The Headmaster's Thoughts
Alexandra Batiste had just left my office; I had always wondered what it would be like to meet the woman that was told to be the future savior of Vellum. She didn't seem like a type who was particularly strong, at least not physically. Speaking to Talia though, I can tell she was strong of mind and was very witty. She had expressed some apprehension in me in my keeping my identity sealed. She said, "Your Majesty, I don't understand why you must conceal from Alexandra and Jess that you are the Headmaster. I believe she can handle knowing who you are not to mention she has had far too many secrets kept from her in her life." I understood Talia's apprehension, but I had to assure her that this was how things were with all the students in LDMU. I had wanted to oversee this university from the moment I took the throne. I had felt that in order for me to find the best for my staff, I had to be more immersed in the decision-making process. The Royal Scribe intern process particularly had been a bone of contention with me because we had many women use the position to try to get close to me. Each one were incredibly gorgeous, sure but I didn't want a future wife to marry me for my power or the power I could give her. She needed to come to me naturally. Another reason for me to become the Headmaster is so that could understand each student and when I understood motivations to be a scribe, I became disinterested in getting married. I know that for the good of the kingdom, I would need to marry soon or abdicate to Blake. We all knew that would be a disaster.
Meeting Alexandra and her assurance that she really wasn't interested in the internship because she didn't want to be seen as trying to get close to the King. It piqued my interest in her. Would Alexandra be a candidate that I had longed for? I wasn't particularly interested in her, I had just met her, and she was very quiet so I couldn't know her personality. I was not able to see her from my screen so I could not tell if she was a beauty but the reports from those who were able to attend her ceremony all proclaimed that she was the most gorgeous woman in all of Vellum.
I was sure that Melody Maigny, Marquis Maigny's daughter, would have something to say about that, all who were around her fawned over her beauty. She was the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen but she was scheming, and it frankly reminded me of Blake which wasn't a quality of a proper Queen. She was my biggest pursuer amongst all the women in Vellum. How many times had I turned her down? Unsurprisingly, in her first year here in LDMU, she had applied to the Royal Scribe program. If it were solely up to me, she wouldn't be one of the interns. Unfortunately, this, like every other thing in Vellum, had a ceremony with the Elder Counsel to go through. Amongst those, they along with myself chose the three interns. It wasn't solely up to me and of course there was also the input from Grand Pretre. She is rumored to have a strong interest in The Batiste, some say it is an obsession so if Alexandra were to make it past the counsel, she would have the seal of approval from Her. Of course, there is Her unpredictability because of what she can see in Alexandra's future. How would she save Vellum I wonder.
In two weeks’ time, I would spend an hour daily with Alexandra preparing her to meet me on an official basis. I will get to know her then and see if she is worthy of me to select her for one of the three. I had other plans to get a quick look at her before the school year started but I needed to figure out how I would pull that off. I was curious as to how everyone in Vellum really deemed her beauty. I know that my brother was already smitten with her from meeting her just once when they both were little. I would need to ensure he could not get close to her, and I had done so by assigning one of the Citadel interns. He was the best in his class at combat so I was assured that he could stand up against Blake. It didn't hurt that he was The Chalshin to give him further merit. It made me chuckle nervously that I would need The Chalshin to protect The Batiste from The Mesha.
All I would need is for The Befent to fall in love with Alexandra to make this a war amongst of all of my Duchies. That was not a pleasant thought, her arrival put a wrench into the peace that Vellum had known since my father died. She had already caused a stir amongst our people when she was born. She further caused intrigue when there was word that a human tried to claim her for himself around the same time Blake became obsessed with her. Her ceremony was all the people could talk about until Grand Pretre cancelled our meeting to go to her. There's a rumor that she is God touched and now people are going to be obsessed with trying to catch a glimpse at The Batiste. Hell, I wanted to catch a glimpse at The Batiste. She had a nice voice but that was all I could tell you about her.
At this thought, I decided to get up out of my chair to peer down into the back garden to see if I could at least see her. I peered down and saw a young lady with blonde hair, Talia and a tall, slim young lady with ebony black hair and violet eyes. She was in a navy-blue suit with a silk teal shirt, her hair had been pinned back neatly into a bun. No doubt the work of Talia, she had been much like her twin brother with their attention to every minute detail. My breath caught at the sight of her, I had seen her before, but I could not recall where. I turned to sit in my chair again lest one of them should look up and see me. I know she did not know what I looked like, but I wanted to keep it that way until I was to officially meet her. I had to get to her just once before I became her Headmaster, this thought rolled in my mind and plan formulated after a time.
