Chapter 544
Lucien had decided that, although he intended to one day be a good High Lord of the Day Court, he was beyond willing to wait before being a High Lord became his responsibility. After just a day of playing host and making sure that all of the other High Lords and their guests were well seen to and entertained, he was exhausted and just wanted to run away and enjoy some peace and quiet. His own company had always been something that Lucien had been familiar with and it was how he recharged to be ready for more social activities. He had gotten used to solitude in the Autumn Court, hiding from his brothers and studying what he could, and he had not really had much option in the Spring Court with the way things had been, often he only saw one or two of the Spring Court servants and Tamlin at dinner, and the rest of the time he had been on his own on patrol or wandering the gardens. When he had been in the Mortal Lands, things had not been much different. Vassa was a firebird by day and Jurien was often nowhere to be found. It was only since coming to the Day Court and deciding that this would be his home that Lucien had found social obligations part of his daily routine, and it was tiring. It was something about himself that he had not really been aware of for centuries, because he had never had the opportunity to discover it. He liked his peace.
All of this wasn't to say that Lucien didn't enjoy spending time with others, especially his family, but he was beginning to understand his limits and when he would need time away from social responsibilities to centre himself and allow himself to regain his energy and, as he strode down the hallway toward the Throne Room, he thought longingly of the private garden that Elain had built for them. That garden would, Lucien knew, become a place of refuge for himself and his mate. That was likely why Helion had given them rooms with the space for a garden. It was more than the fact that Elain loved gardening and growing things; the High Lord had known that they would need somewhere for themselves.
Wondering if he would have even a few minutes today to sneak away and have some time and some peace in that garden, Lucien pushed open the doors and entered the Throne Room. The Courts were mingling well. That was the first thing he had noticed, evident by the different styles of clothing preferred by the different Courts. The light breezy clothing favoured in the Dawn Court was easy to see among the heavier clothing more common in the Winter Court. The colours of the Autumn Court also stood out against the more neutral lighter colours of the Summer Court, and all of this seemed quite positive as Lucien moved through the throngs of faeries on his way toward the Dais and his father.
"I was wondering where you were." Helion said, clapping him on the shoulder, and Lucien nodded. He'd known he'd been a little late.
"Always something to do." He replied, and Helion gave him what was clearly a knowing smile.
"There is, isn't there?" The older male agreed. Lucien watched his father for several seconds, wondering just how much of this the High Lord had planned. He knew that Helion had wanted Lucien to be seen to be an active Heir, competent and capable and involved in the running of the Day Court. Helion had wanted the other High Lords to recognise Lucien as Heir and recognise his role in this place. Lucien had known that, but now he wondered if Helion had known just how much about himself that Lucien would come to understand when taking on these roles. Helion was a clever faerie, and Lucien suspected that this had all been very well thought out.