To All My Readers: Sorry for the long wait- this marks the next stage of the story, and it was difficult to connect the subplots and make everything flow smoothly! So once again, please forgive me, it was HARD planning all this! But prepare for the next stage of the fic- drama, scandal, revenge, obsession, spookiness, romance and humour.
To 1st Guest Reviewer: Robert is definitely growing more jealous from now on. Remember, he's not an entirely black-and-white character, and because of that, anyone else who is (like Aglaia's family) are forced to be the same to take drastic measures to keep him in power. He has powerful allies now, allies who really wouldn't take very well to have someone else like Cyrus or even Liam on the throne. He'll show more and more of his dark side as the story progresses.
To Brookeworm3: I AM SO SORRY! I did not mean for this next stage of the story to be so long in coming! But here it is!
To 2nd Guest Reviewer: I have been thinking about that. Maybe in a later chapter, this stage of the plot needs to take-off!
To JulietLovesStories: Thank you for sharing your opinion. And no- remember, Royals itself isn't very accurate. Would a British prince like Liam be so terribly-versed in his own family's histories (Henry the Eighth did not have his wife beheaded because she was fat) nor would the real House of Windsor have gotten away with half the things the Henstridges have- they live in a goldfish bowl. But this is a blend of truth and fiction, so if the Henstridges aren't a real royal house, neither are Aglaia's family. And Robert isn't as golden as he is when he is with his wife and kids.
To Superdani4Ever: I'm so SOOOORRRRYYY to keep you waiting! As I've mentioned above, we are currently entering the next stage of the story. There may be a time gap soon enough when we see the triplets older and so forth, having to deal with this mess, so I hope you enjoy the cute baby moments!
Alexios is definitely happy now. It may surprise you to know that he actually has more in common with Robert than anyone could have imagined. The two men are constantly at the edge of dark and light here, and while he detests it, he's willing to do a little evil in order to ensure a greater good. Same with Anastasia. It's sad really, but Aglaia marrying into such a family has propelled them in order to take drastic actions to keep her, her babies and her husband (the only one capable of keeping them safe and their positions and reputations secure and clean). As for Arinya, she has another reason to despise Len- keep reading! Sadly, Aglaia has been abused, but she's grown stronger because of it.
Robert and Alexios are at least two or three steps ahead of everyone- that's what makes them so dangerous. They're also quite vindictive- that's scary.
Disclaimer: I don't own Royals- that's E!
By hook or by crook this peril too shall be something that we remember
Aglaia strode out, wearing her ball gown, adorned with a matching parure or a set of jewels, the rose in her hand.
"Who entered our suite of rooms?" She demanded breathlessly.
The manservant blinked. "No one, your majesty." He answered.
"Are you sure?" Her eyes narrowed. "Not even to clean while we were at the ceremony?"
He shook his head. "Certain, your majesty."
Aglaia tried to keep calm.
"What is it?" Robert asked, concerned. Aglaia forced a smile up at him. "Nothing." But they both knew it wasn't that.
Yet now was not the time and place for such things. They proceeded to leave.
In the shadows a very handsome man with auburn hair and grey-blue eyes watched them.
"Robert," Aglaia hissed quietly as the happy couple began to cut their wedding cake.
"Yes?" He turned. "I need to speak with you." She said in an urgent voice.
"What?!" He demanded, alarmed as they spoke further away from the ballroom.
"He was there." She stated. "I know it. I know it because only he ever left something like that on my bed. Nobody else knew who made it or who did it; I questioned the palace staff. Nobody went around putting sugar roses in people's bedrooms today."
Robert tried to breathe normally. This was a joke; a very bad joke.
But damn, it wasn't. You see, a lot of people had been popping back from the dead lately, including him, and he couldn't damn well be sure.
But the thought of his wife's ex- the guy that nearly cost her, her life before he had even met her… What if that guy had succeeded? Robert demanded to himself. If he had…
And if he was still alive…
The ice in Robert's blood was beyond description.
"Robert I am telling you, I am NOT out of my mind," Aglaia insisted.
Robert stared at her. "I'm not saying that you are," he tried to soothe her. Normally this would have worked- it worked for the twins, it worked for his mother, it worked for Cyrus, it worked for their children. But Aglaia brushed his hand aside easily.
"No one else knows about that." She stated bluntly, turning to face the window.
"Not even the maids that clean your room."
"I cleaned my own room," Aglaia noted dryly. "Even when I was grown. I cleaned and polished my musical instruments, I made my beds and did my laundry, unless I was really busy and I had to pay someone with my own money if I was. No one else knew about those sugar roses. Not even my parents."
Robert then froze. "So why tell me?" He asked, trying to keep the acid from growing in his voice.
If Aglaia noticed it she didn't give any indication.
"He's supposed to be dead." She said bluntly, pacing up and down. "He's supposed to be dead." She repeated as if trying to convince herself.
Whatever feelings Robert had before seeing his wife's reaction was brushed aside.
"Hey," he tried to soothe her. "He's supposed to be dead," she whispered. He pulled her close but could feel her shaking.
"So why is he still alive?" "Shush." He kissed her neck. "He's not alive. I am yours, and you are mine." He murmured into her ear. "He will never come back."
But neither of them could ignore the terrible feeling.
One week later, back in England…
Liam jolted awake.
For a moment he could have sworn…
Liam… Liam…
Was that… His name?
Carefully, very carefully, he got out of his room. Holding his torch aloft, Liam saw nothing.
Then he jumped and nearly gave a yelp. Eleanor squeaked, and Jasper was pushing her behind him, eyes wide and alert as he took in the form of the prince.
"Liam."
"Jasper, Len." Liam said in disbelief. "You… Did you hear something?"
Len frowned. "Yeah. I thought I did."
Jasper frowned. "I don't hear anything."
Liam and Len turned. "It came from that way," Len suggested.
Liam held his torch. "Wait." Jasper insisted. He held out his own torch, his gun at the ready. Liam almost rolled his eyes. The three of them went up behind him.
