The Last Midnight

Chapter Two: "A Royal Run-In"

The king grew frustrated that his servants weren't moving and flipped over a small table set beside the throne chair that held his morning tea. The porcelain dishware smashed to pieces across the stone floor as he yelled out to them all. "WELL?! What are you standing around for?! Get to it! FIND HIM! NOW!" Some of the palace guards bowed before rushing from the room with the servants dashing out at their coat tails. Sitting regally and calm in her throne, the queen's eyes looked to her husband as she told him in a soft whisper of a voice. "Darling. Do calm yourself. He'll turn up. He's young and you know how he feels about this arrangement." The king turned gracefully on his heel to face her; his voice slightly calmer when he retorted heatedly. "How he feels doesn't matter! My father didn't ask my feelings when he arranged my marriage to you. He is a prince! He should start acting like one! This marriage is critical to build an alliance of nations. It is his duty and his goddamn birthright!" The queen lifted her chin a little higher, coolly replying. "He does not love her." The king scoffed, starting to pace before the thrones again as he stated clearly in an agitated tone. "Again. That doesn't matter. This is a political matter! Love has nothing to do with this. When is he going to realize his responsibilities to the kingdom!"

The queen leaned forward a bit in her chair, regaling back in a tender motherly voice. "He is not you, Edric. How can he possibly live up to your greatness, when you tower over him like a mighty oak tree? The boy can't reign if you keep him shrouded in your shadow. He needs sunlight and room to grow." The king waved a dismissive hand at her, sourly snapping out. "Constantina, please spare me the metaphors today. I can barely think today as it is. What if they hear about him missing? This whole allegiance could fall apart. We'll look like fools that can't even control our own son! So, why would they trust us to unite nations?! The boy is spoiled and needs a good ass kicking!" Constantina reached out to touch his arm, causing him to stop pacing. Holding his hand in her comforting ones, she very sweetly told him. "Edric, please sit down. This isn't just about the nations or Nathan... is it?" Edric exhaled heavily, looking away before whispering out reluctantly. "Darling... I'm not getting any younger. My father passed at my age... I need to know that he is ready should... something happen to me. With any luck, I might see my first grandchild before I go."

Constantina patted his hand and coaxed him to sit down on his throne chair. Once he did, she shifted to face him, lovingly telling him. "I know how you feel. Although, I fear you are asking too much of the boy. Hearts just don't align as quickly as nations. He doesn't love her and his sneaking out only makes that more apparent." Edric sat back in his chair, grumbling out like a pouting kid. "He hasn't even met the princess. He snuck out just to make me look bad when her caravan arrives. I just know it. I miss the little boy he was... we were so close. He looked up to me... and now. He's deliberately hurting me." Constantina chuckled lightly, patting his arm as she retorted beautifully. "No, my dear. He's trying to get your attention. And it's working. You need to sit him down and talk to him. Father to son. Not king to prince. You understand that, my love?" Edric nodded, lifting her hand to kiss the back of it. Calming down, Edric straightened himself up in his throne chair and regaled aloud. "I understand. When they find him. I'll talk to him. I just hope the princess doesn't arrive when he does. I can't imagine what he's been doing all night."

In the small town market square, the commoners were bustling around to fulfill duties or were managing little stalls and shops. The place smelled of fresh goods and bustled with the occasional noble carriage riding through toward the palace gates. Everyone was excited for the royal wedding. The event would bring in fresh faces and business to the town. So, everyone was dressed so nice today and reveling in their own way since only the nobles were allowed on palace grounds. None celebrated as hard as the local tavern. Music poured from the building just as much as the drinks kept flowing. Today the place was packed with customers. Men and women danced in the center of the large tavern to the lively tune that the bards were playing. While others sat at the round wooden tables, or at the bar found around the edges of the first floor. There were even people sitting at the tables on the open second floor, or on the wooden railings. Standing on a small stage that was illuminated with hanging lanterns and had a fancy red curtain as the backdrop, the bards sang and played. They encouraged others to sing with them and they did. Banging mugs on tables, clapping, or stomping to the beat.