there's a part of this chapter that may seem racy to some, but hey, it's nothing worse than you'll see on prime time TV.
September 18, 1988
I rarely come across as someone who gets easily embarrassed, but just two nights ago I made a spectacle out of myself in front of at least two hundred people. Lately, the mood around the castle has been quite melancholy. Between the Crown Prince's descent into increasing solitude and my lackluster relationships with the King and my fellow councilmen, I hardly have an ounce of sanity to cling on to. Luckily for me, the recent addition to my Council, Geno Almont, has served as reliable confidant and competent councilman. Normally, I am not one to warm up to new people so quickly, but Geno has managed to gain my trust in record time. He's highly intelligent for his young age, and so far appears to be holding his ground among the more brutish, weathered men of the Council. Even now I must admit, that there are times my age makes me feel out of the other members' league, considering that I am several years younger than a majority of them. Speaking of which, three days ago I celebrated my 36th birthday. That morning I was pleasantly surprised to find a bevy of presents waiting for me in the main Social Room, where several of the royal children were sitting. Afterwards, Ludwig told me that he never forgets birthdays, especially mine, and he wanted to get me something special for "putting up with" him, as he so delicately worded it. He gave me a beautiful silver-plated fountain pen, telling me that he knows how much I love to write. I promised him I would put it to good use, and as of now, I'm using it to write this entry.
Later that night, I received an invitation from Alteria, informing me that King Leirelat would be holding a party for his Head Administrator, Gregory, the following evening. I had no idea that Gregory and I had birthdays only days apart from each other. It must be why I admire him so much. The invitation was brought to my attention by Geno, who hand-delivered it to me in the Council's chamber. When he entered the room, he had a bright smile on his face. It puzzled me.
"This just arrived for you from Alteria, Kamek." he said, placing it in front of me on the table. "Looks like someone's having a party!"
"Oh? King Leirelat didn't mention anything to me." I picked it up and tore open the envelope. "He could have just called... He didn't have to send an invitation."
"Does it matter?" Geno laughed. "What does it say?"
I quickly scanned over the contents, then read some excerpts aloud to my eager friend. "King Leirelat cordially invites you to celebrate in the birthday celebration of Head Administrator Gregory... Tomorrow night at 8 o'clock... You may bring guests... P.S. Bring Ludwig. Victoria will be bored if you don't."
"Wow, a royal party. Must be fun, huh?"
"Usually they are pretty stale and unentertaining, but King Leirelat and Gregory are good friends of mine, so I'm sure it'll be better than all the other parties I've attended."
"Aw, come on. You mean to tell me that you're not a party animal? I find that hard to believe." Geno joked, knowing very well what kind of response he'd get from me.
"I'm not exactly big on parties. I tend to find myself in awkward situations...and I don't like initiating conversations with people I don't know. I'm not big on...fun."
"Na, I'm sure once we get some alcohol in you, you'll loosen up." Geno patted me on the shoulder reassuringly. "Besides, it's good to get out of here once and a while."
Over the past few weeks that I've gotten to know Geno, he's gone from being a shy admirer of mine to a more relaxed fellow with a sharp sense of humor. Like myself, he probably feels that he has to warm up to a person first before showing his true personality. I'm sure youth plays a role in Geno's character too. In a way, he reminds me of a younger version of myself, back when Monika was alive. I would joke around with her all the time. As I've gotten older, I find little time to joke around anymore.
"Yes, you're right. A night out would do me some good. Plus, I'm sure Ludwig would be happy to go."
"There you go, Kamek. No need to feel awkward in front of people you already know."
"And that's why you'll be coming with me." I looked up at him with a straight face. His shocked expression made me grin. "Don't look so surprised."
"Are you serious?"
"Sure, why not? If you're going to be a member of my Council, it's good that you get to know the royals from other kingdoms. Alteria is our ally after all, even if our ties are fragile. Plus, King Leirelat and Gregory are very friendly and approachable, so I'm sure they'd like to meet you."
"I-I'd be honored to go."
"Good." I smiled. "Then break out those dancing shoes and press that tux. Tomorrow, you'll see how the other half lives."
I could not escape from telling King Bowser where I would be heading to, so when I told him later that night, he seemed as indifferent as ever. He told me to have a good time, but there was definitely a biting quality to his tone. I thought he would give me a hard time about wanting to bring the Crown Prince along, considering what happened to him the last time I took him to Alteria. Again, the king's nonchalant attitude shone through as he gave me permission to take the boy. I'm sure that King Bowser found it insulting to not have received an invitation, but he would be insane to think that he would get one anyway.
Ludwig seemed happy when I told him about the party, despite the fact that he was as big of a fan of parties as I was. I informed him that his presence was requested by King Leirelat himself, which he found amusing. After helping him pick out a nice shirt and pair of trousers to wear for the occasion, I wished him good night and headed to bed myself.
