King Bram
Watching the chatter and discussions about Lady Keziah of Casimir, I, too, am curious if this is a stunt for attention or if she is truly stepping out of the race to be Halcyon's wife as she just hinted. Nonetheless, the Queen and I were just commenting to each other last night that Lady Keziah hadn't been seen socially in months, but apparently, frequent visits from art masters had been noted.
"So, it seems that instead of it being young Master Amias being trained in art, it was Lady Keziah receiving lessons. What do you think, Lucina, my queen? Is the girl changing tactics by retreating to gain ground later, or is she truly choosing the path to become a Premier—not just in one field but in two? I don't think I've come across another young lady so ambitious since my dear wife."
Grabbing her hand, I gave it a kiss and smiled lovingly at her, which made her surprisingly blush.
She whipped out her fan to hide her face while simultaneously pulling her hand away. She only managed to accomplish one of these actions. I smiled as she tried to be as subtle as possible, but I wasn't letting go.
"If you don't let my hand go, you overgrown lapdog, I will beat you until you scream my name."
This second wife of mine has always known how to handle my un-kingly behavior. She speaks to me so dirtily I almost want to blush myself.
"I will never let go of you, my radiant light," I responded softly and sweetly.
The kids, except for Halcyon, made subtle gagging faces and noises at us, which made it hard for Lucina and me not to laugh at their hilarious expressions. Yes, one of the qualities our people like about our royal family is that we are easygoing when we can be. Only Halcyon chooses to be very strict all the time, like his mother, the first queen. She was always such a stickler for rules and regulations, but unlike Halcyon, she did know when to bend and just enjoy the moment.
"King Papa, I think it's best to start the main course of breakfast before the food gets cold," my youngest son, Roscoe, suggested at 10 years old as he pointed to a butler who looked anxious.
Taking in the room as a whole, I agreed with his assessment. Making eye contact with the butler, I nodded my head to indicate we would officially start. With obvious relief, the butler announced that the next course would be coming out, so all guests should return to their seats.
Once everyone was in place, the servants streamed out, setting plates and various dishes on the table. After everyone was served, a priest said a blessing over the food, and then everyone began eating.
While I ate, I actively observed the room, which allowed me to notice my second son sneakily watching Lady Keziah. I wonder what is going on there. I should have someone look into whether there is a connection between the two that I don't know about.
My eyes slid over to my eldest son next, finding Halcyon talking with his followers at a nearby table.
I worry for him, surrounded by social climbers like them. It appears that, for all his potential, he can't see beyond the surface of people. I must do something to help him find his way. I ponder through the next few courses before a crazy idea forms in my mind. This just might be what's needed to help not just Halcyon but all my children find their paths to happiness.
As the breakfast social comes to a close, I give a closing speech before summoning Halcyon to my side. I lead him out onto the balcony for a chat as the idea turns into a challenge I will pose to each of my children.
"I'm not sure how much you pay attention to the gossip, rumors, and whispers as of late, so I'm going to be honest with you: I think you should befriend the Casimir siblings. House Casimir, as a Duke household, has always been neutral toward the royal family and other noble houses when it comes to politics. This next generation looks like they will be rising stars of our kingdom, and it wouldn't hurt for you, as the strongest candidate for the throne, to make sure you have a decent personal connection with them."
Watching the preparations for the night's ball, I continued speaking to my son, who stood at parade rest at my side.
"The eldest son is the same age as you. He is being groomed to become the next duke and is striving to assume the mantle of Lord Protector of the Realm when his father chooses to resign. So, you should be building a relationship with him anyway. The younger son is a wild card who wishes to pursue a path in politics and art, from what I hear, so he would be a great source for seeing things from an interesting perspective. With the daughter seemingly withdrawing from chasing you to now pursue the status of Premier Artist, how do you feel about just being a friend to her? It never hurts to be friends with Premier Artists—it's how I met your second mother, after all."
I laughed, amused by that past tale, only for my son to not chuckle. He did, however, display a small smile.
Sighing and trying not to feel frustrated with him, I gestured for him to share his thoughts. Walking up and placing his hands on the banister in front of us, Halcyon appeared to be taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
"I have kept my ear out, so I am aware of the rise in prestige of House Casimir. The rise appears to be a side effect of young Lady Casimir going into seclusion six months ago. Without her wild antics, the two brothers have been able to focus on their own matters instead of cleaning up after her." Halcyon spoke without inflection, but since I know my son, I could tell just how irritated he was by Lady Keziah's actions over the past three years.
"In the past, I have had a few interactions with Lord Quinn during our days as schoolmates. I have had no interactions that I can recall with young Lord Amias. I kept my distance from them to avoid encouraging their sister to think she was gaining favor from me. I will consider deepening my relationship with them. However, I doubt I will be able to become friends with the lady. We have no common interests, so please don't get your hopes up. Two out of three should still be acceptable, right? If I do this, will you confirm me as crown prince?"
Halcyon had a fiery gleam in his eyes, and I could see his ambition for the throne.
"I will confirm you as crown prince this time next year on two conditions. One, you have to build a good working relationship with all three Casimir siblings. You don't have to be best friends, but I would like you to stop shunning them. You have been fair with all the other noble houses' heirs. It is time to be fair to House Casimir as well. Their household has held the title of Lord Protector of the Realm for the past 100 years. They can be our allies or adversaries depending on how we treat them."
Halcyon looked out across our kingdom in silence for a while before nodding his head in agreement. "What is the second condition?"
"You must get your siblings—Cyrus, Anthi, Roscoe, and Neta—to agree to surrender their right to the throne for as long as you prove to be the best person for the position. When it comes time for them to sign, we will detail how they could challenge you should you prove unworthy of the crown. I would prefer there be no lethal battles, and I want all of you to coexist, living long, happy lives."
I stated my second condition, now looking at my son to gauge his reaction to these tasks.
Surprisingly, Halcyon chuckled and gave me a smile.
"You have given me hard but not impossible tasks. I think my only real competition for the crown is Cyrus. Anthi wishes to become a Master Singer. Neta likes being the youngest and spoiled, so I'm not sure she will ever want to be more than just a princess. Roscoe seems interested in government administration—I'm just not sure which department. So, a year to get everyone settled on a path that pleases them enough not to want the crown. I accept your conditions and look forward to being named crown prince at the next Foundation Celebration. Father, I will take my leave so that I can plot, plan, and prepare."
Rubbing his chin, Halcyon bowed and walked back inside, grinning.
Lucina appeared to glide out and stand at my side. She linked her arm with mine, then leaned onto my shoulder. I placed a kiss on her head and looked out across the horizon in deep thought.
"Why do you look so confused, Bram? What did you talk about with Halcyon to make you look unsure?" Lucina looked up at me with concern.
Not liking the furrow in her brow, I kissed the spot until she smiled and blushed.
"No worries, dear. I feel I may have been tricked somehow, but I'm just not sure how. The only thing I can do at this point is wait and see how things play out."
Now holding each other tightly, I released my worries and reminded myself to keep an eye on everything so I could intervene if necessary.