The Wicked House of Caroline

“I want to know where Iris Elpidah is, who she is with, and what she is doing,” Beks said as her eyes narrowed. “And if at all possible, what the Temple’s opinion of her is after she returned from Kadmus.”

Mr. Kesse nodded. “We are keeping an eye on her, Your Highness. She was seen entering the Great Temple Complex and was almost missed. She was dressed as a pilgrim with a small group coming for pilgrimage. No paladins were noticed with her, nor did she have the two attendants who follow her.”

This meant that Iris Elpidah was deep in disguise to hide from them. It was likely how she got so far without being discovered by Lady Helen’s people. She was even willing to leave behind her attendants who served her hand and foot.

“Her paladins may be in disguise. Do not drop your guard,” Beks said. “As soon as you have any news on Elpidah and the Temple, let me know, no matter how small.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Mr. Kesse said with a slight bow of his head. “And what of the relics?”

“At best, we can observe. The expedition will attract a lot of attention, but we have yet to understand how important the relic will be or for what it will be used. According to Sister Levina, when recent relics are found, they are first brought to the Great Temple Complex to be recorded and studied, but ultimately returned to the location where they were found and a shrine is built to properly house the relic,” Beks replied. “Continue to observe, but do not interfere. Find out what you can about the Muil Stones.”

Mr. Kesse nodded, and the call ended.

Beks took a deep breath and leaned back against her chair. She closed her eyes and began to sort through the information on the Muil Stones she had collected, but inadvertently, her mind drifted to Iris.

Luther would not tell Laurence, or anyone, where Iris went. It seemed he was smart enough to know not to open his mouth and risk the safety of his wife. Despite his resistance, it was fairly obvious that Iris would go to where she would be the safest: the Great Temple Complex.

Or at the very least, the Great Basin, where she could hide.

At least, Beks thought she would hide. Being active and instigating a Temple-led expedition for a relic would out her general location.

It didn’t seem as if Iris Elpidah wanted to hide.

At the same time, Beks couldn’t get her hands on her easily, either. If the Temple was protecting Iris Elpidah, then Beks wasn’t willing to try another small group-led raid to get her. The Temple was now on guard after the havoc Beks and the others created that destroyed not only parts of the complex, but the paladin training grounds.

Paladins from all over had been ordered to return to the Great Basin, and with them, all the high-ranking clergy they were escorting. Nothing was impenetrable, but some things were more difficult than others.

Then, there were the Muil Stones. Beks was convinced that Iris Elpidah was not a real oracle after what she’d read. If Iris Elpidah was not a real oracle, then the ‘prophecy’ she spouted wasn’t a random divine vision of the future. It was a targeted suggestion, but to what, Beks wasn’t exactly sure.

The Muil Stones were important.

They were related to the priests and priestesses of Xeria, the goddess of chaos and rebirth.

She suspected that the Temple was collecting the Muil Stones and consolidating them in , and that Iris Elpidah helping them do so meant that there would be of some benefit to her.

But what and how?

“You look angry,” Laz’s voice could be heard from the entrance of the room. “Are they over charging you?”

“We had it cleared up,” Beks replied. She opened her eyes and looked at her husband. She saw that Lucian was behind him, also entering her study. “I can’t rid myself of the feeling that those Muil Stones are important and related to oracles.”

Laz raised a brow as he crossed the room. “If you have a feeling, then it means you are going in the right direction.”

“That is why I’m worried about it. It reeks of danger.” Beks stood up and ran a hand through her hair. She raised her arms and Laz and Lucian encircled her.

“I will ask Sister Levina to help with your research on the Muil Stones,” Lucian told her.

“We can also return to the Hall of Eloquence to check for anything else the last Great Oracle might’ve left that may help,” Laz added.

Lucian nodded. “Yes, if the Muil Stones have something to do with oracles, then she may have had a clue.”

“I sent Gerard to pick up the cake you wanted,” Laz said as he brushed her hair back. “Take a break if you can and then return to it.”

Lucian nodded. “Sometimes, you need to clear your head a bit when facing a problem.”

She sighed and nuzzled her head against Lucian’s shoulder as her grip around Laz tightened. “I am very thankful that you were the ones I married.”

“I was thinking about that,” Laz said as he furrowed his brows. “Relating to why the late Queen sent us away. When you were young, we were the closest to you. Not Luther.”

Lucian perked up as he heard this. His eyes narrowed, understanding what his brother was suspecting at once. “She might have also separated us from Beks because she was afraid that we would take her from him?”

Beks frowned at this. She didn’t want her existence to be part of the reason her husbands were sent away with hopes of a miserable fate. “Did she not want me to follow her lead and continue an affair with another while engaged to her precious son?”

Lucian cracked a slight smile, amused at the undisguised irritation in her voice. “You sound angrier than us. It could just be one of many reasons.”

“I’m sure she had multiple reasons, but it didn’t hurt that she would isolate Beks,” Laz replied. “If she’s isolated....”

“I’m easier to control,” Beks said, lowering her eyes. A bitterness filled her. “I know she loved me, but the more I learn of what she’d hidden, the more I believe the love comes from the wrong place.”