The following evening the three of us departed on the airship and made the familiar trip to Alteria. By now, I had grown very accustomed to the journey, as had Ludwig. Geno, on the other hand, was not used to riding on the airship, and commented several times about how it made him lightheaded. In a manner beyond his years, the Crown Prince calmly told my fellow councilman that he used to get the same way when he started riding on the airship, and that it got better with time. I remember when I first took Ludwig onto the ship. He got so nauseous that I thought he was going to lose his lunch on the deck. Now, he likes to peer over the ship's side and stare at the sights below. When I feel brave enough, I join him. I cannot believe that he will be thirteen years old in a matter of months. It's such an awkward time in an adolescent's life. He's developing into such an intelligent and handsome young man...except for the fact that he still remains a bit on the short side. Something tells me though that he won't stay that way for long.
King Leirelat, always the gracious host, welcomed us to his palace once we arrived. He took particular interest in Geno, who appeared almost star-struck upon meeting the monarch. It was not every day that a member of my Council got to meet with royalty from another kingdom. Usually, it was only me who had such a privilege. We were brought into the hall where the party was being held, and were told to mingle and have fun. It was refreshing to see the king in good spirits. Immediately I scanned the crowded room to see if I recognized anyone. Fortunately, only a few faces looked remotely familiar, as I suspected that a majority of the guests were probably close friends of the Tel'an royal family and not so much fellow politicians. I was relieved to know that I would not have to put on an act, since no one was around that I had to impress. I began to believe that I might actually have a nice time.
It was not your everyday party, not in the slightest. Everyone was decked out in their finest attire. A black-and-white affair it was, but the overall mood of the room was not a stuffy one. I could hear people chatting all around me, laughter, and sensed a faint smell of cigarette smoke as it filled the air. Ludwig already seemed bored, as the Alterian Crown Princess was nowhere in sight. Geno's eyes were glued onto the numerous tables around the hall, all of which seemed to have an infinite amount of food and beverages. Before we could head over to one of them, I felt someone grab my arm.
"There you are!"
We all turned to see Head Administrator Gregory, the birthday boy himself, standing with us, complete with a wine glass in his left hand.
"I see that head administrators here get treated with class," I joked, shaking hands with Gregory. "Unlike how it is back at home."
"Kamek, why didn't you tell me that you and I shared birthdays so close together? King Leirelat had to tell me. This party is for you too, you know."
"You don't need to flatter me."
"No, if I was trying to flatter you, I would've worn my best shade of lipstick."
Geno seemed surprised by how Gregory and I spoke to each other. I guess he was not used to me kidding around. I took the opportunity to introduce him to the head administrator.
"Gregory, this is Geno Almont, the newest addition to my Council." I watched as the two shook hands and nodded as they greeted one another.
"Any ally of Mr. Tirro is an ally of Alteria," Gregory smiled.
"Thank you, Head Administrator." Geno sheepishly acknowledged his words. "I will try to do the best I can. I'm young and have much to learn, but I'm fortunate to have Kamek here to help guide me along."
"Kamek's a great guy." Gregory told Geno as I wordlessly looked on. "But tonight isn't about politics. It's about drinking, and drinking a lot." All of a sudden he paused and looked down. "Prince Ludwig, I didn't even notice you standing there!"
"Hi." the boy said as he rammed his hands into his pants pockets.
"I bet you're looking for our princess...now where did she disappear to this time?" Gregory squinted his eyes to scan the room. "She was just here a minute ago–"
A high-pitched laugh from behind him caused us all to jump. Out of nowhere emerged the princess in her pink party dress and white patten leather shoes. She looked almost proper, except for a bruise or two on her legs. Clearly she hadn't abandoned her tomboy ways. Instantly the Crown Prince livened up at the sight of her.
"Victoria, what were you up to?" Gregory scolded as he looked the girl over. "Your father's going to kill you if you dirty that dress."
"These shoes hurt." she absent-mindedly said before turning her attention to Ludwig. "There you are! I'm so glad you're here!"
"Hi Tori!" he greeted with a happy chuckle. I watched the two, amused.
"Hi Mr. Kamek!" the princess waved at me, then grabbed Ludwig's hand and pulled him to her side. "Louie and I are gonna go try some wine."
"No you're not!" Gregory interjected.
"Fine, so we'll go try some appetizers." She faced the prince. "I wonder if they have pigs-in-a-blanket?"
"Allow me to introduce the princess to Geno." Gregory placed his arm around the girl's shoulders and looked at my guest. "Geno, this is Crown Princess Victoria, Alteria's future queen. As you can see, she's quite the spoiled one already, but we love her."
Geno and Victoria politely exchanged smiles.
"It's nice to meet you, your Highness." Geno said. "I've never met a future queen before."
"Yeah, I guess it's cool. ...I hate these shoes!" Victoria, to Gregory's annoyance, started to kick off one of her shoes.
"Victoria, stop it!" he yelled. "You're at a party and should behave-"
"There!" the princess exclaimed as she kicked off the second shoe. The children giggled as they watched Gregory's expression turn to one of embarrassment.
"Your Highness, you'll never learn, will you?" he sighed before breaking out into a smirk. "What will you do when you're a grown up?"
"Grown up stuff!" She started to pull the prince away from us. "But for now, I'll just have fun being a kid. See ya later!"
"Bye Kamek!" Ludwig called as he allowed his friend to drag him off.
We all watched as the two vanished into the crowd.
"She's certainly different from our Crown Prince, isn't she?" Geno laughed to me. "Very verbal, and quite blunt."
"Yes, but they complement each other well." I answered.
