Knightress

Chapter 31

Jotham knocked on the door to the King and Queen's room, unlike Andreas he was very used to being there. The knocking was to alert them of his presence, he entered before hearing an answer to see his mother sitting in an arm chair sipping on herbal tea as her lady's maid did her hair. His father laid on the bed watching his wife and conversing, they both turned to him with small smiles. "Jotham," his father acknowledged with a single nod.

"Dad, mom," he greeted with a large grin, sitting in the armchair beside his mother. She observed him over the rim of her teacup, her gaze narrowed noticing the air of happiness around him. He saw the look, "what?"

"You look quite happy," she remarked, placing her cup on the table. He looked down momentarily, allowing a smile to dance on his lips. "I am."

She was quick to detect the movement, to her it appeared shy and was not normal for her son, her smile dropped as a thought came to mind. She turned to her husband to find his eyes already on her, he had the same worried look. "Jotham..." She breathed, testing.

He looked up at them, "it's not what you're thinking." He assured them, smiling in amusement as they sighed in relief.

His parents have developed a fear of marriage, it was never like that before, there was a time where they excitedly awaited the marriage of their kids like any other parent. When Emeralda got married, they were ecstatic, but then weeks turned to months which turned to years without her coming to visit. Emeralda became distant, her new role as a wife, Queen and mother of three became the priority, pushing aside her parents. Then Jade got married to Rueben, she still visited once in a long time but what angered her parents was that she prioritised her in-laws above her own parents.

Ever since Jude proposed to Queen Rhea he has been at her Kingdom organising the wedding as well as his coronation as King. Jotham could tell from their reaction that they assumed he was thinking of getting married, they feared losing another child.

"I thought you and Nesha were thinking of..." His father trailed off.

He held up his palm to stop him, "not now dad." He cringed at the topic, Nesha was the Queen of Hazeldale and they had been in some sort of courtship for years now. At first he just tolerated her, but she had grown on him to the point that he truly cares for her. Nesha loved him dearly, more than he ever could, she would go out of her way for him and has been pressing him about marriage for the longest time.

"Then what is it?"

"I miss my siblings," he started, priding in the sympathetic look that encased his mother's features. "I want to host a reunion and invite them."

"That sounds sweet JoJo, but are you sure they'll come?" She questioned.

"Why wouldn't they?" He frowned softly.

"You know Jade and Rueben are frightened, Jude is busy with preparations and Emeralda... she's a whole other story." Told father.

"I'll speak to them, come on, don't you miss those days where we had dinner as a family, the noise around the castle?"

Queen Miriam sighed longingly, her eyes drew distant for a moment. "Everyday."

Jotham relished at the clear desire to see her kids again, "me too," he pressed. "I'll call them then send a formal letter."

"Okay, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try. When do you want it to be?"

"About a week's time," he immediately replied.

King Aaron's eyes widened, "isn't that too soon?"

He shook his head, "it's even far, don't worry, leave it to me."