CHAPTER FIFTEEN

*

The King cuts him ''Angry?''

''Aye''

''Oh do not be a fool dear brother'' Adrian bites his lips

''We are going to have our heads on spike Duke Adrian, Williams would be the death of us all. I think i should take my leave slowly'' Theodore states

''We are in this together Viscount Theodore, we stay together '' he places a hand on his shoulders. ''You insisted to come, so stay, i insist. The more the merrier our deaths''

Theodore swallows ''I haven't even bedded a hundred damsels yet''

''If you died a Muslim, you would have seven virgins waiting for you at the pearl gates'' Adrian smiles

''You are dreadful Adrian''

''As you are a chicken. what happens to never leave a man behind, your brother you called him?''

''Ah indeed he is, but i ...hate him so. i tell you, i would whoop him if he comes out un-scarred today.''

Adrian laughs.

''What do you mean angry, you do not like the Princess?'' the king's voice causes them to realize that he must be upset.

Maybe they shouldn't be laughing and joking but praying for Williams and maybe for themselves.

''On the contrary my king, i do not know her albeit the proposal and i believe this is but rushed and no time to see our compatibility..-''

''So you want to speak with the Princess before you can go ahead with the proposal?''

''Not necessarily but-''

''Fine, you were going to be allowed to have word with your future bride before the end of the day but if you are eager to speak to her, who are we to stop you. Guards, show them the balcony and allow them space to talk''

''No, that is not what i meant -'' Williams is shaking his head.

''Oh, these youngsters who do not desire to wait till the end of the proposal gifting to finish before they seek for some privacy'' Duchess Brianna states laughing.

''In our time, it took days after before we were allowed to have a chit chat'' The Queen affirms.

The royal guards step to him and then ushers him away before he could protest. The king and Duke exchanges a hidden smile.

''I see what you did there my king'' Donna leans in.

''Aye my Queen, i sensed that he was about to opt out like a fish in a hot frying pan, what to do?'' he laughs ''Ameryl, task them to set a table for our guests, tonight we eat and dine and by the morrow, we will announce their engagement and they be officially known as our in-laws''

''Very well my lord'' Amerly steps forward, takes a bow and leaves. Theodore's eyes follows her.

''Beauty resides in this place Duke Adrian''

''Aye, but i rather feast my eyes on my Missus'' Adrian states

''Aye, you are old cargo in this game, soon Willy boy would join me and i be the only king in the jungle allowed to kiss all these damsels and make them call me king in their wet desires''

''Oh you horrid fellow, you may very well be a man-slut''

''I wear my crown proudly dear Adrian, proudly.'' Then he stares at the retreating back of Williams and then watches as the Princess is ushered down and away.

''I see some similarity in their movement my Lord, striking, impossible to miss in their gait''

''How so?''

''Stiff!''

''What does that mean?''

''It may mean that that Williams and the Princess do not desire this alliance 100 to 100 percent. ''

''You do not know that Williams may very well be rebellious but, i am sure a moment with the Princess would change his mind and she, well, she did appear stiff and ..didn't look excited about this but..a moment with our charming man and she would change her mind, I wouldn't be surprised if they steal a kiss or two out of lack of control''

''No, i highly doubt that would happen'' Theodore frowns.

''I highly anticipate that would happen''

''You want to bet on that my lord?''

''Aye, what takes you if you win, and what takes you if you lose?''

''I will take that gold locket around your wrist and you will allow me access into the palace when you do come to commune with other higher intelligence..i have eyes for the high maiden, i only need access to have a word with her'' Theodore smiles.

''Male slut, and if you lose?''

''What takes you?''

''I will need you to pad around naked in the market square fourscore days and act like a mad man with a bell tied around your nuts and you screaming ''Shame, shame Theodore is a man-slut, shame shame!!''

Theodore laughs ''You are the evil one you know?''

''Aye, i am the creative one, what say you, game?''

Theodore scratches his head ''Aye, my hunch is not wrong, those two would come out disastrous!!''

''Nay, they would come out smiling and making eyes at each other. Shake on it'' Adrian spits on his palm

Theodore spits on his and they shake hands.

'''Argh! That is disgusting, Adrian you know better than to indulge in boy's games '' The duchess who had been walking by them notices.

''Mama, i am about to school Theo''

''My lady, he doesn't realize that i am a god amongts men''

She shakes her head walking to her husband.

''Your highness and the royal family, the De Beaumont, allow me direct you to the little banquet prepared for your arrival, the Princess and the Duke would join us when they are done'' Ameryl states with a bow a few minutes later.

''Shall we?'' The king says giving his hand to the Queen as they make their way down.

''I wonder, what they are talking about ''Donna worries

''Love i hope, or the possibility of one'' Duchess Brianna comes to her. They continue to talk.

''You my King, understand the ways of men'' Duke De Beaumont steps inline with the king ''You saved the day''

''Your Williams, he does not seem pleased with this alliance still?''

''He is young, he would come around, but you acted fast''

''Aye, hopefully they would see the folly in their ways and realize that this might work.''

