HELLSING WITCH HUNTER 1616
DIANAPRINCE31
Ch 25: I'm Sick and Tired of Rumors
Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing
The King spent a lot of time with the Hunters, actually let me rephrase that; the King spent a lot of time with the Hunter known as Integra. There were the invites to lunch, dinner, hunts, openings and ribbon cutting to major events. Then there were the long hours the two spent in private talking or strolling the grounds together, sometimes without bodyguards. And if this wasn't enough, when Integra wasn't with the King, Albrecht couldn't stop talking about the woman; how smart she was, or how interesting she was or what would she do in certain situations. He even quoted her and was heard once a complimenting her physique. So where did this leave Wendy, the queen. Well she had a one-way trip to Jealousville which was not too far north from Annoyed Town. Wendy couldn't stand how her husband would go on about Integra. It was like Albrecht was in love with her and of course this opinion was not thought by just the queen. Advisors, nobility and aristocrats were thinking the same thing. They whispered his among themselves, but things that hid in the shadows had a way of making themselves known to the light. And so, people were speculating the most outlandish things. Was Integra trying to get on the throne? Was the King going to dump the queen? Was there any action going to between the King and the Huntress? All this was upsetting to the Queen and she decided to have an audience with Sam and Seras, perhaps they would know something.
The two Hunters sat in the Queens private chambers, looking very uncomfortable as they were perched on the edge of their chairs. They had never been summoned by the Queens before and the note had specifically asked for just Seras and Sam.
"So…this is not Hunter…um business, Your Majesty?" asked Seras nervously.
"No, my love-struck husband deals with that" answered the Queen dismissively. "You two are here for another reason. I'm sure you heard the rumors going around?"
"Not really…no" said Sam stuffing a small sandwich into her mouth.
"The ones about my husband and Hunter Hellsing and if there is an affair going on between the two."
"You really think Sir Integra and the King are having an affair?" Seras gasped.
"Oooh, didn't think Hot Lips had it in her" This got Sam a glare from Seras.
"Hot Lips? Is this what my husband calls her?"
"No, just Sam and she will stop right now."
"Does Hellsing talks about my husband? What does she refer to him? Is he always on her mind?"
"One couldn't tell. She rarely talks about him and if she does, it's not with us. We barely see her, if she's not with the King, she's either at her other business, in her office or with the Hellraisers" explained Sam. "Hunts are the only time we see her at any extended time. And she doesn't refer to him as anything but 'His Majesty', that's it."
"I… don't feel comfortable about this topic, I mean…"
"Well these rumors are all anyone is talking about in this palace and must be stopped!" retorted the Queen who now had sprang out her chair and was pacing. "I intend to find out what is really going on between my husband and that suit-wearing broad!"
"I'm sure that Sir Integra wouldn't do something like that" said Seras.
"You barely know anything about the woman. As a matter of fact, hardly any of us do" replied the Queen tersely. She had begun to tire of Seras defending Integra.
"She barely tells us anything about herself, so it wouldn't be a surprise if these rumors were true" said Sam agreeing with Wendy.
When the Queen had dismissed the two Hunters due to the face that they were of no help because of their lack of knowledge of their fellow Hunter; Seras said, "Sir Integra is not going to like this when she finds out about us meeting with the Queen."
"She won't find out, if you don't tell her" replied Sam.
Seras shrugged, "She always find out everything. It's like she has eyes everywhere." But when they reached the Estate, Seras told Walter everything that happened at the meeting with the Queen.
"Well these rumors are a great concern to Sir Integra's reputation and credibility, especially with business overseas. But I am sure that we could find a way to use this to our advantage" mused the butler.
"What about the Queen? How can you be more concerned about the Hellsing business?" asked Sam.
"I am loyal to the Queen of course, but I am also loyal to Sir Integra. Her Highness has her people to take care of her, I will take care of Sir Integra."
"Where is Sir Integra anyway?" asked Seras. The look on Walter's face told her the answer.
"Walter, …um how does Sir Integra know the King?" asked Seras quietly. The butler said nothing at first, but then answered, "They are childhood friends. The royal family has always relied on the Hellsing family as Hunters." Seras and Sam looked at each other, then back at Walter, but he said nothing more on the subject, "If you want to know more, you're going to have to ask Sir Integra yourselves, that is her story to tell, I don't believe in mindless gossip."
"Aww man, she's not going to tell us anything" sighed Sam.
'That's because there's nothing to tell" said Integra in a cold voice appearing in the doorway.
The Red Palace- King Albrecht's Office
Like Integra, Albrecht knew everything that was going on in his own home. His father had instilled in him the art of reading people and he could read everyone like a book. So, Albrecht knew about the rumors and the whispers that no one would dare say out loud in the presence of the King of England. Wendy had refused to have dinner with him and lately did not want to be in the same room with him. With all the whisperings she had gotten it into her head that he was in love with Hunter Hellsing.
Maybe he should spend more time with Wendy and less time with Integra. Albrecht loved his wife very much and he tried to tell her that that evening, but she screamed un-queen like obscenities at him and threw stuff at him. He beat a hasty retreat to his own office and decided to get some work done. What was he supposed to do? Integra was certainly an intriguing woman and they had known each other for a long time. They had met when she was six and when he was ten, a young prince. Their fathers were good friends and spent a good deal of time together, so it was inevitable they would. At the time of their first meeting, Albrecht and Wendy had been promised to each other, so it was not like Arthur was hoping his daughter would be a princess. As a matter of fact, he made it clear that Integra was not to become a member of the royal family as she had her own destiny ahead of her.
