by V Vee
Chiamaka let out a cheer then ran from the room, leaving her bags behind. Valerie pushed up from the floor with a grunt, wincing when she felt her knees protesting the movement, and pressed a hand to her somach when she felt it give a sudden lurch. She ignored her sister’s narrowed-eyed stare in her direction and sat back down on her stool.
“So did you guys have fun?” she asked.
Merlina didn’t say anything as she moved around behind Valerie, grabbing a yogurt from the refrigerator. She sat down next to her older sister, opened it and began eat it. “Of course we did. I love hanging out with Chia-Pet. Of all your kids, I love Chia and Beau the best.”
Valerie’s jaw dropped open in shock as she turned to stare at her sister. “You did not just say that!”
“What?” Merlina shrugged. “They aren’t my kids. I don’t have to like them all equally. I love them all equally, I mean they’re my nieces and nephews. I’d do anything for them. I’d die for them and you know I’m always here for you if you need me to help out, but… I don’t know—” she trailed off. “Beau is just such a little genius you know? He’s all sensitive, creativity. And Chiamaka, she’s a leader. A little dictator, but she’s a fashionista. And she’s hella smart. Compared to your other three? I definitely get along with them better. AJ is at that stage when he’s all teen angst. I can’t deal with it. Chikere, he’s silent and brooding. I feel like he’s waiting to kill something in the shadows. And Dahni?” Merlina shuddered. “She’s messy.”
Valerie laughed. “She’s a toddler! Of course she’s messy. She’s just learning to really step around on her own. She mostly looks like a zombie when she does though. And she likes to feed herself, but the food barely makes it into her mouth. Besides, she’s not awake that long.” Valerie shook her head. “What are you going to do when you have your own children?”
Merlina held up her hands. “Not going to happen. Never ever.”
Valerie snorted. “Never say never.”
Valerie picked up her wrap to take a bite as her sister scowled at her again, just as Chiamaka’s voice yelled from the family room.
“Mommy! Look! Daddy’s on tv!”
Valerie looked over at Merlina, ice cold dread flooding her system as she jumped up from her seat and raced from the kitchen and headed towards the family room. She was distantly aware of the front door opening and her other siblings entering with the rest of her children, her parents behind her, bags of groceries and shopping bags in their hands. Valerie came to a halt next to the couch, her heart pounding in her chest, fear coursing through her at the very thought that the reason Algerone hadn’t called or texted her was that he’d suffered some tragic accident. And she’d been cursing him, wishing unspeakable things to happen to him, contemplating separation or possibly divorce. What was being reported was much worse. The blonde haired, blue-eyed female reporter, lips painted a bright red smiled into the camera as she ripped Valerie’s world apart.
Breaking News from the country of Malvidence this morning! King Callum and Queen Araminta, have announced the engagement of their eldest son Crown Prince Algerone Aiden Smythe, a confirmed bachelor, and bad boy prince, to Lady Taylor Weshian, daughter of Lord Jeffrey Weshian, of the Soveirgn Province of Sovrex. The kingdom is happy that the oldest prince has finally found his princess and sincerely wish the happy couple a lifetime of happiness. Hopefully Prince Algerone’s younger brothers will soon follow suit and settle down soon as well. There has been no confirmed wedding date, thought the palace says that the couple sees no need to wait on either the wedding nor a family. We here at Channel 45, WETX, wish them all the best. In other news, the President of the United States shocked the world when he said…
Valerie heard nothing else, as everything around her grew dark and muted, and she collapsed.
Chapter Fifteen
L ady Taylor Weshian was considered beautiful to many throughout the kingdom of Malvidence and the Province of Sovrex. Whether it was her long, silky, sunshine blonde hair, her crystal blue eyes, her perpetually pouting pink lips, or her slender and petite frame, looking at Lady Taylor oftentimes put one in the mindset of gazing upon a porcelain doll. Especially with her extremely pale skin and always present pink blush upon her cheeks. Lady Taylor was to be admired from afar, but never to be touched.
