Chapter Twenty-Three: The Secrets of the Queen
Aaron searched room after room, as the guests begin to take their leave to enter the gala. Nothing...
He resolved to try and sneak into the King's room. To his surprise finding out Gauthier does not sleep with his wife every night.
Leaping up from one balcony to another. Aaron wishes the palace would have an ivy grate, so he can climb easier. Many other homes here have it... Ugh! Looking up he has another three levels to go. Swallowing as he took it, step by step as he climbed. Trying hard not to be noticed by anyone at the party or guards.
"Finally..." He whispers to himself while resting for a moment. Reaching the highest floor of the palace of voices. The balcony is massive as he can see the magnificent palace gardens.
"Well, well, well... Good thing it is me who found you first. Nice slave disguise..." A sultry voice speaks as she jumps down from the roof. Her landing so silent that if she did not speak you never would have noticed.
"Hello, Stiletto." He says smiling while he could not help but look at her silhouette figure. Walking to Aaron as she gets extremely close. Her hair smells of apples... Aaron takes a step back to her surprise.
Wearing all black and slimming she can very easily blend into darkness or shadows. "Have you found anything?" She asks as she fixes her balaclava, making the only part of her body reveal is her beautiful green eyes.
"Nothing..." Aaron sounded defeated.
"Yes, of course, nothing, you are looking and listening in the wrong areas, when I was making my way up, you were looking in the lower rooms... By the way, rule of being a Mordecai agent." She whispers playfully, placing her hand on his shoulder for a moment as she sneaks to the balcony door. "You never stand up straight where you can get head shotted by a sniper."
"Oh!" Aaron says lowering himself and sneaking behind her, following her lead.
Stiletto kneels at the glass balcony door. Opening a tiny tool kit containing lock picks. Aaron turns around keeping an eye as she tinkers with the lock. He thought he would just break the glass... But her idea is smarter.
The sun is almost gone as the sky is now turning into the dark of night. Aaron noticed dark clouds in the distance, slowly making their way to the city.
A click is heard as Stiletto opens the door ajar. "Clear" She whispers. Aaron follows her remaining low and shuts the door quietly behind them.
The room is massive as it can easily fit an average house inside. Aaron not seeing a bed, he assumes it is just the living room. Impressing him even more... The barrack cages he lived in Dominus Sahara were tiny in comparison. Aaron looked at the fireplace reminding him of the place he lived for years.
Aaron doing his best to be silent tiptoes around the area. Stiletto is walking around calmly as her shoes are flat and made from leather, barely making any noise.
Aaron finds the bedroom he notices it is the queen's room. The bed is so massive it can easily rest five people. A large amount of underclothes and sleepwear is laid on her bed, with no evidence of Gauthier's clothes.
Aaron quickly walks to Stiletto. "This is the Queen's room... We need the King's personal chambers... Or can you at least help me find it, if not I will go on my own." Even though the prospect daunted Aaron as the palace is massive. He hoped it is just down the hall.
She chuckles. "Of course, it is the Queens'... Here is some advice, don't always fully trust your leader. I am just making sure that I am choosing the right path. I may be on the side of Avery for the moment, as she is a better choice than Gauthier from an outside perspective. She is still vain and selfish beyond any measure, but there will always be a new candidate who wants to play... And I might like that one better. Do not worry new friend... We will go to the King." She said with such confidence he admired it.
Aaron accepts and returns to the queen's bedroom. Being inexperienced compared to her he decided to follow her lead. Stiletto decides to lockpick the Queen's vanity as Aaron snoops around. Looking in the walk-in wardrobe, underneath the bed, and even looking on the bookshelf. He felt proud as read the book's titles. The Monster and the Lady, The Queen, and the Stubborn King, Two Hearts become One, The Secrets to a Great Love Life, The Queen and I, The King and the Slave, The Viscountess who Loved Me, The Darkness of Love, The Never Ending Summer... Aaron looking at the book The Viscountess who loved me. As he read it to himself to practice his reading skills. Aaron has indeed gotten better and does try his hardest to hide the fact they are erotic novels.
He quickly places the book back, realising one book is not like the others. Looking behind another one of her newer books. an old tome... The cover is torn as the pages have turned yellow. Aaron strokes it as if it did not feel like a normal book. He tries to pull it free and a clank can be heard.
