To Aurum With Hate

Nine: Imperator Zale

Nine:

Imperator Zale

            I had gotten her to smile. She had touched me willingly. At the end of the lunch with parliament, it was almost like we were friends instead of enemies. Now, we were going to my mother’s tea, which was to be held in the garden. Queen Calista was holding court at a table with her ladies-in-waiting, and when we arrived, her eyes shot up in surprise as she saw Sirena’s arm through mine.

            She made her way towards us as we came through the French doors that led out to the garden. “Zale!” she said. “My dear boy. You seem to be looking well, after a full day of events.” She stroked my chin with her hand in a loving way.

            I smiled. “It was rough at the beginning, but Sirena seems to have found her stride.”

            Sirena nodded. “I was at The Gentleman’s Club and I…. I realized what my role is.”

            “Have you really?” my mother asked. “Because if you hadn’t, I was going to talk to you a bit about it, from one former Princess to another.”

            Sirena shook her head. “That won’t be necessary, your majesty. I understand completely what my role is here. I am, however, sorry that we got off on the wrong foot.”

            My mother smiled. “Given the history between our two nations, and the horrors of what happened yesterday, I would be surprised if there wasn’t a little trepidation on your part. I understand completely. All is forgiven and forgotten. Now my dear, how do you take your tea?”

            “With sugar and a little milk,” Sirena said.

            “Then let us get you some tea.” Mother looped her arm through Sirena’s and led her off to a table.

            I was about to walk after them when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned and standing there was the last person that I expected to see.

            “Charlotte,” I said.

            Charlotte Bassot was a girl with curly brown hair, and brown eyes. She was also my childhood sweetheart. Charlotte smiled wildly at me. “Zale,” she said, “I couldn’t stay away. I had to come home to see your new fiancé. Make sure that she’s good enough for you.”

            I frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to be at boarding school? I thought your father picked it because it was year-round. ”

            “I am. But don’t joke with me, Zale. We all know it was your father that picked the school,” she said, “but father brought me home especially for this.”

            I grimaced. Charlotte’s father was the Prime Minister. He had been trying to coerce Charlotte and I together for as long as I could remember. Last year, before I went away for school, Charlotte was shoved into my room by her father, and she tried to seduce me. She claimed that wasn’t the truth but the Prime Minister had wanted to unite our families for years and hadn’t made a secret of it. It was one of the reasons I had pressured my father into getting Charlotte sent to boarding school, because I didn’t want her being used as one of his pawns. It seems I’d failed at that.

            I forced a smile. “I’m glad that you’re here. She’ll want to meet you.”

            “I want to meet her too,” said Charlotte, “especially since we’ll be classmates in the fall.”

            I frowned. “You’re coming back to Aurum?”

            Charlotte nodded. “It’s my final year, and father thought it was only right that I get to finish it with my friends. He also thought it was in my best interest to get to know the future Queen.”

            “Well, let me take you to her.”

            I led her over to the table that Sirena and my mother were sitting at talking. Sirena glanced over when she saw me, as did my mother, and the Queen got up and hugged Charlotte instantly.

            “Charlotte my dear girl!” mother exclaimed. “What are you doing back? I thought you were away at that fancy year-round school.”

            “I was,” said Charlotte, “but it’s my last year and father thought it was fitting that I graduate with my friends. He also wanted to make sure that I got to know the future Queen. After all, Princess Sirena and I are going to be in each other’s lives a very long time.”

            Sirena raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry,” she said, “who are you?”

            “Charlotte Bassot,” she said, “I’m the Prime Minister’s daughter, and Zale’s oldest friend.”

            “Childhood sweethearts really,” said Mother.

            I winced. “Mother.”

            Mother laughed. “Oh, come on Zale. It isn’t as if anything would happen now. Charlotte knows that you are betrothed to Sirena, and she will honor that because she honors the crown. Doesn’t she?”

            Charlotte smiled. “Of course, I do. The whole reason I came back was to meet Sirena in the first place. I wanted to make sure she had a friend here in court. Who better than the Prime Ministers daughter to show her around?”

            Sirena smiled, not knowing that she was looking directly at a snake. “Well, that’s nice. I could use a friend.”

            “Good,” said Charlotte, “then it’s all settled. I will be your new best friend, Princess.”

            “I like the sound of that,” said Sirena.

            I shook my head. “This is my absolute worst nightmare.”

            “Too bad,” said Charlotte, “sounds like a complete and total dream to me, your highness.”