Lucian took a deep breath and released it. “It’s not important right now. We need to find out what the Temple is planning if they are unsettling you.”

Beks let out a hum and pulled away from her husbands. She opened the door to the garden. “Snowflake, we’re going to the dining hall. Do you want to come?” Snowflake flicked his tongue, but kept his eyes closed and didn’t bother moving. It was a decisive ‘no’. “All right, I’ll leave the door open for you to come in and out of.”

She went to the dining hall to wait for her cake, calling out to her siblings to join her. The books they were tagging for research were left in the library, as after her afternoon snack, she joined Chamberlain Wilton in preparing for Laurence’s coronation and wedding.

With the treasury depleted, all the funding came from Laurence’s private savings, which Luther and his court did not know about, and the twins. Laz and Lucian had plenty of gold left over from their inheritance and decided to give a generous gift to their brother and sister-in-law.

Beks’ gift was her foresight. Before Eleanor had fled the Gilded Palace with Laurence, Beks had done her best to hide as many of the items Laurence prepared for their wedding as she could. This included clothing for the ceremony, jewels that Laurence purchased himself, as well as the legal paperwork.

She assumed that Laurence’s things would be the first plundered, and she was right according to Chamberlain Wilton. However, the things she had hidden deep within the hidden tunnels and walls were spared.

Beks was only irritated that she didn’t hide her own wedding dress better, allowing it to be found by Iris Elpidah. At the time, she wasn’t thinking about her wedding dress at all. In fact, marrying Luther was the last thing on her mind.

In order to bring as many of Eleanor’s relatives to Kadmium as possible, the rokhs were employed to make several flights.

While not as extravagant as originally planned, Beks was relatively satisfied with what she and Chamberlain Wilton could prepare in terms of a coronation for Laurence.

The usual representatives of the Five Great Houses were invited, along with various high nobles who opposed Luther’s rule and remained staunch supporters of Laurence. Though Luther’s father and supporting ministers tried to minimize the influence of those nobles, they couldn’t ban them completely from participating in government without a good reason.

During the coronation, Laurence was to be blessed by a priest or priestess, but there was no response from the clergy at the Kadmium Cathedral.

Laurence had laughed when he told Beks and the others. “Do they think they can stop me if they refuse to perform a blessing? Kadmus practices in line with the Temple, but we are not governed by the Temple!”

The Grand Duke of Aceria had replied that what was important was a sense of ceremony and a legal document. Everything else was ‘jewels on a chest’, an Acerian saying about unnecessary excess on something practical.

“It’s best that they don’t get involved,” Lucian reiterated as they sat around for dinner. “In this way, I can go directly from coronation blessing to wedding ceremony.”

Tomorrow was the day of both events; one widely spread and the other a well-kept secret.

Beks looked at her half empty wine glass in silence. Tonight was meant to be a quiet dinner with just their few guests and close family and friends. Nothing too rowdy, as everyone had an early morning with the preparations for the coronation and wedding.

Eleanor had insisted on a small dinner instead of a large party stating those reasons, but Beks knew it was because she didn’t want to spend money they didn’t have. Beks pretended she didn’t realize this, and while the guests were fewer in number, the food and drink were not lacking. She’d even had everyone dress up for it and gathered musicians from Nexus to play background music as entertainment.

Even so, it wasn’t as extravagant as they had originally planned Laurence’s coronation and wedding to be a year earlier. Beks couldn’t help but be resentful that two undeserving people got what should’ve belonged to Laurence and Eleanor.

“Yes, I look forward to tomorrow. It’ll be a smooth transition, although it won’t be a good day for our opponents,” Laurence told them. Several pairs of eyes turned to him, with the exception of Wrath gnawing on a chicken drumstick at the far end of the table.

Eleanor lowered her utensils and knit her brows with concern. “Because they were not invited?”

Laurence let out a small chuckle, reaching to his side to put his hand over her’s. “Because tomorrow, their punishments will be official. All the resources that were seized during the investigation will be transferred to the treasury. The sentences for those imprisoned will be finalized, and their titles will officially be stripped, their family names removed from the register of nobles.”

Beks nodded. While they were in transition, though Laurence had authority to rule, on paper, the punishments for the dissidents would not officially start until he was coronated. After the late Queen died, any orders he gave would automatically be official as well as enacted as he had been named heir on official papers.

This time, he was retaking his throne from his brother, who remained alive. Only when a monarch died could their successor’s reign officially begin. As Luther continued to live under the grace of his eldest brother, a formal transition of power was required.

It was a painful time for those who had been part of Luther’s regime, as their property and money had already been confiscated, essentially freezing their day-to-day spending. In addition, they were kept on house arrest or, if their part in taking power was deeper, imprisoned in the East Tower, waiting.

“Their sentences didn’t include the time spent imprisoned or under house arrest,” she said with a solemn nod. “Some will be arrested from their homes and taken to a more secluded prison.”

“Except Luther,” Laurence replied. He took a deep breath and exhaled. “He will remain on house arrest in his villa. At the moment, he is not in a position to leave.”

Beks and the others frowned a bit at this. Luther didn’t seem to have any regards to his health since he woke. Sometimes, he refused to eat. Beks didn’t know if it was in protest, to gain pity, or if he wanted to die.