Something Algerone had respected and been grateful for since he’d gotten to know the unbearable harpy that lived beneath the visage of the beautiful doll persona, over ten years before.
Lady Taylor was only two years his junior, not nearly as young as his own wife, and he’d already—thankfully—been married to Valerie when he’d finally met Lady Taylor whom he’d been hearing about since he was a young boy. His parents had been in close contact with the leader of the Province of Sovrex: His Esteemed Admiral Ricard Lamdin and his wife First Lady Katchyina since they’d taken power when Algerone was only two. As a result of the change in leadership in the Province, King Callum and Queen Araminta had invited the new heads of State to the palace to broker peace and friendship. Algerone had been in the nursery at the time, but had been told the story of the how his parents had first met Lord Jeffrey Weshian who’d joked about his newborn daughter marrying into the royal family.
Over the years, and through multiple formal dinners Lord Weshian had been worthy enough to be invited to, the perpetual hint had been there, about his daughter, and only child, Lady Taylor, marrying into the Smythe family and becoming a part of the Royal Family of Malvidence, even though she’d never once met any of the Smythe Princes.
Until she did.
Algerone and his brothers were well known. Of course they were. Their titles and positions kept them in the news, on social media, in the tabloids, and their exploits kept them on the tongues of every young woman—and young man—who knew of their existence. One fateful weekend Lady Taylor and her father were visiting the palace and Algerone and his brothers were… “entertaining” a group of American actresses and models in their apartments on the other side of the palace property. When Algerone stepped out of the back door of his apartment where his guests were waiting, having just finished talking with Valerie, AJ, and Beaumont, wishing them well, and telling them how much he missed them and how much he loved them, he was shocked to find Lady Taylor standing in his backyard next to his pool berating the American women, and his brothers.
“I don’t care who you are in that backwoods Xoulnt: America! It is disgusting, you are all uneducated, and not nearly as sophisticated or attractive as the Malvidencian people. Even the lowest of your people: the Africans are uglier than those we have allowed to live here. Once Algerone and I are married, I will make sure that none of you are ever allowed here again. And that you,” she pointed to Algerone’s brothers, “can only be seen at the palace on special occassions, you are a bad influence upon our future king, Kuthrar says so.”
Algerone had been so angry, he’d stomped outside and ignoring Lady Taylor’s spluttering explanations, and her attempts to introduce herself to a man she’d never even met before, he’d sent her away, with the firm understanding that she would never be his queen. Ever. He didn’t care how much her father wanted it.
So his shock was great when he heard her squeal loud through the halls of the palace before she launched herself in his arms, just as the flash of a camera went off. When he blinked to rid himself of the glare, without hugging her back, he heard his mother’s voice and her words stopped him cold.
“Well, Algerone, don’t just stand there. Aren’t you going to hug your fiancee? She has waited all this time for you to return so that you can plan your wedding,” Queen Araminta stated firmly.
“M-my f-fiancee?” Algerone stammered.
Lady Taylor smacked Algerone on his stomach, since she only came to the middle of his chest, and held up her left hand. “Me, silly!”
Algerone gripped her fingers in his hand and leaned down to look at her hand, ignoring Andreas who was loudly clearing his throat behind him. As he looked down at the extremely large, a
ntique, engagement ring that was a family heirloom, he felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. The ring on Lady Taylor’s finger was not only bigger than the one on Valerie’s it was one that was distinctly connected to his family.
And it was at that moment the shuttering sound of a camera registered in his mind, and as he looked up, he saw the palace’s official publicity photographer, snapping pictures. Lady Taylor took that opportune moment to press against him, and another picture was taken. Algerone dropped her hand quickly, but he knew it was too late, and when he demanded an audience with his parents a few short minutes later, only to be delayed by five hours, while they got Lady Taylor and her parents settled, and an alert came to his phone about his own engagement…
He knew it was too late.
Here Ye! Here Ye!
