Long Suffer the King

III

"It's been three weeks, Dimitri, there's no sight or news of this so called person who killed him" Ophelia says, leaning back in her seat by the fire hearth. Dimitri is pacing back and forth, throwing letters into the fire. "So called?" he asks absently but there's anger in his voice. "How do you know someone killed him. If they did maybe it was on accident. He died of a heart attack. That doesn't exactly say murder to me."

Her brother stops pacing and instead walks over to her chair. He places his hands on either arm rest and leans over to get in her face. "And what would be a great way to murder someone, sister?" his fingers roughly grab at her chin so she can't look away. "If you don't want to avenge father's death be my guest but you don't get to sit there like a fucking little girl and debate strategy with men."

Her head gets pushed violently to the side when he takes his fingers away and goes back to pacing. Her chin hurts but she doesn't dare rub it and show weakness in front of him.

"Don't you have something better to do than sit here and watch me?" he growls. Ophelia goes to say something but stops. She can't bring herself to stand up to him. "I'll be on my way then. The ladies probably want to play a game or have tea." she walks out rather ungracefully and when her brother comments on it she just ignores him.

A month goes by and they're no closer to finding out who murdered the king than before. Dimitri and Ophelia have yet to take the throne, leaving the kingdom nearly susceptible for an overthrow.

She suggests the idea of taking the throne and being rightfully inducted one day as they sit in the library doing their studies together. Her brother doesn't answer at first, flipping through his book.

"Dimitri, brother, did you hear me?"

"I'm not deaf." he barks. She looks away and goes back to reading her own book. Her tutor had left it up to her what she wanted to study since she surpassed all of her learning. Out of curiosity she had grabbed a book about war and was instantly intrigued. She didn't understand why she had to stay away from the blood and brawl of history, she was managing just fine reading it.

"I know we need to claim it and soon. I just... want to avenge father."

Ophelia turns the page of her book and dog ears the corner before setting it down. "Vengeance is for the gods. If you knew correctly you would realize father wanted us to take the throne right after his death. You can't go around holding non existent grudges, brother." she gets up from her chair and smooths out the front of her dress before going to her brother and kissing his cheek. "Think about it. You're king now."

He mutters something incoherent but she knows he understands her message. "I'm going to retire for the night and eat alone. Maybe you should do the same."

Dimitri smiles sadly. His beard has completely altered his young face. It doesn't help with the disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes. He looks less like a king and more like a low class worker.

Ophelia walks out of the library and back to her own bed chambers. She politely asks for her meal to be brought out to the balcony and sits down with her book. Soon there's food around her and her ladies, chatting it up the moment they walk through the door. She only half listens until they bring up news outside the court.

"It's been horrifying. The streets are filled with rioters. I tried going to their market just last week and do you know what they did to my carriage? Pelted it with rotten food! Thankfully the guards found the group who started it and they were whipped for their offenses against a lady of the court." one of the girls, Demetria she remembers, says dramatically. Ophelia can't help but laugh and everyone looks at her. She smiles at Demetria. "Well I do hope it was worth it, a whipping for a simple act of anger."

Demetria blushes. "Ophelia, I don't know where-"

"They're in need of a king! They're desperate. What else are you expecting?" she slams her book down on the table and stands up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to wash up from the filth I've been around today."

The ladies sit there with their mouths open in shock. Ophelia bows and turns on her heel and goes to her bath chambers, the servants beginning to draw a bath. "How hot would you like the water, m'lady?"

"As hot as you can get it please." Ophelia begins untying the back of her dress and slipping out of her shoes. She drops her dress and steps into the large pool of water after they have filled it. It burns her skin and makes it harder for her to breathe but it distracts her for some time. She grabs the bottle of shampoo and massages some into her hair. They're all so petty and full of themselves.

She dips under the water and holds her breath, staying under to think. I suddenly realize how shallow they all are. I cannot end up like them.

She comes back up for air and nearly yells out in fright. Her brother is standing at the other side of the pool staring at her. His face is clean shaven and his hair cut short. He smiles. "Having fun?"

Ophelia dips back lower into the water when his eyes start to wander. "I was having fun until you terrified me just standing there. What do you want?"

Dimitri starts walking around the perimeter of the pool. "I was thinking about what you said earlier. That we need to claim the throne before anything happens. Father would want that. We'll hold a funeral procession for him tomorrow and then a coronation right after. Just... be ready." he walks out without another word to her, as if nothing had been exchanged or spoken of. She watches and waits for him to leave before stepping out of the tub and into a towel waiting for her.

"Prepare my coronation dress and my funeral dress. I will want servants ready to do my hair and makeup early tomorrow morning. No breakfast either please." I have to look good in my dress anyway, right?

The servants bow and she dismisses them to go to bed.

A/N: I'm super behind on my nano which is disappointing but I will catch up and put up more chapters this weekend!