Since childhood, Integra had been different from other girls, she preferred to talk about the books she read and the places she and her father traveled to, unlike the noble girls who talked of fashion, dresses and marrying handsome affluent boys. Albrecht talked about how he would be a strong king like his father, but he preferred peace and intellectual advancement to war and armies. The two grew closer as they got older, it was when Integra was nine that Albrecht saw her in a slimming navy-blue suit, it made her look older and to Albrecht it was better than the silly dresses. As training took precedence for the two children, they hung out whenever they could and the mischief and adventures, they got into could fill several tomes. It seemed like nothing could go wrong until the tragedies of the Hunter families and Integra disappeared from his life.
Albrecht didn't think he would see Integra again until he was reminded for the kingdom's need for the Hunters and their demon imbued swords and when he saw Integra again at the Hunter's swearing in ceremony, the king was surprised at the change. Integra had grown into formidable warrior and business woman with an almost fanatical loyalty to her country. But their friendship had picked up right where it left off, but instead of a prince and child of nobility, it was between King and Hunter.
Albrecht sighed as he glanced at one of the hunting reports written in Integra's neat and precise cursive (she always had better penmanship than he), why did everyone have to make a big deal out their friendship? And his wife should know that he was not in love with Integra. The Huntress was breath of fresh air from all the ass kissing nobles who clearly wanted something from him. It had hardly been ten minutes since Integra left when Wendy charged in like a maddened mustang, yelling and accusing him of being a lousy cheater and going as far as saying that he was lousy in bed. The king learned not to say anything because yelling back would only escalate the problem.
"What does that WOMAN have that I don't? I am far more beautiful than she is and am more feminine. You married me! You're supposed to love me, not her!" screeched Wendy. "I will not let anyone else have you, Albrecht!" When the only response she got was a blank look from her husband, Wendy snatched several papers off the desk and tore them up.
"Those are the Hunter reports!"
"Did she write them?"
"Sir Integra is the only one out of the Hunters who writes them."
Why did he tell her that?
"So now there are love letters as well?"
"Hunters reports, the information of witches and demons that are slayed by the Hunters, not love letters. Strictly business, dear."
"I can't stand that Sir Integra she's so…so."
"Maybe if you get to know her, you would see the kind of person she is."
"No! I don't get to know the common people!"
"Actually, the Hellsings are a family of great nobility…"
"I don't care!"
The rest of the night went on like this until the Queen screamed herself hoarse, leaving the couple exhausted. The Queen awoke late the next day and when she questioned the whereabouts of her husband, he had gone out riding with none other that Integra. When will that idiot learn? The Queen was about to have another bitch fit when she thought of a great idea. You know that saying 'when you can beat them, join them?' Well that's what Wendy did. With a whole retinue of royal guards and ladies-in-waiting, the Queen ordered her palfrey t0 be saddled and made ready to ride. Twenty minutes later, the Queen caught up with the King, who was riding a large grey charger and Integra riding a rare chestnut Friesian by the name of Red Phoenix. Wendy called out to them, hoping to see a look of dismay of the Hunter's face. Albrecht looked confused for a minute and then a large grin came over his face. Integra however wore a face of neutrality, so the Queen joining and bringing a large group of people with her seemed to make no difference to her. After greetings were made, Wendy asked, "So what topic of conversation were you two so engaged in?"
"There is group of goblins near a swamp in Kent, I was thinking that we should send a couple of the Hellraisers there to make sure there are no problems and to keep an eye on them" answered Albrecht. The Queen waved a dismissive hand and said, "Let us not talk of such boorish matters, there are more pleasant things to talk about."
"And what would you like to talk about, dear?"
"It has been sometime since a gala has been had, I would love to gather all of our friends together for a splendid night of good drink and dancing."
Integra rolled her eyes, of course the silly woman would want that; a bunch of rich morons all trying to curry for the Queen's favor, all the while lavishing on her false compliments. Wendy must have seen the look on Integra's face because she asked, "Is there something the matter, Sir Integra? I can understand if you cannot attend, perhaps due to lack of proper attire…"
Integra scoffed, "You do not need to worry yourself about my wardrobe, Your Highness. I am more inclined to doing my duty for this country than in prancing around with a bunch of rich imbeciles." The King and Queen both stared at the Hunter, who just shrugged, "Feel free to tell me if I'm wrong- with a legitimate reason of course."
Albrecht chuckled, "She means is that she would be happy to attend the gala, Wendy."
Integra gave Albrecht an annoyed look, "That was a poor translation of what I said."
"You'll have fun, don't worry, Integra."
"If you think spending hours with a large group of less-than-intelligent ass kissing nobles is a good time, then we had completely different ideas on what a 'good time' is, Your Majesty."
"Does this mean you're not coming, Hunter Hellsing?" asked Wendy, who was not doing a good job of hiding her smirk. However, the Hunter smiled, "If His Majesty insists, then I wouldn't miss it for the world" and she then rode off, leaving the Queen scowling and the King chuckling.
Chapter End