''You think they are talking reasonably there?''

The king looks at the direction of the balcony ''I do hope so, but, the alliance has been accepted, like it or not, by the morrow, we announce their engagement, right in time for the debutante. My Queen'' he turns to Donna.

''Yes my lord?''

''The plans for the Debutante?''

''Aye, underway''

He nods ''The Princess would showcase no one but the young Duke Williams, she is already betrothed and engaged and thus, he would be the one to usher her into the society while the other fair maidens would flaunt around her and thereafter do their debutante''

''Yes my king''

''So Alan, pray tell me, '' the king turns to him as their voice fades.

''I envy your family Adrian, you lot would be on first talk basis with the royal family and can come here as you please..''

''The beauty of a royal alliance Theodore..come, seat, drink, if you are a good lad, Willy boy would allow you entrance as you please, only when the maidens are under lock and key that is'' Adrian laughs as they all disappear into the hall.

*

Sissie and the other maidens had escorted the Princess to the balcony where Williams is, with his arm folded he backs them, staring out.

''My lady, I will leave you now'' Sissie states

''No Sissie, you stay''

''My lady, i am sorry but the King orders that no one must disturb you'' The guards states, beckoning on Sissie and the others to leave.

''You tell the king that i may need someone to restrain me if i desire the feelings to fling a ma off the balcony'' she whispers to him, Sissie laughs

''My Lady, such thoughts, i cannot tell the king that, he would have my head''

''He would have his head ''Sissie nods

''Argh! Fine Sissie, if you lot come back to find my breathless body, know i took my life out of the boredom of this fellow. Be gone, i would try not to float away, if only there was a ladder, i would have climbed down''

''The king had us remove them'' He states lowering his head.

Annalise frowns ''Christ, that man. That is fine, go along''

''But erm, my lady, allow me to state most obviously even if you didn't notice which i believe every maiden noticed that your soon to be husband is a dashing sexy hunk , dear heavenly lord, can a man have such beauty and not be called a woman, surely you must have observed?'' she bites her lips.

''I do not observe nor did i take notice, if you are on my side you would remain so not to flaunt his good looks my way''

''Aha, you did notice!''

''Barely, handsome? I have seen better''

'Where, in books? Fictional looks, puleeese, for what is worth, your father picked you a god amongst men, i would take him any day. Maybe you should give him a chance, he may make a fine husband and your girls would have his fine features too, you never know''

''Sissie Veronese, how would you like your death?''

''With a sexy Asgard like himself, my legs wrapped around him while he makes sweet love to me till i scream ''Dear heavenly lord!''

''I hate you''

''I love you'' she laughs stepping away and shutting the entrance of the balcony, leaving them alone.

Annalise turns. He was still backing them, away from her, almost leaning on the rail.

She walks to him, with her hands claps in front she stands side by side him with enough space.

She intends to make this quick. She would tell him off, give him a nasty attitude, then give him an option to run off to sever the engagement and before the day runs out, she would be free to be Princess alone and not someone's bride to be much less this..this man's.

''Duke Williams is it, let me state it clearly because i do not mice words and i do hate to tarry on useless things.. i will not-''

''Do you think because you are the royal family you can just foist someone on another, do you think so? That no one has a choice other than to obey you because you wear a tiara and have a fancy throne and everyone bows to you you shove your desires down our throats just because you are royalty?''

Annalise is taken aback ''Excuse me?''

''Aye,i will tell you what i think, i think you all to take your royalty and shove it up a rhino's arse, i refuse to be a part of these stupid rules and stupid traditions and stupid decisions of a king who doesn't understand how to treat his subjects other than to coerce them into marrying his daughter! I would state here, i will not have it and i would rather that you go in there and untie me from this ridiculous bond!!! they can marry you off to some fatso of their liking or some lord of the highest-ranking i do not care,but i will not marry you and that is that. If you have a problem with that take it up with the king but i swear to you, if you stay..this would be hell''

She gasps ''Who the hell do you think you are to talk to the Princes of Worcestershire in that tone and in that manner without fear?'' she sparks

''I am Duke Williams De Beaumont, and i fear no one, much less a little girl with a crown''

She slaps him hard across his face. ''How dare you insult me!!!''

He held his face and steps closer to her ''How dare you raise your hands to me?'' he hisses

''How dare you speak to me, bow before me and ask for forgiveness or i will have your head''

''I dare you!!''

''Bow before me, i order you''

''No Princess, you will apologize to me, it is the other way around, ''' he frowns deeply, dropping his hands from his face.

''How dare you!!'' Her eyes fill with anger.

''Oh Princess, you have no idea how daring i can be. Apologize for hitting me or i will spank you!''

She gasps aghast ''' You horrid despicable man! You speak to your Princess like that''

''No, i speak to a spoiled child who doesn't know how to respect a man other than to raise her hand on him, how annoying...apologize or i will treat you how spoilt brats are being treated''

''Never!!!''

He grabs her hands ''Apologize!!''

''Never!!!'' she spat...

''Then you will get it!!''

''Guards!!!'' she bellows.

*