The Crown

Chapter Fourteen

Queen Evelyn stirred the drink in her hand, watching the small whirlpool form inside the glass. King Marcus stared at her from the opposite side of the table, unamused. She refused to speak with him until he and their son had made amends, but neither father nor son had any desire in doing so. 

"Evelyn," Marcus interrupted, startling her. "Speak to me."

"I have already told you all I wish to say," She replied. 

He groaned. "You are in no position to ignore me!"

Evelyn glanced up at her husband, cocking her brow. Slowly, she rolled her eyes, returning back to her drink. 

Sputtered at her actions, Marcus stood quickly from the table. He walked over and stood by her side, towering over her. Unfazed, Evelyn looked straight ahead of her as she resumed her drinking, relaxing in her chair. 

He eyed her hand and reached for her drink, snatching it from her. Prompting a response, Marcus laughed. "You will have your drink once you speak to me."

Evelyn groaned, standing from her chair. She glanced at her stolen drink and sighed. "Fine. I suggest we find Tobias and know about his decision in regards to Princess Lauren. Perhaps this whole ordeal can be solved today once and for all, and I can see my son. It has been weeks, Marcus."

Marcus grunted, setting the drink away from his wife. "I will give him one last chance, Evelyn. Otherwise, I will not turn back on my word again."

She smiled and began walking out of the dining hall, her husband by her side. The two walked up the staircase and toward the prince's bedroom, sure he would be there given he had not been invited for breakfast. 

Marcus looked at the guard posted at the prince's bedroom. The guard bowed and opened the door, announcing their presence. 

As they walked in, Evelyn gasped at the state her son was in. 

Tobias widened his eyes as he watched his parents walk in. He looked down at Beatrice, who was on her knees by his side, cleaning a wound of his. He had been sparring earlier in the arena with Matthew when he was struck in the eye, falling to the floor. In the fall, he cut his knee, which was now bleeding. 

Having been there between shifts, Beatrice quickly offered to tend to him. Not wanting to continue sparring any longer, they retreated to the privacy of his bedroom. 

"Tobias!" Evelyn screeched, rushing to her son's side. "What happened to you?!"

"I fell on the stairs," Tobias lied. "Mother, I will attend to you as soon as I am finished."

"How did one of the guards not see your fall on the stairs, my dear?" She asked, baffled. "My poor son; you had to walk up all alone?"

"I fell last night!" he rushed out. "I awoke this morning and the cut was more severe than I had anticipated. When the servant," he glanced at Beatrice, pained. "had walked in, I asked her to tend to me properly."

"A reasonable person would have called for the doctor," Marcus criticized. 

"Your handsome face," Evelyn complained, holding her son's face in her hands. "How clumsy of you, Tobias!"

"Enough, Mother," Tobias complained himself, holding her wrists and pushing her away. 

As Evelyn took a step back, she watched as Tobias reached gently for the servant's hands, helping her off her knees. Evelyn glanced up at her husband, relieved he was paying no attention to them. She watched her son look worriedly to the young woman, who glanced up at him quickly. She took a step back and bowed, stepping to the side.