Should we reveal the truth to the public? Never! The Ivelens died as the result of an unfortunate accident. That’s it. Only what do we do with the rest of the plotters? If we execute thirty people without any explanation, there’s bound to be a riot. Should we throw them in prison? What about “innocent until proven guilty”?
Therefore, they had to act gradually, slowly, smoothly. As Hans explained, they would eradicate the conspirators one by one. Some would die in an accident, others from illness, and the rest would be taken to prison on other charges. Should we expect the conspirators to openly start a resistance?
The Ivelen family was at the heart of the conspiracy, with legitimate royal blood. The whole success of the plan had depended mainly on them. Now that the Ivelens were dead, all that was left for Avesterra to do was to find another pawn among the conspirators. There was no such person. Besides, even if he succeeded in taking over power, his triumph wouldn’t last long. Avesterra knew this. The best plan of action for the conspirators was to escape. The king would let them savor freedom up to a certain point. They had a long-established hunting mechanism. Sooner or later, the plotters would be caught.
Lily waved her hand as if shaking off the memory of yesterday. Let them go far away! I need to come to my senses and prepare for a meeting with my husband. Edward did promise that he wouldn’t let anyone hurt me, and yet… Jerisson Earton is my legal husband.
Lily was afraid, terribly afraid. Everyone comforted her—August, Alicia (who was noticeably more lively in the presence of the shipwright), and Miranda who insisted that her papa was a wonderful man.
Lily could hardly believe it. The meeting was approaching.
***
Alexander Falion jumped off his stallion and threw the reins to the servant, who obediently led the horse into the stables.
The man looked around the house.
Hmmm ...How happy had I once been, that time when I first came here with my young wife. How wonderful it was to see my daughter growing up!
And now, all my dreams are in shreds. My wife is insane, and my daughter is likely to inherit her disease. My bloodline ends. I don’t hope for a miracle.
This was the very moment when Falion resolved to take his life into his own hands. One would sooner die than receive help from Aldonai. But he had hope for a better life, and it bore the name of Lilian Earton.
She is charming, intelligent, with character, completely healthy and knows medicine, an important asset to possess. She will give birth to healthy children.
Alexander would happily marry her. There was only one thing. Lilian was Jerisson Earton’s wife, and nothing could be done about it. The only way was to have Jess push her away himself.
He is not a fool; he is a womanizer. As soon as he sees her, he will cling to her. That’s for sure. It’s not just her dowry, but her beauty and her mind as well. What a wonderful woman!
Hoping for a divorce was useless. The king wouldn’t allow it. Sometimes, it was best to not ask the king. It was also useless to hope that Jerisson would turn out to be a fool. Falion had to prepare the ground himself. He shook his head and grinned like a wolf.
Lilian Earton treated him as a good friend. If he was lucky, he could make her fall in love with him. He could deal with Jerisson and the king after.
My father will be home soon. I will need to speak to him and start preparing. The Falions never miss out on their luck!
Chapter 4
A solemn arrival
“Your Majesty, the embassy from Wellster has arrived to see you.”
Edward glanced at Tahir.
“Will you let me meet the ambassadors?”
Tahir bowed low, hiding ironic sparkles in his eyes.
“How can I object, Your Majesty? Who am I to argue with Your Highness?”
“A doctor,” sighed Edward.
Over the past few days, the king had come to terms with the mild tyranny of Lilian Earton’s doctors. They were all convinced that health came before everything, even before duty. He imagined the doctors’ nagging him. You can argue and fire us only once you are cured. You will have to endure our rules for as long as you are ill.
Only five people in the kingdom knew about intercostal neuralgia. Although Edward argued with the doctors, his health deteriorated without their help. The king’s only wish was to recover. He realized that it was best to let the doctors do their job—for his own benefit. The Khangans were extremely polite.
