. Amouria was her home, and where she was standing, but she hadn't escaped the kingdom she was next in line for.
The threat of Lord Chancellor Elias still loomed over her head. She knew she had to go back, and she knew she had to do so alone. Bringing Adrien with her would only put him at risk, as well as her. Anyone that went with her would be put at risk. She wished she knew of a way to stop him, to put an end to the curse cast on the kingdom's sapphires. This was an endeavor she was faced with alone, no matter how much she dreaded it.
"If you'd like, I can write Princess Dawn in the morning," Rosalyn offered as she circled around to her side of the bed and sat on the edge.
. . . . .
"Yes, that would be most helpful. Thank you. I have a meeting with the counsel tomorrow morning that I must see too." He voiced and decided to remove his footwear and tunic and retire to his side of the bed to lay upon in comfort. "I think I desire rest for the remainder of the evening. Care to join me? You do not have to, the choice is yours my love. There are still a couple of hours remaining until nightfall." Adrien expressed, allowing her to chose to remain or depart for a while yet beforw retiring for the evening.
He tucked his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. Appearing to be this epiphany of relaxation. His longer blonde locks of hair teasing the top of his shoulders. His eyes of summer skies hidden behind closed eyelids. His upper arm bandaged, did not hide the taunt muscles of his arms and torso from keeping his body in peak physical condition.
. . . . .
"Of course I will," Rose said as she began to unlace her boots. There wasn't much else for her to do this evening, so she may as well spend it with her husband. She kicked her shoes off her heels and retreated back onto the bed. Crawling up beside Adrien, she rested her head against his chest.
"What is the council meeting about?" She asked. She supposed she would be excluded from this meeting, otherwise she would have known sooner than the night before. Not that it troubled her much. In fact, she would rather not attend the meeting.
. . . . .
"The usual. Designation of responsibilities that need addressed for the kingdom of Amouria. Summer is almost over which means the harvest will commence. Following such if the harvest proves bountiful a festival to celebrate will be done. Just as it was once done every year that proved abundant; before my mother the queen passed away." Adrian explained briefly followed with a stretch of his arms up over his head and a yawn before he allowed his body to relax in a way he could easily fall asleep to.
Should she have anything to say on the matter Adrien would wait for her to speak before he would conclude the conversation with, "Sleep well my love, Rose." as he felt his mind and body begin to fall into the land of dreams.
The next morning as promised he opted to sleep a bit longer and skip breakfast (much to Misses Poms chagrin) and proceed straight to the meeting with the royal counsel members.
He chose not to discuss with them the update of reaching out to Princess Dawn and Prince Phil. Until the offer was further explored between the members of royalty, there was no need to acquaint others with it for the time being. Instead as he mentioned to Rose the eve before he discussed upcoming harvest, expected bounty, and the possibility of festival to brighten the morale of the people before winter came.
. . . . .
Rosalyn had stayed true to what she had said the night before. She had taken breakfast in their chambers, at the writing desk, so she could prepare a letter to send to Princess Dawn and Prince Phil. It was a simple letter, just an invitation to discuss matters of Stewardship, but she was overthinking all of it. How could she possibly invite the two of them to rule Elonia when she didn't even know what kind of magic bound the kingdom. Would it linger long after the sorcerer had been dealt with? Would there be any other aftereffects? How would the dramatic life expectancy shift effect the kingdom? She didn't feel right leaving the couple to figure it out themselves.
But she had told Adrien she would write the princess a letter, which is precisely what she did. She wrote a letter to Princess Dawn inviting her and Prince Phil to visit Amouria for a time. She actually had to write the letter twice, because she did not sign her name Queen Rosalyn the first time.
She rolled the parchment up and handed it off to a servant to send to Fleurence on the leg of a dove. Adrien still hadn't returned from his meeting, so Rosalyn decided to retreat to the library, still desperate to find any clue of magic she could.
. . . . .
"Greetings Queen Miss Rosalyn!" Chandler voiced as he entered the library, Sultan happily following at his heel. He approached her from the side and the obedient pup sat when Chandler came to a stop. He fished out a piece of biscuit from his pocket and gave it to the pup then turned his attention back to Rosalyn. "You look like your on on a quest for knowledge. Anything I can assist you with?" Chandler offered, knowing there was time between now and when his tutoring lesson was to begin.
. . . . .
Rosalyn turned and smiled when she heard Chandler greet her. Sultan was close behind him, as always, which only made her smile grown. "Good morning, Chandler," she responded and knelt down to scratch the young dog behind his ears. "I'm afraid I don't know what I'm looking for." It wasn't an entirely true statement. She knew what knowledge she sought, but not where to find it. "But I am curious. Now that you've read plenty of books I trust, which is your favorite on magic?"
. . . . .
Chandler pondered for a moment upon her question, his head tilted down and eyebrows furrowed together only to rise when he had come to a conclusion. The lad took the nearest ladder to the second floor and when on quite a walk about until he reached the far end of the library where most of the book he had yet to read were because they were in a different language.
Sultan stayed on the main floor yipping with excitement as he padded along the best he could to keep his master in his sight. When Chandler returned he carried two books. One seemed older, while the other newer with less signs of use. The older one held the title Tales of Amouria, while the other newer one was written in Greek, Ιστορίες της Αμούρια (Istoríes tis Amoúria). "Mama read this to me years ago when I was young. It has all sorts of vocal stories, legends, and myths that have been told for generations in Amouria. When you mentioned magic I remembered a story in here about a woman who never dies. It tells a tale that she can appear however she desires with the use of magic. I don't remember if it says why she never dies or how she uses magic. But I remember asking my mama "if there is a woman in Amouria who never dies while everyone else does, that seems lonely; is there a man who also never dies so that she isn't alone? Does she use her magic to stay alive? What kind of enchantments can she do? How does one know they are enchanted and how to break it?' Mama said perhaps we'd find all the answers to my questions if we keep on reading the book." Chandler placed the two books down onto the table.
"This is the original and this one is in Greek. Mama told me once that the Master was supposed to have translated the original stories into Greek as a lad for one of his study projects. Based on her tone I got the feeling that perhaps he had one of the castle scribes do it for him so he hasn't read this one or the Greek version." Chandler shared with chuckle as he in a gentleman's manner pulled out a seat for Queen Miss Rosalyn to sit down at the table to look over the books.
. . . . .
Rosalyn followed the pup as he sprinted across the main floor, keeping up with Chandler who was on the floor above. She kept a close eye on the boy, paying attention to the section he was going to, and even the shelf he had pulled the two books from. When he returned, she met him at the bottom of the ladder. "It seems as if the king was an ornery little prince. I suppose it is a prime example of the saying 'do as I say and not as I do.'" The queen smiled and sat in the seat Chandler had pulled out for her before she opened the newer looking book. She could not speak, nor read Greek, so she would have to settle for what had been translated to English for now.
"But I do think this is precisely the book I have been looking for. I used to hear tales in the village of a sorceress, and when the king was transformed into a beast, I believed her to be true. But I wish to learn more of her and her magical abilities," Rose explained to the lad. "Would you care to join me? We can consider it your lesson for the day and I will allow you to leave earlier since your lesson isn't planned to start for another half an hour."
Chandler had lived with Adrien for years. Maybe the sorceress had done other things in the palace that Chandler would be able to tell her about. Any information she could learn on magic would help her, even in the slightest bit.