Fix You

2. Freedom on a Leash

Edgar

Dan left the room a couple moments ago. His annoying "I told you so," made me ponder over our morning conversation. What did I do? I didn't do anything out of the ordinary yesterday, did I?

Dressing with the get-up that I know was my mother's favorite, solely with the intention of sucking up to my mother if she was indeed mad, I headed for the veranda I knew the queen liked to frequent every sunny morning.

She was indeed in the veranda, but unlike her usual routine, she was not alone. She was with Lady Valerie, a noble whose wealth was close behind the royal family.

"Mother, Lady Valerie, am I intruding?" I said, hoping that it's polite enough. Lady Valerie stood and curtsied, my mother chuckled and said, "You don't have to be so polite, Lady Valerie."

I scrunched up my eyebrows. Things need to stop being so weird. My mother, the queen, looked at me and I could gilmpse her pointed ears, proof of her Fae heritage, and smiled, a smile that could scare even the bravest knights.

"After all, you and my son, Edgar, are soon to be engaged."

Lady Valerie stood, and smiled her demure smile, ever the perfect lady. "Please, sit the both of you, I'm tired of craning my neck to see you two," said my mother. I could feel the amusement she radiated. Lady Valerie sat with perfect grace at her sit on my mother's left.

Engaged? Engaged. What led to this? I didn't do anything out of line yesterday. I couldn't–

"Edgar?" my mother raised one eyebrow at me, the act so like mine, proof that I shared her DNA. "Ah, right," I mumbled while taking the seat at her right.

"As I said," the queen said, amusement very evident in her eyes, as she looked at me, "You, my dearest son, Prince Edgar Viserys will soon be engaged to Lady Valerie Ghaston, your father has agreed to this arrangement and so has the Ghastons, congratulations."

"When," my voice sounded like stone. I couldn't summon any emotion to it. I was sure my face was cold as stone too.

My mother stirred her tea, "When? The engagement? Next week. The decision? Yesterday, right after you proclaimed your need for freedom. Aren't you happy, Edgar?" she sipped her tea daintily, "What about you, Lady Valerie?" and looked at Lady Valerie.

"It's an honor, Your Majesty," replied Lady Valerie.

My need for freedom. Ah, my usual proclamation whenever it got too much. But, why now? So that's just what I said. "Why now? I've proclaimed my ... need for freedom, as you said it, for so many times, why now, then?"

My mother's piercing hazel eyes, that my little sister inherited, settled on me. An amused smile, again. "You're 21 and single, Samernal needs a queen when you become king, and you, Edgar, are desperate for freedom. Luckily, the Ghastons has a manor in Mandilake. Why don't you tell him more about this manor, Lady Valerie?"

"As you wish, Your Majesty. The manor is called Gandake, it is well kept and has been in the possession of my family for 50 years. Gandake is surrounded by hectares of forests full of wildlife, perfect for hunting. It is also situated near the infamous Lake of Mandi, which is also full of water life, the perfect spot for fishing," concluded Lady Valerie.

"Charming manor you have there, Lady. Isn't it, Edgar? Sounds very ... free, don't you think?" taunted my mother stressing the 'free'. Even a blind person could see the amusement glinting in her hazel eyes.

I stood up. "Very charming, indeed. Pardon my leave, Lady Valerie," I looked at her with my stony face, no energy to fake any emotion, any feeling. She stared back at me and smiled. I looked at my mother, the queen. Dipped my chin a little bit instead of bowing, my act of defiance. "Your Majesty, Queen Celeste."

I couldn't have walked any faster from that veranda. So much for wearing this princely get-up.

〜＊・○・＊〜

Heyyoo!! Thankyou for reading♡♥︎
I'm writing this via the Wattpad app on my phone and my italic doesn't seem to be working. So I have to do it the manual way whenever someone accented something in their speech. This is so awkward...