The countess, on the other hand, hissed and yelled, but that didn’t offend the king in the least. It was her way of taking care of him. Sometimes she did it awkwardly, forgetting the norms of etiquette and not thinking about the consequences. Nevertheless, she acted with his best interests in mind. For instance, she got really mad when the king tried to leave his bed. She was very “polite” about it.
“Your Majesty, you can kick me out with a stick—once you recover. As for now, let me cure you! Otherwise, all our efforts will go down the drain, and we will have to start over. Do you really enjoy being ill?”
If Edward were healthy, he would have her guts for garters for such words. But the cruel pain persisted. No, no. It’s better if she finishes her curing. I can attend to business even while in bed.
He could listen to all reports lying down and dictate his answers to a scribe. He was a king, not a workman, and his job wasn’t to dig trenches. Although the king was physically unwell, his mind remained sharp, especially after Lilian decided to stop giving him anesthetics that marred his reason. The doctors cut the doses, and that left him with a perfect mind.
“Your Majesty, you may obviously meet the embassy, but only if you let us take good care of you after the meeting.”
Edward nodded.
He would have to endure his body being rubbed with smelly ointments and swallow nasty powders. Oh well, I will spend an idle evening, but at least I will make a terrible appearance before the embassy in the afternoon. Everyone at court should remember that his wrath was great.
“With your permission, I would like to accompany you—”
“Accompany me where?”
It was Lilian Earton. The royal valet omitted her formal introduction. He felt gratitude and awe toward the countess for her healing powers. The old man was utterly devoted to Edward and recognized that Lily sought no self-interest. He called her a “real lady,” incomparable to these “wax dolls” and gave her unimpeded access to the king’s chamber. Edward didn’t mind. Furthermore, she was the wife of his nephew.
As for her manners, what could one expect from a shipbuilder's daughter? It’s good she doesn’t wipe her nose on the curtains!
Tahir and Lily exchanged bows, and the Khangan began rapidly speaking in his own language. The king managed to understand a few things. Lily squinted and nodded.
“Your Majesty, you ought to meet the embassy. I won’t give you any strong painkillers, but I beg you to take good care of yourself as soon as the meeting finishes.”
Edward smiled.
“Will you agree to be my companion at the meeting, dear Countess?”
“Really?”
“Why not? You have the full right to accompany me. As for the rest, they should be aware that you are the wife of my nephew!”
“What about Baroness Ormt?”
Edward snorted at the thought of his “favorite.”
The woman had tried to sneak into the bedroom a couple of times, but the valet was given strict orders to chase her from sight. Neither her fluttering eyelashes nor her crocodile tears can soothe my aches and pains! Send her to Maldonaya, thought the king.
“The baroness will get the hint. So, will you agree to remain by your patient’s side?”
Lily sighed. Edward was a handsome man. He reminded her of a leopard—a nice, fluffy kitten with fangs and teeth. If you tickle him with a finger, he will chew your arm up to the shoulder!
“Your Majesty, what will I tell my husband? It will cause a lot of gossip!”
“A little gossip would do yo
ur husband good after all the suffering he brought down on you. Besides, I’ll talk to him myself. Trust me, no one will dare take you for my mistress.”
“I obey your will, Your Majesty.”
Edward grinned with playful, innocent malice. He felt at ease with the countess. She didn’t know about a lot of things, but that wasn’t surprising, considering she first lived in her father’s home and then in the wilderness. Both places did little to encourage royal behavior. Despite all that, it was clear that the countess treated the king with respect, as one human being should treat another. Isn’t that the most important thing? Edward was never a stubborn tyrant.
Meanwhile, Lily looked at her dress and sighed.
“Your Majesty, I am not appropriately dressed for a reception.”
“It doesn’t matter, dear Countess. You look charming. But if you are still worried about it—”
Edward touched the bell, and when the valet appeared, he asked him to bring the Countess of Earton golden-coated pearls. The servant nodded and disappeared. Lily looked at herself once again.
