April 2002
Disclaimer: The character's aren't mine, but this story it.
Chapter 11
Martin held the ice to his hand and face, glaring at Charles. "You cannot
throw me out, I am a member of royalty!"
Charles smiled tightly, "The Princess has asked that you be removed from the
premises, sir. I suggest you do as she says if you do not wish to cause a scene."
Martin took a step towards the man threateningly, "Then have her tell me
herself. Alone."
Charles' eyes flashed, "If you even think you will get near her alone, I
think her beau may have something to say about it."
"I am her beau, and I want her here, now, alone!" Martin roared, "I will not
be done out of what is rightfully mine by some playboy she fancies!"
Charles stepped back, "If you go near her again, Martin, the police will be
called, and charges filed. I suggest you leave while your name and reputation is
still intact."
Martin roared at him as the door closed and swung around, fuming. How dare
she? Try and expel him from his proper position? The little harlot! "Mark my
words, Selenity," he said softly, his eyes flashing dangerously as he stomped over
to the mirror and looked at himself, "mark them well Princess. Enjoy your time
with your man while you can. I will dig up enough dirt on him to make you wish you
had never even looked at him."
"You wanted to see me, sire?"
Francis looked up from his book, "Ah, Charles, my good man. Where did I go
wrong?"
"Sire?" Charles looked at him confused, "What do you mean?"
"With her," he waved his hand at a painting hanging on his study wall.
Selenity was dressed in her finest, the portrait from her 16th birthday, and her
smile told of mystery and innocents.
"I do not think you went wrong anywhere, sire. My lady Selenity is a fine
young woman with a mind of her own."
"That's what I mean! Her mother was a biddable lady, at least until she was
born, why couldn't she be biddable?"
Charles coughed, "The lady Tuskino biddable, sire? I hesitate to laugh for
you will think me rude, but she was far from complacent. Around you, perhaps. She
wanted no part of this marriage, and neither did you. Arranged marriages are not
always good for either party, sire."
Francis waved his hand as if to dismiss all of the words, leaning back in
his chair. "Charles, how can I get my daughter to understand her responsibilities
to her line? How can I make her see that this marriage to Martin will not only
keep the bloodline strong, but also ensure our position for years to come?"
"Begging your majesty's pardon, but I do not think you should try and make
her see it. Sometimes, love is worth more than treaties."
The King snorted. "Love? Love is a fool's notion, Charles. She needs to
grow up, to understand that love will not pay for her cozy lifestyle. Love blinds
you to a person's faults and shortcomings. In an arranged marriage you learn who
your partner is, gain a respect for that person and build a life based on that
respect."
"Like you had for your wife, sire?"
Francis sighed, "I admit I was not always tactful when dealing with her, but
we saw eye to eye on most things. Never anything where our daughter was concerned
though. She is her mother's daughter. She is my princess. Where did this
rebellious little child come from?"
"She is a grown woman, sire, a woman who knows her heart. To try and force
her in a direction she has no wish to go would be disastrous."
"Why? She will thank me for it later in life. I am her father; it is my
right to make these kinds of decisions for her, to provide a man for her that is of
good means and of proper upbringing. When I am gone, her husband will be king."
"And you do not think her Darien could be king."
"Not as long as I live. If I must I will take another wife and sire more
heirs."
"She does not want this life, sire." Charles told him, suddenly feeling very
old, "I have watched her grow from a confused teenager into a strong willed,
beautiful, adult. She knows her heart, knows her mind, and to try and change
either by force will simply drive her away from you."
"So you think I should embrace her choice and train this Darien to be king?"
"I did not say that, sire. I simply meant that perhaps you should get to
know the man before you pass judgement."
"Fine. Tell my daughter that she and this young man are to come with me
tomorrow to lunch with the mayor. He will have a chance to prove himself."
Charles sighed, "I do not mean socially, sire. Talk to the man. See what
he has to say about your daughter, ask him about his interests, his goals. Ask
anything you feel relevant. Throwing him into a social situation with no training
is like throwing a lamb to the lions."
The king grinned, "Exactly, Charles. If this young man has enough
conviction of character to muddle his way through a social affair that is out of
his league, I might consider letting him court my daughter."
Charles shook his head, "I will tell them, your highness," he said softly
before stepping out of the study. He sighed. The king would never change and he
would never accept the Princess' beau. What would she do when push came to shove
if she was given an ultimatum? Pick the man, or the responsibility she'd been
trained for the last 18 years? In the mind of her faithful guardian, there was no
doubt as to which she would choose.
Author's Note: Write me!
Jademax@hotmail.com
Thanks for reading!
