𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆

{Plot 2}• chapter éîght

༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶

"Its a beautiful day today" Ryker smiled, looking around as the birds chirped their songs of promise of the days prowess.

"Certainly" Audrey responded, taking in the scene as well. The beautiful trees scattered thick in the distance, the beautiful evergreen lawn cut low and precise and the flower bushes that buzzed with life. "I didn't know you took an interest in archery" Audrey mentioned, her eyes landing on his bow that was carefully tucked around his shoulders and his arrows hoisted at his back.

"Of course princess. As the king's deputy and chief of security it is my duty to be well equipped and versatile with various forms of weaponry. His highness has a lot of enemies and you never know when any of them will strike and at when so it is convenient to have knowledge on every and any weapon. You never know where you find yourself" Ryker finished.

"That's a huge burden to carry. Knowing you have so many threats lurking in the shadows"

"The king has many enemies. He has and he always will." Ryker stated nonchalantly like it was no big deal while Audrey couldn't help but feel sad for the king and very much concerned. She couldn't begin to imagine what it felt like to go to sleep with one eye open and have three sets of trained tasters tasting your food for poison everytime you decide to put something in your mouth.

"Why does he have so many enemies?" She couldn't help but ask, now very engrossed in the conversation. She wanted to believe she was really interested and not just following out Lord Odin's letter from earlier this morning. He had told her to mingle and show she was really interested in court affairs and court life. Court life was never something on Audrey's mind and now she would have to play the part. She knew what he was doing, he was using her as his eyes and ears of the court while he played other roles. He wanted her to report if she heard anything, he was using her position to get information about his highness.

"Because he just assumed his position as king. Before he wasn't an active king, he never interfered with any matters he should have as a king. He has always been a king and now he is the Alpha king after so many centuries so ofcourse there will be people who do not approve of his iron fist after so long. But they have no choice, his reign is undeniable and his rights can never be snatched from him. He only needed the right push" Ryker smiled into the distance.

"What was the right push?"

Ryker froze, his steps stopped and he swallowed his words. He had gotten so carried away with talking he forgot there were things Audrey still didn't know about Darius, things that were better left unknown. Concerning his reasons for assuming his position as king, his rights and his rule, Audrey's part to play in his sudden surge to take power. All of it was a big question mark for Audrey and Ryker knew it would be better kept that way.

"I-I mean every monarch has enemies and Darius finally realised they were taking advantage of his silence so he decided to show them he alone could rule" Ryker wasn't really lying but he would never do what Darius was meant to do- tell Audrey everything.

He noticed how concentrated she was on whatever she was thinking. She stared into the distance with furrowed brows as she contemplated everything she had heard.

"But dont worry about it princess. Darius was made for the position, he can handle it" he consoled, encouraging her to keep walking foward.

They both walked a few more steps, passing the archers and the noble ladies in the fields. They walked across the bridge to a more secluded area near a water fall. Audrey stopped in her steps when her eyes landed on the beautiful scenery. She felt all the air in her lungs get stuck and her wide eyes settled on the gorgeous atmosphere. The sight of the king, dressed immaculately in his signature color- black. He looked so good in black, Audrey thought to herself as she stared transfixed at how glorious he looked with the suns delicate rays brushing softly against his brightly lit face. The sound of the cool rushing water coupled with the subtle whistle of the wind made the atmosphere all the more blissful. The small shrubs that were littered at corners possessed little blooms of flowers in their wake and the flowers that beautifully adorned the gazebo, making the place all the more romantic. There he stood, huge and in all his glory. His large frame mounted proudly beside the display, his chin raised.