She was dressed in a simple, beige, empire-style dress decorated with lace. Her hands were covered with lace gloves. Although she didn’t look bad, her clothes weren’t elegant either.
She felt a surge of confidence after she put a couple of gorgeous strands of golden pearls about her neck and hair. After all, she wanted to rise to the occasion.
***
The embassy wasn’t a magnificent place. The Khangans beat its opulence in all respects. Still, it sought to impress the guests. The usher drove everyone mad with his long list of titles and flamboyant figures of speech, half of which meant nothing to Lily. It bored her to stand behind the royal throne imitating the king’s favorite, tenderly touching his hand from time to time (even though she was only feeling his pulse). To pass the time, Lily observed the embassy.
There were around thirty people excessively dressed up, among whom stood out a man wearing a small crown and a young girl standing beside him. Like any woman, Lily first inspected the man. It was His Majesty Gardwig.
He was handsome and evidently smart, around forty years of age, with bright lively eyes. There was something wrong with his leg. He refrained from treading too heavily and leaned on a walking stick. He had the face of a man who coped daily with pain and would sooner die than surrender.
I wonder what happened to him? Back in his youth, the man must have looked dashing. Even now, he is tall, fair and blue-eyed. Wasn’t his nickname the Lion of Wellster? He deserves it!
Looking at him now made Lily lick her lips.
Stop this surge of pheromones! Had he been at least ten years younger, I wouldn’t think twice about becoming his favorite. His habit of re-marrying is evident. What a handsome man!
The girl next to him was different. She was short, dark-haired and dark-eyed. The look in her eyes reminded Lily of a silly fairytale about a silly goose.
She was giving her a diagnosis: many words described the symptoms, but only one term was correct. Anna wore a thin tiara, a lot of jewels and a pompous dress. Lily couldn’t help but notice her dirty neck, a deceivingly innocent look, and a naive smile.
Men were usually deceived by women like her. The women next to her either tried to look even more innocent and tremulous or chose to get angry. Lily belonged to the second category. Anna let men solve her problems, whereas Lily took everything into her own hands. We won’t get along. Poor Lons! Lily genuinely doubted that this lassie would exchange her royal life and diamonds for a love shack in the wild. She wasn’t that type of girl.
Anna looked up under the weight of Lilian’s gaze, who barely had time to cast her eyes away. One second was enough for Lily to spot that Anna’s look was that of a snappish, cornered rat.
How could nobody see it? Poor Lons!
One of the men who came with Gardwig opened his mouth and gave a twenty-minute speech. Edward nodded, expressing his admiration. After that, the kings exchanged letters and assured each other of their mutual loyalty.
Edward invited Gardwig to a ball in honor of his charming daughter, who “lit up the entire palace with her radiant charm.” These words made Lily bite down on her tongue hard to refrain from snorting. One royal secret was enough for her.
The parties agreed on the date and time and took their leave. Edward ordered the usher to dismiss the courtiers and leaned back in his throne. He was covered in sweat, and his pulse was racing, but Lily didn’t show indignation. She simply called the royal valet and, with his help, transported the king back to bed.
“I hope you’ll come to the ball, Countess?”
Lily nodded. How could she refuse?
“Your Majesty, Miranda wanted to visit her cousins. The princesses said they would also be happy to—”
“Let her come. I’ll instruct the guards.”
***
Ten days after the sea battle, Eric's ships anchored in the port of Laveri. Without further ado, everyone went to the palace. That evening there was a ball to mark the arrival of the Wellster embassy, the Lion of Wellster, and Anna Wellster.
Every year at around the same time, the king organized his famous masquerade ball—a whole month of preparation, making costumes, sending out invitations, choosing a date. This year, the ball was named in honor of Wellster to please both wolves and sheep.
Lily didn’t care to prepare for the ball. She only needed to find a costume and spend an hour there to please the king.
I will survive! No one will dare make an inappropriate comment to the “royal favorite.”
