CHAPTER SEVEN

King Lucius gazed out the balcony of his sitting room. He is a king that is bound by his duties to Illumia. For years he has assumed the role of king when the masses cried out for a just monarch, one whom they could place their absolute trust and believe that they will be led to the right path. One who would devote himself for the betterment of his people. It was what he was born into and what he would pass as his legacy.

When his wife, the late Queen Rosalind, gave birth to Andromeda, he knew that he would no longer be alone. His wife gave him purpose, his daughter gave him life. He vowed that this world would be as peaceful for them as he could make it. He devoted himself to his family, his people and his duty but he was always more focused on his people. At time it was a cause of disagreement between him and his queen but Rosalind understood. She always did.

She died when Andromeda ascended as heir apparent. King Lucius hid his grief. It felt as if he failed the most important woman in his kingdom. He could still remember that he had been on duty while Rosalind was suffering from a certain malaise that not even the doctors of the kingdom could diagnose. He had believed that he would still see her smile once he had returned. He was looking for a cure for her in the outskirts of Durin as the doctors wanted the herbs to be brought to him. Leo had offered to go for him but he resisted. It was the least he could do for his sick wife.

He had returned that day and found the whole castle in mourning. Andromeda was clinging to her mother as the almost sleeping form of his wife was lying on her bed. His heart broke. His eyes stung and his numb hands let go of the herbs he had painstakingly picked out for her. He had wanted his love to wait but fate couldn’t. He thought he no longer had a purpose.

He focused on training his daughter, his Andromeda to be his successor. He had built an empire with her at its center. She showed great promise. She had managed to form alliances with various leaders from different quadrants and even created numerous laws for the people that managed to be useful to their people. She became well-loved and admired by her subjects. She was also well-traveled hence, the meeting with the prince of Earth.

King Lucius sighed. He did not know which pained him more. The death of his beloved wife; the death of his only daughter or that his grandchild will have to take the reins without the guidance of her mother. He had tried everything that he could to bring up Auria into what Andromeda and Rosalind would expect her to become. He knew that she was not a replacement for Andromeda but there are times when he had this certain feeling that he was still staring at his daughter. She had this certain aura that kept on reminding him of his own precocious daughter during her childhood. Her innocent nature and robust belief that everything would turn out fine.

The king covered his face with his hands. He missed his wife. He had no one to share the pain of loneliness. Only his memories of her kind heart and gentle spirit will remain within him to keep him alive when she was no longer here. He looked expectantly to the door when a sound caught his attention.

The door opened and his valet entered with Sandra, the head of his household. She used to be Rosalind’s handmaid. He thought that she would return to her village once Rosalind has died but surprisingly, she remained and offered her services as Andromeda’s tutor. He could have accepted but he knew it was his duty to educate his successor so he had declined. Andromeda had disliked the woman when she became heir apparent as the king was contemplating if he should choose Sandra to be one of his advisors and instinct told King Lucius that women are often correct in their intuitions although she might be biased since she thought that Sandra was aiming to be the next queen. Which would be a problem in what way? The king couldn’t find a more suitable consort. Sandra showed herself capable and compassionate. She even mentioned in passing that her only reason for remaining in Castle Durin was to serve the kingdom in Rosalind’s place. She had no plans of taking over as queen. But it seems as though his daughter had the right feeling. He was appalled and disgusted when Sandra offered to be his consort. It was true that Castle Durin has never had a monarch rule without a consort but there was no ruling made by previous monarchs to ensure the continuity of the lineage through mistresses for which the king was glad. He had only one true love that he devoted his life to and that is none other than his beloved Rosalind. No other woman can replace her as his queen.

And so to keep the peace, he had assigned the household management to Sandra. He had refused her constant attempts to compromise them both and he was wise enough to elude her clutches. She had accepted her role but acted as though she was the mistress of the castle. Her duty would always fall to my trusted valet, Caleb and it would always frustrate the king whenever she would try to insinuate herself in presentations.

Which reminds him of the reason why he called her.

Sandra made to curtsy at the king but her eyes show an unmistakable gleam. The king inwardly groaned. Getting rid of this woman would be his primary concern but he needed her out of the way for Auria’s presentation.

“Ah yes, Sandra. I am glad you could come on short notice. I hope the preparations are done and in order.” The king stated before he moved forward and stood before his desk. He noticed how Sandra seemed at a total loss and the chuckle that Caleb held before covering his mouth with his hand. King Lucius rolled his eyes at his valet.

“My Lord?” She squeaked.

The king waved his hand in the air.

“Never mind. Anyway, I need you to accompany Elder Farrah on her visit to Gildan. She is expected to arrive at the hunter community today and will stay there for a few days. Anything else you need to do for the servants will be Caleb’s work from now on. Once you are done with accompanying Elder Farrah, I expect you to return to Hildegard. I am sure your family misses you.”

Suddenly, her eyes turned panic-stricken. She made to go to the king but his stare made her check her movements. The door opened and Elder Farrah, a member of the king’s advisors, came in with two of the Illuvian knights and their general, Leo.

The king repositioned himself in front of Sandra with his hands behind his back. He looked down at the woman and he could almost feel the need to rip the woman to shreds.

He had indeed questioned the black-garbed men. Upon unraveling their faces, he was stupefied and horrified to see young soon-to-be knights cowering in front of them. He was already planning to execute them without revealing their faces but Leo advised against it. His general felt something was terribly off and so they did the questioning secretly with the young knights Aidan, Valen, Kale and Auria’s handmaid, Mildred as witnesses. There they managed to find out that these knights were the same knights that his granddaughter had met who were harassing the young Prince Lysander and his sisters at the market place. Kale visibly paled when he saw the youths who used to be his playmates and he had immediately knelt down to ask for mercy from the king. Valen joined him but the king was not really concerned with them. He was more concerned on these youths who had dared to harm his granddaughter.

“I have been silent about your movements, Sandra. I had believed that you were doing your duty to help me bring peace to the people of Illumia. You have served my wife well during those times so I thought you would do well to be more involved in Castle Durin. But it seems I gave you too much freedom to do as you please.”

“My Lord, I am only doing what is good for our people. I would never…” She began to reason out but the king held up his hand.

“Silence.” His voice almost barely a whisper but the effect had them stiffening as they stood. “Last night, more than four men had entered our castle grounds and attacked the princess with her friends. I had known that security during the celebration was tight as Leo himself had dispersed the needed manpower to cover the grounds but it seems someone redirected one of the knights from their post and allowed them to pass through.”

Sandra made to interrupt but the king went on.

“Not only that, when questioned, I found out that these so-called intruders were knights in training in my own kingdom and they were recruited by someone to kidnap the princess and insinuate that they were sent by Gildan. I am thoroughly disappointed, Sandra. I thought I made it clear that you will never be any more than a friend.”

At that, all hell broke loose.

“How could you do this, Lucius? I have slaved for you. I tried to support you like Rosalind did. After all these years and you still think of me as a friend?! I am more than a friend! I am your pillar, this kingdom’s foundation. Without me, you are nothing!” She shouted angrily which triggered the king’s volatile personality.

“You dare to speak to me of being nothing?!” King Lucius roared. Immediately, everyone knelt, their eyes glued to the floor. All except Sandra who thought she had the right to look at her king in the eye.

King Lucius smarted at the disrespect. He is a king and he wanted justice for his granddaughter.

In an instant, he had unsheathed his sword. He pointed the blade at the woman, his eyes blazing in anger.