Fourteen
“The first marriage I propose is with Prince Beau and Duke Albert,” Emperor Hugo announced.
Elias kept his face neutral as his father’s voice rang out in the negotiation chamber that had been provided for the council of Zephyrias and Voltaria.
“All those in favour?” Emperor Hugo glanced down the long table that filled the room. The councillors rapped their fists against the dark wood of the table, indicating their ascent. “Any opposed?”
Silence followed.
“Excellent.” Emperor Hugo beamed and clapped his hands, as he so often did when one of his proposals went through.
Of course, most, if not all, his proposals clearly came from the empress. He just had the honour of being her mouthpiece. The emperor, like almost all the councillors, both Zephyrian and Voltarian, were firmly under her thin, perfectly lacquered thumb.
“Then Prince Beau shall marry Duke Albert.” Emperor Hugo smiled at his younger son.
Beau grinned. The empress, who sat between the emperor and Beau, placed a hand on Beau’s arm, smiling fondly. Then her gaze swung to Elias. Her smile grew sharper. Her grey eyes gleamed.
Elias frowned, as if confused that Beau was marrying the duke. After all, as far as Elias knew, Beau should be marrying Prince Gerard.
“And … ah …” Emperor Hugo cleared his throat. “The second marriage …” Emperor Hugo didn’t beam or clap anymore. In fact, he did not meet Elias’s gaze. Nor had he that entire council meeting.
“Well … the second marriage … Um … that will seal the peace treaty … well, that will be between …” The emperor took a deep breath. “It will be between … um … between?—”
“The second marriage,” the empress said, voice clear as a bell—her gaze remained fixed on Elias—“will be between Prince Elias and the dragon warrior prince, Gerard Drachen.” She held her head high. “All those in favour?”
The rapping of fists on tables echoed.
“Any opposed?”
Silence.
“Excellent.” The empress leaned back in her chair. She tilted her chin up.
Elias had never seen her so satisfied with herself.
Meanwhile Emperor Hugo stared at the table. His cheeks flushed red. He’d just betrayed his eldest son. And not for the first time.
A week ago, he’d heard Elias’s words and his repulsion at the idea of marrying Prince Gerard. Still, his father had participated in arranging the betrothal of Elias to the dragon warrior.
Of course, Elias had known the emperor would do that. He could always rely on his father to do as the empresswished. To forever put his wife’s will above his firstborn son’s. Emperor Hugo might feel somewhat ashamed for forsaking his son. But that never stopped him from doing it.
Elias stared down at the smooth wood of the table. He was used to being let down by his father. In fact, he expected and had relied upon it.
So it didn’t hurt at all.
Not a bit.
“Two excellent marriages, Your Highnesses,” Councillor Allard of Voltaria said. She leaned up the table, as if desperate to get closer to the empress.
“Yes, indeed.” Councillor Beaumont of Zephyrias nodded his balding head. “May peace reign for thousands of years in our kingdoms.”
Sycophants. The lot of them! All vying for the empress’s attention and approval. They’d probably lick the soles of her feet if she’d let them.
Of course, their desperation to please her made sense. She held all the power. And if any councillors did not support her, they suddenly found themselves no longer councillors.
Many laws had been approved by the council that clearly benefited Zephyrias over Voltaria. But the Voltarian councillors voted for them every time.
Elias hoped Matteo would do better. He did not think his hope was misplaced. After all, Matteo took duty seriously and was rather obsessed with justice and fairness for all. He did not take after his mother one bit. Probably why Elias actually liked him. Although, he was a little dull.
