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The Love of a Good Man
Chapter One
The Plan
Three men sat around a table with one candle in a small room. The rest of the Palace was fast asleep at this time of the night but these three had urgent and critical matters to discuss. As royal advisors to the Queen each had a duty to the crown and to the country but this night it was skeptical whether their plans would help either.
“It has been four years now and nothing has gone right. The damn woman has taken nearly everything and thrown it all away to the masses of poor and destitute peasants who will throw it all away. Whoever suggested the it should be legal to crown a female as ruler… Well I have a few words I would like to say to him.” The youngest of the three said looking closely at the papers in front of him. His name was Hibard and was the Duke of Frelin. He served the last king since he was twenty five and now at age fifty he was very unhappy. The king he had served under had been just, wise, and fair but his daughter was quite a different story, in his eyes at least. She was headstrong, opinionated, decisive, and also rather petite in size which annoyed him even more for some odd reason.
“Hibard, you must be calmer about this.” The elder man sitting beside him said patting his shoulder. “We can make this work, which is why I have called you here tonight. I know that you are all very worried about this most recent turn of events, namely that the queen has taken away some of our hard earned money that is owed to us and putting it into some fund that will remain nameless at this time.”
The two other heads at the table nodded with deep frowns on their faces.
“Well I intend to do something about it. I have sat by too long and watched as this upstart young girl ruin everything her father ever worked for and everything that makes this country great. I will no longer sit at that table and stay quiet as she takes away our rights and gives it to a peasant who knows little more than how to sit, stand, and care for pigs. And I know that you gentlemen feel the same way. That is why I have decided we must act and soon. I cannot do what I have in mind alone. It will take more numbers than the three of us here but for now we alone can set this in motion.” Lord Duval of Gremont pulled a folded piece of paper out of his waistcoat pocket and put it on the table. His hands matched his body in that he looked more like a skeleton with skin than a living human being and in the dim lighting he posed a very dark looking figure.
“What is this?” The third member of the small group, a man by the name of Sir Walter Morton asked reaching for the piece of parchment and unfolding it. “A list of names? What is this for?”
“Not just any names my friend, a list of suitors’ names. All the names that you see on that list are eligible to marry Queen Relina.” Duval tapped the top of the paper with his long bony finger. He was about to continue explaining but Hibard interrupted.
“The Queen has already stated that she will not marry for politics Duval. We suggested that to her not long after she became queen.”
“I’m not suggesting a marriage of state, if you would let me finish.”
“Go ahead then, finish.” Hibard was very incredulous to this plan already but he listened nonetheless.
“The Queen refuses to marry because she knows that there is a good possibility that the man she marries will attempt to take over the throne and take her position away from her. We know this already as you mention Duke Hibard. But what I am suggesting is a different kind of marriage. One of love.”
“Love!” Sir Walter guffawed at the idea.
“Yes, now listen very carefully about what I am about to suggest gentlemen…” the other two leaned in closer as Lard Duval explained his ingenious plan. A plan that they put into place only a few days afterwards.
“Her Majesty the Queen!” was announced and all in the room stood up. An elegantly dressed young woman came in through the large doors that led into her cabinet room. Her advisors were all standing in their places around the table and a servant was waiting with her chair at the head.
“Thank you gentlemen you may be seated.” The Queen said as she took her seat. All the other around the table followed suit and got comfortable in their seats.
“Your Majesty, if I may begin with today’s agenda?” Lord Duval asked politely from her right.
“You may.” She nodded. She hated all the politeness and ceremony that had to be followed but, unfortunately, she couldn’t simply do away with it.
“Today your loyal cabinet wishes to discus the following important issues with Your Majesty: relations with our neighbor the country of Felden, the small matter of rebellion in the western provinces, and the matter of the line of succession.”
“I know the first two Lord Duval but pray tell me what the third one is about.” The Queen looked over at her oldest advisor with a worried look. Whenever such issues came up she knew they were up to something. They were always trying to catch her falling. So far she had been strong enough to handle it but it had only been four years and already she was beginning to feel the strain.
“The matter of who will take your place as ruler should a problem arise or for when her Majesty has lived out her full and wonderful reign. We, your trusted cabinet, believe that it is an issue that should be discussed so that if such a horrible incident were to occur that required a new ruler we wish it to be properly legalized. And as your father, may God rest his soul, named only you as his heir we wonder what would be the best way to continue since Your Majesty does not see fit to marry or have children of her own.”
“I see, and you all believe this is a great issue of state?” The Queen looked around the table to nodding heads. “And what were your great suggestions to this dilemma?”
