Sparring with Quinton on the front lawn, a nagging sense of foreboding continued to gnaw away at her. Even if she was successful at foiling their plot today, Alex knew Quinton well, and she knew he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. But what were his goals she wondered. Was claiming the throne so important to him he would be willing to start an all-out war in Vega, or was something else behind this ploy, something more sinister perhaps? With her mind racing from all the possibilities, Alex had a hard time keeping her attention focused on her match.
Missing Quinton with the swing of her sword, Alex fell off balance and struggled to parry his counterblow. Gritting her teeth, Alexandra remembered Quin was not only powerful but also annoyingly proficient with a sword. It was no surprise Quinton was such a formidable opponent, he only practiced five hours a day due to his obsession with being the best. As he brought his sword down, Alex tried to block, but the force was too much, and it sent her falling back to the ground.
Laying on her back, Alex accepted defeat and unclenched her fist making the blue blade of her longsword disappear. Unsatisfied with the outcome of the fight, Quinton strode towards her, his blue claymore still clenched in his fist. Standing up from the ground, Alex dusted off her dress and waited for her brother to get closer before she dared face him. Quinton's face was bright red, and his hazel eyes flashed angrily as he strategically positioned himself over her.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?” Quinton hollered “Get your weapon back out and fight me.”
“I'm done, Quinton.”
“We are not done until I say we are done. Now summon your sword back and face me.”
“No.” Alex glared at her brother “You won Quinton. It’s over. What more could you possibly want?”
“Why you arrogant wench...” Quinton hissed through clenched teeth “... you dare say no to a man? Have you learned nothing the day I branded you? Looks like I'll have to remind you of your place in this household yet again.”
Quinton's cold eyes narrowed as he raised his hand over his head poising to strike her. Closing her eyes, Alex waited for the slap, but it never came. As she opened her eyes, Alexandra saw Quinton's hand was stopped by non-other than Lord Philip. The crown prince of Rexham looked dwarfed standing next to Quinton, who was a good foot taller than him. Both men had their eyes locked on each other as Philip held back Quinton’s clenched fist.
“I would kindly ask you not to strike my intended,” Philip spoke in his usual calm and polite manner. “I think Lady Alexandra did an excellent job of fighting off an opponent as skilled as you Lord Quinton.”
“Philip...” Quinton managed to muster up a smile, “what a pleasure to see you.”
“Likewise, Quinton. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to spend some quality time with my fiancée.”
“If you insist.” Quinton scoffed as he yanked his wrist from Philip’s grasp “She'll be your burden soon enough.”
Turning to walk away, Quinton left a trail of dust in his wake. Alexandra watched him leave with apprehension, realizing she was now left alone with Philip. Swallowing hard, she found herself in the uncomfortable situation of having to talk to him. She wasn’t sure of what she could say to a man she was being forced to marry. Unable to find anything to talk about, she bowed her head to him and curtsied instead.
With a jovial laugh, Philip lifted Alex's chin to meet her gaze with his soft gray eyes. The sun reflecting off his shiny bald head made his face appear bright pink, and his goofy, gap-toothed smile amplified the size of his large ears. Under normal circumstances, Alex would have found him rather comical, but she could not laugh at a man whose life was in peril.
“Don't bow on my account Lady Alexandra.”
“Thank you, for what you did with Quinton.”
“Oh that. That was nothing. I am a firm believer a man should not strike a woman under any circumstance. I honestly have no tolerance for such outdated behavior. I prefer to treat women as equals. Once you marry me and move to Rexham, you will have nothing to worry about my dear Alexandra, you’ll have an equal say in everything we do.”
No longer able to look Philip in the eyes with a straight face, Alex looked down at the ground in shame. Any other woman would have felt lucky to have secured such a kind man as a husband, and yet Alex felt nothing but disgust at having been promised to him. Clearly, her father had chosen Philip over Dalton, so she would not have to endure the abuse she had grown accustomed to, but for Alex, the situation was still less than ideal. Everyone always told her she would get used to him, but Alex did not want to get used to him, she wanted to be with someone who set her soul on fire, someone like Jay.
Not wanting to be in his presence any longer, Alex contemplated running away, but she remembered how she needed to stay by Philip's side to protect him. Realizing she had to keep Philip safe to see Jay again, Alex swallowed her pride and decided to spend the day with the man she found to be both repulsive and amusing at the same time.
“Is there anything you would like to do my Lord?”
“As a matter of fact, there is. You see my fair lady, I have come here, so I could get to know my future bride before the wedding. I know it’s not our custom, but I am curious to find out more about the woman who is destined to be my queen. So, if you'd do me a favor Lady Alexandra, I would love to stroll around the beach with you. Would you be so kind as to accommodate this foolish man in his endeavor?”
“Of course, my lord. It would be my pleasure to spend time with you as well.”
Cosmo watched from a nearby tree as Philip offered his arm to his mistress. Alex reluctantly placed her hand on top of his and guided the Lord of Rexham to their destination. Lifting off with a buzz of his tiny wings, Cosmo flew to catch up to Alexandra and make sure things went according to plan. The last thing he wanted to do was explain to the master why things went terribly wrong for his beloved great-granddaughter.