She cut through her meat on her plate. “Have you given him his official sentence?”

Laurence took another deep breath and sighed, both reluctant and disappointed. “No, not yet. In truth, I am unsure how to tell him as he is.”

‘As he is’ was bedridden and weak. Luther was willfully ignorant and naive, but to Laurence, he was still his youngest brother and was hesitant to be cruel while Luther was in such a weak state.

Unfortunately for Luther, Beks was not.

“I will tell him his sentence.” She reached forward and grasped the stem of her wine glass and brought it to her lips for a sip.

On either side of her, Laz and Lucian looked up from their meals and turned to her. Laurence looked towards her with a bit of surprise in his eyes.

“Beks, you needn’t go to announce his sentence on my behalf,” he told her. She could see the gratefulness in his eyes, but knew he didn’t want to put her in an odd position. Since Luther fell off the Western Tower until now, Beks had refused to see him. She ignored the pleas he sent, his hunger strikes, and even his threat that he’d jump again, but she refused.

She knew it would be a surprise to everyone that she was suddenly willing to see him. She took another sip of her glass before taking a deep breath and placing it back on the table.

“Beks, are you sure you want to do this?” Lucian asked with a worried voice on her right.

She nodded. “There is no point in avoiding him forever. I still haven’t been able to punch him in the face as he’s been bedridden since he fell from the tower. Telling him that he is stripped of his title and will never set foot outside of the Gilded Palace again in this life will be enough to satisfy me for now.”

Laz appeared satisfied with her answer. “In that case, when will you go?”

“After the ceremonies,” Beks replied. “Before we have the reception banquet.”

“That’s a good time to go,” Eleanor said from across the table. She remained sitting up straight with a proud look on her face. “Let him see you in all your finery as a Princess of Kadmus and see with his own eyes the greatness of the woman he betrayed.”

Her words seemed to be of comfort to Laz and Lucian, who held some reluctance on their faces when she said she would go.

Laurence looked to Beks once more in a silent ask for confirmation. She nodded her head once and Laurence returned it. “Then, you shall read his sentence tomorrow. Chamberlain Wilton, prepare the order.”

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The coronation process began in the morning. Beks was awake before dawn not only to dress in the most elaborate gown she’d worn since she returned, but also to walk through the venues and confirm the details with an equally formally dressed Chamberlain Wilton.

The procession would begin from the front steps of the Gilded Palace. Though it was a short walk, Laurence would take the most extravagant carriage to the separate, ornate building that was where religious and formal ceremonies took place.

It was where the late Queen lay in state, waiting for her last husband and youngest child to return before she was entombed. It was where Luther was crowned and later married.

Beks didn’t know how it was decorated for those events, but she’d made sure that the decoration was not lacking for that of a royal family member. Orange flowers were adorned with ribbons of intertwined white and green. Those same colors were streamed across the ceiling of the interior and dozens of white lanterns were hanging down, suspended by thin metal cords that weren’t visible from the floor, making it appear as if the lanterns were floating.

All the Wild Dogs involved in guarding were issued formal royal guard uniforms, with those who were part of the ceremonial arch of swords having gilded ceremonial swords to match.

All the pathways that would be used were decorated, all leading up to the coronation throne at the foot of the sanctuary. The crown, draping cape, and scepter were cleaned, and for further effect, Beks had instituted a dress code of men in black and women in the brightest colors they could wear, but little jewelry.

She wanted all the attention to be on Laurence and Eleanor.

As for herself, as a member of the royal family, Beks wore clothes and jewelry chosen for her by Eleanor. Though the color of the Kadmus royal family was orange, since Beks already had the orange streak in her hair, Eleanor selected a dark blue-purple dress with a high neckline that was tight around her upper body and flared into a sea of layers at her natural waist.

The gold embroidery included orange flowers that matched her orange streak, and gold jewelry shaped like thin leaves were placed on her wrists and ears. The gold tiara was made to look like a crown of flowers and leaves, with dark blue stones in the center of the flowers. Her hair was partially up in the back, with gold ornamental hairpins gifted to her from the Emperor of Langshe in holding the bun in place. The hair framing her face was let down, allowing the orange streak to be displayed at its fullest.

On either side of her, Laz and Lucian were in formal dress befitting of their rank. The layers of fabric were heavy, and she could see a thin sheen of sweat across their foreheads in the summer heat, despite the cool air prepared inside by her family’s biha users.

They stood in the grand foyer of the Gilded Palace, looking out the open double doors at the orange carpet laid over the steps and the carriage waiting for them. Chamberlain Wilton seemed to check the time before nodding to himself and stepping partway inside.

He rooted himself by the right side of the open door and stood up straight.

“Your Highnesses,” he said as he looked at Beks.

She gave him a nod as a husband on each side of her took her arm. “Begin.”

He gave a small signal, and the trumpeters outside blew their horns. She began to walk in step with Laz and Lucian, elegantly making their way down the steps as beyond the gravel entryway, past the moat, and on the other side of the long iron fence that surrounded the royal grounds, the city that was waiting for them to emerge let out yells of excitement.

