The Dragomir Heir (Watty Award)

Cortez vs. Vladonov

Valentina was to have a whole day to herself and she was still too angry at Lucius to even send him a note to say that she will not be having lunch with him. Dressed in her riding gear, she had decided to spend the whole day exploring and riding on Titan. Also, she didn’t want to be in the palace, if Lucius called. Fighting with him was tiring but neither will let go of their pride.

With a full day of riding on offer, she jogged down the stairs to her private dining hall for breakfast with her family. Pushing the double doors aside, she found there was an extra member on the table and she growled; Lucius. Vladius still sat at the head of the table, upon Valentina’s insistence and she sat on his right side. Next to her seat sat Lucius…in his riding gear too!

“What are you doing here?” she snarled as she sat down on her seat and gulped down her orange juice.

“I have nothing on the agenda and I heard that you were going riding”, replied Lucius calmly. “I thought I might accompany you.” She was about to shout at him but Vladius coughed, signally for her to not start an argument. Instead, she glared at Darim, Zach, Derrick and Vera because she knew one of them mentioned where she was going to Lucius either directly or indirectly.

Finally, the food arrived consisting of crackling pig, roast potatoes, cheese, bread and even pastries, which made Valentina forget about her anger. She waited for Vladius to finish serving himself and Elizabetha crackling pig before serving some slices to her like her grandfather always did. But he handed the utensils to Lucius. With ease, he sliced two pieces of pork and placed them on her plate. She thanked him quietly.

He didn’t stop there, he spooned her some vegetables and poured her more juice before taking care of himself. Valentina looked away embarrassed because she was sure that the whole table saw. Luckily, the butler arrived with Vladius’ newspaper and a note for Valentina on a silver platter. While, Vladius flipped through to the sports section, Valentina opened the note. She felt Lucius leaned over to have a look and he took it out of her hands, when she groaned.

With the unexpected royal visitor, she only took one bite from her breakfast and started ordering the available servants around.

“Who is it?” Vladius asked with raised brow. But before she could answer him, Lucius snarled.

“King Ferdinand of Spain, that’s who”

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Adjusting her crown on her head, Valentina quickly walked into the antechamber and straight to the mirror to make sure that she hadn’t wrecked Anastasia’s hard work while she ran down the stairs. Maybe, I should install an elevator, she wondered but she knew Vladius would not like the idea.

“No need to look that good for Ferdinand”, Lucius murmured in the corner. He was already suited up all in black like he was going to a funeral and maybe he was…they just needed a body. No longer angry at Lucius but fearful at the extent of his wrath, Valentina turned to him and pleaded, “Lucius…let me do the talking. Please.”

“As you wish, my queen”, he replied coolly and stalked to stand in front of the double doors leading to the great hall. Sighing and hoping to God that her fiancé will not destroy someone today, she stood next to Lucius, waiting for the trumpets to announce their arrival.

While waiting, Lucius grabbed her hand and placed it through the crook of his elbow. All was silent until the doors opened and Lucius guided Valentina to their thrones, where they waited. Observing her fiancé at the corner of her eye, she saw that Lucius was as still as stone and glaring at the entrance. A low murmured spread through the hall as the crowd started to speculate the last-minute court hearing.