Lost but Loved

Chapter Twenty Five: A Match

Lucy was talking to Henry when Yumin entered. She was pretty, with long brown hair, she was tall, and had a sharp face. "Darling!" Henry hugged his wife and smiled. "You are more beautiful than before."

"I think it's been too long since you have seen me in human form," she replied sadly. "I look horrible."

Lucy bowed to the royals and left Henry's room. Henry had invited her in to talk lightly of different subjects. Truthfully, Lucy was glad that Yumin had returned, the talk had turned to suitors for herself. She wandered the halls, rounded a corner and walking her way was Trace and Jayce.

"Why, hello, my lady," Trace greeted. Jayce, even though he was kind, gave Trace a sharp glare.

"Hello, Lucy. How was the visit with Aetos?"

Lucy walked past the boys and threw over her shoulder, "Not exactly well." She strode angrily to the courtyard where Ruby was learning how to fight with a sword. Lucas was teaching her. Jasmine sat on the bench, writing notes on a scroll as she watched the two fight. "Hello, Jasmine."

"Lucy!" She blushed and put aside the sheets of paper and her quill. "What brings you here?"

"Just needed to relax a little. Do you know where Jani is?"

"Oh, yes." Jasmine seemed relieved that Lucy had asked about her sister. "She's in a lesson with Mother." Jasmine leaned in, with a grin on her face. "She's learning how to ballroom dance. There are many suitors that will come in a week for her hand, along with mine." Jasmine's back straightened. "Lord Andrew isn't betrothed to me yet." There was still hope in her eyes that there would be another man. Lucy was hopeful too.

Knight Marcus stood in front of the king's dark wood desk, glaring at the duke. The young man sat in a chair facing the knight. Marcus was not happy with the duke, and his face showed it. "Now, boy, tell me what you have done."

"I have done nothing wrong, Knight Marcus," the duke replied smoothly, not showing any emotion, but boredom. "I don't understand why you have brought me here."

Marcus turned around, hiding his disgust towards the duke. He sat in the king's chair, glaring at the boy. The beads in his ponytail shifted when he shook his head. He stroked his beard and barked a laugh. "You don't think I don't already know what you did? I was going to give you the chance to explain yourself but you don't want another chance."

"Who says that?" Richard perked up.

"You must realize that you are not a good suitor for my niece." Marcus smirked at the boy.

"Who'd want to be her husband anyway?" the duke yelled as he jumped to his feet. "She's cruel and too clever for her own good!"

"You will not speak of Lucy in that way!" Marcus stood, fingertips on top of the desk, eyes flaring angrily. "Now, you are dismissed. I expect you to be gone from the castle by tonight."

"Good! I didn't like it here anyways," retorted the duke as he strode out. When he came across a side table with a vase of flowers on it, he flipped it over in his rage of losing the battle for Lady Lucy's hand. He yelled and cursed as he strode through the corridors. Word travelled fast by servants that the duke was throwing a fit. Even though Richard had said he didn't want Lucy, he did. She was pretty and interesting. She would have been a good wife, a good friend. A servant rushed back around the corner when she saw the duke walking her way. Richard was curious about this action and ran around the corner to see the servant woman talking to a guard, wearing full body armor and a helmet.

Richard started to sweat. He would be escorted disgracefully. What had he done to his family's name? The guard's head swung in his direction and strode to him. The guard grabbed his arm roughly and led him down corridors. They entered the fighting courtyard, where Queen Ruby was fighting angrily against Captain Lucas, who was giving her pointers. Princess Jasmine was sitting on a bench, watching them while scribbling on paper. Someone was just leaving, a blue cape disappeared around a corner opposite the door Richard had entered with the guard.