Today was a day of celebration and rest for the city. Free food was distributed near the royal grounds, funded by her and the twins to display the benevolence of their brother. The city’s main corridors were decorated with orange banners, flower garlands, and musicians were hired to perform at the main public squares.

The mood was joyful and exciting.

The carriage Beks and the twins were on arrived few steps away, at the start of the walkway that led to the small cathedral on the grounds.

When she set foot on the orange carpet, the procession of nobles within had already begun entering. For a moment, she remembered the last time she’d been in this position. She had entered with her family along with the other representatives of the Five Great Houses.

They reached the entrance when Laurence and Eleanor’s carriage arrived behind them.

“His Highness Prince Lazarus. His Highness Prince Lucian. Her Highness Princess Rebecca!”

They walked down the aisle to take their seats at the front. After Beks and Laz reached their seats and remained standing, Lucian slipped around the side to return to the foyer. There, he slipped into the vestments of a priest, his long hair was tied at the base of his neck, so the headpiece fit on his head.

Since the Kadmus Cathedral inadvertently refused to help them, there were no young priests or priestess to hold the sacred objects and oils. Instead, the positions were given to Lady Helen’s eldest son and Thad. They followed behind Lucian, who followed behind Chamberlain Wilton, who held the documents to be signed in an elaborate wooden box.

Eleanor followed behind, with a thin forest green cloak bearing the insignia of the von Glasser March, hiding the white and orange wedding gown beneath. She wore her mother’s headpiece and had the honor of holding the ceremonial sword in her arms.

Once they took their places in front, the trumpeters blared again.

“His Royal Majesty, King Laurence dun Kadmus.”

All at once, everyone in the room turned on their heels to face the back. Laurence took a steady step forward, a calm expression on his face as he wore a thick, gold circlet, and held the scepter of the monarch.

As he passed, the guests bowed their heads in his direction, only standing after the two guards following him passed.

Laurence reached the sanctuary, climbed up two steps, and then turned to face the crowd. Somewhere in the back a heavy bell was hit three times.

Duke Seneca, as the highest Kadmus noble present, stepped forward to give the coronation speech. He stood in front of Laurence, reading out from a thick book the duties and responsibilities Laurence was expected to fulfill.

“Do you, Laurence Thomas dun Kadmus, son of Leticia Matina dun Kadmus and Alexios, King Consort of Kadmus, accept these duties and swear to fulfill them with honor, until your dying breath.”

Laurence didn’t flinch. “I, Laurence Thomas dun Kadmus, accept these duties and swear to fulfill them with honor, until my dying breath.”

Duke Seneca shifted the book to the side and opened the wooden box with the coronation document still held in Chamberlain Wilton’s arms. The document was placed on the small, adorned table in front of Laurence, along with an ink well and a pen. A small, gilded bench with an orange cushion was placed before the table.

“Will the first witness of this coronation step forward!” Duke Seneca said.

Robert, Duke of Caroline, rose from his seat. He stepped out in the aisle, his steps stiff and measured in a formal walk rather than the relaxed gait he usually had. He stopped in front of the table and bowed to Laurence behind it before standing up straight.

“Robert Lodewijk, Duke of Caroline, will witness this coronation,” he said in a booming voice. He moved to the side, vacating the space in the center. “Will the second witness of this coronation step forward!”

Duke Seneca stepped forward, taking Robert’s space. He bowed to Laurence. “Maximillian Augustine, Duke of Seneca, will witness this coronation!”

Laurence returned their bows with a subtle nod. He placed his scepter horizontally above the document and reached for the pen. He wrote his signature across the bottom and returned a pen.

Beks stepped forward, holding a small oil lamp with a flame and an orange candle that an awaiting guard held in preparation for her part. She stopped beside the table and melted the top of the wax candle with the oil lamp until there was enough wax liquid. She then dropped several droplets in one place next to Laurence’s signature.

Without complaint, he pressed his thumb into the melted wax and held it.

Once it was solidified enough, he carefully removed his thumb to reveal his thumbprint. Beks bowed her head and stepped back, but didn’t return to her seat.

Chamberlain Wilton dutifully turned the document around to face the two dukes, who then stepped forward. First was the Duke of Caroline. He picked up the same pen and signed his name. Beks returned, melted some more wax, and waited until her father pressed his thumb into it. Robert then bowed his head to Laurence, who remained on his knees, holding the scepter in his hands.

The Duke of Seneca mirrored Robert’s movements, signing his name, and then pressing his thumb into the hot wax.

After bowing to Laurence, he stepped back. Beks bowed as well, and returned to her seat, handing off the tools to a guard.

“He may rise.” With this, Laurence rose to his feet. The guard quietly pulled the small bench away.

Duke Seneca picked up the document and held it out for the guests to see as two more guards carried the table away. Chamberlain Wilton stepped forward, this time holding a soft pillow with the heavy ceremonial crown resting on top.

Robert stepped forward, having put on a pair of white gloves, and approached Laurence. While Duke Seneca held up the document, Robert removed the circlet from Laurence’s head, placed it on an awaiting pillow held up by the Duchess of Latana. When she stepped back, Chamberlain Wilton took her place.