They passed Helena's bedroom. "What's going on out there?!" A cross-sounding Helena emerged, in her dressing gown, her hair mussed. "What are you three doing? Why are you making that noise?"
"Mum- we're not doing anything." Eleanor insisted. "Liam and I heard something. Or someone."
"What?" Helena nearly squeaked. "You heard it too? I hoped- I thought it was you."
Len and Liam shook their heads. "No."
Crouching, the queen mother went up behind the three and crouched behind them.
"What the hell's going on?" Helena demanded. "And how are we supposed to know?" Liam retorted. "Well, one of you is the security expert. Is it a burglar?" She asked.
Jasper shook his head. "Whatever it is…" He muttered.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Cyrus scowled, emerging from his suite. "Can't a Once and Future King get some sleep amidst all this nonsense?"
"Oh, shut up." Helena snapped. "There's a burglar or an assassin in here."
"What?!" Cyrus jumped and paled, even in the dark. "You're joking."
Helena told him to shut up.
They tiptoed on creaking floorboards throughout the palace.
"What's going on?" Robert demanded, opening his bedroom door. "Ask your mother and your delightful siblings." Cyrus rolled his eyes. "There's an assassin in the palace."
"WHAT?!" "SH!" They retaliated. He stared at them. "You've got to be kidding."
"An assassin or a burglar," Jasper admitted. "We don't know."
"Then why are they coming with you?" Robert asked incredulously. Jasper opened his mouth, then turned and stared at the three royals behind him.
"Yeah. What are you doing coming after me?"
They stared at each other.
Robert sighed. "Let me guess: they're afraid of the dark."
"Am not!" Cyrus sniffed. Robert snorted. "Then why aren't you staying in your room? Or better yet, using the underground tunnels to escape?"
Cyrus opened his mouth, then shut it. "We're not terrified," Helena grumbled. "We just want to beat the life out of anyone who thinks he can steal anything that belongs to us- whether it's our jewels or our lives."
"Your jewellery safe is that way," Robert inclined his head in the opposite direction, leaning against the doorframe.
"You do realise that, don't you?"
"What's going on?" Aglaia moaned.
"They think there's an assassin or a burglar," Robert said, shaking his head.
"You're joking." Aglaia moaned. Robert rolled his eyes in response. "I'll get the babies." Robert sighed. "Call the nannies, actually. They might prove useful in this situation." he said, making Jasper and Liam cringe.
"Why don't we turn on the lights and alert the security?" She grumbled. "Call them?" They stared at her, Liam, Helena and Cyrus. Why didn't they think of that?
But Jasper shook his head. "Too risky," he muttered. "Might scare them away."
"Fine." She muttered, they headed out. Then a thump echoed throughout the empty space.
"What's that?" Len hissed, jumping slightly. Jasper pointed his gun in the direction she indicated.
"It sounded like…" Jasper frowned. "Like someone-"
Then footsteps echoed. The ominous sound of footsteps like the footfalls of doom, echoing in ghastly terror in the air all around them, making them freeze.
"I don't hear anything." Robert said stubbornly.
Nobody else (apart from his sleepy wife) were so sure.
They kept on going.
Through the empty corridors.
And then-
BAM! A loud, very annoying, wailing siren roared in the air, making Aglaia instinctively pull Robert back.
Lucky, because nobody else was that close to her. Len stumbled back onto her mother who was surprised and stumbled back against a wall, grabbing the nearest people- the twins- instinctively to pull herself upright. Instead the wall caved in and the three of them fell back through and then the wall closed up behind them.
Jasper began yelling into his walkie-talkie, pounding on the wall (a hidden passageway, obviously) while inside the three of them were experiencing something very different.
Liam sniffed. "Ugh, what's that smell?" He complained.
"Maybe you." Len snarked.
"Oh, shut up." He helped his mother to her feet. "Mum, where does this lead to?"
Helena stared at him. "You're asking me?"
Liam silently cursed himself. "Well, you're the queen, aren't you? Surely you must have wondered a bit in some secret corridors when you're… Wreaking your queenly complaints."
Helena gaped. "What are you, are you my son or a republican?"
"Come on, we don't have time, we need to get back." Len scowled. She headed left.
Aglaia closed her eyes. "Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse," she muttered in Greek.
The security guards had pulled her aside, as gently as they could, while they tried to open up the secret passageway again- how did they do that?
And meanwhile Aglaia was headed to the nurseries to check on the babies. They had begun sleeping through the nights now.
But then something caught her eye:
It was a blue daisy… tied to a bracelet.
Aglaia froze and so did her insides before they dropped into a deep, bottomless pit.
After wandering for hours, struggling to find a way out, the twins and their mother managed to find a way out.
It was rather embarrassing. But what was more disconcerting, was just how jumpy and pale Aglaia had become.
The triplets were now reaching their first birthday, and her mother was coming over.
For the children's sake, it appeared that Helena and Anastasia were getting along…
For now.
"Dimitri, you know I don't like it when you're so… Secretive." Anastasia frowned, as she took the offered glass and gave a delicate sip. "I am your mother. I get worried."
Dimitri gave a mechanical smile and settled behind his desk.
"If you're referring to my budding relationship with my dear lovely Miss Willow, then I must state that we are in a rather slow pace," Dimitri said smoothly, masking his annoyance at his mother's… Intrusiveness. No doubt she meant well, but good grief. He wondered how Aglaia managed to tolerate it, it would have driven anyone mad.
"On the other hand, if you're referring to my work, I must put in that it's my job to be so secretive." Dimitri stated, rather bluntly, retaking his seat. He eyed his mother from behind his desk. "I've just given my congratulations to Alexios and Artemisia. Another niece or nephew. The family is growing."
"Yes," Anastasia admitted. "But it still does not excuse you from your royal duties, even if it pushes you down the line."
Dimitri scoffed. "So that's why you're here, Mother? To remind me of my royal duties?" He tried to clamp down on the sarcasm.