"Now it's time for the big kids to play." Gregory smirked as he walked over to one of the tables. Geno and I followed. I watched as the head administrator picked up a glass of red wine and handed it to me. "You like red wine?"
"You can say I'm a fan."
"Good, then drink up."
Not wanting to be left out, Geno helped himself too. All three of us then held up our glasses and proposed a toast.
"To another year of the same old bullshit." Gregory casually announced, clinking his glass against mine.
"Agreed." I added with a smile.
"To my new job!" Geno cheered.
"Here here!" The Alterian Head Administrator exclaimed. "To friendships old and new!"
"Now that's something I can drink to." I raised the cup to my lips and took a sip. Needless to say, it was the first, but not the only, glass I had that night. The three of us occupied a far corner of the hall and continued to drink to our hearts' content. From our station, we had a fine view of the entire room, where we would occasionally point out certain people and poke fun at them. Gregory informed me about who was who and what relation they had to the Tel'an Royal Family. Geno was interested in what Gregory had to say, even after the four glasses of wine he consumed had started to take their toll. I was fairing little better.
"And that fine gentleman over there is the king's cousin," Gregory explained, pointing over to a portly man across the room.
"His tuxedo's too tight." I brazenly commented.
"Yes, well, so is his wallet."
"A relative of King Leirelat is a cheapskate?"
"I believe a better term would be 'that he's tighter than a clam's ass.'" Geno interjected.
"That'll do!" Gregory chuckled. "Hey Kamek, there's a pretty lady looking at you."
"Huh?" I stammered, taken back by his words. Then I looked to see who he was referring to. At the sight of her, I felt a sharp pain in my gut. "...That's my ex-wife, Camille. What the hell is she doing here?"
She apparently was thinking the same thing, because when I locked eyes with her, she gave me a look which could only translate out to one of shock. I wasn't sure if she was pleasantly surprised to see me, or nauseated. I was the latter.
"That's Camille?" Gregory asked, peeking over my shoulder. "I've never heard much about your ex. To be honest, I had no idea that you were even married."
"Yeah, well it's something I'd like to keep under wraps." It was then I noticed that she had her arm linked with a man I had never seen before. "Who's she with?"
"Heh, that's a member of my Council." the Head Administrator said. "He's a new guy...I believe his name's...err, it escapes me. She must like politicians."
"Yeah, you'd think she'd stay away from them because of her last experience with one," Geno chuckled. I scowled at him. He promptly silenced his snickering. "Sorry, no offense."
"Well you better think of something fast to say, because she's coming over here!" Gregory warned. He quickly grabbed Geno by his jacket's sleeve. "We'll leave you two alone."
"No, don't–"
"Bye!" The two men scurried over to a buffet table close by. As I watched Camille approach me, I suddenly...felt something inside me snap. It may have had something to do with the wine I was drinking (okay, it had everything to do with it), but I felt myself become less tense. At that moment, I just didn't care anymore. I felt a smirk spread across my face as she stopped in front of me. She wore the same expression.
"Hello, Kamek."
"Hello, Kammy."
"And why in the Eight Kingdoms are you here?"
"I was about to ask you that same question."
She forced a smile, but her attitude wasn't hostile. It was a terribly uncomfortable situation, and if it were not for my intoxicated state, I probably would have been even more horrified than I actually was. It was the first time we had a civilized conversation since before our messy divorce.
"Well," I began. "Head Administrator Gregory is a good friend of mine."
"I see. Your position as Dark World's Head Administrator must put you in contact with all sorts of interesting people. You've become quite a celebrity over the past several years, Kamek."
"I guess you could say that. It's all part of my job, being second-in-command and all that..." I took a sip of wine from my glass. "So...who are you here with?"
"My date." She ran her fingers through her shoulder-length blonde hair.
"I see that you're still sticking to dating councilmen. At least your experience with me didn't turn you off of them for good."
My snide remark didn't cause her to smile this time.
"No Kamek, he's much different than you."
"I'm not sure if that was an insult or a complement."
"Who's your date?" She hastily changed the subject.
"Geno Almont...well, he's not really my date. Oh, and Crown Prince Ludwig too. He's off, running around somewhere."
"The Crown Prince!" Camille was surprised. "Yes, I had heard that you've been tutoring the prince, but I didn't think he'd be here."
"I like to bring him places with me. He doesn't get out much. He's not...very social."
"Ah, then you're two peas in a pod."
"I am a big influence on the boy. The gods know his father doesn't play much of a role in his life. Oh, there he is now." I nodded my head towards one of the many buffet tables. There was the Crown Prince with the Alterian Princess, picking at the various dishes laid out in front of them. They were chatting at a quick pace, but I couldn't make out what they were saying.
"My gods, he looks just like his mother." Camille mused, now facing away from me. Her tone had lost its bite, and had become almost saddened. During our marriage, Camille was always jealous of Monika. Her suspicions were justified. "Her ghost is between us even now, isn't it?"
Any sense of confidence I previously had, I lost. Her inquiry depressed me to the point where I had nothing else to say to her.
"Where did you park your broom, Camille?"
"...Pardon?"
"Witches fly on brooms. Where's yours?"
She exhaled a long sigh. "Good-bye, Kamek."