A SECRET ROOM! He thinks excitedly as the door opened. Walking slowly inside as Stiletto remains on guard.
The bookcase led to a straight staircase downstairs. It is almost pitch black as he kept his hand on the wall. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dark. Eventually coming across another door, the end of the line. He opens as red light is showing in the darkness. Walking inside it took Aaron completely off guard.
In the middle of the room is a double bed where a man lies. The man is blindfolded and naked with each limb tied to each different post on the bed. Aaron's eyes widen as he notices many unique tools on racks. Whips, feathers, crops, bars, small paddles, different flays, and many various wooden toys are not for the faint of heart.
"Hmmm, my queen. Have you finally returned to me? Shall you release me from my punishment?" The man says sexually. "Or am I still a naughty man?" Giggling to himself.
"Not exactly..." Aaron said, observing the man's face. He is not familiar to him... Not a slave... As no tattoos can be seen, his accent sounded high-born. Even noticing a nice red hickey on the man's neck.
The man pauses and shakes his head, trying to get the blindfold off. "Sir! You do not belong in here!" Trying his hardest to escape from his binding.
Aaron thinks long and hard if to take off his blindfold and release him. But the consequences of his release greatly outweigh the price of leaving him here...
"Who are you?" Aaron asks to the point.
"You honestly think I'm going to tell you?!"
Aaron sighs as he decides to play the game. "I am not here to hurt you... Just give me answers and I shall leave you in peace." Placing his hands on the man's inner thigh and massaged, making him excited. It is not the first time Aaron has had to use his skills this way.
"Oh..." The tied-up man says as his defences lowered as he began to enjoy it. Aaron stops as the man grunts with annoyance. Slamming his head on the pillow. "Fine... Play with me and you shall have answers."
Aaron felt dread as he hated doing this. Grabbing a feather, he gently touches the man with it. Starting with the feet and legs. The man looked fit and young, even shaven and
"My name is Edward DeViller... Cousin to Gauthier. As you have probably figured out, I am Avery's mister." Edward says loving as he said, Avery. Almost with a whimsy
Aaron is not shocked that Avery and Gauthier will have lovers on the side. Just how far she took them in pleasure did...
"Why are you tied up in here? She is downstairs?" Aaron says plainly.
"I was a very naughty man..." Edward says laughing low, trying his hardest to sound seductive.
"Do you know how the King is going to kill the Queen?" Aaron asks, cringing trying his hardest not to laugh. Edward quickly said he did not know what is planned. It is always assumed a monarch will die at a party, he pointed out. But Edward sounded so sad at the prospect his beloved Queen could possibly die. But Aaron could not risk that... Iolene needs her as an ally for Gauthier is already untrustworthy, while also wanting his freedom.
Time however ran out as Aaron can hear scuffling. Aaron races up as he can hear Stiletto fighting. Aaron looks down at the naked man. In a spur moment, he unsheathes his sword and cuts the man's rope binds. The man in surprise asks what is going on as he sits up taking off his blindfold.
"Oh, look a slave... Hm... Unexpected... Hm... Indeed" Edward shows a sly grin as he admires Aaron. Aaron knows he is undressing him with his mind. Stopping as three black empire soldiers run into the room. Wearing their slimming trademark armour, covered head to toe. Even their eyes are covered as the eyes glow red which causes intimidation. To Aaron's relief, it is not the magical black draconium armour, like the other soldier he once came across.
Edward then shrieks as he covers his private parts and hides in the corner.
Aaron unsheathes his sword as he begins to fight against them. Edward screams as Aaron tries his hardest to concentrate on fighting. The room is tiny and Aaron had to be careful with his footing. Aaron needs to use his strength he overpowers them with ease. Thinking whether to kill them or not. Two out of three sounded young and the tallest sounded the oldest. The oldest soldier speaking in a gruff voice orders the other two to kill Aaron and kidnap Edward.
Aaron retaliates by jumping up and grabbing onto a hang bar located above the bed. Swinging he uses all his force to kick the nearby soldier. The soldier in such a tiny space falls back onto the other two soldiers. A momentary diversion as Aaron uses the pummel of the sword to knock them out cold.