Strolling through the garden in full bloom, the three of them basked in the sunshine as they headed for the sprawling shoreline of the castle. Philip was droning on about their future together, while Cosmo rolled his eyes at this man’s blind optimism. He noticed Alex force a smile as Philip babbled on about how much her life would change with him, and snorted at him, knowing full well this little troll of a man stood no chance against Jay.
Stopping under the arch covered in striped carnations, Philip turned to gaze at his intended. “Now, Alexandra, I don't want you to think I’m trying to rush things. All I’d like right now is your opinion on how you feel about a fall wedding?
“I have never thought about it, my lord. They normally leave those matters to the man, but I suppose I do not oppose it if that is what you wish.”
“I want your opinion Alexandra, not your compliance. If you are to be my wife, I want you to not be afraid of speaking your mind. Now, what season would you like to be wed in?”
“Really, my lord, fall seems like the perfect time for a wedding.”
“Excellent!” Philip beamed. “I was thinking of October. Rexham has the best pumpkin patches in Vega, and you would look stunning amongst them.”
“Thank you for your kind words, Philip.” Alex turned her head, so he didn’t see her cringe. “But I honestly had no idea of your pumpkin patches, they must be lovely if you speak so highly of them.”
“Oh yes indeed. Rexham is the most beautiful territory in the fall, especially with all the festivals we have. I know you'll love it there.”
“I'm sure I will, my lord.”
“It's a great place for children to grow up.” Philip walked towards the beach again as he spoke. “Have you thought about children, Alexandra?”
“Can't say I have since it’s not the way of our people. I thought we were to lay together and produce as many as we can.”
“We are, but I will not force my wife into it if that is not what she wants.”
“That is very thoughtful of you Philip.” Alex took a deep breath and glance
d at Cosmo who was snickering by her side. “What about you, have you given it much thought?”
“I certainly have my lady. I was thinking a house full of them. At least four, but six would be better. We need to fill the void of the castle with laughter, and I want my children to know the joys of having a sibling. You are so lucky to have grown up with brothers. I never got that pleasure as my mother passed soon after my birth.”
“I’m sorry Philip, I had no idea.”
“No need to apologize, Alexandra, that is what fate had intended for me. My father could have easily remarried, but he was clearly too attached to my mother to do so. Which is exactly why I wish to have the same relationship with you.”
“If you wish to marry for love Philip, why do you wish to marry me? Surely you cannot love someone you barely know.”
Looking dumbfounded, Philip looked at Alex with his mouth agape. His finger was still raised in the air where it stopped. He never considered her to ask, but why did he wish to marry her? The lady of Manevia was a superb beauty. She was also kind, intelligent, and poised. So, while Philip had no doubts about his ability to fall in love with her, he knew he hadn’t asked for her hand out of love. Blinking his eyes, he cleared his throat and scratched the top of his bald head.
“Well, umm.” Philip winced at his failure to find the right words. “I guess it made sense politically. After all, Manevia is a big province with significant military influence. It felt reasonable to secure a strong ally for Rexham, and one who was close by. Together our lands will become the most dominant force in Vega, no one would dare invade us.”
“I see. So, the move was purely political as I suspected.”
“I wouldn’t say it was all business. You are an incredibly beautiful woman Lady Alexandra. Any man would be lucky to have you, and I would be a fool if I didn’t try to win the hand of the loveliest lady in the land.”
“But, wouldn’t you rather marry someone for love instead of power?”
“I suppose that would be ideal. But in our position, we can't live by ideals.” Philip said with a sigh “Also, what woman in her right mind would marry me for love?”
“I don't think you are being fair to yourself Philip. I'm sure there is a girl out there who is crazy about you, who would love to have you marry her, but you probably don’t even know she’s there.”
“Something tells me that girl isn’t you. Right?”
Staring into space Alexandra played with the locket around her neck. She knew Philip was right. There was no way she could love him as her heart belonged to another. Still, she felt awful for the pain her indifference would cause such a nice man. But, despite not wanting to hurt Philip’s feelings Alex had to be honest with herself, and for that, she had to be honest with him.
“I'm afraid so.”
“I suppose there is no chance you could grow to love me either.”
“Probably not.”
“Ah, well, it’s unfortunate then we live in a system which does not permit us the luxury of finding that special someone.”
“Very unfortunate indeed. For both of us.”
“But who are we to change that?”
“If not us, then who?”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it, my lord. How many generations before ours didn't agree with the rules we live by either, and yet, here we are, still bound by the same set of principles. Perhaps things stay the same not because we don't desire change, but because no one dares stand up to make it happen.”
“Even if what you’re saying is true, we are just two people. Alone, we can't possibly do anything to change the way of our people, not without the support of the masses.”
“Maybe not, but it would still be a start. Everyone is afraid of change, but it has to start somewhere. So why not with us?”
“A valid point my lady, but what good is change, if it ends right where it begins? No, you need to have support if you want that change to take hold. And there is no way we could get it, not unless we are together.”