I watched as she walked away and returned to her date across the hall. In moments, she became lost among the other party goers. I didn't even notice Gregory and Geno return.
"Ouch, how'd that go?" Gregory asked.
I replied by taking his wine glass, as mine was now empty, and finishing off whatever remnants he had left. "I need to get very drunk, very fast."
Yes, it was extremely out of character for me, but at the time, I couldn't think of a better escape. My conversation with Camille would've amused me if she hadn't brought up Ludwig's mother. Monika had been a driving force behind almost every single one of our arguments, and now, years after our divorce, her name still brought up bitter feelings between us.
So for the rest of the evening, the three of us continued to drink until we couldn't walk straight. I had lost track of Ludwig, but figured he couldn't get into too much trouble wandering around the castle. My excellent photographic memory became spotty that night, and I didn't remember much of what went on, aside from some horsing around in a drunken stupor. One incident I did remember more clearly was when the three of us went to sit in one of the palace's many lounging rooms, where we'd be by ourselves and could act rowdy without disturbing anyone. All I needed was my name as a headline in the local supermarket tabloid, making a complete fool out of myself.
When the three of us stumbled into the empty room–or what we thought was the empty room–we found the Crown Prince and Princess. They appeared startled at our entrance. In front of them were several trays of food, which I'm sure they stole from the party. Also there were two glasses of what looked like red wine. I highly doubted it was fruit juice.
Princess Victoria peered up at us with an irritated look on her face, as if she was offended that we interrupted them. Ludwig just looked startled, instantly pushing away his glass. Gregory, Geno, and myself were laughing to ourselves for no apparent reason while we managed to find seats.
"Kamek," Ludwig cautiously started. "Are you okay?"
"Louie, they're plastered." the princess nonchalantly replied.
"I guess I've had a little too much to drink." I shook my now throbbing head. "Ugh, I think it's time to go home, Ludwig."
He was not happy with my request, but did not protest. Upon seeing the boy look at me like he did, I grew disgusted with myself. I was supposed to be a role model for him, and there I was, intoxicated to the point where I could barely act coherently. After saying our "good-byes", Ludwig helped me get onto the airship and into the cabin. Geno was a bit better off than me, and had little trouble taking care of himself. Through a drowsy haze, I apologized to the prince repeatedly. I had not planned for him to see me like that. He initially shrugged it off, but I think he was more angry at me for forcing him to leave the party early. On the ride home, I started to feel physically sick. My head ached, and a persistent case of nausea swept over me. Ludwig watched me, worried. Thinking back on it now, I was quite proud at the time of how mature he acted.
"Tell me, Ludwig," I said, rubbing my forehead. "That wasn't fruit juice in your glass, was it?"
"Heh, what does it matter?" He faced me, a grin now evident on his lips. "You're the one who's drunk."
"Touche." I smiled to myself before shutting my eyes.
We returned to the castle without any further incident. The Crown Prince walked me to my room before departing to his quarters. Once alone, I collapsed onto my bed without even bothering to remove my clothes. The feeling of depression from earlier hit me again in my dark room, where my thoughts returned to the conversation I had with Camille. Monika's presence, even after her death, loomed large over my marriage. As much as I despised my ex-wife, she had every reason to not trust me.
My memories transported me back to the brief interlude I had shared with Monika on the balcony of her castle, where we kissed for the second time. She had told me about King Bowser departing on a business trip of sorts, then proceeded to indirectly invite me to her bedchamber the night he'd be away. As a married person myself, I should have instantly refused her offer, but the wedding vows I had taken were no longer sacred to me.
Everything that evening had gone by so perfectly that I couldn't refuse. Camille decided to visit her mother on a spur of the moment vacation, which left me alone in our home. Back then, in my early days as a councilman, I did not live at the castle with the king. That honor was granted to me when I became Head Administrator. Without a second thought, I departed for the castle, leaving behind any last minute feelings of guilt. Since I was a member of the king's council, I was not questioned about entering the palace at a conspicuous time. Sneaking into the queen's private chambers proved easy as well, as she was not a big fan of having guards around, or anything of the like. Prince Ludwig resided in there too, but it was late at night, and he already had been put to bed.
I reached Monika's closed door and raised my hand to knock, but I unexpectedly hesitated. At twenty-six years old, I was in a hateful marriage and ready to initiate something which I knew damn well was dangerous. I quickly contemplated the outcome of my soon-to-be actions. When I realized that I didn't care how things turned out between me and Camille in the end, I knocked on the door. Her voice called out seconds later, to which I quietly replied that it was me. The next thing I heard was the sound of the door unlocking, and her face appearing as she opened it halfway. She had to be expecting me.
"Get in here before you're seen." she whispered, grabbing me by my shirt and pulling me inside. Behind us she shut the door. I scanned the large room over in awe, trying to direct my attention away from the butterflies now forming in my stomach.
"I just put Ludwig to bed." she explained. "His nanny may still be around, even though I dismissed her earlier."
"I see. How is the little prince?"
"He's fine." She paused to laugh. "He's in the terrible two's now."
"Ah, I've heard that's a difficult age."
