“I see.” I can’t do anything for him now, but when I take the crown, I’ll fix this.
A ruler can’t know his country if he doesn’t visit it. Morcanthasn’t, and neither has Varkhazan, yet both want to claim this land. A land that rightfully belongs to the people, a ruler simply governs it to maintain stability and safety.
I didn’t want such a burden, but someone has to step up and do it, and neither of the two kings battling for superiority is fulfilling their responsibility.
“Will Sira be joining us for breakfast?” Dorene asks, and I glance at her, but she’s busy pottering away at the cooker.
“I don’t think so,” I reply.
Alfren chuckles. “Just put something aside for her. She can eat when she wakes. Now come on, Kai, let’s eat, then I will show you my fields.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I answer as I stand up.
“Mama, where is the pretty lady?” Alfrea asks as we sit at the table.
“She’s resting, so don’t play too loudly, and let her sleep,” Dorene says gently.
Last night flashes through my mind, and I take a slow bite of the scone, remembering how she had tasted. Just the memory makes my cock throb, and I clear my mind.
I have to remember she’s riddled with lies, masking secrets she refuses to share, but we still fucked.
It wasn’t a good idea. It’s as if I’m cursed to want her, even when every part of me screams to stay away from her.
After breakfast, I checked inon Siralaine, but she was still asleep, so I informed Dorene, and she said she’ll be aroundand will let her know where I’ve gone. Then, Alfren and I head out as he continues with his morning duties and wants to show me around his land.
“I feed the animals before the crack of dawn, so I don’t need to rush my own breakfast. You know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
“I’ve heard that,” I agree, and he grins, nodding.
“Aiy, now see those fields? Those are mine, not much harvest for the last few years because there’s not enough water. And then what we do have is often stolen. We requested a wall around our village to keep those bandits out, but we heard nothing back.”
“Has anyone tried to go to the capital, either when Varkhazan was in charge or to Morcant?” I ask.
Alfren plants his hands on his hips. “Yes, we did try that. One never returned, and two were refused an audience. The roads are riskier now, so no one has tried this year.”
“I see. Perhaps if my path takes me that way, I will try to have a word. Ridvern, like any other town, deserves security.”
“Thank you, son,” Alfren pats my arm before motioning me to follow. I didn’t mind the tour because it gave me an idea of exactly how depraved the state of the village is.
“How much of the crop does the crown take when it comes to harvest?” I ask.
“Around sixty per cent, and if it’s a low harvest, then eighty. They need to feed those rich folk and host those parties, so even if the harvest isn’t good, they’ll take their full cut when they can.”
“Morcant is a sea siren; what good is this to him?”
“None, but it appeases the fae. They live luxuriously, holding full power as nobles, simply without the title of king. ButMorcant gives his allies free rein to do as they wish. It’s a win for both the fae and the sea sirens.” He looks at my ears. “I guess you don’t see as much of this as we do down here.”
“True,” I say, as we walk through the fields that are dry and brittle. He shows me the water supply and the river, which is a lot smaller than I had assumed.
“At times there’s enough to fill our water tanks, but at other times there’s not, and when it’s extremely tight, there are people upselling it at insane costs by the gallon,” Alfren grunts as we head back towards their home. “Even the town leader, he’s a fae, a cruel man at that…”
I spot Siralaine to the side of the house, her long black hair cascading down her back as she helps put some sheets out. The wind is blowing her hair wildly; she’s got it braided from the front, but it still whips across her face. She’s wearing the purple dress with the dark pink flowers; the white lace corset only accentuates her ravishing curves. I chose this one. The pink reminded me of her natural eye colour.
She’s laughing, and the sound carries on the wind like a soft melody. I’ve never heard her laugh before… She bends down, placing a hand on her thigh, as she cups Sarena’s face with the other and kisses her forehead.
Alfren smacks my shoulder, and I blink, turning to him. “Sorry, I was-”
“I saw where you were looking, son. I got to say, when I first saw both of you, I wondered how someone as stoic as you found such a gem, but despite her being a dryad and you a fae, I can tell you love her,” he chuckles.