Robert carefully picked up the crown and raised it high before placing it on Laurence’s head.

Once it was set, the Dukes of Durmott and Enidmore stepped forward, each holding a side of a thick fire orange cloak made of fox fur and bordered with silver wolf fur. They affixed the cloak on to the unmoving Laurence.

“The Blessing of the Gods!” Chamberlain Wilton stepped back and Lucian, who had been standing to the side with two children holding sacred objects stepped forward.

Lucian made a small show of blessing the oil and the incense before he opened the glass jar, dipped his fingers, and wrote a symbol on his brother’s forehead. He then took the small incense container from Thad’s pillow and circled around Laurence.

“May the gods hear your prayers and give you guidance. May your reign be blessed, and your kingdom and people protected.” Lucian spoke in Classic Esuser.

He then stepped back and bowed his head. Thad and Lady Helen’s son mirrored his movement before turning to their positions.

“He may take his throne,” Duke Seneca announced. The coronation throne was located just behind Laurence. With the aid of two guards adjusting his cloak, he took his seat, sitting up straight and facing his people.

With the document placed into the gilded box, Chamberlain Wilton stood in front of Laurence, lifted it as if in offering. Behind him, the five heads of the Five Great Houses took their positions in a row.

All at once, the five of them knelt on to their right knee and bowed their heads, placing their fists over their chests.

The shuffling of clothing and bodies was heard as everyone in the room knelt in front of Laurence. Beks adjusted her skirt and lowered her head.

Chamberlain Wilton remained on his knee as he shouted. “May His Majesty King Laurence’s reign be just!”

“May His Majesty King Laurence’s reign be just!” The bellowing voices of nobles and guards filled the room.

“May His Majesty King Laurence’s reign be wise!”

“May His Majesty King Laurence’s reign be wise!”

“May His Majesty King Laurence’s reign be long!”

“May His Majesty King Laurence’s reign be long!”

“All hail His Majesty King Laurence Thomas dun Kadmus, King of Kadmus!”

“All hail His Majesty King Laurence!”

“Stand!” Laurence replied to the salutes and the room filled with the noise of shifting clothing and rising bodies.

The five dukes and duchess remained kneeling, as did anyone present who was the head of a house, including Marquis von Glasser and the Grand Duke of Aceria. The heavy bell rang ten times to signal the start of the reign.

When the bell finished ringing, the five dukes and duchess rose to their feet. At this point, the procession to leave would usually begin, and from the attention of most of the guests, they were ready to leave.

Lord Douglas had quietly, and subtly, taken the sword from his sister. Beks slipped away with Eleanor, going through an exit to the side while everyone was rising.

“Efran, the flowers!” Beks said as she and Eleanor rushed through a narrow corridor.

“I have them, Your Highness!” Efran and Sandra were waiting to assist with the second portion. Eleanor’s thin forest green cape was removed to reveal a stunning white and orange dress. Beks carefully removed her family tiara and replaced it with one from the royal vaults. As soon as it was affixed, Efran handed her the flowers.

Sandra unpinned the extended train of the dress. In the foyer, behind the closed doors of the main chamber, Eleanor’s clothes were straightened out.

Beks stood in front of her holding a light pearl. Traditionally, as the banner woman for the bride, she was to hold an elegant lantern or oil lamp to signify the light she would bring to the family, but since the Grand Duke had a light pearl, Beks opted to use the light pearl instead.

The two guards at the door were Jonas and Gerard.

“Sister, are you ready?” Beks asked, glancing behind her.

She heard Eleanor take a deep breath and exhale. “I have long been ready.”

The corners of Beks’ lips curled up. She gave a nod to Jonas and Gerard. The two men grasped the iron handles of the doors and pulled them open.

From the upper floor, musicians drew everyone’s attention to the back of the room.

The sound of a small, sharp bell rang and Beks began the procession, holding the light pearl in her hands.

The gasps around her didn’t register as she walked down the aisle, step by step.

The positions of those who were at the front had shifted. Lucian was now in the center, preparing to do the marriage ceremony, while Laurence stood below, turned towards the double doors. Beks almost wanted to laugh. It was like she was invisible with how he looked at Eleanor, but that only made Beks happier.

Two people were finally, after much tragedy and frustration, getting married.

Though it seemed that everyone’s attention was on the bride behind her, Beks felt two distinct gazes. Her eyes moved over to meet the blue eyes of her husbands. The gentle smiles on their faces were not for Eleanor, but for her.

Due to the financial situation, they refused to have a formal wedding. Instead, they had signed the legal documents without any pomp. In fact, when they signed them, Beks wasn’t even wearing a dress. Laz and Lucian just wanted to make it official in Kadmus as soon as possible.

Perhaps for some time, seeing her walking towards them with a light pearl and in a dress as dark as the clear nights over Gurani was as close as they would get to a wedding of their own.

She resisted the urge to pass Laurence and kiss Lucian. She stood opposite where Laurence and Laz were standing and smiled as she watched Eleanor, with red eyes and a flushed face unable to contain her joy, reach Laurence’s side.

A quick sweep around the room showed that everyone seemed to mirror this joy and excitement.