The Palace of Malvidence has much to celebrate this morning! King Callum and Queen Araminta, have announced the engagement of the country’s eldest son Crown Prince Algerone Aiden Smythe: confirmed bachelor, and former bad boy prince, to Lady Taylor Weshian, daughter of Lord Jeffrey Weshian, of the Soveirgn Province of Sovrex. The kingdom is happy that the oldest prince has finally found his princess and sincerely wish the happy couple a lifetime of happiness. The King and Queen are certain that Prince Algerone’s younger brothers will soon follow suit and settle down shortly with their own princesses. Though there is no confirmed wedding date, the palace says that the couple sees no need to wait on either the wedding nor a family.
Algerone stared at his parents, his jaw clenched tight, his face flushed hot with rage. “What have you done?” he gritted out.
King Callum stared at Algerone with a look that was completely non-plussed. Without moving his gaze from his oldest son’s face, King Callum lifted his cup of tea to his lips and took a sip. Lowering the delicate china back to the saucer, he balanced both on his bent knee. “We simply did what you have been too cowardly and immature to do. The crown demands that the line continue, Algerone. Neither you, nor your brothers, seem inclined to settle down and provide progeny and heirs for when I am no longer able to rule, and you are crowned in my stead. Instead the five of you are perfectly content to galivant around the world, partying, sowing your wild oats, making a mockery of the royal Smythe name. I will not have it and will no longer tolerate it. You will marry and produce an heir within a year’s time, and that is final.”
His father’s words were delivered without emotion or inflection. Algerone had no doubt that what he’d just heard was not the speech or the plea of a concerned father, but the edict of a king. Lifting his chin, and knowing that this was his time to prove not only to his parents, but to his wife, children, in-laws, and to himself, that he was ready to take on the role and responsibility of not only being the next king of Malvidence, but also being a husband and father, Algerone took a deep breath.
And was soundly interrupted by the door flying open and his brother Andreas rushing inside their father’s study, holding out Algerone’s phone, his face pulled down in concern and confusion.
“Andreas! This is highly improper!” Queen Araminta stated firmly.
Andreas bowed quickly to their parents. “Forgive me Kuthrar, but I have an urgent call for Algerone from New Hampshire?”
Algerone’s heart began to pound furiously in his chest. He held out his hand to take the device from his brother.
“Who do you know in New Hampshire, Algerone?” Queen Araminta asked.
“I will explain in a moment, Kuthrar,” Algerone rushed out before lifting his phone to his ear. “Hello?”
“Oh thank the L-rd above! Algerone, I know Valerie said for us not to call you because of all that secrecy with you being the prince of not-Engand or whatever, but she’s in the hospital,” Lorraine, Algerone’s mother-in-law said, her voice sounding weepy.
“Who’s in the hospital, Mom?” Algerone questioned, a lump forming in his throat.
“Who are you calling by such a title?” King Callum asked him. For the first time in his life, Algerone did not immediately answer his father, his king. Instead, he held up his pointer finger, asking for a moment, and focused on his phone call with his mother-in-law. If one of the kids was in the hospital, why hadn’t Valerie called him? Unless she was in the room with the doctor and couldn’t use the phone. He heard his parents gasp, but he ignored them both.
“Valerie is in the hospital, Son. She saw that news story about you being engaged, and she passed out. We couldn’t get her to respond and she was bleeding a bit. The doctor said that the baby is okay, but she can’t have any more stress. So they’re keeping her in the hospital for a few days and then she’s going home. I just thought you should know,” Lorraine told him, sounding stern and emotional.
Valerie was in the hospital? Baby? Blood? News story? Algerone could feel himself going through a tumult of emotions as everything his mother-in-law swirled through his mind. His parents’ meddling had caused his wife to wind up in the hospital, and be in danger of losing their unborn child. Their sixth child. Why hadn’t Valerie told him she was pregnant again.
More importantly than that Valerie needed him. Their kids needed him. His family needed him. It was time for Algerone to take the reigns of his own life and the first way he was going to do that, was by going back to his family.
