What Must Be Known
POV: Reginald
Lucien didn’t use official summons often since he was a King who preferred to ask nicely to have people come to his side. It was an admirable trait that he had that the nobility loved about him. When I received the phone call from my father about the summons, it was a bit of a shock since it was not just for me but for Talia. I knew that whatever it was that prompted him to use it, it had to be important. My father said that another small note was attached by Malinus that I would need to come to see the King immediately upon my arrival in Vellum, no matter what time of day. Talia and I planned it carefully that we should arrive in Vellum during reasonable hours in the morning. I was anxious to see my little rose but I knew that she would be there when I returned from the castle.
We took a flight out of London into Denver and we were greeted by my father at the airport. We set out on our way to Everly. My father told me of the brief visit that Alexandra had with Blake and Talon in tow. Talia had chuckled about how it must have been for her brother to discover the human world for the first time. My father said, “Alexandra said that he was uncomfortable here so he kept his interactions with the humans to a minimum. She also said the women were all eyeballing both the men with her. The town is abuzz with how she essentially yelled at Sally Plinker. Interesting how they always try to make that little brat a victim when Alexandra bites back.” I clenched my jaw at the fact that my daughter had to be ridiculed yet again by the very people who she would protect should their lives be in danger. Talia patted my hand, “She handled herself and is home, no need to get worked up Reggie.” Talia and I always switched roles when it came to Alexandra. Whenever someone was out to hurt her, my rage kicked in and Talia would be the rational one to calm me down. In everything else, I would calm the raging Talia down. I smiled at her lovingly and kissed her on the cheek, “Thank you, my love. Sometimes I really need your perspective.” She smiled back at me, “I feel the same way about you, dear.” We rolled up into the driveway of Blackwood shortly after. We didn’t really have time to dawdle since I was expected as soon as possible. My father drove us up to the portal and as we unloaded our bags, my father pulled out another bag that wasn’t ours. I looked at him, “What are you doing?” He smiled at me, “I believe in my heart that you will need me there this time. I thought it was only natural that I go if I believe that.”
All of us stepped into the portal and found ourselves on the other side with a carriage waiting for us. Alexandra must’ve gotten word to expect us since it was waiting for us. I looked up at the driver, “How did you know we were coming?” The driver smiled, “The Batiste ordered me to sit out here until you showed up. She was told by the King that there was something he needed to discuss with you, Your Grace.” I nodded silently thanking my daughter for being so thoughtful as to not make her mother walk all the way to the manor. We all climbed up in the carriage and we went on our way to Blackwood Manor to drop off my wife and father. I stood inside of the carriage while they unloaded my bag. My father leaned up to the window, “I will make sure your bag gets to your room, just make sure not to keep the King waiting.” I nodded and tapped on the top of the carriage to indicate to drive on to the castle. We lurched forward and I was on my way. My heart was thumping in my chest, wondering what the young man in the castle had to say to me that was so important that I had to go to him right away.
We rolled up to the front of the castle where the guard strode up to the carriage and opened it, “Welcome back, Your Grace. I believe His Majesty is expecting you in his office.” I stepped out of the carriage and thanked the guard. I strode up the stairs and into the scribe's office that was in front of the King’s office. Malinus rose to his feet, “Hello, Your Grace. Allow me to announce your arrival.” I nodded and stood at the door to wait for an indication that I could come in. I heard the King shouted, “You may come in, Your Grace.” I opened the door to find Malinus standing beside the King. I walked into the room and bowed, “I am here as you have requested, Your Majesty.” He smiled, “You may sit now, Reginald. We are going to have a conversation as two men on equal footing. Malinus, you may go have a seat if you wish or leave the room.” Malinus nodded, “I will have a seat, in case I am needed if you don’t mind, Reginald.” I shook my head, “I don’t mind.” Malinus sat down on the couch behind me.