I caught my eyes then focusing on her in the dimly lit room. She had a lamp on the night stand lit, but I wasn't paying attention to that. The queen had already changed into her nightclothes, which consisted of a pretty white nightgown, not unlike anything my wife may have worn. Then again, Monika looked much better in it than Camille ever could. Seeing her like that caused me to lose any ounce of self-control I had left. It's like she read my mind.
"I'm glad you're here."
"So am I." I caught myself choking on my own words. "I just needed to see you."
"Well," she smirked, taking a few steps closer to me. "Here I am."
Without further hesitation, I leaned down to kiss her passionately. Expecting my advances, she kissed me back with an equal hunger. My hands had found their way to her waist, where I clutched the fabric of her nightgown tightly. Hers were holding me close, pulling me in to deepen our embrace and kiss. After several minutes, I had to tear myself away from her. My action surprised even me.
"Where's your wife?" she asked, as a hint of rare bitterness escaped her.
"By her mother. ...I don't even want to think of her now."
"The same goes for my husband. Gods Kamek, I don't feel in the least bit guilty right now. Is that so wrong of me?"
"No, it's not wrong, because I feel the same way."
"Then just kiss me."
She reached up and our lips met for a second time. I took her in my arms and began to pull her over to the bed's direction. She didn't object when I placed my grip under her bottom in order to pick her up, but instead giggled between kisses. I couldn't help but do the same. I felt like an innocent sixteen year old boy, knowing that I was about to do something very bad. Gently, I placed her down on bed, where she pulled me down on top of her. I politely kept my hands from wandering anywhere on her body without her permission, although I felt a side of me I rarely showed wake up. Camille would have been stunned if I ever took the initiative with her as fiercely as I did with Monika. My sexuality was a private issue with me, and despite being a man, getting such a strong reaction like that out of me was like pulling teeth. At least, that's how Camille thought of it. With Monika, everything was different
I squeezed her waist tightly. She reciprocated by digging her fingernails into the back of my shirt. I couldn't take it anymore. My mouth traveled down to her neck, where she let her head fall back so I could cover her throat with kisses. Sadly, I couldn't even remember the last time I had smothered a woman with so much affection, but then again, I never wanted another woman as badly as I wanted her. Suddenly, it felt like my hands had a mind of their own, as I felt them slip down her waist, passed her hips, and stop at the hem of her nightgown, just above her knees. I allowed them to slide under and slowly glided them up her legs, causing her gown to move up as well in the process. Her skin felt incredibly soft against my palms. By that time, I had become so drunk in the moment that all I could think of was pleasuring her in every way possible. With Camille, it was more like as quickly as possible.
When my hands had reached her waist again, revealing her panties, I felt her start to untuck my dress shirt from out of my pants. I responded by pressing another kiss to her lips as hard as I could. After a few more moments, I decided to be even more daring by permitting my right hand to wander down to her legs again, where I gently parted her thighs. Then, as suddenly as everything had happened, just as I was about to slip my fingers up her inner thigh and into the most...desirable part of her anatomy, she broke our kiss and pushed me away. Like a splash of ice cold water, the reality of the situation hit me. I instantly backed off and away from her, scooting over to the far side of the bed. She stared at me, her blue eyes wide. Her hand was now clutching something that she had been wearing around her neck. I was unsure of what it was.
"Gods Monika, I'm so sorry. This has gone on long enough. I... I'll leave now." Words betrayed me at that moment. Humiliated, I was about to get up and fix my shirt when she spoke.
"You don't recognize your own gift to me?"
Dumbfounded by her inquiry, I watched as she opened up her hand for me to see the bauble she was holding on to. There was the sapphire ring I had given her as a birthday gift a few years ago. Through all the commotion of the evening, I didn't even notice that she was wearing it on a chain around her neck.
"I like to put it on when my husband isn't around." she continued. I watched in silence as she removed the necklace. A sinking feeling developed in my stomach once I realized that she was about to return it to me. Shyly, I held out my palm in order to receive it. She ignored my actions and proceeded to then remove the sapphire ring from its chain. Then, to my bewilderment, she took off her own wedding ring from King Bowser that she wore on her left hand and put it on the table next to the bed.
"Tonight," she said, slipping my ring onto her finger. "You are my husband."
Before I could react, she pounced over to my side of the bed and kissed me so hard that she knocked us both over. Without going into any further detail, it goes without saying that the night her and I shared was the best night of my life. Unfortunately, it was the only opportunity her and I ever had to be so intimate. We continued to meet in secret until her death, but nothing much else came out of it, except for more embraces and promises made that went left unfulfilled. I remember holding her in the darkness of the room as she begged me to stay for the rest of the night. I would have been a fool to turn her down, even if it risked getting caught in the morning. As soon as I could see the sun's rays peeking through the windows, I knew it was time to leave. Monika guided me through the rooms of her chambers, where with each corner we turned, I dreaded seeing someone standing there. If we had been caught by Bowser, not only would I have lost my job, but I probably would have lost my head! When we were almost out, one of Monika's ladies-in-waiting popped up from out of nowhere. I felt myself suck in a long breath out of fear. Upon seeing us, she first looked startled. Then, as she exchanged glances with the queen, her expression turned into a sly smile.
"Believe me, our secret's safe with her." Monika explained to me as she guided me out of her chambers. She pressed a kiss to my lips before disappearing inside. "No matter how far love seems, I'll always be at your side. Never forget that."