"No, just to ask for a few favours." His mother replied, taking him completely by surprise.
"A few favours?" He arched an elegant brow. "Which ones?"
"About your sister," she admitted. "And her children."
Dimitri's eye twitched. "You still think they're in danger? Well, officially it's out of my hands, mother. She's British now." Those words left a sour taste on his tongue. "There's nothing more that I can do, without forcing to collaborate with MI6."
Anastasia frowned. "My son, I know you've been doing things behind the scenes for your baby sister and her children. You might have fooled everyone else, but not me. Remember, I'm your mother. I bore and raised the lot of you. I know that you've been secretly looking out for her, even before she was married."
Dimitri breathed out. She got that right. Admittedly, he was pushing his legal boundaries, but ever since Aglaia insisted- insisted- that she would study in England with little security, he had taken it upon himself to look out for her. Which was how he managed to get a wind on King Robert's interest- no, infatuation or obsession would be a better word- for her. A brief but successful military career had all but ensured him entry to one of the world's leading spy agencies, in spite of his royal status- and his rather conspicuous appearance. But he was pretty sure that this was no longer legal.
Dimitri had been the one to find out that Aglaia's first boyfriend had been a secret member of a fanatical neo-Nazi terrorist group. That group had long been a thorn in everyone's sides. He had rooted him out, dug out every little dirty scrap of evidence, and when she had somehow (he gritted his teeth) involved herself with those damned Henstridges, Dimitri had been the one to personally inform their father, mother and brother. The storms that had gone down were far from the smoothest.
"Mother, surely you don't want me to dig up dirt on Robert, my dear brother-in-law," he stated. "No, I want you to dig up dirt on Cyrus." His mother replied.
Dimitri laughed. "There's only so much dirt you can find, that hasn't been swept under the rug, that is." Which Cyrus had done. Repeatedly.
Like Jeffrey Stewart's fate, for example. And King Simon's body. Oh, and the maids, Violet and Prudence.
"I want more," his mother leaned forwards, blue-grey eyes glinting dangerously. "You know he's going to try to take back the throne. You don't have to be a spy. And your sister- as noble as she was- has earned the ire of his wife and made a deadly enemy for herself."
"I know." Dimitri said, point-blanc. "I know that Veruca, former duchess of Essex is in Swaziland at the current moment, and she's allied herself with her daughter's mother-in-law. I also know, that you were the one who ordered that farce on the triplets' Christening. Care to explain yourself, Mother?"
Anastasia leaned back. "I did what I had to."
"And I did what I could," he shot back. "To cut off any loose ends and sweep up your trails. Against my better judgement. Do you know how crazy and rotten it was? To stage a dangerous fake invasion or coup during your grandchildren's Christening celebrations? How typically Henstridge that sounds like?"
"Maybe that was because it was Helena's idea in the first place." Anastasia retorted, taking him by surprise.
"So you've allied with her," he said calmly. "And the children, your sister and brother-in-law as well as the numerous guests were never in any real danger." She said calmly.
"You targeted Cyrus." He stated. Anastasia inclined her head. "It was a pity I couldn't get Veruca and the old sot was passed out on the concrete."
"Did you do this to frame him?" He asked, suspiciously. "Because it doesn't sound like him." Cyrus was sneaky and ridiculous, but not so blatantly… What? Obvious? Outrageous?
"We did it to ensure our children and grandchildren are safe and alive." Anastasia said with narrowed eyes. "Judge me as you like, Dimitri. You haven't the slightest idea of what I'd do for you."
Dimitri sighed, leaning back against his chair. He stifled a groan.
"And I suppose you want to implicate Liam too?" He challenged. "And how long before you turn against your new ally Helena?"
The Henstridge rot had already begun to infect them.
Anastasia sighed. "I just want you and your siblings and their children safe. Is that too much to ask?" She demanded.
"You can't just sweep away any potential threats." Dimitri retorted. "They could be hit by a bus. Or a chandelier might fall on top of their heads. What's your solution to that?"
Anastasia looked grim. "Just get rid of Cyrus and find Veruca. Shouldn't be too hard- the witch is in Africa, trying to seat her daughter on another throne. But she'll have her revenge on your sister, no doubt. Sooner rather than later, as she perceives Aglaia was the one whose idea it was to exile and disinherit her branch of the family."
That was because she was. Often Dimitri found himself grinding his teeth at how far and how much his sister was willing to go for the Henstridges' sake. Why should they care if their monarchy fell in the first place? Why the heck did she have to marry that ridiculous- he stopped himself from scowling.
"Alexios and Artemisia are expecting their first child," Dimitri reminded. "The Greek line of succession will be secure soon enough. I would have preferred it if Aglaia had married someone else, even the prince of another country, but there's nothing we can do now. Especially as he's the father of your three grandchildren who are still infants and yet to come of age. They'll be absolutely vulnerable without him." Bloody Metaxas, for one, showed no ethics in trying to wipe them out, along with their mother.
"Can you seriously promise me your sister's chances of surviving to old age will be high, living in a place such as that?" His mother challenged. "They already got in past security. They'll get to her soon enough."
Dimitri's eyes flashed. "Not if I can help it."
"Then make sure it doesn't happen. I need your help."
God help me, Dimitri thought sullenly. But his fear and concern over his little sister and her children, as well as his filial obedience towards his mother won out over his sanity and sense of preservation. Scowling, he listened to her plan.
Princess Arinya of Thailand was decked out chicly in a dark blue A-line dress with silver-white diamond patterns and Thai motifs- part modern and part traditional- with short sleeves which she accessorised with a pair of delicate sapphire and diamond-droplet ear pendants, a diamond bracelet and silver clutch. Her makeup was minimal: silvery-blue eyeshadow and glittery lip gloss.
She stunned the crowd and impressed them with her natural talent.
Only moments later, Eleanor Henstridge appeared out of nowhere, greeting the paparazzi all smiles and glamour, whereas Arinya struggled to restrain a scowl.
