Hunter holds his mother's arm as they both sweep their feet gently across the path. He commented on his mother s hair about how she could let it fall to her shoulders loosely, neatly combed rather than having it in a tight bun like a strict governess. She looked free in her purple satin gown and the beauty of her youth was still evident.
They surfaced the castle's garden and she enlightened him of the many stories back in her days as a clumsy maid and how she caught the eye of a king.
Hunter hired an attendant to escort her to the simple breakfast for the interest of his mother's need. She laughed hearing her own mistakes and immaturity about herself and some stories that were able make him throw my head back in laughter too.
The king and his mother were already present in the colourful garden. The flowers were blooming in beauty and nectar scent. It was arranged in hope to fit his liking.
Lady Beatrice! The Queen dowager announced obviously profounded at my mother's change in look.
"Your son's arrival must have awakened your beauty once again? Hunter s mother laughed to the Queen dowager's words while covering her mouth."
Would that be a problem?My mother asked.
"Of course, not silly." The Queen dowager eyed. Please come over and join us. She said ordering the maids to be accountable of their presence.
"Your grace, Dowager Alice." I have important news to give. A female attendant said not meeting the eyes of the Dowager.
What is it? The woman commanded hoping it is not what she ponders.
"Lady Vixen apologises for her absence today,she says she is..." The attendant struggles to dabble the remaining words.
Will you finish what you have to say?Alice shrews and causes fear to the servants.
"She asks for forgiveness....as she is unfortunately down with the cramps." The attendant said hoping her mistress may get away with it.
The king adjusts in his seat worried for his unseen fiancee.
What sort of cramps is it? He asks and the attendant shooks in fear for she probably did not think this through.
"The monthly one." She says through gritted teeth.
"I should go to her mother." The king says already standing on his feet.
"You do not have to, your Grace." She is having the best care to ease her pain already. The attendant continued her fallacy hoping everyone around the seat will buy it.
The Queen Dowager is non plussed but she has to keep her son under control.
"David, you heard the Attendant. She is already in good care." She will be fine. The woman instructed her son who took a hard time settling back to his seat with his eyes fixed on the ancient bead like he had seen it before.
Do you have interest in it? Hunter asks him when he sees his sudden interest and he smiles still looking at the bead intently.
"I am just curious,Vixen has the exact same bead and she wears it to every occasion." I may be short sighted...Attendant Priya, why don't you take a look at it and see if its just like your mistresss'. The king orders the attendant who came to relay news to them.
The attendant takes a closer look at it and shock sparks in her eyes creating suspicion, if not for everyone but for Hunter who knows how to read expressions.
"She surely has one like this." She said confirming the King's word.
The Queen Dowager sighs to the King and Attendant paying too much focus on someone that isn t here.
"It is just a bead, why make a huge fuss out of it." You are dismissed Priya! She says eyeing the poor child.
"Please, forgive our household for its drama." Dowager Alice criticised making it seem like Hunter and his mother weren't part of the family.
"I will, when breakfast is served." Hunter tells her and she laughs whole heartedly ringing a small bell right before her to inform the head cook.
___________
Food is served tentatively and the Dowager keeps boasting of how her son conducted affairs throughout the years of Hunter s absence on peace treaties and trade barriers.
Does the marriage to the Dounty hold as a peace treaty too? Hunter asks the King.
"The county family has been our loyal neighbour since father's regime." King David says. We could say he's one of the reasons father made good judgements for his advice are unmatchable.
"He is the most wisest in the court." However, father has betrothed me to Vixen when he was alive. "At first, it was as a result of the fact that she was my father's choice that I had to make her my future wife but years after years..."
"I must have fallen in love with her." Hunter smiles to his confession, the awe in David s eye as he talks about it and then he continues with his meal.
"I believe Vixen is a bright girl, Hunter s mother says." She looks just like her mother when she was still alive and I believe she will make a perfect Queen.
"I will teach her, of course." Alice Dowager say. What better way than a former Queen teaching a newly installed one. Alice say smiling with glee. The lessons will start when her pretence of being ill becomes obsolete. Alice says facing the King who keeps buying her lie every single time.
"What do you know mother, she may have been really ill." The king pipes in.
Hunter chuckles desicively examining the pertinent situation.
"I hope to see her when she isn't ill but as of now." I believe I need the King to show me what father left for me and how I could take over it immediately.
Accordingly, his hired Attendant hands him a scroll which he passes to the king.
The Queen Dowager is curious to what Hunter has given her son but she was able to hear it by her son's whisper.
"The Babarian land that father won." King David said dropping the paper on the table like it was insulting and the Dowager snatches it. The king looks at Hunter examining the situation and is still in awe when he smiled as a answer.
"Of course, Hunter." You have been the reason why we still hold ground as a nation. Father already prepared his gift for you in advance. I will make sure it is all allocated in your name as soon as possible. The king says to him even when the Queen Dowager looks furious.
Hunter escorts his mother back to the carriage after breakfast in the Castle. He couldn't follow her for he had to return to the King and other councillors pertaining to the scroll just submitted. The King's reaction was unexpected. David is his father's son after all, even if he didn't rule perfectly, just like his father he wouldn't keep with him another's belonging.
He waves towards his mother as he watches her leave till she was away from his sight. Then, he turns to step back into the defensive prodigious walls of the castle.
'My Lord, General Hunter'. He hears a voice and he stops to find at the Attendant who relayed words upon the absence of her mistress.
Can I help you? He asks her with his hands behind his back. From his point of view it looks like the woman summoned courage and met his eyes but her shaking fingers, she didn't seem to notice.
"I just wanted to ask about something, no offence really." She says.
"Go ahead" He says.
"I wanted to ask...it's about the ancient bead you're wearing right now."
Can I know where you got it from? She asks.
It was suspicious. Why was she asking him about the bead and in private? I found it while hunting in the forest. He tells her a partly true story.
Hunting! She exclaims and gets the answer to his suspicion from all this while. She turns her head away probably thinking what would come next of her mistress.
Is your lady looking for it? The attendant gasps but she remains silent with her fingers increasingly shaking.
"Tell her to meet with me at the House of Benevolence, my mother's titled home." If she is able to come, then maybe I shall release it nicely. He says with a smile before walking inside.