After a painful good-bye, I swiftly returned home, where the first thing I did dismiss our servant, who eyed me suspiciously as I darted throughout the house. I had to lie and tell him that I was at the castle all night on business. Once he had left, I took a long shower. My body was still saturated with her scent, and all I needed from Camille was more harping about why I smelled like another woman. I also managed to wash the clothes I had worn the previous night in an effort to destroy any trace of Monika that may have been left behind. The most I got from my wife that afternoon was why didn't I bother to wash her dirty laundry as well.
Reliving such a happy moment of my life in my thoughts brought my mind at ease. I wasn't so alone in my empty room anymore. Just one lingering feeling–aside from nausea-- remained, and it was regret. I regretted that I let the love of my life slip through my fingers. In the past, there had been many times when I imagined what things may have been like if I married her instead of Camille. Of course, if that had happened, there would no Crown Prince. Ludwig was King Bowser's most finest and worthwhile accomplishment, in my humble opinion. Since it's impossible to go back in time to correct my mistakes, I will make damn sure that no one else I care about repeats them.
Sleep finally claimed me, putting my beleaguered brain to rest. The following morning, I awoke to a severe hangover, and as much as I hated to do it, I cancelled Council deliberations for the day. I was too sick to deal with the bickering of a bunch of infantile, greedy politicians. Geno was the only one who understood why I did what I did, but wisely kept the truth to himself. Later on in the afternoon, I searched for Prince Ludwig. There was something I needed to give him. Plus, I needed to apologize about the previous evening...while sober, this time. I found the boy alone in his mother's library, seated comfortably in a chair with his legs folded under him. A book rested on his lap, and he seemed so into it that he almost didn't notice me enter.
"What are you reading?" I asked, slowly stepping into the room. For some reason, Monika's library always seemed like restricted territory to me. It was almost like I had to be invited in. Perhaps it was because of the connection the room had with the prince. As a child, he used to talk to the large painting of his mother that hung above the north wall of the library. At the time, I thought she wasn't answering him back. Apparently, I was very wrong. Now, Ludwig denies still talking to the painting at the ripe old age of twelve, but he does enjoy spending his free time in the room as often as possible.
"Just something on Dark World's history." He closed the book. "So, how's the hangover?"
I chuckled. "Eh, I've felt better. ...Ludwig, I'm so sorry about last night. I've never been so embarrassed...not because it happened in front of Gregory and Geno, but because it happened in front of you."
"Don't worry about it." the prince shrugged. "I'm just glad you didn't barf on me."
His comment made me laugh loudly. I regained my composure and stuck my hand in my pants pocket.
"There's something I want to give you. It's something very important."
He appeared baffled at my serious tone. "...What is it?"
I pulled up an empty chair next to Ludwig and took a seat. "It's something that was once very dear to me...it was your mother's. Here, hold out your hand."
When he did, I produced the object out from my pocket and placed it in the center of his open palm.
"Wow." He raised an eyebrow. "What a pretty ring."
"Yes, I had given it to your mom as a token of our friendship."
"Boys don't give girls rings as a sign of friendship..." His words trailed off. He knew exactly my motives behind giving Monika the piece of jewelry. Knowing that he knew made me feel slightly nervous. After all, this was his mother we were talking about.
"Well, the reason why I'm giving you it is because I want you to promise me something."
The boy remained confused, but complied. "...What?"
"I want you to promise me that one day, you will give this to the love of your life." I then closed his fist around the ring. "You can give it to her as an engagement ring, or just as a regular gift–whatever, that's up to you. But the woman you give this to, you will do everything in your power to protect, to be with, to love for the rest of your life. Promise me you will never let true love pass you by, as it did me."
Poor Ludwig proceeded to stare at me like I had suddenly grown a second head. I had never seen such a look on a child before in my life. Under any other circumstances, it would have been comical. His mouth was clenched tightly shut, and his eyebrow remained raised.
"Ludwig," I begged. "Promise me this!"
"Umm...okay." he slowly answered. At his age, he probably had no idea what I was talking about, but in time, I knew he'd understand. "But I'm afraid I'll lose it."
"No you won't. I trust you. Just keep it until the time is right."
"...I'll keep it in my sock drawer for now."
"And don't let anyone else know you have it."
"I won't." He opened up his hand to examine the object. "My mom wore this?"
"Yes, when your father wasn't around."
"Then I won't let him see."
"Good."
The boy tilted his head to the side as he continued to look at the ring.
"Mom just told me something, Kamek."
"What?" I grew anxious.
"She wants me to tell you that she'll always be by your side, no matter how far love seems." He blinked. "...That's some heavy stuff right there."
His message caused a feeling of warmth to spread throughout my entire body. It must have been relief, or perhaps even approval. Monika must have agreed with my decision to give her son the ring.
"And Ludwig, promise me one more thing. When you find that special girl, tell her that you love her. I...I never got a chance to."
"Love? ...Ewww." His reaction was what I would have gotten out of any preteen boy, yet I was still dead serious with my requests.
"Ludwig!"