“With the blessings of the gods, I am here today to wed Laurence Thomas dun Kadmus and Eleanor Delilah von Glasser.” Lucian held out his arms and smiled.

The rest of the ceremony was beautiful, but Beks was concentrating on keeping the light crystal up. Perhaps it was a mistake to opt for the larger light crystal. Lessoned learned, she supposed. Before she knew it, the procession to leave began under the ringing bells, the cheering crowds, and some tears from the von Glasser men as they watched their once boy-ish sister, now draped in an orange fox fur cloak and the crown of a Queen Consort.

Laz might’ve noticed her arms tremble, so he took the light pearl with his left arm and hooked her arm with his right one. Lucian stepped down, putting aside his position as the priest, and held her right arm. The two escorted her out of the cathedral and to a carriage.

Following Laurence and Eleanor’s carriage, they were brought towards the fence, where they slowly rode by waving out the windows and accepting the cheers of their people waiting outside.

Outside the main gates, rows of Wild Dogs dressed as royal guards lined the main street and cleared the space in front so that the gates could open, and the two carriages could parade through.

“I can’t help but wonder,” Beks said as she smiled and waved. “If this was the same as the crowd when Luther got married.”

“I had asked Chamberlain Wilton,” Laz replied. “They did not do the wedding procession across the city.”

“That’s surprising,” Luther told them, also waving out the window on his side of the carriage. “I would think that such a spectacle would be someone they want.”

“The Chamberlain said that on the day of the wedding, there were so few people at the gates, that there were more guards standing at the ready than people. It was too embarrassing.” Laz did bother to hide the mirth in his voice.

Beks’ smile grew wider. She wasn’t too surprised. As a Temple supported oracle, Iris Elpidah should’ve enjoyed immense popularity, but in Kadmus, so did Beks. Luther lacked the popularity of Laurence as a monarch, and the attitude of the citizens was displeased that he had an affair while engaged to Beks.

Nexus spread the rumors, emphasizing their untrustworthy, scheming natures, and then further aggravating it with Kadmus’ declining wealth. Needless to say, the campaign to lower their reputations worked. The best part was, they weren’t based on lies.

The wedding procession lasted for about an hour before they returned to the Gilded Palace. Their guests were currently enjoying drinks and light snacks in the garden. Laurence and Eleanor went to join them before the wedding banquet later, but Beks went elsewhere.

Still in her coronation finery, with her husbands following her, Beks walked the familiar route to Luther’s villa. Now, there were no servants lingering around to serve him. The guards were not there to protect Luther, but to make sure he didn’t leave.

Not that he could, as his attempts to extort her into seeing him with his health had made him weaker. Beks wanted to shake her head. Perhaps he hit his head too hard against the wall when she ‘saved’ him.

“Your Highnesses.” The guards at the door saluted them.

“Unlock the door. We will speak to the Fourth Prince,” Laz said. One of the guards quickly unlocked the door.

Beks hadn’t stepped through after Laz yet, when she smelled the musty scent of spoiled food and stagnant, but somehow pungent body odor. She narrowed her eyes.

Aside from a lantern hanging high up, so that no one could reach it without a ladder, the room had no other lantern. The windows didn’t have any curtains, so there was plenty of light coming through to make up for the lack of lanterns. If they had come after sunset, it would’ve been difficult to see.

The large bed chamber wasn’t a mess at all, despite the odd smell in the air. In fact, it was rather bare. Much of the spaces that should’ve had some sort of decoration; a painting, a vase, a small sculpture, were empty. The books that should’ve filled a shelf were gone. The additional lanterns that would’ve lit up the room were also gone.

This was to avoid any items being thrown as weapons or broken in a fit of rage. It was also so they couldn’t be used as a tool to commit suicide.

The only real piece of furniture that was being utilized was the chamber pot in the corner and the bed, and even then, the once gaudy covers were replaced with simple ones and the several layers of pillows were reduced to four.

Beks knew that a maid came twice daily to clean. There were no dirty clothes anywhere. Beks crinkled her eyes. Did that mean the pungent scent came from Luther?

“When was the last time you bathed?” She hadn’t been sure what she’d say to him when they met, but the most natural words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

Laz drew bit his lip to keep from laughing as Lucian sighed.

“Do you want something to cover your nose?” he asked.

“No, this won’t take long,” she replied. She saw a movement on the bed and the figure laying down turned his head towards her. For a moment, she was taken aback by how thin his face had become. The last time she saw him, just weeks earlier, when he was carried off with a broken, bloody nose. His face had been far more fleshed in then.

She couldn’t help but frown. She knew he was suffering from emotional and mental distress, but he wasn’t starving. Not to mention, life biha users also came every other day after he woke to try to keep up his health.

His gaunt brown eyes widened at the sight of her. She tried not to show the irritation of his face. How dare his eyes light up as if he’d seen his savior after what he did?

“Beks....” His voice was hoarse, but it was filled with joy. “You came.” The corners of his lips tugged up. “You look beautiful.”

Laz and Lucian remained behind her and didn’t speak. Luther seemed to ignore them; his gaze fixed on her. Beks looked over Luther. She could make out his figure beneath the thin sheets. He wasn’t emaciated, but he’d gotten thinner than when she last saw him.