“We have wondered whether there is a relative family Your Majesty wish to name as heir after Your Majesty’s life is completed. Or perhaps we may again bring up the idea of marriage…”
“Absolutely not, we’ve discussed that already.”
“Yes we understand that Your Majesty refuses to have a marriage purely for politic and state reasons. So we have wondered if perhaps Your Majesty wishes to marry simply for the reasons that there will be an heir to succeed her to the throne. The marriage would be purely and solely for that reason in this case. The man whom you would marry would be Prince by title and have no political power other than that by him name and title before marrying Your Majesty.”
“And you believe this is a good route Lord Duval?”
“I do Your Majesty. It would ensure the succession line and your political power would not be touched. Your father himself often worried about his line of succession until he decided to name her Royal Majesty as heir. As your advisors we are only suggesting that you know what is not only important to us your advisors and your people but what was important to your father. But as Your Majesty has stated there are more important things to discuss, such as the issue in the west. Perhaps Your Majesty will think on the subject later.” Duval smiled inwardly as he saw the Queen’s face show that her mind was thinking very heavily on the subject. He knew using her father as leverage would get the foot in the door. The queen respected her father greatly and had continually expressed a desired to follow in his footsteps as a successful and just ruler.
“I will, thank you. Now tell me how things are turning out in the West, I hear nothing but bad news everyday.” Queen Relina was relieved to get off the subject of marriage and on to something more worth her time and energy. The revolts in the west were causing her nothing but headaches and her advisors didn’t seem to understand the fact that the leader of these revolts stated quite clearly that the reason they were going through with their rallies and protests was because they were hungry and that there was a poor justice system in their province.
Her advisors had suggested sending a military force to go and secure the area but Relina had stopped the idea of killing more people and ‘making examples’ out of dead bodies. She hated killing and attempted to avoid have to kill at all costs if possible.
“I think that I shall send an envoy to the leaders of his revolt and request an audience.” Relina said looking at the reports on the situation.
“You wish to capture the leaders then as we suggested?” one man asked from across the table.
“No I wish to negotiate with them. Surely there is some way in which we can stop the protests and make sure that the people are well taken care of. That is my I set aside more money from the treasure as you all know. I wish to use more of the money for the people that need it and less for those of us who can take care of ourselves. I wish a message of peace to be sent to the people there and request that a meeting be made and that the killing stop until we can negotiate some sort of agreement.”
“Are you sure Your Majesty? That does seem a bit, below what a ruler ought to do. You already ensure these people’s safety from outside invaders and you have given them a justice system that will keep peace. Don’t you think that if you were to let these people off with a good treat for doing something bad others might take a similar stance? Soon there will be more revolts all over the country demanding better bread and a fancier carriage for the swine to ride in to market.” Hibard warned.
“I understand your concern Hibard but I really do think that if the justice system is having difficulties keeping the peace in this one place there should be an investigation to check that the justice system isn’t being misused or mistreated. At this point that is all I wish to do in this situation.”
“If that is what Your Majesty wishes…”
“It is. And now tell me what is happening with Felden, any more letters?”
“Yes Your Majesty.” The man to speak now was Renaldo, a rather portly Viscount who supported his Queen to the end. He had fought viciously for her right to become queen and continued to fight to keep her in that position.
“What does this one say?” Relina asked worriedly. This was perhaps the most important issue on their agenda. The neighboring country of Felden had attacked one of their trading vessels not more than a month ago and the diplomatic scene between the two countries ever since had been rapidly declining. The ambassador to Felden had been sent back and message from the hostile country had become short, curt, and ever more pointing in the direction of war.
Relina was not the only one worried about the relations with Felden. All her advisors were equally, if not more, on edge than the queen. One look at the delicate five foot two inches figure and any though of power and strength left one’s mind completely. Many of the queen’s advisors who had already had doubts about her ruling abilities because of her sex had even worse doubts about her ability to lead a country through war. At least Relina had a slight feeling of strength in the fact that she could do her best and that would probably get her country out of the war, perhaps not unscathed but out of the war.
Discussions on military movements reported by spies and the continually hostile tone of the messages being received took many hours. With the path of war so quickly become a more necessary one plans began on the process of preparing a military force in case of the need for fighting. After many hours of hard discussion the board of advisors broke to go to their own rooms and lives. As the advisors dispersed out of the room Lord Duval asked for a private word with the queen.
“Your Majesty, if I could have a moment.”