"Fine! All this talk is boggling my fragile mind." He shook his head. One thing I admired about the prince was his ability to stick sarcasm and humor in otherwise serious situations. Those who did not know him very well dismissed him as an emotionless adult stuck in a child's body, but I knew better. When prompted, he came out with some of the best one-liners I've ever heard. I suppose it was my scathing style of humor rubbing off on him.
"Fair enough." I slapped my knees and stood up. "How's Victoria?"
"She's fine."
"What did she do at the party after we left?"
"She got her cat drunk"
"Ah," I frowned. "Sounds like something she'd do. How's the cat?"
"Hungover."
"That makes the two of us."
"Did my father see you like that?"
"Oh, gods no! What I do in my private time is none of his business, anyway. Even stuffy politicians like myself are allowed to let loose once and a while."
"At least you had an excuse for acting like a jerk last night. Bowser doesn't have any excuse for acting the way he does."
I opened up my mouth to respond, then couldn't think of anything to say. Ludwig was right. I decided to leave it at that. Scolding him for anything negative said about his father was not really my concern anymore. He was old enough to see through the king's shallow exterior, and had formulated his own opinion of him without any outside influences. While in front of the boy, I tried not to badmouth his father. I also tried not to encourage Ludwig when he said something bad. Sadly, all I could do was agree.
In the evening hours, I took to reviewing some legal documents in the empty Council meeting chamber. About halfway through some papers on the kingdom's deficit, I heard a light knock on the door. The room's huge size caused the sound to echo around me, nearly scaring me half to death.
Surprised and confused at the same time, I quickly set the files aside.
"You don't have to knock," I called. "Please come in."
"But I thought the king had to be invited by the Council to enter this chamber, Head Administrator?" The sardonic quality of the voice startled me even more than the voice's owner did.
"Ah, your Majesty," I greeted, getting to my feet. "You don't have to follow that protocol when I'm in here by myself. Please come in."
I watched as the king stepped inside the chamber, wearing a wily grin on his face. I wasn't sure how to take it. Truthfully, his presence annoyed me. I was in the middle of something and preferred to be left alone.
"How are you feeling this evening, Kamek?" His question was asked in such a way to arouse suspicion from me.
"...I feel all right."
"That's nice, because I heard last night you had quite a good time in Alteria." he said, taking a seat at one of the many empty desks.
I was caught off guard. Immediately I began to wonder how he found out about that in the first place. Before I could give him any answer, he silenced me.
"I have my ways of finding these things out. It's not very comforting to know that not only were you invited to a lavish party at my ally's palace, but that you enjoyed yourself a little too much. I'll have to send King Leirelat my regards."
If he wanted to mess with me, then I was prepared to do the same.
"How's the arm, your Highness?" I knew alluding to the burn his own son had left on him four months ago would sting him where it hurt.
Almost protectively, he placed a hand over the spot under his sleeve where the scar was. "Kamek, you and I have not been cooperating lately as we should be cooperating. You hold the second highest position in Dark World, and I feel that you and I...we're not doing our jobs correctly."
After the burning incident in May, the king and I had a huge argument. At the time, it felt good to get things off my chest and speak my mind, even if it jeopardized the delicate relationship we shared. It was now evident we no longer liked each other, but our positions forced us to work together, but lately, it was more like we were working against one another.
"Yes, despite our differences, I do agree with you."
"Which is why I came here to talk to you. Before, you complained about me going behind your back with things in the Council. Now, I'd like to set the record straight."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Well, there's an issue I believe that needs some taking care of."
At first, I figured he was referring to the Alteria/Oceanside situation, which was an issue long ignored in our Council for months now.
"You've got my attention."
"It has to do with Dark World's succession."
"Dark World's succession?" I was taken back. " I wasn't aware that there was an issue with it. What about it?"
"I've been doing a lot of thinking, Kamek, and I've come to the realization that Ludwig may not be suitable to be king one day."
"What? Why do you say that?" I stammered through my initial shock.
"He retreats into his own little world half of the time. I doubt he thinks much of being a future monarch. Honestly Kamek, I think he could care less. By removing him from the line of succession, I think I'll be doing him a favor."
"You can't be serious! He's only twelve years old! Give him time to grow up before making such a decision. Lemuel wouldn't be capable of such a task!"
"In his place, I'd like to put Lemuel. His mother is queen of Dark World, and I think that my people would like to see him on the throne. She's been my wife for ten years now, and she's who most of my subjects remember."
"Are you insinuating that they wouldn't recall you having a first wife?"
"It's just that her memory is almost forgotten by the people, and Ludwig is the only thing left... Besides, I think that the people would be more afraid of him if he were their king."
"Afraid?"
King Bowser again clutched his scarred arm. "His powers are unstable, causing fear among our subjects. Who wants someone in power who can barely control his own abilities? Forget about the political aspect of it! Marrying him off would even prove more difficult! The only prospect I had for him was destroyed when her father started hating me. Ludwig has to deal with his own demons first before he could even consider ruling Dark World."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. First he slandered Monika's name, then he went on to throw away his firstborn son because he was a symbol of the deceased queen. Whatever excuses Bowser created to change the line of succession, all of them were a bunch of lies. The real reason was his own jealousy over his eldest son. It was also a direct hit at me, who he remained bitter at because of my relationship with his late wife. By stripping Ludwig of his title as Crown Prince, he would be defaming both the boy and Monika. There was no way I was going to sit idle and let it happen.