Alex hated to admit it, but Philip was right. Alone she could do nothing to alter the laws she was bound to, and neither could he. Unfortunately, they would need the support of the people, and the Manevia’s resistance cell was not substantial enough to help. The only way she could be with Jay was to shed her identity and ran far away from the iron fist of her family and the laws of the pure-bloods. Depressed by the thought, Alex strolled silently through the garden with Philip, wondering if it would ever be possible for her to escape.
Coming to the edge of the lawn, Alex noticed the gates to the beach left wide open. Her father opened them to his guests, and she would finally see the shores she’d grown to love in the sunlight. Casually, Philip walked through the gates and led her to the rocky beach beyond the palace.
Stopping on the edge of a rock wall, Alex observed the familiar horizon. It was brighter than what she was used to. The sun sparkled like diamonds on the ocean's gentle waves, and she raised her hand over her eyes to marvel at it. With a faint smile, she thought of how much Andy would have liked to see this view. Alex recalled the boy telling her how he had never seen the ocean up close, and she promised to make it happen one day.
Offering his hand to Alexandra, Philip helped her down to the sandy bottom below the rocks. Glancing around, she spotted something at the edge of the waterline, squirming in the sand. Seems a small blubber fish had washed ashore and was now attempting to make its way back into the water. Strolling over to it, Alex scooped up the iridescent, pink and amethyst ball of flub which was desperately gasping for air. Wading ankle-deep into the cold water, she released the blubber fish and watched it swim away from her.
“Why did you do that? You must know its chances of survival are slim. Would it not have been kinder to let it die?”
“Philip, you can't possibly believe we have the right to decide the fate of others?” Alex clasped his hands. “Sure, it may not stand a chance, or maybe it does, neither of us can predict what will happen. All I know is, it wanted to live, and we can't take that away from it, even if our efforts are in vain.”
“How could you possibly know what it wanted?”
“Did you not see it? It was crawling its way back to the water. It wanted the chance to survive. Had it given up, it would have laid there and allowed the sun to melt it.”
“But it was just a blubber fish Alexandra, it does not have the desire to survive. It crawls to the water out of pure instinct.”
“That’s where you’re wrong my lord, every living thing has the desire to stay alive. And animals have feelings like we do. Their hurt does not differ from our own, and neither is their desire to keep on living. All our lives we have been fooled into believing we are the only sentient beings in existence, just as we have been fooled into thinking that being of pure-blood is somehow special. In truth, we are no different from the grays we strive to oppress.”
“Good heavens woman, are you suggesting the grays are our equals?” Philip was taken aback by his fiancé’s sudden need to speak her mind. “Next, you’ll be telling me half-bloods are legitimate and should be allowed to exist amongst us.”
“Yes, the grays are our equals. Having less magic does not make them inferior to us. And why shouldn't half-bloods exist? The only reason they teach us to fear them is because their power threatens this world we created for ourselves. Just look at East Ashland if you need more proof. The half-bloods can exist there, and the grays have a say in how the territory is run. Yet the East is still flourishing while we are here, struggling to keep our people alive and are constantly facing the threat of invasion.”
“Fascinating. You seem to know a lot about Ashland, my lady. I did not realize Lord Hamilton has taught you about the ways of the East radicals.”
“He didn't. I occasionally overhear things here and there from servants and visiting dignitaries. For example, did you know they have self-driving carriages? And they have lanterns that don't run on oi
l, and water that doesn't need to be pumped. They still retain the technology our people have forsaken, and they are better off for it.”
“Yes, I heard such rumors myself. I was also told you don't need to heat up water, it simply comes hot from the pump.”
“Can't you see how much our ways have held us back and hurt us. We have stifled progress, so we could continue to oppress our people. We used to sail amongst the stars, and now, we are too busy trying to not lose control of our territories. Our rules have never been about keeping anyone safe, they were always intended to keep the pure-bloods in power. The elite few, dictating to the majority of the mages how they should live their lives.”
Philip took one glimpse at the determined look on his lady’s face and laughed. The other’s told him the princess of Manevia was something out of this world, and now he understood why. This didn’t deter him though, as he admired her passion. Few could voice their opinions knowing how crazy they sounded, himself included.
Watching Philip chuckle, Alexandra grew hot with embarrassment. She knew her ideas were not in line with the pure-blood way of thinking, but still, she did not expect him to laugh at her. If only there was a way of sharing with him everything she knew, all she had been through, maybe then he would understand why she felt the way she did.
Still smirking, Philip took Alexandra’s hand and gave it a gentle kiss. “You know my lady, Quinton warned me you were a radical woman. And maybe you are, but I for one, disagree with him. I think your ideas and your views of the world are brilliant.”
“Really? You... you agree with me?”
“Indeed, that’s why I insisted you not be afraid to speak your mind around me. Truth be told, I feel much the same way you do.”
“You what?”
“That’s right, I’m a radical free thinker too. Actually, I think a lot more pure-blood mages feel the way you do, they are just too scared to speak up.”
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