He was languid. Like a cat ready to strike.
“My bride thief. Here you are. I didn’t expect for you to return to me of your own free will. Do you have my chosen queen with you?”
“No. That is what I have come to discuss with you. I intend to marry Princess Emerald.”
“That is a problem for me. Given that I’ve planned an entire wedding for the two of us. Once you monogram things, they don’t let you return them.”
“I feel that with the treasury as great as yours, whatever is monogrammed on your linens is not truly your main concern.”
“Perhaps not. But I don’t like to lose.”
“What I propose to you is not a losing proposition. We can make something work.”
“So say you. But what if I do not like what you have to offer.”
“Reject it. Cut off my head. Promise me, whatever you do, you will leave Emerald out of it.”
“I can make you a promise, Andrei Ardelean. But there is no guarantee that I will keep it. I am not a man of my word, nor am I a man of honor. Though, neither are you. I have done an extensive amount of research into your background since you took my bride. You are the son of a criminal.”
“That is like calling a battleship a rowboat. My father wasthecriminal.”
“Yes. So I read.” He leaned forward in his throne, suddenly keen. “It was brave of you to take her like you did. And the spectacle. I enjoy a spectacle. I do not like finding myself without a bride, though. And I was publicly humiliated.”
Andrei lifted an eyebrow. “You did not think that you would be publicly humiliated if people found out that she was carrying another man’s baby?”
“No one would’ve ever discovered that.”
“Really?” He snorted. “Can you be that naive? I heard that you were a great terror. And yet, your perspective on this is giving… Babe in the woods. Do you not think there would be speculation? Do not think that somebody would try to sneak a DNA test? Anything to undermine you in your power?”
“Why would anyone do that?”
“You are hated. Reviled. You are also blond, and Emerald is extremely pale herself. The chances of the child coming out looking very much my coloring should be a concern for you.”
“A good point.”
“Besides, you strike me as a despoiler of virgins. And Emerald is not that.”
“I do enjoy a good despoiling.” He looked thoughtful. Andrei was mindful of the fact that he could not make any of this too much his idea. King Lucian was the sort of man who liked to believe that everything was his own decision. Andrei didn’t have to know him to know that.
“Find yourself a new bride. Get her with your own child, avoid the incident.”
“I do suppose this adds to my lore. I also like that. As much as I enjoy spectacle.”
“Did you murder your wives?”
He smiled. Just slightly. “No.”
“Why is it you allow the rumors to persist?”
“I told you. I like a spectacle. And I like for people to not know which direction I’m going to come from. It suits me. I don’t give a shit about my reputation, honestly. But I do care about somebody making a threat to my throne. And its sovereignty. And you present a good point about the heir. What will you offer me in return? For you have cost me a lot of money and trouble.”
“Military alliance. Trade alliance. Everything that Emerald promised you. In addition to that, one of the things that I do in my own time is invest in new military technologies. If you would like to have access to the newest and latest advancements… They can be yours. For significantly reduced rates.”
“Free,” he said.
“If it pleases the king.”
“Very little pleases the king. I am bored. And one thing I will say about the most recent events, is that they were not boring. I have no taste for killing you, Andrei Ardelean. You will make a good ally, and an even better enemy. So, I would prefer that you stay on this side of the ground.”