Jade_Max
Disclaimer: The character's aren't mine, but this story it.
Chapter 11
Martin held the ice to his hand and face, glaring at Charles. "You cannot
throw me out, I am a member of royalty!"
Charles smiled tightly, "The Princess has asked that you be removed from the
premises, sir. I suggest you do as she says if you do not wish to cause a scene."
Martin took a step towards the man threateningly, "Then have her tell me
herself. Alone."
Charles' eyes flashed, "If you even think you will get near her alone, I
think her beau may have something to say about it."
"I am her beau, and I want her here, now, alone!" Martin roared, "I will not
be done out of what is rightfully mine by some playboy she fancies!"
Charles stepped back, "If you go near her again, Martin, the police will be
called, and charges filed. I suggest you leave while your name and reputation is
still intact."
Martin roared at him as the door closed and swung around, fuming. How dare
she? Try and expel him from his proper position? The little harlot! "Mark my
words, Selenity," he said softly, his eyes flashing dangerously as he stomped over
to the mirror and looked at himself, "mark them well Princess. Enjoy your time
with your man while you can. I will dig up enough dirt on him to make you wish you
had never even looked at him."
"You wanted to see me, sire?"
Francis looked up from his book, "Ah, Charles, my good man. Where did I go
wrong?"
"Sire?" Charles looked at him confused, "What do you mean?"
"With her," he waved his hand at a painting hanging on his study wall.
Selenity was dressed in her finest, the portrait from her 16th birthday, and her
smile told of mystery and innocents.
"I do not think you went wrong anywhere, sire. My lady Selenity is a fine
young woman with a mind of her own."
"That's what I mean! Her mother was a biddable lady, at least until she was
born, why couldn't she be biddable?"
Charles coughed, "The lady Tuskino biddable, sire? I hesitate to laugh for
you will think me rude, but she was far from complacent. Around you, perhaps. She
wanted no part of this marriage, and neither did you. Arranged marriages are not
always good for either party, sire."
Francis waved his hand as if to dismiss all of the words, leaning back in
his chair. "Charles, how can I get my daughter to understand her responsibilities
to her line? How can I make her see that this marriage to Martin will not only
keep the bloodline strong, but also ensure our position for years to come?"
"Begging your majesty's pardon, but I do not think you should try and make
her see it. Sometimes, love is worth more than treaties."
The King snorted. "Love? Love is a fool's notion, Charles. She needs to
grow up, to understand that love will not pay for her cozy lifestyle. Love blinds
you to a person's faults and shortcomings. In an arranged marriage you learn who
your partner is, gain a respect for that person and build a life based on that
respect."
"Like you had for your wife, sire?"
Francis sighed, "I admit I was not always tactful when dealing with her, but
we saw eye to eye on most things. Never anything where our daughter was concerned
though. She is her mother's daughter. She is my princess. Where did this
rebellious little child come from?"
"She is a grown woman, sire, a woman who knows her heart. To try and force
her in a direction she has no wish to go would be disastrous."
"Why? She will thank me for it later in life. I am her father; it is my
right to make these kinds of decisions for her, to provide a man for her that is of
good means and of proper upbringing. When I am gone, her husband will be king."
"And you do not think her Darien could be king."
"Not as long as I live. If I must I will take another wife and sire more
heirs."
"She does not want this life, sire." Charles told him, suddenly feeling very
old, "I have watched her grow from a confused teenager into a strong willed,
beautiful, adult. She knows her heart, knows her mind, and to try and change
either by force will simply drive her away from you."
"So you think I should embrace her choice and train this Darien to be king?"
"I did not say that, sire. I simply meant that perhaps you should get to
know the man before you pass judgement."
"Fine. Tell my daughter that she and this young man are to come with me
tomorrow to lunch with the mayor. He will have a chance to prove himself."
Charles sighed, "I do not mean socially, sire. Talk to the man. See what
he has to say about your daughter, ask him about his interests, his goals. Ask
anything you feel relevant. Throwing him into a social situation with no training
is like throwing a lamb to the lions."
The king grinned, "Exactly, Charles. If this young man has enough
conviction of character to muddle his way through a social affair that is out of
his league, I might consider letting him court my daughter."
Charles shook his head, "I will tell them, your highness," he said softly
before stepping out of the study. He sighed. The king would never change and he
would never accept the Princess' beau. What would she do when push came to shove
if she was given an ultimatum? Pick the man, or the responsibility she'd been
trained for the last 18 years? In the mind of her faithful guardian, there was no
doubt as to which she would choose.
Author's Note: Write me!
Jademax@hotmail.com
Thanks for reading!
Jade_Max