Lucien sighed, “First, I want to let you know that this conversation I’m going to have with you is not going to be easy for either of us. I am going to approach this as delicately as I possibly can but let me know if I’m stepping out of line.” I was nervous about how he was approaching this because what he was going to say probably had something to do with my family. Lucien and I had a conversation before about this when he asked me to bring Alexandra to Vellum after she graduated from high school. He had approached me in a similar way. I nodded, “Lucien, please don’t stress yourself and be candid with me. I assure you, nothing you can say will be harsh.” Malinus nervously laughed behind me, “You might not say that later Reggie.” Lucien looked over at Malinus, “Don’t make light of the situation, Malinus, or I shall have to dismiss you from the room.” I heard a quiet, “Sorry,” behind me. Lucien looked back at me, “Reggie, I would like to first talk to you about Alexandra.” I had thought this whole conversation would be about Alexandra being that she was new around Vellum and he had been keeping an eye on her. She could, at times, be mischievous but I didn’t think she did anything so disastrous as to warrant a summoning but who knew. She had new ways to get into trouble while she was living in Vellum. I sighed, “What did she do?” Lucien chuckled, “I assure you it was nothing bad. She just made her King fall in love with her. I suppose in a way that is trouble, considering I have this competition going on.” My eyes widened at his light-hearted confession, “You’re in love with her?” He nodded, “She has your strength and her mother’s passion. Her soul, mind, and face are beautiful. How could I not? In fact, I would challenge most men in Vellum around her age not to fall in love. He who wins her heart will be fortunate indeed.” I looked down and sighed, “No one will, it seems. I was told that she has a curse on her heart where she cannot fall in love with anyone but the one who cursed her.” He shook his head, “Mordred has a plan for that and I believe it will succeed as long as there is no interference from any of us.” If Mordred was helping her out, I believed that he would succeed as well. I looked back up at him, “Surely, this can’t be the reason you summoned me so urgently.” He smiled, “No but I just thought that you should know that I would like to make her my wife. Wholeheartedly. I just hope she can win the right. That being said, let's move on to the real topic that I have brought you here for.”
Lucien leaned back in his chair and drew in a deep breath, “I have to ask you a question about Alexandra’s day of birth.” I looked at him confused, “What about it?” He looked down at his desk, the nerves showing on his face, “Did she have a twin?” A flashback of the night came to mind, the midwife held a bundle of a lifeless body of my son. I clenched my hands in my lap, “She did but he died. The midwife said he wasn’t breathing and said she would bring him away from his mother’s sight right away so as not to upset her.” I could feel the tears welling up at the memory of my son’s death on the night he was born just before Alexandra. I sighed, “We knew Alexandra was next so we didn’t have time to properly mourn before we were happy to see the beautiful black-haired baby that was laid on her mother’s bosom. Alexandra was the joy after the sadness. We vowed not to talk about that night. Why do you ask, Lucien?” He rose from his seat and walked over to the window. He was gazing out towards Blackwood, “Grand Pretre has discovered something interesting about Alexandra’s twin brother.” I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to find Malinus standing above me. Lucien looked back at me, “Your son did not die that night. Instead, he was stolen by another noble family.” My eyes widened as Lucien let that news permeate in the air as I processed what he had said in my mind. My heart started to thump in my chest wildly, “Wh-what?” Lucien sighed, “Your son is alive and well. Alexandra has met him and they get along well. Would you like to know who it is?” I couldn’t speak as my throat started to dry up so I nodded. Lucien looked at me seriously, “Before I do, I need you to promise me that you will let me handle matters with this family and tell him of his lineage from here on out.” I croaked out, “I agree. Please tell me.” I felt the tears stinging my eyes and I so badly didn’t want to cry in front of my King but I let one loose. Lucien reached into his pocket and pulled out his handkerchief, “Here. You’ll likely need it.” I took the cloth and dabbed at my eyes. He sat back down and looked at me, “Your son is Meldon Maigny.”