"Damn her," she muttered in Thai. Her personal assistant nodded. "Why can't she just stay happy wasted and with her private parts open for the world to see? Why did she have to come now?"
Now was the critical moment. She wouldn't let Eleanor Henstridge take anything away from her. Not again.
Not after last time.
Arinya still hadn't forgotten. She hadn't forgiven. She never did.
She would repay Eleanor Henstridge with the same coin.
Aglaia looked elegant and beautiful, as always. But now even more beautiful than ever before. Their first anniversary. And Robert had planned something very special- and quiet.
Far away from the press and media. Damn them all, but they were very intrusive and it was becoming increasingly difficult. It was no secret, there was drama in their lives, but while he looked for the thrill when he was younger, he now realised never to take the luxury of a boring existence for granted.
A pity their lives could never be that.
She'd hurried for the latest royal engagement, and had her hair and makeup done- though she preferred very minimal makeup, if any at all. Donning a gown the colour of midnight, after kissing the babies goodnight, Aglaia had discovered that there was no royal engagement: just an anniversary date.
Robert flashed her a dazzling smile as he handed her a flute of champagne. She took it with a heart-breaking smile of her own and they toasted.
"So, what prompted this?" She looked part-amused, part-surprised.
Robert arched an eyebrow. "Are you surprised that I can play the doting husband? Especially on our wedding anniversary?"
Aglaia looked at him in a way that Robert cherished infinitely more than the worshipful, adoring looks the masses sent his way, as prince and king.
"No, darling." She said softly. "You're the most wonderful, kindest, most amazing person in the whole wide world, and I loved you with all my heart. It's still quite surprising for me, because a few years back, I never thought I would be this lucky. Good grief, I put aside all thoughts of happiness from my mind and focused on doing good deeds as my only means of contentment."
Robert exhaled. "That sounds… Grim. Care to share what happened?"
Aglaia raised an eyebrow. "You know what happened."
"Yes, but…" He paused. "Did you despair so easily? What prompted you to go to England?"
Aglaia was silent and he wondered if he had pressed too far. After all, this was supposed to be a happy occasion.
"There was a wedding," she said softly. "In Corfu, the Achilleion Palace. I was never that lucky with men, Robert. I'm not saying that they cheated on me, and not all of them mistreated me, but in time, I decided it was best if I were to stay single for the rest of my life." She paused, then shook her head. "Guess who changed my mind."
Robert smirked. "And weren't we glad?" He asked, teasingly. "But really," he grew serious. "Who were these men?"
Robert had a good reason for asking Aglaia about this. First off, she'd been having nightmares, though she did her utmost best to hide it. Nightmares, and she'd been jumpy ever since they arrived in the royal palace in Athens- which she actually despised.
Aglaia's explanation was that she had been left there when her parents went for a month overseas on an extended official trip. Quite frankly, that was when she was first abused by that damned nanny of hers.
Robert didn't come to the marriage completely ignorant of Aglaia's background in relationships. As a matter of fact, he knew she had more than one ex. Leonidas Dimitriou was just the easiest one to get out of the picture.
There were others. And despite the fact that he loathed nothing more than to spoil an evening that was exclusively theirs to celebrate together… He had to know.
She took a sip and swirled the champagne around in the flute. "Months before the wedding- one of my family's friends- I had broken off a relationship. There was a man who appeared to love me- or rather, he was more obsessed- to the point of ticking off my security." She twirled a small canapé between her fingers.
"I broke up with Leonidas Dimitriou- that naval captain- because he had become too controlling," she shook her head. "Although anyone can understand jealousy, he was… Beyond paranoid. And then this man comes along." Her beautiful ocean eyes darkened. "Auburn hair. Gorgeous shade, not dyed, or traditional ginger like you'd expect, but rich red-brown. Dark blue eyes." She laughed harshly. "Ultimately it was his sweet nature that won me out. I learned to be infinitely more sceptical after that."
"What did he do?" Robert asked softly. He knew part of the answer of course, but….
She looked disturbed. Actually, Aglaia looked haunted. Her eyes were far older than her form, and it wasn't like her at all.
"He was a member of a nationalist movement- a militaristic, extremist far-right movement. Some call them Nazis. He kept his involvement a secret, because he knew we would never approve, but kept his relationship with me at the same time." Aglaia paused.
The truth was that Robert could never know how close she came to breaking up with him. When she found out his… Doings, and his old girlfriend (Liam and Robert? Seriously?), Aglaia was prepared to leave him.
But she didn't. This one was different. She loved him.
"He kept a good charade. He genuinely wanted this relationship to work. He didn't give up on the party though. Or his fanaticism, though he hid it very well from me. So, it was a double-life, a house of lies. "The only reason I ever found out was because of Dimitri. He showed me everything. All the evidence- first there wasn't much. He was very careful."
Of course. It was Aglaia's second brother, the most unpredictable and one of the most dangerous men Robert had ever encountered, that found out. He'd been in and around Europe enough to know that, while he didn't meet Aglaia until she came to England, Dimitri's name was whispered nearly everywhere. People often raved on about how good-looking the three children of the Greek king were, their accomplishments and so forth, but despite his handsomeness, Dimitri was known for something else. Nobody actually said what it was, but Robert vaguely remembered being in Monaco years before his crash, and seeing a group of people; some minor royals, aristocrats and billionaires' children, whispering about Prince Dimitri and something very suspicious. There were no scandals attached to the names of King Konstantinos' children, but there were rumours, whispers about the second son of the king. Whispers people didn't even dare to repeat out loud.
Robert now knew that Dimitri worked for Greece's intelligence agency- he was far too closely affiliated with them than any royal prince should be.
"I didn't believe it at first. Besides the evidence wasn't… Much. But Dimitri had enough evidence at some point, that it was undeniable. I confronted him."
Her eyes darkened.
