Deserving of More

Chapter Nine: Seeing Clearly

"No dress?" I asked, looking down at my regular army uniform.

"I thought you might be upset," Chester replied in a quiet tone, "And I didn't want to upset you more."

"Upset?" I questioned, "Upset about what?" He gave me a stare and a sigh, the ever-present light in his eyes dimming for a moment.

"You know," he said solemnly.

"You mean the stuff you couldn't tell me? The stuff I had to figure out on my own?" Saying the words brought back all the mixed emotions of the shock I'd felt in the moment. "That your wife's grief is an act. So I could see how stupid and blind I was?" Now there were tears in my eyes and a crack in my voice. "How I let you down? Disrespected you and your memory by being so gullible?" I watched his expression change from one of hurt to one of concern. His arm slid across the table between us and he squeezed my hand.

"You're not gullible. Or stupid. Or disrespectful. And you certainly haven't let me down. You see it. You see it all. I wouldn't have let you get this close to people I love if I thought you were anything less than amazing. He's my brother. She's my soulmate. Not everyone is special enough to know them. And they let you know me." He paused. "You're sure you're not angry at me?"

"Why would I be angry?"

"Some people might view what happened between Grace and I as wrong. Deceitful. Dishonest. Maybe your view of me has changed." His dark eyes were enormous. He looked so... frightened. As if he expected me to hurt him. Even though he was still holding my hand. Now it was my turn. I squeezed his hand as I shook my head.

"No, Chester. My view of you has not changed."

I watched the light in his eyes return as one of his magical smiles blossomed to life. He'd heard me use his name without prompting. My way of telling him I meant what I said.

The usual, obnoxious sound of my alarm clock resounded. We both sighed.

"A soldier's work is never done," I told him with a small smile.

"I'm glad to have you on my side."

"As if there's another side I would choose."

He smiled again, slipping his hand out of mine.

"Hey," he gently said, getting my attention before I disappeared.

"Yes? Your Majesty?" Old habits die hard.

"I know you feel alone a lot," he said, "But you're not. You have family now. And I'm always by your side. You also have some great friends, everywhere. Face it; you're loved."

I blushed as my eyes closed and everything dissolved.

*

The post was absolutely buzzing when I got there.

"What's going on?" I asked the Corporal at the desk beside me.

"Check the forums, Lieutenant. You can't miss it."

Something in my gut told me I was about to find something I didn't like. I wasn't wrong.

"Things were not okay between your beloved King and Queen. He wanted a divorce. He confided that to me. We were close again. But your dear Queen wouldn't *dare* to tell you that, lest she ruin the pretty picture she has painted for all of you.

-Adria"

The words instantly made my head ache. Great. I didn't know if this would hurt or help us. I assumed hurt, since most people viewed her as a crazy bag of hot air. I opened a message to Grace.