He had been caught off guard. He had anticipated strife, even venom. Yet, before his eyes appeared a woman who was soft, willing to be seduced by an old man with waning vigor. But as much as he felt himself becoming undone, seduction wasn’t the reward he had in mind. Despite her sweet smell, soft eyes, and wonderful lips, this was still the queen. A very shrewd and cunning queen. He swallowed hard.
“My own province,” he confessed in a small voice. “A small, small portion of the kingdom to stand over for myself.”
She turned away slowly, heading back over to the table to pour herself a cup of wine. “The responsibility to rule should never be up for barter,” she reminded him. “However, under the circumstances, I am willing to concede. Provided that you are able to show your queen that you are capable of handling such authority.”
“How so?” he asked. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with a hint of mischief after wetting her pallet.
“A new treaty is due to be renegotiated between the members of the Imperial Nation on the morning of my birthday. However, I am willing to delay my arrival to later that evening. Instead, in my place, you shall present the terms. Perhaps you will be successful in gaining a higher wage than what Marlon has traditionally suggested to me. Once I return, upon finding a signed document by all seven members of the Imperial Nation , I shall assign you to your very own province.”
If there was one lesson he learned from being associated with this queen, it was that she was, indeed, a most formidable adversary, possessing a cleverness well beyond her years. But the very thought of being outwitted in this situation made him chuckle softly.
“Forgive me, my Queen. It is not that your words do not merit trust, however, a document that records this agreement between us, would bring me much peace.”
Upon one of the tables of the council sat paper, ink, and something to write with. Taking hold of them, she quickly wrote out an agreement. She took a candle and spilled wax on the bottom of the document, crushing her insignia ring into it. “Read it,” she demanded, pressing it into his chest.
After a few moments, a smile grew slowly under his grotesque nose. Titus appeared pleased.
“Now,” she said. “Is there any more business between us?”
“No, my Queen,” he said as he bowed in her direction. Katrina was making her way to the doors.
“My Queen, may I ask something?”
She paused, turning her head slightly over a shoulder. “Go on.”
“Is it true? The rumor of Queen Karlise and her servant?”
“No!”
Titus looked down curiously at the document in his hand. “Then why did you agree to this?”
“Rumors are much heavier stones to bear around one’s neck than tiny pebbles of truth. Suppose the rumors were true, yet they shared a love that was pure?”
She turned to face Titus. “With all that she sacrificed for the prosperity of Twells and its people, I would do anything to preserve the honor of my mother and your Queen among our people. But you know this, right?!”
There appeared a small glimmer of shame in his eyes. He had always been accused by his contemporaries of being an extortionist. He had played upon the vulnerabilities of a queen, still raw with emotions for her mother many years later. Titus watched as she made her way to the doors.
“My Queen,” he called after her again. She stood still inside the doorway.
“May you live to fight well,” he offered her. He watched as she nodded her head before leaving from his view. He was standing, grasping the document in his hand, filled with mixed emotions. If this was victory, it felt hollow. Slowly, he rolled the document before tucking it inside his robe, quickly leaving the Court.
