The Duke of Mesha
Alexandra. That was the name that floated in my head always, my entire life was dedicated to thinking about her. Her thoughts, her feelings, her beautiful violet eyes, her smile that lights up a room and her wit. These were the things that enjoyed the most about her. I did not enjoy watching her kissing another man in my presence, but she didn’t have a choice. Given the choice to have her kiss my own brother in front of me or be expelled from Vellum by the council, I would rather her kiss him. It wasn’t like that would be a habit of hers anyhow, I saw the look on her face when Pretre Jean told her what she had to do. She was horrified but for some reason I couldn’t feel what she did. Why was that? Every other moment in her life I could feel her emotions alongside my own. Last night when she got home, she was exhausted so much so that she fell right to sleep instead of lingering late into the night. Right now, she was content, probably the most content that I had ever felt from her. She loved her time in Terre despite those wretched humans because her parents and grandfather were good to her. She had a lot of love there and I could feel it when she was in the presence of them. I would greatly reward the House Batiste when I became King for taking such great care of my Queen. She would not doubt make an excellent one and certainly a Queen that Vellum deserves.
I imagine that stupid council will choose Melody Maigny for my brother. She was trained from birth to become Queen. My spies tell me that her father’s design has always been for the throne. He would stop at nothing to put her on it and his future grandchildren. I scoffed at this, “Like my brother would touch her, she’s too desperate.” It pains me that my love will be subjected to this bullshit competition, her desire is to become useful to the kingdom through service to the crown. Her noble thoughts have been set on Scribe and has no interest in my brother or his throne. It was a recurring theme for her to tell people that she doesn’t want it, that her only desire was to become a Scribe. Unfortunately, the harpies before and undoubtedly now all use the year one intern position to get close to the King. With this silly competition, it could be harder to get one of the positions that I’m sure Alexandra will desire. Every single one of them drop the program once my brother turns away their advances. Alexandra will follow through because of her good heart. I was determined to help her achieve her wishes and dreams while she is in Vellum. Knowing her, she would be mad if I directly interfered with getting the position so I would have to send her gentle nudges and hints. I don’t think she would be opposed to that.
I rode up to the Mesha manor on my black horse and dismounted where my attendant Jolan was awaiting my return. I handed the reigns to the stable boy and strode towards him, “Your Grace, I have the reports from your spies on your desk and they await your next orders.” I waved a hand at him, “Those will have to wait. Bring out the invitation card stock and have Mrs. Telpin come see me in my office.” Jolan took my riding gloves from me, “Your Grace, are you planning a party?” I smirked, “I am going to have a tea party to welcome The Batiste to Vellum. I want to introduce her into my society.” Jolan nodded, “Of course Your Grace, I forgot that she may now attend parties throughout Vellum. I will get on that right away.” Jolan walked off the opposite direction to the storeroom to fetch the stock that I requested. I walked to my office, and I had hoped all would come together quickly because I wanted to see her again as quickly as possible. It was a need that ached in my heart since the very moment I met her at her ceremony party. She was lovely sitting in her white dress in a dark corner sipping on punch, hoping to disappear from all those eyes that were watching her. She didn’t like the attention; she wasn’t used to it. She would need to get used to it in this society though and I was determined to ease her into it. I believed a small party in her honor would help serve two purposes: my seeing her and her easing gently into the society. I would prefer she would ease into my society and clique than that of my brother’s. He didn’t necessarily choose who was close to him and some of those people were vicious. I want to try my best shield her from Melody. She had her sights set on my brother and would see Alexandra as a threat. If my dearest is seen in my society, perhaps that can ease her predator instinct towards her.
I sat at my desk and decided to look over a report while I waited for Jolan and Mrs. Telpin. The first report was from my spy in Terre: “Nothing much to report. The Plinker girl was seen loitering outside of Blackwood, but it is unknown why she would be there.” I scoffed, Alexandra’s worst tormenter. What could she want? I pulled out a paper to write to the spy: “I am sending a Xion as your staff. Find out.” I pulled up the next report, it was from my spy in Blackwood: “Lord Malinus is visiting, she is to attend tea with Vanessa today and has been invited to tea with Her Majesty on her next day off.” I wrote to this spy: “Report her conversation with Malinus. I specifically want to know if the King has designs towards her.” I didn’t like the conversation I had with him earlier today, it was different. I wasn’t totally convinced that the two kisses between them didn’t affect his opinion on her. I knew that he was trying to become friends with her since my mother said as much to me. She told me not to be jealous and that it was a power move to keep relations up between the crown and House Batiste. I knew that the relationship between the crown and House Batiste would continue because I would woo her. I would convince her to either become my Queen or the Duchess of Mesha. I would prefer Queen so that I could have the power to protect her from those would dare to harm her. I wouldn’t have that power so much as Duke of Mesha. Sure, a Duchy is certainly powerful, but I couldn’t punish them the way they would deserve. The Order would not like her presence in Vellum as she represented everything they hated. She was practically human and didn’t drink blood. Then there were the ones that were exposed to her ability before anyone knew she had it. I had tried to find out who they were, but they ran underground. I only know that they call themselves the Rose of Aphrodite. They are essentially a cult that worships Alexandra, thinking she is the living incarnation of the Goddess herself. I am not sure their designs towards her, but I would not let them harm her.
The next report was from my spy at the Order: “They are not pleased she’s here and there is a plot to assassinate her. I will provide more details as they become known to me.” I slammed my fist into my desk just as both Jolan and Mrs. Telpin entered the room. She jumped and Jolan steadied her, “Your Grace, is there something wrong?” I gritted my teeth, “Just some unruly rats thinking they can harm my dearest. I will put them down soon enough and in such a way that thought won’t come to their feeble brains again.” Jolan nodded, “They won’t know what hit them Your Grace.” He walked forward and place the stock on my desk in front of me. I nodded and smiled at the stock, “Now Mrs. Telpin, I want to give a tea party for The Batiste. How quickly can you make that happen?” She pulled out a pen and writing pad, “Well Your Grace, it depends on how elaborate you want to make it.” I rose from my desk and looked out to the garden. I had lavender roses planted there shortly after I became the Duke, “I want a garden tea party. The finest tea set and the cinnamon Mesha tea needs to be put out; I want the best for her. As for the accompanying food, I will leave that as your decision.” Mrs. Telpin nodded, “It shouldn’t take but a week.” I nodded satisfied, “Good, I will write the invitation for Sunday since she is going to tea with the Queen Mother the day before.” Jolan cleared his throat and I turned around to look at him, “Speak.” He nodded and pulled out a gold envelope, “The courier just came with your invitation to that one Your Grace." I smiled, my mother never failed to invite me to anything she had, and I was please she would include me here as well. I gestured for him to put it on my desk, “I will reply right away.” I wrote the instructions to my spy at the Order: “Make sure you find every detail. I will send a Xion to assist. Failure is NOT an option.” I wrote that I would attend the party on the invitation and gave all the correspondence to Jolan, “Ensure these get to where they need to go. Send a Xion to Terre and the Order.” Jolan bowed, “Right away Your Grace.” The pair left the room and I looked out the window to my rose garden. I whispered, “Alexandra.” I was determined to keep her safe and if I had to involve the crown, I would. I pulled out another sheet of paper and wrote to the King. No one would harm her. Ever.