“I will be there as soon as I can pack and get a plane, Mom. If Valerie is awake, please tell her, that story was not true, it was not my doing and I will make everything right, and tell her and my kids that I love her,” Algerone said firmly. He could feel his chest expanding as he spoke. It was as if there were a slumbering lion awakening within him.
He could hear his parents and his brother murmuring beside him, but he didn’t care. He had more important matters to take care of.
“I sure will, baby. You fly safely now, you hear me?” Lorraine said before hanging up the phone.
Algerone pocketed his phone, then turned to face his family. His parents were looking at him with expressions that looked suspiciously like pride. Andreas, however, looked as if he’d been run over by an elephant, with a giraffe on its back, trying to lasso a monkey.
Algerone smirked at his younger brother and shrugged, before turning to his parents.
“Is there something you would like to tell us, Algerone?” King Callum asked, steepling his fingers, as he sat back in his chair.
Algerone nodded. “I am married. I have been married to Valerie Smythe, nee Hall, for the past fourteen years. We have five children and I have just found out that I have another child, a sixth child on the way. We have three boys: AJ, Beaumont, and Chikere, as well as two girls: Chiamaka, and Dahni. Chikere and Chiamaka are twins. I met Valerie, who has a degree, and is an African-American artist over in Spain, when I went to run with the bulls. We have much of her art hanging around, or displayed here in the palace. She is the revered artist: ValHal.” He inclined his head when he saw the awe and excitement in his parents’ eyes.
“However, because of a newstory she saw about my engagement to another woman, my wife, who has already been distraught by my inability to completely commit to her and our children due to my position here, had to be rushed to the hospital. So I will be going to her. Immediately. I will answer my phone while I am there, but I must take care of my family, and I will be setting all of the stories straight regarding myself and Lady Taylor.”
With a final nod to his parents and his brother, Algerone turned and left his father’s office. He did not stop, even when he heard his father and mother calling after him, or when he heard the sound of two, three, and then… four? Different sets of footsteps behind him. Glancing behind him, Algerone saw all his brothers behind him, and with a small smile at all of them, he continued to the plane. He’d buy what he needed there. Right now, he had to get to his wife and children.
Chapter Sixteen
A lgerone walked through the halls of the hospital, his focus on one thing and one thing only, getting to his wife and children. When he’d arrived outside the hospital with his brothers
with their security detail, there had been a few reporters and tabloids outside they’d asked asked him why he was in the States and about his new engagement, but Algerone hadn’t responded to any of them. He would come back out and make a statement once he knew how Valerie was doing and not a moment before.
He saw his in-laws sitting out in the waiting room of the maternity ward, with his children when he got to the right floor, and the sight of their concerned and sad faces made his stomach clench. He rushed forward, hearing his brothers steps right behind him.
“Mom? Dad?” he called out.
Lorraine and Lloyd looked up at his rough voice and jumped to their feet. Lorraine held Dahni in her arms, and Algerone noticed his other children weren’t in the area.
“Algerone! Son, I knew you would come,” Lorraine said with a smile of relief on her face. She smacked Lloyd’s shoulder. “See, Lloyd? Didn’t I tell you the boy would be here?”
“Yes, dear,” Lloyd responded with an indulgent smile on his dark brown, almost ebony brown face.
Lorraine’s skin was a nice golden brown, and her dark brown eyes gleamed with unshed tears. Algerone took her in his arms gently, before lifting his daughter in his arms. She reached up to pat the tight black curls on her head, that Valerie had informed him once before was hers, but not hers, with the help of something called a lace-front Remy wig. Algerone hadn’t told his wife he’d had to research what she’d meant, but once he’d discovered what it was, every year, he’d made sure to buy his mother-in-law the best wig—discreetly, of course—for her birthday. Something he gave her when no one else was around.
“How is she?” he asked.
Lorraine waved her hand. “She is fine, praise jehovah. I called the rabbi and the everyone in the Temple is praying for her speedy recovery and that the baby will be okay.” She looked pointedly at his brothers. “And whom did you bring with you?”