Edward cries out as he looks at Aaron with desperation.
"Stay here!" Aaron orders Edward, as he races upstairs to check on Stiletto. His eyes are wide open as he sees four corpses on the floor. Stiletto not being one of them as she is checking their personal belongings. "Nothing... But you found someone interesting. Hello Edward DeVillier..." As she points to the lanky, naked man standing behind Aaron.
"I told you to stay back," Aaron said annoyed.
"You both saved my life... I don't know what answers I can give you." Edward chose to sit on the bed still naked at his birth. "I have been my queen's mister years even before she was queen. She should have married me. I proposed and she declined, I am too low in social standing for such a match." Placing his hand on his chest, clearly sounding brokenhearted. "I love everything about her, her smile, fashion choices, singing, dancing, you name it..."
"It has nothing to do with now," Stiletto says sharply. "We don't want your life story. Tell us about Avery and Gauthier."
"I was getting there no need to be rude," Edward says annoyed. "Avery married Gauthier as custom for social standing. Gauthier DeVillier is one of the wealthiest gear and fabric manufacturers in the world. I am his cousin but nowhere near in line to inherit such a business. They never were compatible, both being headstrong people. Making it work in their favour, they became a dynamic duo in the political scene. However, Avery is the smarter one of the two. Everyone knew an assassination is inevitable... Avery has actually attempted to murder him in the past, so we can be together. Please don't tell anyone that!" Edward says waving his hands to assure secrecy. "To be fair I never liked him either, the man has a massive ego..."
Aaron and Stiletto stand remaining patient. Aaron thinks about the past assassination attempts of the king, he has not heard of such attempts. If she was planning a long time time to do it, why wasn't it done yet? Aaron couldn't help but pity the lovesick fool. "Does Gauthier have any lovers?" Aaron asks somewhat gently. He knows the man is clearly lovesick for a woman who will never take his hand. If she truly loved him, she would have married him, and if he was in the same position he to her... Aaron admitted he could not fully judge Gauthier for Edward is clearly jealous of the King.
"Of course he does!" Edward says mockingly. "In all honesty, marriage is a contract for money here... Love is usually found elsewhere, Avery and I is true love. The pure love that you find in stories. However sad about your case... No one knows who Gauthier loves... He keeps them secret." Edward shrugs as he stretches his back.
"Yes, I know..." Stiletto says frustrated. "The Mordecai is very interested in his mysterious lovers. However, they cannot find any details about them. Male or female, even both... I read their reports before they turned their backs on the queen. Gauthier hides his information well..."
Aaron closes his eyes, as he believes there is only one reason why he will keep his lover so secret. "They will be a slave..." Aaron blurts out. "Our key is a slave."
Stiletto even is taken aback as he said it. Having a slave lover is complete social suicide. Brazen and stupid she thought of a smaller noble or a commoner. Everyone who lives in a slave country knows of the tale of the King and the slave. King Alphonse the last King of the Century of Cruelty, the time when slavery in the Turquoise Empire began. a few thousand years ago. Fell in love with a washer slave named Delilah. He wanted to make her Queen, but everyone in the country and in other slave nations did not agree.
Alphonse using his royal powers tried to use his good work as King to help persuade the court. Instead, it became chaos during the wedding ceremony. Everyone breaks into the palace to split them apart. The court vowed no monarch will marry or make love to a slave. All slaves want is money and power, for Delilah had plans to take over the kingdom... Iolene however mentioned extra details that Aaron did not hear. Some parts of the story say that it was a lie concocted by Alphonse's enemies. Delilah is innocent of wrongdoing...
The story has two different endings. One King Alphonse believed the court and believed Delilah was planning to usurp his throne. And the king with hurt in his eyes cast his lover away. Sentencing her to die as he himself oversaw her death as the court ripped her body apart... Aaron's heart ached as it is such a sad ending for her.
In the second ending, Alphonse refused to leave her side. And so the court judged the king as the King defied the court. He loves Delilah he proclaimed, holding her hand as tears fell down his lover's face. Both were carried out to be imprisoned. Sentenced to sit in the dark cells their skeletons were found embracing each other.
Both are sad but the second ending is much more romantic. Maybe Gauthier is a romantic man...