"I confronted him and he tried to lie. Then he couldn't deny it anymore." She shook her head. "It was over at that point. I was a princess of Greece, but he also lied to me and lived a terrible life without anyone else knowing. He didn't take the breakup so well. Months later, someone shot at me." Robert stiffened with alarm. "I managed to dodge, and they were arrested, tried and imprisoned. They testified against him and it looked like he had taken his own life."
Aglaia paused. Robert instantaneously grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry I ever asked." He said quietly. "But he's dead and he's never coming back. And if he is, I'll kill him."
He certainly managed to startle her out of it. Soon, he pulled her for a dance and the whole thing was forgotten.
But not by Robert. He remembered. He also remembered something else…
Years earlier…
Robert strode through the halls of the palace his temper not just rising but boiling like magma about to burst through.
"Where is she?" He demanded as soon as he burst into his mother's office and found it vacant. The staff immediately stood and stammered.
"I need to speak with the queen," he said through gritted teeth.
They all looked at each other. "Your…your majesty, the queen is-" Robert's eyes flashed. Spencer looked taken aback. He had never seen Robert like this. Never.
"Now, if you please!" Robert nearly snarled. Temper now boiling more dangerously than ever on a high point, the staff nearly floundered in the face of their normally pleasant king. They nearly wondered if he was possessed.
Robert was possessed- by a fury. He resisted the powerful urge to hurl a table to one side. "Your majesty, I'm sorry, the queen is-"
"WHAT?!" Robert all but demanded. "On a ride? At a function? Sneaking off to the damned shed?!" He shouted. Taking several deep breaths, he struggled to compose himself as the aide went pale and took several steps back. The king had never been so frightening.
Robert gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry. But this is an emergency." To him. He took another deep breath. "If the Queen Helena is not here in twenty minutes-"
"The atmosphere is as tense as crocodile confronted with a chicken, what have I missed?" Helena asked, walking in.
Robert turned on her in an instant. "How could you?" He all but demanded. Helena froze on the spot at her son's unusual… Well, she didn't know what to call it.
"I'm sorry, dear, how could I what?" She asked, confused.
Robert's rage finally showed through on its full force on his face. Helena looked taken aback and took an involuntary step back.
"How could you do this?" He snarled, dangerously like a beast. "You did this, didn't you?"
"Did- what?" Helena demanded, trying desperately to recover her nerve and remain in control of the situation.
"This." Robert held up an open envelope with a letter inside, brandishing it, furiously.
"I- I don't know what this is about-" Helena began.
"Don't lie to me, Mother!" Robert shouted. "I thought she would be here when I got back," he hissed. "You lured me away from the palace, in the guise of an official duty, when as it turns out you removed the woman I love from England as if she was some damned criminal!" His voice rose louder in volume. "You don't think I didn't know? While you did whatever with God-knows-who, at who-knows-where, you were willing to, lure me on the pretext of using my duties, and then chase her away!" He glared heatedly at his mother. "How could you? What is it this time? You knew I had proposed to her," his rage increased. Helena opened her mouth, about to deny everything he had just accused her of. "You've been trailing me, haven't you? Using my own security against me!"
"I- well, you're the king," Helena spluttered. "What if- what if you get hurt? What if your girl turns out-"
"My girl, as you so kindly call her, just so happens to be the daughter of the king of Greece," Robert shot back. "Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Greece and Denmark and titular Princess of Crete. I bet you didn't know that, did you mother?"
Helena looked… Stunned to say the least. "No, Robert, I didn't-"
"Then tell me you didn't do this," he insisted, taking a step forwards. "Because I'm about to contact the king and queen of Greece, and the king of Denmark, to ask for her hand in marriage." He glared at her. "And the Privy Council," he added as an afterthought.
"You're… Going to marry her?" Helena asked aghast. "Robert… I swear, I didn't know-"
"Even if she wasn't some princess," he interrupted. "Do you think I'd care?" He looked anguished, even. "Do you think I'd give a damn?" He shook his head and laughed harshly. "She's the love of my life. And I couldn't care less what people would say about this!" He shoved the doors out of his way and strode away.
Present day, Swaziland…
"Right, Mum." For some reason Maribel didn't look that happy to see her mother, standing there with her mother-in-law.
Maribel was dressed in leopard prints and gold hoop earrings. Her sense of style hadn't gotten less crazy but more… Stylish, her mother supposed. More flair to it. And she eyed her mother with something like suspicion.
"Mum, I…" Maribel scowled. "What are you, um, doing here again?"
Her new husband stood lounged right next to her with his feet sticking up.
Veruca looked at her incredulously. Maribel looked… Disgruntled to say the least.
She opened her mouth and closed it, looking at the mother-in-law of her daughter to at least smooth things out. Veruca's son-in-law looked… Bored.
"We have a plan." The Swazi queen announced. "To put you in the line of succession ahead of your many brothers."
"Wh-" Shabangu stared up at his mother. "You serious?" He asked incredulously.
She glared at him through icy narrowed eyes. "Shabangu," she said sternly. "Need I remind you how many brothers and sisters you have? Right now, nearly two-hundred-and-fifty." Well, that's expected but it's going to present some problems, Veruca thought.
"Out of all of them, the sons from your father's first two wives must be discounted because their mothers were ritual wives. Your father's fourth wife has only daughters, his fifth, sixth and seventh wife all have sons, but one is mentally retarded, another is a hopeless coward who doesn't even have the guts to speak out in public preferring to, literally, run and hide, another has run away from the royal compound with his mother and the rest of his full siblings because apparently, he wants to live a normal life." She all but sneered it. "The rest of your father's sons are too young and leaving aside the sons… The mothers. Your father's first two wives are barred from being Indlovukati or Queen Mother, his sixth has run away, the seventh is appalling at grammar and law-making, and the rest of them are barely out of school with toddlers and babies to look after. How many candidates does that leave?" She asked, acidly.
"Um… You?" Shabangu said, hesitantly. "And… Me?"
