𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍; 𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍

37

After Jean had his chat with you, he stood proud before the chambers of King Grisha. Muffled noises could be heard from the other side as Jean rolled his eyes in annoyance and stood in waiting, eager to tell the King of his further findings of what the happenings have been between you and Eren. After several minutes he watched as a noblewoman he did not recognize leave the room. Her clothing is slightly messy, showcasing her turmoils in the King's room. He waited for but a minute and pushed the door open to find King at his desk in a robe.

"My apologies my king, I have seemed to catch you at a... particular time, would you like for me to come again at a different juncture where you are not... occupied?" The king laughed and looked out the window towards the overgrowth. The luscious leaves and the windy breezes brought about a new grandeur in their comparative end of the spring season. Perhaps a season of great prosperity or was it just another case of the king's grand mood?

"No apology needed Jean, I am certain you are here to tell me good news. Has my son come to his senses of who he is to wed?" Jean cleared his throat and stood by the King's desk and looked out the window. "Jean?"

"Your son and his whorish maid are much closer than you think, your highness." The grip the king had on his quill pen tightened as he glared down at Jean.

"Speak."

"I found them quite close under a tree in the garden. Holding hands and resting on one another. Quite the sight for sore eyes."

"Was there any nobleman around to catch a glimpse of such a thing?"

"Not that I had seen, only me, your highness." Jean smiled while holding his helmet. His smirk went from ear to ear. "If you would like for me to warn her of her ways, I would not worry about such a thing. I already approached her about her escapade with the prince."

"Is that so?" the king responded with a laugh. "Were you by chance rude to her?"

'Ah... rude? I think the better word for my treatment would be cruel. She knows her place in society... your highness. That is all that matters." The king nodded.

"Good... but my son going against my wishes. Going after a wench. A bloody whore that cleans our kitchens. That will not be allowed, not without repercussion."

"What do you suggest?" Jean asked with a raised brow.

"I heard from my eldest son Zeke about the uprising in farther ports of our lands. Perhaps I shall set my sons off to straighten our kingdom out. I understand now, that my blessed general went against the crown, but the underlying reasons as to why he lost his head are now all too clear to me. I wish it did not take me as long as it did to acknowledge such a metier." The king laughed got up from his chair and patted Jean on the shoulder. "Keep your eyes on my son. Perhaps he will do something that makes me rethink my... judgment. Till then, my sons are set to be sent with their fleet of men to the neighboring villages to rehabilitate our people in the coming weeks. It will give me time to properly handle the issues within these castle walls..." Jean nodded and stood straight. Bowing to the king he walked to the door and bowed once more.

"I'll report any of my findings to you as soon as possible." With his statement, he shut the king's chamber doors leaving the king to his thoughts as he stared back at the painting of his wife that hung on his very walls.

"What am I going to do with him, Carla..." He spoke with an irritable tone. Such a high man he thought of himself, but having women in his very chambers as his late wife's painting hung was like a mockery to the only good queen Eldia has ever seemed to gain and yet lose so quickly.

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒦꒷

𑁍┊-TiredBunBun