Cost of Power Book 1 - Unsealed +18

34.Honthenia?!

34.Honthenia?!

Bryan pondered. Disgracing Gimmis would be disgracing the royal house.

"But.."

"You need to talk to Their Highness first."

Bryan nodded.

In the evening, Bran sent a footman and arranged a meeting with Eric and Catherine. He was granted.

Janet poured a drink into his cup.

"Suppose Their Highness grant it," said Janet. "Who would you marry?"

"You!" said Bryan, kissing her.

"I mean seriously."

"I mean it!"

Janet kissed her back.

"It would be a disgrace."

"Not if you become a novel."

"How?"

Bryan gave it some thought. "Have a novel man adopting you!"

Janet laughed. "If anyone is going to adopt me, they would do so after bedding me. Do you really want that?"

Bran shoock his head without a moment of hesitation."I want you all to myself. Whom should I marry? I am thinking of an orient."

"Really? How about an Occident? Or someone from the South even?"

"A black man!"

"Bryan!"

They laughed.

"Seriously, though!" said Bryan. "Think about it!"

"First. we shall ask Their Highness," said Janet.

***

Eric spent time with Catherine and he was begging to adore her. There was something different about her, different from Irin. She sang at her chamber, Eric had only heard lowborns singing. That included working servants and the stage girls who came for his father the king's birthday. Her voice was heavenly. He stopped to listen.

Let them come to me.

I am thy heaven and thy bed,

Let them pray.

And I shall listen to thy.

Of course, the godly songs were the only songs novel ladies were allowed to sing, their singing other songs were considered disgraceful. Even though he knew all the lyrics and had heard them over a thousand times, Eric stopped and looked at his wife. The court life must have been hard for her. It was still hard for him, he was born inside it. Irin had every reasons to not to have anything to do with it, and as much as he wanted to deny it, he honestly couldn't blame her.

A servant's hand signaled the door asking if Eric wanted to enter, he hesitated to do so, he didn't want to interrupt her singing.

The song stopped playing and Catherine drank from a cup of water. She smiled.

Eric eyed another servant waiting at the door.

"His Royal Highness Prince Eric!"

Eric entered.

Catherine stopped and showed courtesy.

"I didn't know you had such lovely voices," said Eric.

"Did I disturb Your Highness?"

"Well," said Eric. "You have caught my attention."

Catherine blushed,

"You know what? Let's make a deal!" said Eric. "I will teach you how to hunt and in return, you will teach me how to sing."

"Isn't singing for low-borns?"

"Still I want to sing."

Catherine nodded.

This could be a chance for them to spend more time together. Aria knew how to hunt, she looked fresh, Catherine couldn't be outshined by her sister-in-law. She liked that.

So, from that day. on the morning Eric taught Catherine how to hunt, and Catherine taught Eric how to sing. At first, they were more like friends than husband and wife. Everybody was happy with them, everybody but the Queen.

"They are husband and wife. not friends!"

"You and I began as friends." said the King.

"Your Majesty didn't have a lover." said the Queen.

"Not that you know of."

The Queen laughed.

"So Your Majesty have a lover?"

"'Had;" said the King.

"Who?"

The King smiled.

He went out.