Prince of the Stable

12. True Love, But...

It lasted for what seemed like hours behind closed doors. The King and Queen of Clearhaven, the crown prince, the Lord Chamberlain, the King's brother, and the Greyrose family fairy godmother, none of whom seemed happy.

At first, Teritha was on the defensive, for as Aiden suspected, she'd told his family he'd not be returning. She had imagined that Aiden's royal blooded True Love would be a princess and for all her encouragement towards befriending Prince Jordan, she had not imagined he'd be back. Ro sat loose-limbed in a chair beside Aiden, looking for all the world bored, but his hand was tightly laced with Aiden's and spoke of his worry.

Teritha's explanation gave her a grudging nod of acceptance or forgiveness or something from the king, but revealed that Ro, of royal blood though he had to be in order to have broken the curse, was no prince.

"What's your name, boy?"

Ro gave the king an inscrutable look and Aiden half expected him to offer the one syllable he preferred. Instead he offered his full name, "Robert Ancel Devereux. Your majesty."

To Aiden's surprise, the name caused a slight stir, an exchange of looks between his father, uncle and the Lord Chamberlain.  But his father said only, "By what right do you claim royal blood?"

"I don't." Ro smiled and tightened his grip on Aiden's hand. "Aiden—his highness, Prince Aiden—says I broke the curse. If that means I have royal blood, your majesty, then it is the first I've heard of it. There exists a possibility it is King Chastain's blood in my veins. But I have no knowledge or proof."

"There is a way to tell for certain," Teritha said, addressing the king. "But it will be quite painful for the... young man."

"It was your amendment to the curse," Aiden said, letting go Ro's hand to stand in protest. "Surely that's proof enough!"

Teritha turned to him then, still hovering over the table so that all the mere humans present had to look up to her. Her expression was patient and kindly. "Oh of course, dear boy, that isn't in doubt. But I believe it would be advantageous to the kingdom to find out which royal family, um..." her eyes darted to Ro. "Devereux is a prominent name in Dunfallen. How came your family to Morwich?"

"My mother never spoke of it," he said, watching her warily.

"I don't see it matters. My inheritance is mine only until Nicholas's second son turns twenty-one, then it's his prob, er concern. My choice of spouse should not matter."

"Son," the king said, surprising Aiden, "you've missed several years of schooling, but surely even you can understand how your, er, spouse might affect our allies?"

"So it would be better if he didn't have royal blood?"

"If you had not gone away, then it wouldn't be so significant an issue. We would have controlled what people knew about any, any person you chose to, um, bestow your affections upon. But we couldn't hide your absence for four years! People know you've been gone, if not where, and they know why. After your rather...your arrival in court, there is likely not a person in the kingdom doesn't know that your, um, that your true love is unconventional! The position you stand to inherit requires no offspring, it's true, but it comes with diplomatic and political responsibilities, that might be hindered by your disregard for convention." 

He'd at least stopped stammering, Aiden mused. "I'm sure my uncle would be happy to continue in the post until such time as my brother has a twenty-one year old second son."

"It isn't necessarily about what he wants, any moreso than it's about what you want. But if you'd let me finish, the unconventional nature of your True Love could be problematic in a diplomatic and political way. That problem may be offset, if your young man there is of a particular royal family."

"What makes you so sure, your Majesty, the whatever royal family provided the necessary blood to break the curse would want to acknowledge me?" Ro had also stood up, and he gave a brief bow towards Aiden's father. 

And it irritated Aiden to no end that his father, looking surprised by the suggestion, turned to Teritha as if seeking her advice. But it was the Lord Chamberlain who spoke up, his voice deep and diplomatically soothing as he said, "That's a separate issue, one we can't deal with until we know which family..."

Aiden interrupted, "I don't really think it is. Wouldn't it be just as advantageous, supposing I accept my inheritance, to just leave Ro's parentage a royal mystery? To have the various kingdoms wondering which of their royal indiscretions achieved such a high state?"

Ro snickered. Nicholas, whom Aiden had not heard a word from since his return, also snickered, and said, "I believe Aiden's right, father," seconds ahead of the Lord Chamberlain's, "The young prince has a point, Majesty."

"I truly feel we should find out just the same," Teritha said, sounding somewhat cross.

"Teritha, you said it would be quite painful for the boy. I agree with my sons, it's unnecessary. At this time."

Aiden was again surprised that his father refused the fairy, and some measure of the respect he'd lost for him returned.

King Rupert looked directly at Ro and said, "You will be formally known as Sir Robert, Lord Devereux in the Kingdom of Clearhaven and to any who have cause to deal with us."

Ro, eyes wide with surprise, bowed and said demurely, "You are most kind, your Majesty."

"Now, I'm sure it's quite an adjustment you'll both need to make, mentally," the king continued, over-riding Teritha's protesting squawk, "so you may return to Aiden's rooms for now. Sir Robert, I'll have a room made up for you—"

"Unnecessary, father," Aiden said mildly, looking at Ro to confirm what he thought he knew. "We've been sleeping in the same bed for the past six months, that's not going to change."

Ro exhaled so silently Aiden almost didn't hear him, but the sultry smile he directed at Aiden was for the benefit of the whole room.