“As you should be aware, today, His Majesty King Laurence was crowned.” Her voice was matter of fact and she maintained an attentive posture about an arm’s length from the bed. There was no readable expression on her face, as she had been taught to do when negotiating.

Luther’s eyes crinkled up and he began to let out a low rumble. A wheezed laugh came from his dry lips as he smiled. “You are still so formal.”

“I am here as a formality,” Beks replied. She lifted her chin just a bit. Her voice dropped, becoming more formal as she made her announcement. “Luther dun Kadmus, for your participation in the usurpation of the throne of His Majesty King Laurence, rightful king of Kadmus, you have been sentenced to a lifetime of house arrest limited to the walls of your villa, until further time that you are well enough to be transferred to a private courtyard to spend the remainder of your life there, under strict guard. You will not be permitted to leave with the penalty of death if you so try.”

The light in Luther’s eyes dimmed. He seemed to have expected this and turned his head away. “I see-”

“In addition, your belongings, both privately held and received from a royal source, have been confiscated by the royal treasury,” Beks continued, not wanting him to interject. “Lastly, the name Luther dun Kadmus will be removed from the royal records from this point on.”

“What?” Luther snapped his head towards her, his eyes wide and his pale face even paler. “No, my brother wouldn’t-”

“By order of His Majesty King Laurence, Luther dun Kadmus is stripped of his title and position as Prince of Kadmus, reverting to the name of his paternal line as Luther Hessing. Luther Hessing, formerly dun Kadmus, can no longer claim the title, royal name, or receive royal benefits; he will not be allowed royal burial; and his progeny will be ineligible for royal and noble status until such a time that a descendent is deemed to be worthy after having honorably served the king and country once more.”

“No!” The loud protest caused Luther to start coughing. The three standing in the same room as him didn’t move, watching as Luther tried to reach for a glass of water at his bedside, only to knock it over and spill a half glass on the carpet.

Beks took a deep breath and gave Lucian a nod.

“Guard!” Lucian called over his shoulder. The door flung open at once. “Assist Mr. Hessing in drinking.”

The guard didn’t ask who ‘Mr. Hessing’ was. He walked to pick up the fallen glass and filled it halfway with water before grasping Luther’s arm and hoisting him into a seated position. He pressed the cup against Luther’s lips and Luther had no choice but to drink.

Water spilled out from the corners of his lips. The entire glass was emptied before the guard stepped back and placed the cup on the table.

Laz gave him a nod and he retreated, leaving the four in the room alone once more.

Luther wiped his mouth and looked at Beks and his brothers with dismay. “You are lying...Brother would not-”

“Brother has,” Lucian cut him off. He finally seemed to get Luther’s attention. “You will be removed from the family records. You will be listed as a child of Petus Hessing. As you should know already, the Hessings have also been stripped of their nobility and the family’s wealth seized.”

“It’s good they should’ve. Frank Hessing embezzled quite a bit of money that belonged to us,” Laz added, never taking his eyes off of Luther.

At the mention of his father, Luther’s body almost crumbled. His bony hands gripped the thin sheet over his body as his eyes watered. “Did Brother really refuse to let my father be buried with mother?”

“Yes.” Beks maintained her even voice.

Luther shut his eyes. “Then...even if my father had been wrong, even if I had acted against my brother...can he not spare my child?”

Laz and Lucian narrowed their eyes as between them, Beks’ expression didn’t fade. “I didn’t know Iris Elpidah is pregnant.” Her calm words seemed to send a bolt through Luther. He seemed to realize what he had just said and tensed. “Oh? Is it not Elpidah?” Beks’ voice carried a hint of mockery. “Did you have another affair?”

Laz let out a small smirk as Lucian crossed his arms over his chest. Luther flushed and looked at Beks angrily. “Iris is the woman I love! I would not betray her!” He almost began coughing with how fast and loud he’d spoken. He covered his mouth and cleared his throat before shooting them a glare. “I was always loyal to Iris. I would never touch another woman.”

“Sometimes, Luther, I wonder if you are only acting like a fool or if you really are one,” Lucian said beside Beks. She looked over at him, surprised he’d said something like that to Luther. “You speak of love and loyalty to a woman, as if you would know what it really is.”

“How do you know I don’t?” Luther demanded.

Three pairs of eyes looked at him as if he were an even larger clown than the jesters in the plazas.

“Are you forgetting that you were engaged for over twenty years to Beks?” Laz asked with a sneer. He drew his head back with disgust. “No wonder she broke your engagement.”

“You really are your mother’s son.” Beks looked at Luther with a dull gaze, no longer surprised.

Luther grit his teeth. “Beks, how I love Iris is different from how I love you-”

“Don’t ever speak of loving me.” Beks cut him off in a cold voice. “The very thought of you feeling anything for me fills me with disgust. You do not love me. Never loved me. Like your father, like your mother, you were using me. What you loved was what my being your fiancée brought you.”

Luther’s mouth remained open for a moment, as if he wanted to speak, but didn’t know how. His eyes crinkled up as he looked at her. His eyes met hers and suddenly looked as if they were filled with pain at something they didn’t understand. A ragged breath escaped him, but he didn’t take his eyes from Beks.