“Yes you may but please I am very hungry and tired after all that intense talking and information.” Relina had been about to walk out her self but pulled her chair back out and sat. Soon all that were left in the room were her and Lord Duval and several servants.
“Your Majesty I hate to bother you so often with such things as marriage. Surely you know that I understand that you do not wish to be married and why.”
“I do. But perhaps I can name a relative family as you suggested. That would surely be mush easier than getting married myself and having children.” Relina sighed and reached for her half full water glass that she had been sipping from all day.
“I was afraid you would suggest that. There are issues with that my queen. Many issues that I know you do not want to deal with right now. I know you may think that getting married will be difficult and restrain you but I assure you it is the easiest alternative. There will be no obligation from you to fulfill any wifely duties to the man you marry and there would never be any question of who will take your place in the future if you have children. This is exactly why your father took a great risk at naming you Queen instead of a nephew or male relative. There is no question as to how royal the blood in your veins is. There may be many who say it is because you are a woman that you are incapable of ruling but that is the only stand they can make. If your father had named any one else as his heir your mother and sisters and yourself would not be in such a high position as you are now I assure you. And if anything were to happen to you my queen it is not only the throne but your family. Political disaster would ensure and outside countries such as Felden may take advantage of the situation. Everything any ruler, including yourself, has worked so hard for will be lost.”
“I will think on it Duval. But as a though, do you have someone in mind already or must I choose this man myself?”
“Not yet my queen but if you agree we will find you a good man. Or perhaps you already had someone in mind?”
“No I do not. It doesn’t really matter who I marry anyways does it? Just not someone old and ugly I guess.”
“Your Majesty surely is not without humor. Would any woman in your position wish her husband of choice to be anything but the best? I will inform you as soon as more information is collected. I will retire and leave you to your rest now.”
“Yes, thank you for your concern and help today Lord Duval.”
“I live to serve you Your Majesty.” Duval bowed his way out of the room leaving the small tired woman drooping in her chair. She stared at the floor for a moment and sighed deeply before pushing herself up from the chair. She walked alone down the quickly darkening hallways towards the royal apartments. She pushed the door open to her front parlor to find it empty. The drapes were still open and the window overlooked the field below which was drenched in the beautiful sunset.
Relina paused for a moment to look at the beautiful sight outside her window. Then she headed back towards her bedroom. The candles had all been lit giving her room a soft glow. She looked longingly at the large freshly made bed at the other end of the room and a wicked grin spread across her face. She bent down and pushed her uncomfortable shoes off and then she sprinted across the room. With a flying leap she landed on the down covers that deflated under her small weight.
“Relina is that you?” a voice called coming towards the door.
“Yes Kathleen it’s me.” Relina answered her ladies maid and best friend.
“Jumping around again I see. You’re going to get hurt one of these days you know.” Kathleen walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. Kathleen was a few years older than Relina and often found herself filling the role of a mother or big sister rather than a simple ladies maid.
“I know and I don’t care. Oh God Kathleen you’ll never guess what happened in meeting today.”
“Felden declared war?”
“No, but you’re close, they want me to get married again. I can handle Felden and war, Kat, but not marriage.” Relina rolled onto her side so that she was facing Kathleen and propped herself up on her shoulder.
“What did they say this time? Perhaps they want you to marry a Feldian Prince to end war and tie the two countries together?”
“That’s too romantic for them to think of. No they say I should marry just so that I can have heirs to ensure that the throne is secure. And I have to hand it to them they’ve got me this time, don’t you agree?”
“Yes, but surely there is another way. I don’t think you should have to do everything you don’t want to do. And we’ve already talked about the danger of getting married. Do you want a bath?”
“Yes that would be lovely, and I think I’d like my hair washed as well. Then you can braid it so that it will look nice tomorrow.” Relina rolled once again onto her back and stretched herself. Kathleen shook her head at the queen’s less seen side. Kathleen stood up and went to tell the servants to begin getting the bath ready for the queen. As she moved around she often looked over her shoulder to where Relina was in her bedroom. At first there was a light humming then just before Kathleen called that the bath was ready she found Relina dancing around the furniture while humming quite loudly her favorite waltz. Her advisors like to say that she was like a young girl and that made her an inappropriate ruler but while all anyone ever saw was a regal looking woman in her fine clothes and crown jewels they had no idea how right they were at times.
Kathleen just hoped that they didn’t hurt Relina’s inner child too much. She’d had such a horrible childhood that her time alone with Kathleen was the only time she ever had to be herself. And with the developing storms arising around the young queen Kathleen could see that things weren’t going to be smooth in the upcoming months.