"Precisely." His mother's eyes narrowed dangerously at him. "Your grandmother kept a strict eye on me and the rest of your father's wives to make sure we all keep in a uniform line and she stays in power, but she was just another Inkhosikati too. One of many, many wives. You know what your grandmother did? Once your grandfather- God rest his soul- lay dying she got everybody to recognise your father as the next heir and persuade the late king. But somebody else became Indlovukati. Somebody else was appointed to rule as regent until your father came of age. And she beat her. She beat back the bitch." Her dark eyes flared. "And took her place."
"Shabangu," she hissed. "Out of all of them, wives and sons, queens and princes, only you and I are the most competent. But the Queen Mother refuses to recognise that. She wants to remain in power until she dies." Her eyes narrowed.
"Your father… Rumours are going round that he is getting sick. That he has cancer." Shabangu and Maribel stared at her.
"Now is the time. We must gather supporters. Your stupidity in Britain-" she scowled. "And this woman's-" her scowl turned towards Veruca's. "May have cost us some drawbacks. But if we fix this immediately, then you will rule as king."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Shabangu held up his hands. "Back up." He looked straight at his mother. "You want me… To be king?" He looked at her like, Damn, Mother that is the dumbest thing you have ever said.
"Who else?" His mother hissed. "The rest of them scheme as much if not more than we do. Now is the time to strike. You already have at least one child in the way. If it's a boy, we can say that it's the king's first grandson. The future king." Maribel stared at her rounded belly. "If it's a girl, it's still pretty impressive. None of the others have managed to secure the line of succession onto the next generation. And although your wife's been disowned, she comes from a very influential family."
"Somehow, I don't think that Robert and his wife are going to back us up," Veruca said, tentatively.
"Does it matter?" The queen shot back. "It's politics. He's still got a baby. An heir. And he's going to have many more. He's got me. And discounting your stupidity in Britain, your grades aren't as bad as many of your siblings," she said in satisfaction. "We just have to fix your mistakes. Make you look repentant over your indiscreet sins that nearly endangered us diplomatically-" she glared at Veruca and made it clear whom she still blamed "-and clever. Dutiful, humble and brilliant. Your wife too. Keep her healthy and safe, even after the baby comes. If it's not a boy, make some more babies. You can only have one wife at this stage and I've already promised her mother-" she scowled again at Veruca. "That her daughter will someday be Indlovukati. Now get going. You have to do exactly as I say. You too." She fixed her steely gaze at the former duchess.
"And just what are we going to do, may I ask?" Veruca snapped, regaining some of her nerve.
The queen smiled. "You'll see." She stated.
Present day, Isle of Wight…
Aglaia was with her babies again. The three of them had already practiced standing upright and were now carefully taking baby steps. Robert had been there when they first began walking and both parents were ecstatic.
The babies were laid out on a soft blanket, which itself was on top of a picnic blanket, their favourite toys before them. They were in the beach where their mother thought this would do them a world of good.
Security monitored the beach tightly. She knew they wouldn't be able to stop every photographer, but she made a deal: one guy would videotape everything up close, everyone else had to leave the family in peace. This was a family holiday.
Robert was grasping Will's hand. Her eldest boy had already started standing well enough, but the sand beneath the blanket was uneven. Andrew was frustrated, huffing and puffing but Selena watched everything calmly around her, her green eyes taking in the sea, the beach, her parents and brothers- everything.
The triplets' first birthday was tomorrow, and their parents were reluctant to share the celebrations with the world. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but they were afraid for the babies' safety.
"This is what it means to be a royal," Robert admitted. They still hadn't found anything in regards to the attack on the babies' Christening celebrations. It still felt phony to the security. He looked at her, smiling sadly. "We've got to take care."
Aglaia looked down. "We have everything to lose now." Selena was cooing, gazing uncomprehendingly at her father. Robert looked at Aglaia for a long time.
"I love you, you know that?" He asked softly. "You and the children are my whole universe. I'm not sure what I'll do if anything happens to any of you." His eyes were dark and haunted.
"But not three years into our marriage, yet all this has happened." He stared out into the distance. "I'd kill and die for you. The four of you."
Aglaia was silent, and she felt the same way. She wasn't stupid or deluded. She knew he already had killed someone: Ted Pryce. Possibly more. Maybe it was the right thing, or not, but she didn't care. She loved him. She loved him so utterly and so deeply, she would give up anything and everything for him. Everything she had, even her own life. Him and their children.
But life was not a fairytale. It was only in romances and songs. She, Robert and their children were an island amidst a raging, violent ocean in a storm. The only safe place in this world.
"Promise me something," she whispered. Robert looked at her.
"What?" He asked, confused.
"Promise me that if someone or something comes for me… You'll make sure the children are safe and protected. No matter what happens, they must go on. They must make this world a better place, for themselves, for their children and for our people. Keep them away from all the insanity in the world. Even if it means they won't sit on a throne. Don't let them fight on anyone's behalf. Even ours." She looked at him.
Robert stared at her. "What?"
"You don't have to say anything now," Aglaia reminded him. Then she remembered a flash of auburn hair and blue-grey eyes. "But if anything happens to me… Don't kill anyone for it. Not if it means that someone will want to kill our children to pay us back."
The name Henstridge already had too many enemies. By far.
And unfortunately, their children inherited the mantle. Robert gazed out at the sea. He could spot some boats out there. What would happen, he wondered, if they were to abandon everything, leave the throne to Liam, or Cyrus, and take their children and leave, leave all this, this insanity, this world of treachery, insanity, debauchery and greed behind? Go far, far away?
But it was a dream, Robert thought. A wonderful dream, he would never wish to wake up from. Not a good dream, though, for the king of Britain.
When Aglaia returned to where they were staying, she dropped the towels she had been carrying. There it was. On her bed. A sugar rose, like he used to give her.