After what seemed like a short while, in reality it was thirty minutes, I had heard a knock on the door. I bade the knocker to enter the room, it was Josiah. I turned to look at him, "First, never question me in front of The Batiste again, is that understood?" Josiah bowed and nodded, "I am sorry Your Majesty, I didn't want her to get too close. It was merely concern for you, but I will hold my tongue from now on." I continued, "Good, report." Josiah strolled over to his small desk that was set up in the room, "Your Majesty, I have shown the ladies how to get into the tower from the tunnel. Her Grace, the Duchess, has assured me that His Grace, the Duke will show The Batiste the Blackwood side of the passage when he has business here in three days." At the mention that Alexandra would be back in three days, I decided that would be the time to enact my plan of curiosity. Until then business as usual, "Good, I would like to summon the Duke to the castle. Please get Malinus on that right away." Josiah took a note on a pad on his desk, "As you command, Your Majesty. What should I say is the nature of this summoning?" I nodded, "Right, it should be to discuss the mission that I have for him that will likely tie him up for the foreseeable future." Josiah continued the scrawl notes on his pad and then he looked up, "And what of the duties The Batiste needs to attend to at Blackwood here?" I pulled out my pen and started writing what I believe she should be attending to until the ball then handed it to Josiah, "Please transcribe this onto official letterhead and have Malinus send a Toxzi rider to Terre's Blackwood. Mark it for Alexandra's eyes only along with this sealed letter. NO ONE is to open it except Alexandra. Do you understand?" Josiah hesitated to take the sealed letter from me but eventually did so. Josiah then cleared his throat, "Your Majesty, can I speak freely?" I rolled my eyes and threw my pen on my desk, "What?" He shifted in his seat nervously and steeled himself before he spoke, "It seems to me that you are playing favorites with The Batiste, and I don't know if it would be wise to do so." I chuckled, "Not favorites Josiah, like everyone else in Vellum, I am curious about her. She is a mystery to us all and Grand Pretre assures me that she is to be our savior. How could I not want her on my side if this is to be the case? Her well-being and friendship could only be good for the kingdom." Josiah nodded, "Ever the wise ruler, Your Majesty." I sighed, "Not wise enough, I have the Elder Counsel threatening to hand my throne to Blake should I not find a woman to wed soon." Josiah knitted his brow, "You know what I think Your Majesty." Josiah was a cousin to the Marquis Maigny and therefore favored Melody as the future Queen. I imagine this was also why he was trying to discourage any relationship I was trying to form with Alexandra as it would not benefit his family. The problem with a young single King was that every family was trying to worm their way onto my throne and into my bed with their eligible daughters. Nevertheless, I nodded, "I know, and I will consider her. As a matter of fact, the ball is where I will announce something about the matter of my marriage to set everyone to rights as to how this whole marriage business will go down."
I had long planned to announce a competition to win the throne for one noble family with the judges being my mother, Grand Pretre and the Elder Counsel. It seemed only fair to wait until The Batiste entered into the picture. This took the decision out of my hands and into others so I could avoid being seen as biased towards one house or another. I really hadn't cared who would be my queen and wife so long as she gave me my heir and I kept my throne. This would also be a way for the lady to show that she earned her place by my side and show her commitment to Vellum through the tests. I had already discussed it with Grand Pretre during my last visit. She said that my fated one would definitely win the throne and my hand, so I knew I was on the right track in this decision. All that was left would be to go to this ball and announce to the families present. This would also be the night Duke Reginald would officially present his daughter in court. I sighed again, "This school year will definitely be a more interesting one to be sure." Josiah nodded, "I can't agree with you more. I just hope my cousin adjusts to university life easily." The mention of Melody made me cringe since I knew she would try everything to come see the Headmaster to get on his good side to win a seat for the internship. Gods assist me to not lose my temper with her. I leaned back in my chair, "Josiah, I need tea and send for Vanessa." Josiah walked over to the kitchenette hidden behind the left bookcase and pulled out the kettle and made me a cup of tea. As he handed me the tea he said, "I will send a Toxzi rider to her in Blackwood, but Eugenia was telling me that she is in Terre's Blackwood setting up a party for Duchess Talia's birthday. It was today you know." I pointed at my temple, "Yes, I knew that. I had Malinus send a Toxzi rider to Blackwood with a present. I owe her family so much for sacrificing their own to try and save my father. It is a debt I may never be able to repay." It troubled me that I could not summon Vanessa right away, "No matter, send word to our Blackwood that I will need her to see me right away no matter what time she gets back. I needed Vanessa to make me a magical item and I needed it as fast a witchingly possible.
