Page 32 of His Realm

“Hated you?”

“As you know, Alrek and I are only days apart. My father’s courtesan and my mother were pregnant at the same time, but my father was only waiting outside one room, pacing the floor, and that was my mother’s.”

I sighed deeply because even though Lady Chione was a horror of a woman, she’d deserved more, and so had Alrek.

“I was the one he showed off, and my mother was the one whose side he never left. My father sent Lady Chione jewels, provided her servants, but he didn’t bathe her son. He didn’t fall asleep with him on his chest, and he didn’t carry him on his shoulders or tell him stories.”

“You love him so much.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Maybe remind him that you do before you have your talk.”

“My father is a great man, and I know he loves me. But Cassius was just like him. Same temperament, same vices, same hunger. They were so suited as king and heir, more like drinking buddies than father and son.”

“And then Cassius died.”

“Yes. And there was me, who was so much more like his queen, whom he loved but never understood. We have been at odds since I learned to speak.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“It’s because he’s always wanted more of everything. More gold, more lovers, more land, just…more.”

“And you?”

“Me? You know. I’ve always been on the side of temperance and planning. I can fall into debauchery like any other, but I could never stay long. Too much to do.”

“Gideon was right about one thing: you will make a wonderful king.”

“Well, I’ll certainly be a king who has much more room for visitors, as every last courtesan will be expelled from the palace when I take the throne.”

I laughed, and it was nice that he joined in.

“Tell me more about Lady Chione,” he instructed.

“There’s nothing else to tell. Your father sent her away, and Solveig, Alrek’s intended, returned home and is now engaged to Duke Leif Olsson.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know him, only that he’s a duke. When he called for permission from your father to marry her, I gave it in his stead, as the king was indisposed.”

He scoffed. “Indisposed indeed.”

“The duke seemed like a nice guy on the phone. I called Solveig to make sure she liked him, even though, as you know, I can’t stand her.”

“For good reason. She was terrible to you.”

“Yeah, but Alrek was jealous of you, and I’m sure some of that rubbed off. But regardless, she’s head over heels for Leif, so that’s good.”

“Only you would check, or care that she was happy.”

“It’s important to me. I don’t want any loveless unions on my watch.”

Varic groaned, and then I heard him exhale. “This is working, you know—us, talking as though something horrible was not about to happen before I called.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

“When you report to my father that you are not leaving, and inform him of my imminent arrival, relay to him that I am thoroughly vexed and we will have words when I reach the palace.”