Aglaia shook her head. "Robert, I am not losing my mind. This rose-" she jabbed a finger in the sugar rose's direction. "Only one person had a habit of giving that to me, and inscribing my monogram underneath it." That was what she had found. "And leaving it inside my bedroom for me to find!" She threw her hands up in the air. "It was a secret. Not many people knew about it, so unless he told someone then…" She stopped pacing and tried to breathe normally, through her part-panic-attack. Here it was again.
First in Athens, now here. It appeared that whoever did this… Had followed them to London.
"I know you're not, Aglaia." Robert said firmly, but gently. "But stressing out about this, isn't going to help either." Not if I could do anything about it, he thought to himself. He embraced her, holding her close, Aglaia leaning against him.
"My past is an open book in this matter," Aglaia murmured. "But if he's back and he wants to, he could destroy anything that we already have. Our life together, our country, our family…"
That would never happen, Robert swore as he held her tighter against him.
"He's going to come for us," Aglaia whispered. "He's back, I know it."
No, Robert thought. If he was back, then Robert planned to kill him. He would kill anyone who stood between him and his wife and their children.
Leonidas Dimitriou already paid the price. He wasn't dead, but let's just say, Robert made sure the bastard was nowhere to be found. Deployed currently in the Middle East, after tweaking a bit on his and Alexios' and Dimitri's behalf, he would know if Dimitriou ever set foot anywhere near Britain or his wife ever again.
But this man… Robert did not know how to deal with him.
Not one bit. And he did not like it.
"Aglaia," he began. But someone interrupted. A knock on the door, threatened to plunge Robert into intense frustration.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you, your majesty. But there's someone here to see you."
And here Robert thought he could have a break and just be with his family. Well, a king never takes a break.
He sighed, concealing his frustration. "Alright, I'm on my way out."
He kissed Aglaia and looked her in the eye. "I swore I would never let you come to any harm." He said slowly and clearly. "I never break a promise."
Robert stopped when he saw Alexios.
He hadn't been expecting his brother-in-law. Alexios turned from the wide window.
"Robert." He said cordially.
"Alexios." Robert spoke. "I wasn't expecting you."
"No, and I made a point of making sure neither my sister nor anyone else knows that I am here, just yet." He said steadily. "There are some things we have to discuss."
"I'm listening." Robert came closer.
"Firstly, the general elections are being held in Athens very soon- it's always been an unstable time for us." His eyes darkened. "The elections the year Aglaia was born resulted in a coup- and a civil war. That is why I can only come now. I might not have an opportunity to warn you next time."
"Warn me?" Robert asked. "Of what?"
Alexios looked around. No one was there but he was taking no chances.
"Veruca- your uncle's wayward wife," he began. "She's scheming with one of the king's wives- Prince Shabangu's own mother- to put him and her daughter on Swaziland's throne. She doesn't dare go to Europe- but I do know she's made attempts to contact Penelope. She's betting on that. But she's hell-bent on revenge." His eyes flashed. "I don't know why, but it's not on you. It's on your wife."
Robert cursed. "S***," he swore. "I knew it."
"Why is she so hell-bent on making Aglaia pay?" Alexios asked, in a dangerous voice.
"Because Aglaia pronounced the sentence on her." Robert looked at him. His dark-blue eyes were flashing. "Before any of us could say a single word, she exercised her rights as my consort, and she was the one who decided to make it public at once before it was leaked to the press. She also insisted we strip Veruca of her titles and right and to take legal action, like she was an ordinary criminal."
"Confound it all," Alexios muttered. "That does sound like Aglaia, doesn't it? No doubt she did it so you wouldn't pronounce the sentence- or any of your family. And to preserve the reputation of your family." He nodded grudgingly. "Though that admittedly was smart of her, it's earned her Veruca as a nemesis."
"What's Veruca planning for Aglaia?" Robert nearly demanded. "What's she planning to do?"
"Nothing yet. But no doubt she'll be in a powerful position, once her daughter's husband- if their plans succeed- takes the throne of Swaziland." Alexios said grimly. "Unfortunately, we have no solid evidence of treason- that is, them trying to supplant the king, the queen mother and any of the other royal princes and their mothers. But Swaziland is one of the world's last remaining absolute monarchies and their king has absolute authority on everything- and his mother too. So, if your cousin's husband takes the throne, and his mother, allied with Veruca, becomes the new queen mother-"
Robert breathed heavily. "They'll have an entire country at their disposal."
"Not only that." Alexios stepped closer. "I'm also quite sure that there's someone in the palace- your palace. Someone who has a right on your throne and the throne that will rightfully pass to your son."
Robert didn't have to blink. "Cyrus."
"He's more dangerous than you can possibly imagine." His brother-in-law said, steadily. "He's a crowned king. And like in our country, monarchs in yours don't abdicate. Cyrus was deposed. And a deposed king is still, technically, a king, though he has no kingdom."
"Cyrus will never take back the throne." Robert said. "Not now. Not ever."
"Are you sure?" Alexios said, point-blanc. "I've read your history, I know of the Wars of the Roses, or rather, as they were known back then, the Cousins' War. Edward of York took the throne from Henry VI and his wife Margaret of Anjou. They went into exile, but later, they took it back, only for Edward to take it from them. Margaret spent the rest of her days locked in a tower, and Edward ordered Henry to be murdered. Their son was already dead. When Edward died- and he died young- his son was still a boy- and he had two of those. You know the story of the Princes in the Tower. Some said it was their uncle."
"Richard." Robert found himself saying. "But it's more likely that Henry VII and his mother Margaret Beaufort killed the boys instead."
"Maybe, but Richard was responsible for putting them in that tower in the first place. You have two boys- and a girl. But at least neither Henry nor Richard tried to kill Elizabeth of York- they settled for fighting over her as a piece of meat instead- a prize. Nowadays, girls have more claim to the throne. Your daughter and your sons are exceptionally vulnerable when they are young."
"I know that," Robert interjected, harshly.
"You have two possible claimants to the throne- one of whom is already been crowned and anointed as king. He's been sworn in- he made the vow. So have you."