“I’m sorry.”

Beks shook her head. “I made my peace. I am relieved that I broke the engagement. I was free to marry who I wanted.”

Luther’s eyes brimmed with tears. He looked towards his identical brothers on either side of her, as if they had been the ones who betrayed him. “Do you love them?”

“How can I not love the lips who spoke my name in comfort and the arms that held me when I was the most vulnerable? If the gods tried to take them from me, I would make the heavens bleed.”

Laz and Lucian both turned to look at her with a warmth in their eyes that couldn’t be contained. Lucian put his arm around her, and Laz looked at Luther, taking a half step in front of Beks as if to shield her from his disgusting eyes.

“Even if Iris Elpidah is pregnant with your child-”

“I never said she was!” Luther rushed with a flash of fear and panic on his face. He was always the worst of the late Queen’s sons at hiding his emotions.

“You didn’t have to,” Lucian replied.

“Your child, born from any one, will have no royal rights. No title. No inheritance. Not a single claim,” Laz told Luther in an icy voice.

“And to avoid any young man appearing one day claiming to be your son, don’t worry,” Beks said. “We will make sure Iris Elpidah knows.”

Luther narrowed is eyes and seemed frozen in place. “You...you caught her?”

“No,” Beks replied with a small, sadistic smile. “But I do know she is currently residing in the east apartments of the high priestesses at the Great Temple Complex,” Beks said. Laz and Lucian turned their heads to her in surprise, and on the bed, Luther tensed. The somewhat stubborn expression on his face was replaced by worry.

“You’re lying.” His attempt at a brave front was rather weak. “You’re lying to me to try to trick me into telling you where she is.”

“I don’t need to trick you,” Beks told him. “I know exactly where she is.”

Luther seemed struck by this, but continued to shake his head in denial. “If she is where you say she is, then she is safe from your wrath. The Temple will not extradite her.”

A smug smile reached Beks’ lips. “Who needs her to be extradited? Currently, the paladins are spread thin, and she no longer is protected by a retinue of paladins. Her two attendants are no longer at her side.” She leaned forward, her smooth low voice speaking over him. “You know, Luther, it actually isn’t that hard to enter the complex. It’s even easier to move around inside. One could be in and out before anyone can find something amiss.”

This time, Luther’s head snapped towards her. His wide eyes were filled with fear and barely restrained panic. “Don’t.”

Beks tilted her head to the side and gave him a quizzical expression. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t hurt Iris.” Luther’s voice trembled. “I will not resist any punishment. I will do whatever Brother orders me to do.”

Beks raised a single brow at him. “Your love for her is sincere. Surprising.”

His face filled with pain as his hoarse voice began to beg. “She is innocent in all this. She didn’t hurt anyone.”

“You really didn’t listen to Brother when he came to speak to you all those times, did you?” Lucian said, with a hint of pity in his voice, as if the person he was speaking to be a lost cause. “The clerics who were supposed to heal Brother Laurence didn’t. The people who massacred my pilgrimage caravan and chased me were paladins. The man who cut off Laz’s hand was a paladin. The Carolines were all escorted to be executed at the borders by paladins.”

Luther squinted his eyes and shook his head, refusing to listen.

“That has nothing to do-”

“Captain St. Moore.” Beks cut him off and she saw him freeze. “I stabbed him in the hand when he and his paladins pushed my carriage, with me in it, off a cliff. I would recognize that bastard anywhere. And I recognized him taking my wedding dress to be blessed for Iris Elpidah to wear.”

Luther’s voice trembled. “You...you made a mistake.”

“I’m sure Beks can recognize her own wedding dress,” Laz said with a sneer.

“That’s enough.” Beks held out her arm to pull Laz back. “I have given him his sentence. Let us go and greet the guests.”

Lucian turned her around and escorted her to the door. Laz looked towards Luther and sneered once more. “I’ll have them send you a slice of dessert to celebrate my brother’s coronation and marriage.”

Luther immediately looked confused. “Marriage?”

Beks stopped Laz from replying and pulled him through the door. She looked back into the room and gave Luther a single, curt nod. “Good-bye, Mr. Hessing.”

The guard closed the door and locked it. Beks let out a low breath and turned around.

“Are you all right?” Laz asked as he leaned closer.

“No matter how angry I am, I can’t bring myself to beat a bedridden man,” Beks replied, annoyed. “Stuff him with food. As soon as he can walk around normally, I’ll pay him another visit.”

She cracked her knuckles in her hands and Laz chuckled.

Beside them, Lucian’s brows were furrowed, and he looked down. “Do you think Iris Elpidah is really pregnant with Luther’s child?”

Laz frowned. “If that is the case, Brother will be even more troubled. He isn’t one to let an innocent child suffer.”

“Whether or not Elpidah is pregnant isn’t our concern,” Beks said. The two opened their mouths to argue, but she continued on. “I read the health report made by my family’s healers when Luther was unconscious. They were checking for internal injuries after he hit the tower wall. They found something else, too. I am certain that Iris Elpidah’s child was not conceived with Luther.”