The King's Queen

Calavan Lacroix

I slammed the wall of my room angrily. I immediately regret that decision when my knuckle began to ache from the pain. Unfortunately, my decision to hit a wall had not helped me against my anger either.

I sit down on my bed and begin to gently wipe my hand. 

 Being a crown prince is nothing like in the books, where they all live a fantastic life. The reality is so much different, Every day we need to make decisions, decisions that can result in death or survival. Today was just such a decision, because Italy had just declared war on France and we now had to prepare for a war we do not have the resources for.

 Long nights were nothing unusual, like this one, tonight it was prom. All the rich nobles would come, the ball was just a disguise. The truth was that we needed them, their land and their soldiers to have a chance to win the war. My father had something else going on, I felt it, even though he had not said anything about it. 

 When I had finished pondering, I stood up again and laid the wet cloth on the bed before leaving my room. 

 My father was in the armory with the colonel and several other warriors to discuss strategies and resources.

The throne room was quiet, apart from the servants who walked around and set the tables with large amounts of food and drink for the evening. 

 - "Josette!" One of the servants, even one of my few friends, came up to me. 

 - "Good afternoon my prince, what can I do for you?" I grin at her before I answer.

 - "I need help with clothes for tonight, do you possibly have any idea where the tailor is?"

 -"Pretty sure he's working on your father's clothes for tonight, so he's probably in the king's bedroom." 

 - "Thank you Josette" She nods slightly before returning to the table. 

 I quickly leave the throne room to go to my father's room. I arrive at his room just as the tailor comes out. 

 - "Prince Calavan, I was just on your way to your room" With a simple nod, we go to my room. 

 After trying on several different clothes, I decide on a black-red outfit with golden details. 

The evening finally came and the throne room was filled with people from all different places. My father and I sat down at one of the larger tables, with several of the richest nobles and their families. 

 -"Silence!" The hall quickly fell silent at my father's voice. 

- "As you all know, Italy has declared war on France. This meal is not only to ask for your support in these difficult times but also to find a suitable wife and future queen for my only son and also crown heir." I'm freezing, of course I knew I would eventually need to find a suitable wife. But that it would happen tonight was not something I knew about. 

It suddenly struck me that this was the reason he had not said anything to me. 

- "Enough about this for now, now we'll toast to France!" Everyone raises their glasses and bowls before they eagerly start chopping into the food. 

I drink calmly from my wine while I look at my father who already has his eyes on me. He nods at me before he starts eating.

After a big meal, where I did not eat much, it was time for dancing. As usual, my father gave a long speech before the music started playing and people gathered on the dance floor.

My father goes and sits on the throne while he looks out over the dance floor.

After a while I leave the hall and go out to the stable, the only place that is quiet at this time.

I stop at the entrance when I see a girl away by one of the horses, she is wearing a red dress and her black hair is beautifully arranged in a braid. I wonder how I could miss her inside the throne room, not many wore colors other than white and blue for balls.

Quietly I walked forward and stood some distance away from him.

- "He's beautiful, isn't he?"

She jumps before turning to me. She smiles before turning back to the white lusitano stallion.

-"What is his name?" I go and stand next to her and extend my hand to pat the stallion.

- "He has no name." She looks up at me.

- "Tragically, such a beautiful horse should have a fitting name" Smiling, I look down at her.

- "What would you say was an appropriate name then?" She thinks for a moment before answering.

- "Castor"

-"I guess he has a name then, Castor. And what's your name, my lady?"

- "Athena Dacoury" I'm silent for a moment.

- "So you're the colonel's daughter?"

- "correct my prince" She smiles and bows.

- "Call me Calavan, formalities belong in the castle, not outside.

- "As you wish, Calavan"

- "So, do I have the honor of leading you back to the castle?" She nods before putting her arm around mine.

When we reach the hall, many turn around and look at us as we go out on the dance floor, including the colonel and my father, who you both look at us in surprise.

I release her before reaching out my arm to her again.

-"Shall We Dance?"

- "It would be an honor, Prince Calavan" We both smile at each other before we go out on the dance floor, people move to give us the place in the middle.

I take her hand in my own and put my other hand around her waist. She moves smoothly after my movements.

When we stop, several of the guests clap their hands and we smile as we walk away from the dance floor.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Josette approaching us. She bends easily when she arrives.

- "My prince, the king is looking for you" With a simple nod, I walk over to my father who is still sitting on his throne, but now completely alone.

-"Father."

-"Calavan, are you aware of whose daughter Athena Dacoury is?"

- "Yes, father"

-"Both me and Colonel Dacoury were very surprised to see the two of you together. She is not the strongest choice, but neither is a bad choice for wife. Colonel Dacoury is more than willing to let her marry you."

-"Father, I've just met her. But for so long, she's guaranteed to be the most interesting choice. assurance that she is right "

- "Well thought my son, You will be a good ruler one day"

- "Thank you father"

When I looked down, I quickly saw Athena, who was talking to some other women who also belonged to the nobility.

-"So you've met my daughter now, Prince?" The colonel stood next to me and looked down at his daughter

- "She is special, I would like to get to know her better"

-"We had planned to stay here a few more days, your father and I need to discuss strategies, it's a difficult battle, one that will not be won easily. But then you will have the opportunity to get to know Athena better."

- "Why is she not already engaged? Not to be like that but most people our age are already engaged"

-"Athena has always been her own woman, we tried to marry her off a few times but nothing works unless she wants to. She makes her own decisions."

- "It's a good thing, a woman who can make her own choices is a strong woman"

- "Just so you know, You have my permission to marry my daughter, but you must convince her yourself, my prince" He drinks his glass of wine before going to my father's.

Athena, the girl who wears red, it will be a pleasure to get to know you.