"No, you can't do that. You don't even have the ability to do that. It's the Council's decision ultimately, your Majesty." I mentally yelled at myself for referring to Bowser with that title. He wasn't worthy of it. "And the Council is under my jurisdiction."
"Well, the councilmen can be easily swayed, you know that. Many of them see eye-to-eye with me anyway, Kamek."
"I have new allies within the Council now. I will not allow this to happen."
"I don't want to argue this any further. You were the one complaining about me hiding things from you, so here I am, telling it to your face."
"I see that, but I believe there are more important issues at hand, like the situation with Oceanside and Alteria. Matters of succession should be secondary at this time."
He ignored my plea. "Next week I'd like to start deliberations, Kamek. You discuss it with the other councilmen, and when you're ready, allow me to address the Council on my behalf."
With that, I let the king walk out of the chamber. I was too angry to continue fighting with him, and opted that it was best to let him leave rather than have me say something I'd probably regret. Frustrated, I sent a cool blast of wind across the room, slamming the heavy door shut in Bowser's wake. His recent attitude has done nothing but aggravate my nerves. When I first took my position as Head Administrator, the king and I got along fairly well, since we had been friends for several years before he even ascended to the throne. Now I hardly recognized him. He had grown so arrogant ever since he came into power. Even though we were both around the same age, he reminded me of a snotty teenager with all of his threats. It pained me that I couldn't do anything about him directly. I'd have to take an indirect approach.
I turned my back to sort out the papers on my desk when I felt the presence of someone else in the chamber, even though I did not hear the door move. Whirling around, I saw the Crown Prince staring at me from the middle of the room. His ability to walk through walls and doors was one his favorite aspects of his powers. He held the same history book he had been reading earlier against his chest, decked out with his usual disheveled appearance. The ripped jeans he wore were too long on him, and I could catch a glimpse of his bare toes sticking out from under the frayed hems. He looked like any other ordinary boy his age, and not like the future king he was destined to be.
"I heard everything, Kamek." he started. He let his chin drop as he eyed the floor. "I just wanted to give you this book, because I just finished reading it and thought you'd like to read it next. Then I heard his voice in here and hid. ...I see he wants to erase my existence too."
"Ludwig..." I now felt terrible. What King Bowser said was horrible enough, but to have the Crown Prince overhear it was even worse. "You know that as long as I'm around, I would never allow such a thing to happen."
"I know... It just hurt, hearing him say those things. I...I know him and I don't get along, but for him to say things like that about me and my mom to you really bothered me."
"Your father only says those things because he knows the impact of his words. He said it to upset us both."
"I wonder why he thinks I'll be so incompetent when I grow up."
"Well, I remember when you were younger, you were pretty adamant about not wanting to become king. Maybe he still sees you in that way, but still, it's wrong of him."
"But I do want to be king!" he shouted, picking his head up. The eagerness in his voice caught me by surprise. "Someone's going to have to correct all the wrongs Bowser's done, and that someone should be me. I need to do it, Kamek. I need to do it for Dark World, and most of all, I need to do it for my mom's memory."
"Those are some very mature words coming from you, young man." I was proud of him for taking such a stance against his father. Although he was young, he was wise beyond his years. He realized that one day, the kingdom would depend on him, but in order for that to happen, I had to do my part. "For now, I wouldn't pay much mind to your father's proposal. You know that it has to pass through the Council...and you know who the head of the Council is."
"You."
"That's right. I may have enemies among the councilmen, but I can be quite persuasive when I want to be. Now I have Geno too, who supports me wholeheartedly. My position is mine for life, and as much as your father will grow to hate me, he'll never be able to get rid of me."
"Sounds familiar..."
"Now, give me that book you wanted me to look at. Reading over these legal papers is too boring for words."
Over the next few weeks, everything in my power must be done to prevent King Bowser's proposal from passing through the Council. Just the thought of Lemuel becoming king one day was frightening. Not to knock the boy, but he was hardly the kingly material his elder brother was made out of. Ludwig was highly intelligent, mature, and could be cunning when needed. Since he has expressed a desire to rule one day, I believe soon will be a good time to start bringing him to Council meetings, where he'll be able to see what really goes on in Dark World's government. King Bowser, as much as he must hate to admit it, is not a monarch with absolute power. Everything political that happens in our kingdom has to pass through the Council first before it can be approved. It is my turn to start speaking out more in order to let my opinions known among the councilmen who do not share my views. Many of them side with the king for reasons unknown to me. It is a shame that I cannot even trust my own councilmen and have to be leery about their true motives. I made a promise to Ludwig that I would do everything in my power to protect him, and I'd rather see myself destroyed first before ever breaking it.
Yeah this chapter was nine months in the making. I have no excuse for taking so long, except that graduate school is a bitch, but I do hope that everyone enjoyed it! I bet you all didn't expect Kamek to act in such ways. There's a dark side to everyone, dammit. As always, reviews and comments are welcome. I simply love this story to death, and appreciate your ideas. ...Unless if all you have is negative feedback. Then you can shove it up your ass. Feel free to go to my website too! Until the next, biatches!