Although the thing about the “royal favorite” wasn’t even true, Lily knew that her “judges” were the irritable ladies who would happily lie in all poses in front of the king, as well as the men who were eager to arrange it in return for dividends.
Yuck!
Edward treated Lilian like his niece, and Lily addressed him like he was her proud uncle—with due respect but without unnecessary flattery. The benefits of this included security and protection from her husband’s anger.
Why couldn’t this reptile of a husband disappear somewhere?
Lons rushed to the ball to see his beloved Anna. Lily thought a little and decided that it would be best for she and Lons to be dressed as Khangans.
We will get a stick-on beard for Lons from the barber. Why not? The Khangans are also invited.
As for Prince Amir, he can be a caravan guard in a familial dress. He’s a prince, after all, he can do what he pleases. It will look rather exotic.
Unfortunately, the Khangan ladies had no suitable fancy dress for Lily to borrow. Everything was either too big or too small.
What to do! There is too little time to fix a dress!
Marcia was devastated. She wouldn’t let her mistress show up to the ball like a pumpkin.
Never!
Lily sighed and decided that the classic costume would always be a win.
A bat––or a vampire?
She had a black dress. To make a black satin mask took only a minute. As for the cape, easy! She could sew in short splinters to shape it into bat’s wings.
Quite decent! Only what do I do with my hair? I will leave it down and entwine it with black ribbons and black pearls.
August had generously given his daughter a ton of jewels, enough to decorate a Christmas tree.
Perfect!
The girls fixed the cape in no time and even embroidered it with red beads. Lilian’s dress was ready.
It wasn't difficult to turn Lons into a Khangan. A black beard made him look exceptionally scary, and the first sight of him nearly made Lily jump. She reminded him of their agreement.
“Do not dare tell your beloved where you live and who you serve. You can tell her only if she agrees to run away with you on the very same day. Do you understand?”
Lons nodded, but that did not dispel Lily’s doubts.
Meanwhile, Amir got very upset because he couldn't take Miranda with him. Lily frowned and dragged the young man to her stu
dy.
“What are you saying?”
“What do you mean?”
“What are you getting Miranda into? She is still a child!”
“Why?” Amir didn’t understand. “Girls her age are already engaged! In some five years, she will be able to get married. She is already a grown-up.”
Lily frowned.
“Are you a potential candidate?”
“Why not?” the Khangan Prince didn’t give up. “I’ve been contemplating it for a while.”
“Since when?”
“Since I came to Earton. Miranda is beautiful, clever, being around her is always fun—”
“Are you going to lock her up in a harem and shut her away from the world?”
“I don’t know yet. I will try to make the custom more flexible.”
“What if you’re not able to? You and Miranda have completely different upbringings and mentalities.”
“Women in your culture don't have much freedom either! They sit at home or visit their friend’s houses.”
“You preach two different faiths!”
“So what? A woman can keep her own beliefs. The Khangans are allowed to marry overseas women.”
“Miranda doesn't love you.”
“It’s only a matter of time.”
Lily squinted.
“My husband—”
“As if you ever ask for his opinion,” Amir decided not to stand on ceremony. “Miranda is your daughter.”
“She’s the daughter of Jerisson. I am only her stepmother.”
“It doesn’t matter. I am a very good match. If it’s so important to you, we can have a traditional Ativernian wedding. Why not?”
Lily sighed.
“Amir, she is still a child.”
“Not forever.”
Ugh!
After two hours of bargaining, they agreed on the same thing. They would ask Miranda. If the girl didn’t mind, they could sign a preliminary contract. If she was against the idea, it was forever out of the question. They would forget about the contract for at least ten years. The only thing Lily allowed before the girl turned sixteen was an occasional friendly visit. They could get married once Miranda turned fifteen (Lily insisted on seventeen, but Amir had the upper hand). When the time came, the decision to marry would depend solely on her.
The Price of Happiness: A Strong Woman in the Middle Ages (A Medieval Tale Book 5) Page 15
