Relief
POV: Lucien
I was anxious about the visit from the Seely Realm because the rumor was that the King was going to send an envoy which was why there would be two. I didn’t want to subject the ladies to the customs that the King’s Court was used to. I had been awaiting word from the court about the envoys that were going to be attending. I already knew that amongst those visiting that Loki was likely to be there based on what Grand Pretre was telling me. I was in my office pacing, trying to figure out what could be done about the greeting of the King’s envoy. I did not want to allow it but I also didn’t want to insult the King’s envoy as that would likely be seen as a declaration of war. I would likely ask if something could be done to keep the ladies from doing something the noble families would see as demeaning. I could just hear Marquis Maigny now, complaining about how his daughter would crawl for no one.
I heard a knock on the door, “Enter.” Malinus entered with a green jeweled box which meant it was official correspondence from the Seely Realm. He placed the box on my desk. I pulled in a deep breath and opened the box. Inside was a scroll with the Queen’s seal on it. I opened the scroll and read, “To His Majesty, King Lucien of Vellum: I humbly accept your invitation to participate in the selection of your Queen. As this is an important task not just for Vellum but for the future of my kingdom as well, I will be sending two envoys from my own court. They will also have attendants with them. The King had petitioned that he be able to participate but I would not allow the humiliation of your future Queen so I denied the request. I will have my envoys provide your council with valuable feedback. Please bring your bride to visit my court after you are married, I would like to get to know my counterpart.” I sighed with relief that I wouldn’t have to subject any of the ladies to the greeting for the King’s envoy, especially Alexandra. I think it would make me more irritated to watch that go down and not have any say in it.
Malinus also sighed with relief, “I am so happy that I don’t have to watch my cousin demean herself to that filthy ritual of greeting an envoy of the Seely King.” I nodded, “My thoughts exactly. It would do no good to demean any of the ladies. I will have to write a letter of appreciation to the Queen and send an appropriate gift for that one. Thankfully she was sensible in this but that has always been my experience with her. I don’t know why I had my doubts.” He shrugged, “I think we all did. Talia wrote to me to tell me she would teach Alexandra and Jess but that she really hated that she would have to.” I had wondered if she taught them and how she taught them but I thought it best not to ask since I’m sure she used a stand-in for the envoy. I shuddered to think that Alexandra would crawl up to Derek to practice. I looked at him, “Thankfully the practice won’t be needing to be put into action. Please draft the announcement to the ladies and have them sent out. I will let Vanessa know that we will only have to have one reception for the Queen’s two envoys.” Malinus bowed, “As you will it, Your Majesty.”
I rose from my seat and peered out to the area where the manor in Blackwood stood. Whenever I had a moment to myself, I found myself staring out at the manor since the trip. My mind wondered what she was doing, how she was feeling, what she was thinking. I had hoped that she was well and not stressing about this reception and I had hoped that the news that she would not have to demean herself would be a relief. I know that Jess probably was stressing about it also so I was glad for her as well. She had been stressing already about her first full moon run as a lycan of age. She and I were in constant contact about the goings-on in our own lives. I found her council to be very useful so this relief of the envoys was a comfort that I could likely help to give her.
I had decided that I would go to see Vanessa before nightfall to tell her about the reception since her party company was handling it. I walked out of my office and told Malinus what I was doing and let him know that I would not need him to accompany me. I asked him to hand me the announcements for Alexandra and Jess if they were ready. He smiled, “Here they are, Your Majesty. I had thought you would want to hand-deliver this since you would need to speak with Vanessa anyhow.” He handed me the two sealed envelopes and I left the castle and climbed into my inconspicuous carriage. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself going to Blackwood. I had to use this same carriage to go to Blackwood last night as well. I would see Vanessa first so that I could discuss the order of how things should go and what should be served. I was sure that she knew a little about the fae palette since she was best friends with Talia but I wanted to make sure.
The carriage pulled up in front of the cottage that Darren Batiste had given her mother a long time ago. I climbed out and she came outside to greet me, “I am guessing that you got word from the Seely Realm.” I nodded and she sighed then ushered me into the house, “I am telling you right now, Lucien, that if this becomes a seduction spectacle…I might have to be out. I will not be a part of something that would exploit these women in the name of not insulting a male chauvinist King.” I chuckled, “You wouldn’t be the only one. I was wanting to be out myself and just cancel the whole thing. Thankfully the Queen wasn’t keen on insulting my future bride, whoever that is. We will have two envoys from the Queen’s court along with some attendants so we will only need the one reception.” She smiled, “Good because diplomacy be damned, I might have had to suppress the urge to ball check the jerk he sent.” I laughed harder, “I’m not sure I would have been able to explain to His Majesty why his envoy would have purple berries.” She burst out laughing at my description of what she was talking about. I smiled at her, “I just came by to let you know what’s going on and to check if you understand the fae palette.” She nodded, “Yes, they like decadence and rich foods.”
I bid Vanessa farewell and went on my way to my second errand of the night. Dana was a bit surprised to see me two nights in a row because she had gasped when she opened the door, “Your Majesty, good evening. Who may I summon for you?” I smiled at her as she let me in, “I am here for the two young ladies of the house.” She nodded and curtsied, “As you will it, Your Majesty.” I stood in the foyer and waited for the two ladies to come down from their rooms. Darren walked into the foyer from the study, “Lucien? What brings you here?” I was surprised to see Darren because I had not known he came into Vellum, “I’m here to deliver invitations to the Seely Realm reception to Alexandra and Jess. I had not known you were coming into Vellum.” He smiled, “Oh, I really hadn’t planned on it but hearing you summoned my son made me rethink that. I am glad I’m here though and that you are also here. There’s something I want to discuss with you if you have time.” I looked up the stairs and hesitated, he chuckled, “They’ll look for you in the study no doubt.” I nodded, “Okay.”
I followed him into the study and sat down on the little couch in front of the fireplace like I had the night before. He offered me a drink and I asked for water. He settled into the seat that Alexandra had been occupying the night before. He smiled at me, “I figured while I was here I would put the study to good use and read some books. I came across something really interesting that I think you would agree was interesting. Would you like to hear about it?” I shrugged, “Sure but I’m not sure what this is about.” He smiled wider, “I know but bear with me while I explain. You see, ever since Alexandra was born and we knew she was touched by the Goddess Aphrodite, I became interested in collecting books and reading about the Gods. You pick up interesting things about the Gods as you read about them. I know that Aphrodite is fond of the nectar of the Gods for instance. She’s had a problem not drinking too much.” I took a sip from my water and sighed, “So you brought me in here to tell me that Aphrodite has a bit of a drinking problem?” He laughed, “Heavens, no. I brought you in here to show you this book. He picked up a dark grey tome and handed it to me. It was a book about Norse Gods. I looked up at him, “What’s this for?” He tapped the book in my hand, “This book here, has information about Loki that would come in handy in our next encounter with him. I suggest you read it.”