"And so, I declare that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service." Robert remembered.
"Cyrus has sworn the same thing. There's no stepping down from the British throne once you're anointed, sworn in and the crown is placed on your head."
"Cyrus was-" Robert began hotly.
"Cyrus was deposed." Alexios repeated. "If he had abdicated, it would have been official. He would have relinquished his rights officially and literally- as king. But no king of Britain can ever abdicate if they have already been crowned. So, he's still technically a king, and he still technically has a right to win it back. Which makes Veruca- his official consort- a claimant for your wife's title."
Robert had now turned and was gripping a table-top tightly.
"You could be framed for something, exposed for something you'd rather not. Have scandal attached to your name- personally. And you'd be dishonoured, disgraced and considered worse than dead in the eyes of everyone- including all your allies. That includes us." He warned. "Or you could be killed. Cyrus has killed before. He has you killed, your son is too young to take the throne. There could be a regency- or Cyrus is the one to take the throne- the old king, because the younger king is much too young and must grow up first."
"There's still Aglaia." Robert said angrily. "If anything happens to me, she will be regent. Not bloody Cyrus, not my mother, not even Liam and Eleanor."
"And what makes you think that nothing will happen to her?" Alexios hissed. "Do you think that the British government- or Cyrus will allow the children to be raised in safety in Greece unless they relinquish their rights to your throne? And what will happen once they're alone, cooped up and lonely in that vast gilded cage you call a palace? Under his and Veruca's watch. Are you going to rely on your younger siblings to save and look after them? How about your mother and her boyfriend?"
Robert was silent. He knew Alexios was right. His wife and his children were in more danger than he could have imagined.
"You also have another pretender." He stared at Alexios.
"How much do you trust your brother?"
He stared. "What?"
"It's a hateful thing," he began. "But your brother was nearly sworn in as Britain's king. Everyone in Europe and beyond predicted that he would fail, but he didn't do such a bad job. Then he was proven your father's actual, legitimate son. How's he coping, being back under your shadow- and now in your children's shadow."
Robert- predictably- reacted quite badly to this. "Liam would never do a quarter of the things Cyrus does." He snarled.
"No," Alexios agreed. "But he's hot-headed, impulsive and rash to say the least. And don't tell me he's never been jealous of you in his entire life."
"Hasn't Dimitri ever been jealous of you?" Robert asked coolly.
"Dimitri was the playboy younger brother, but instead of indulging all his life, it gave him a reason to find a purpose for his life." Alexios said, firmly. "You might not like it, but it was only after you 'died' that Liam found a place and truly carved a role for himself in the world. Before that he was the playboy younger brother. What about now? What does he have now that you're the king and your son is first-in-line? He's been relegated to fourth-in-line now that you have three children. What else does he have?"
Robert didn't answer. "He's my brother." He muttered.
"Who's never known another existence other than being your brother, until your accident." He stepped closer. "Did you know your brother is in love with your wife?"
Robert's head whirled back at him at top speed. "What?"
"Forgive me," Alexios said. "I'm normally quite used to saying things the Laconic way- particularly with Laconic Humour, but this isn't so amusing anymore, not to Dimitri. And it never was with me. But what else do you call someone who stares entranced at a beautiful, awe-inspiring woman for extended periods of time?"
"That," he spat. "Is a lie."
"Is it?" The Greek heir narrowed his eyes. "I'm sure you've seen it. Are you so blind? Even Cyrus noticed it."
Robert took a step back.
The two of them said nothing for a long time.
Then the prince spoke. "You knew, didn't you? You've seen it. We all have."
Robert could barely speak. "Who else knows?"
"Not many. Thankfully, the tabloids have been unusually slow." A pause. "Even Aglaia has absolutely no idea. Will Liam try to make a move? I don't know. He's still single, isn't he?"
Robert could barely breathe. No.
The last time, Aglaia and their children were his whole life, she was his truest and most passionate love, his closest companion and confidante. Kathryn was one thing but Aglaia…
Never. Not ever. Not in an eternity. Not in a billion years. He would never allow it. Never.
"You- the king. You have everything, including the happy family, the beautiful wife, the happy, healthy children. What does Liam have left? Dimitri's seen it, my parents have seen it. Don't tell me you haven't, you're quite sharp." He stepped closer.
"Liam will make a move towards Aglaia." He said slowly. "He will fall even more in love with her- as so many have done. You may be the one to win her heart, but will it stop others from trying?"
Paris, France…
Len walked out of the office, nervous, but feeling somewhat- if ever so slightly- assured that Perrine Bruyere would grant her the job.
As she was walking down the corridor, however, someone appeared on the other side.
It was the Thai princess. Her regal poise and bearing, her glamourous clothing and jewels and her steely, icy gaze certainly made Len stop in her tracks.
Arinya saw Eleanor Henstridge emerge, and her eyes narrowed. She gave her a look filled with icy contempt and the promise of retribution before she and her entourage moved off.
"What was that about?" Len muttered.
Arinya of Thailand' blood boiled as she walked off to her car, and the promise of retribution was just beginning. This girl dared… They had already infected the Greek and Danish royal families. And the Dutch. And the Swazi. But the Thai monarchy had had rebuilt its usefulness and prestige to their own people during her wonderful grandfather's reign. And they were struggling to keep it thanks to her father. Now it seemed the mere touch of a Henstridge could destroy everything her beloved grandfather had fought so hard to build.
Worse still was the grudge she had towards Eleanor Henstridge- the bitch still hadn't paid. Everything else could be overlooked and easily forgiven, but Eleanor Henstridge was a bitch in the first-class degree. No, worse.
Arinya hadn't forgotten. Back then when Eleanor had been the 'cool' princess around, ever since then she had held a grudge. Nowadays, Eleanor was disgraced and trying to build her reputation.
She was going to make Henstridge pay one way or another.
And she wouldn't stop until Eleanor was as thoroughly disgraced and humiliated as she had been.
A