A king with a bad attitude must change for his subjects or else face the rebellion. He thinks power can stop it all, little does he know power can become the reason for his fall.
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Book 1 | R...
Lunch went on for nearly two hours. Although there was more flirting than a conversation, the affair was bearable for Jupiter. There were instances of good jokes and there were moments of coy smiles. He must say that the king could be charming when he wanted to be. Where were his charms when it came to him? At the back of his mind, he mused bitterly to himself. What vexed him more was Edward calling her a doll endearingly when he treat him like a non-human. A nobody. Not Jupiter, just a tool for his protection. Annabelle does not look beautiful like a doll, she is more like an ugly, possessed doll, he wished to scream from atop the balcony. It was a lie and yet he would enjoy the sight of a seething King at his words.
"Sentry!" Edward's louder-than-usual voice snapped him out of his mind palace.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Call the guard who is at the curve of the hallway."
Edward saw as Jupiter's teeth sunk into his lower lip softly. He had an inkling that the soldier was weighing his options. His dilemma was clear on his face. Deciding to not stretch the matter in front of the Lady of Tirror,he calmly informed Jupiter that it will only take a minute. The soldier's hesitant nod was an immediate relief.
Edward swallowed his laugh at the soldier's pace. He essentially ran to the door. What a character this one is! A hand on his chest jolted him and his attention was stolen by Annabelle. She was giving him a coquettish grin full of promises. Indisputably, she was a sight to behold but was she worth running the risk of his father knowing? Furthermore, he had not forgotten Jupiter who was due to arrive at any moment.
"We are in broad daylight, Anna. And I am no more a Prince but the King."
"I am aware, My King and that is the reason I will not offer you anything that might tempt you. However, it does not mean I will not leave you with a gift to your liking, a reminder of our conversation." With that said, Lady Annabelle let her hand trail lower and lower until she found the part of Edward that had pleased her several times in the past.
A few minutes later when Jupiter returned with the guard, he found the King in the same compromised position with Lady Annabelle. The only addition was the position of the king's hands - they were now deposited on the lady's round bosoms. His face lit up red with embarrassment. Turning on his heels, he gestured to the guard to stay back. He stepped a foot further and into the archway that was the entrance of the balcony. He counted seconds with the clock, but nothing happened. The king was still fondling the lady and she was returning the favor. Was she doing that earlier or did she just start? He hoped it was not the former as he could not simply wait and watch such an unholy scene unfold in front of his pure eyes. Gathering some courage, he cleared his throat loudly, startling the two.
Although Edward was not ashamed, he knew when to act like he was. Bending his head, he stretched his arm, silently indicating Annabelle to go ahead. Her lips formed into a pout but she listened and was soon escorted by the guard. He plopped into one of the chairs with a sigh and that was when his eyes fell on a red-faced Jupiter. A wicked grin spread at his mouth.
"I am not in the mood to go back, so you can sit down and relax because you won't get time to do that from tomorrow."
Forgetting the incident from a few minutes ago, Jupiter frowned. What is going to happen tomorrow?
Edward elaborated after seeing the look of confusion on Jupiter. "I will be overtaking the duties of the king."
"Oh!"
"Are you going to sit or..."
Shrugging, Jupiter lowered himself on the comfortable chair. When he glimpsed behind Edwards, he involuntarily gasped. He scrambled up and went to the top railing, clutching it. The garden from the previous day was visible from his spot. The things he missed while being down there were now easily noticeable from up. The pond he deduced would be there was there except much larger than his common-man-like imagination. It had a wooden bridge not fit for humans but for ducks that were crossing over to the other side. The sight was beguiling.
"Isn't it glorious?"
Jupiter yelped, almost falling over the edge if not for the owner of the voice catching him in time. His breath quickened as he became aware of their position. Edward's one hand was holding his arm in a firm grip and the other was around his waist. They were flush against each other and the closeness was bothering him. He had never been this close to anyone before. Snap out of it, Jupiter! He scolded himself.
"Yo-Your Highness, I...thank you."
Jupiter's voice alarmed Edward and he let go. His voice was somehow different. It was not the usual rough and deep but soft and high-pitched. Before he could mull over the tone of the soldier more, the realization hit him. Jupiter was into men and he was feeling something. Once again, he was amused.
Other than amused, he was also confused, confused because he too was experiencing a peculiar feeling: tolerance against the soldier.
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