Allegiance

Chapter 45

In the human suite of the floating castle, Blaine, dressed in human royal apparel, sat at the kitchen table casually sipping his tea, feeling excited about today. Today was the day he would finally gain Arthur's unfaltering allegiance; whether by force or manipulation, he didn't care. All Blaine cared about was having Arthur under his control, and with his son's brilliant plan, he would have just that.

Blaine's eyes flicked to Curtis' bedroom door, seeing him exit. Curtis was well dressed, his hair neatly combed, and he looked well put together. Blaine chuckled at the sight, "I see we had the same idea."

Curtis approached the table, took his seat, and smiled victoriously at his father, "It's always good to dress well when you know you have the upper hand." Curtis reached out and grabbed a bagel from the food spread. "You're the one who taught me that."

Blaine took another sip of his tea, "Did you contact the mercenary leader?"

Curtis grabbed the bowl of cream cheese and nodded, "I did. He reported that everything was fine. Everyone is still positioned and prepared to take the Leywin family at our command."

"Brilliant," Blaine said, smiling sinisterly, taking a deep relaxing breath.

Curtis cut his bagel in half and looked at his father, who was smiling wide, "You look well rested."

"Oh, I am," Blaine chuckled and looked at his son. "Can't you feel it? There is a change in the wind, my son. With this plan of yours, we will finally have the upper hand in the power struggle." He took another sip of his tea, "Last night, I slept better than I have in days. Arthur will finally be ours to command. And those damn elves will never see it coming."

Curtis smiled with pride. "It was a brilliant plan, wasn't it?" He began to spread the cream cheese on his bagel. "I will enjoy watching Arthur grovel on his knees." He took a bite of his bagel, and his eyes flicked toward his sister's room. Anger swelled inside him, remembering last night, how she and his mother disrespected him. "Will Kathyln and my mother grace us with their presence this morning?"

Blaine followed Curtis' gaze and shook his head, "No. They're not here."

Curtis looked at Blaine curiously, "What? Where are they?"

Blaine's eyes narrowed, and he tapped the side of his teacup with his index finger, "I'm not sure. When I woke up earlier and came out of my bedroom, I saw the two of them speaking to some maid out here in the common area." Blaine's eyes fell, contemplating, "When they saw me, the maid handed your mother a note, then left."

"A note?" Curtis said, confused, taking another bite of his bagel. "What did it say?"

Blaine looked a little angry. " I'm not sure. You know your mother, how defiant she can be. She refused to tell me what they were talking about or show me the note. Then they both left without a word."

Curtis sat straight, mentally scolding his mother for disrespecting his father in such a way, "She never did learn her place."

Blaine chuckled in amusement, "No, she didn't." He grabbed the pot of tea and began to refill his teacup. "Perhaps that is something I will correct when we return to Etisin."

Curtis smirked before looking at his father curiously, "This maid, did you recognize her?"

Blaine mixed in some milk and sugar with his tea and shook his head, "No. In fact, I've never seen her before."

Curtis took the last bite of his bagel with an inquiring expression, "This maid, was she human with brown hair?"

Blaine's eyes flicked to Curtis, and he raised a brow, "How did you guess that? Do you know her?"