The Raven-Haired Mistress

Doubts

Weeks past. Monroe and Regina are successful in changing Lord Jedwin's mind. He sees that they are doing what is best for the kingdom, because Adler is the future of the kingdom and a happy king is a good king. Adler, however, struggles to get Lord Orvar to change is position. He starts to get desperate and works tirelessly towards the effort.
Monroe and her ladies are in her ladies that evening. The Lady Rockford had arrived a few days prior and was now officially one of Monroe's ladies in waiting.
Monroe was playing cards with Tullia and Lady Rockford was organizing Monroe's closet to meet her standards.
"You win again." Tullia set down her cards in surrender.
"It's luck of the draw in war." Monroe shrugged.
"Well, you are very lucky, for many reasons." Tullia frowned.
"If you mean because I am in the Prince's favor, then you would be wrong. I have bad luck to have fallen for a married man and one who couldn't take a single moment out of his day to spend it with me." Monroe complained.
"You have to hope that he had busier, more important things to attend to." Lady Rockford said after closing Monroe's wardrobe with a satisfied expression.
"I'm sure he did, but I still miss him." Monroe frowned.
"I heard servant gossip that he spent the day with Lord Orvar's son, hmmm, Sebastian." Tullia said.
"Doing what?" Monroe asked.
"Hunting, archery practice, eating, playing cards, and having fun." Tullia replied.
Monroe sighed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever. He is doing it for the divorce, to sway Lord Orvar's vote."
"A vote that you don't really need." Lady Rockford pointed out.
Monroe stood up. "I'd like to ready for bed, now." She ignored Lady Rockford's remark.
Tullia helped Monroe undress and then took the dress down to the laundry. Lady Rockford stayed behind to help Monroe put on her night dress and brushed her hair for her. Monroe then climbed into bed with a good book and Lady Rockford left her alone for the evening.
Monroe read until her eyelids were heavy and the fire in the fireplace was down to a dull roar. She yawned and closed her book. Monroe set it on the table beside her bed and went to blow out the candle.
Suddenly, the door to her room opened. Monroe sat up in shock and then relaxed when she saw the face of her love.
"Adler, nice for you to join me, for once." She frowned.
Adler was wearing simple black pants and simple, loose white shirt.
"I'm sorry, darling." He moves closer to Monroe and sat on the side of her bed. "I had a busy day with little time to slip away and see you." Adler stated.
"Interesting, since I heard that you spent all your time with Sebastian Orvar playing games and having fun." Monroe said in a bitter tone.
Adler sighed. "Yes, I did, but in an effort to guarantee his father's vote."
"Oh, so were you successful?" Monroe asked.
"No..."
Monroe furrowed her brow.
"He was catching on, so I had to slow my pace. I've actually been enjoying Bash's company and I don't see any harm in me having some fun."
"You're right, there is no harm. Except that I was lonely and missed you. I would have wished to join you in this fun. I hope that this will achieve us his father's vote, a vote that we don't even need." Monroe hissed.
"I want that vote." Adler snapped. "I've started and I'm not going to give up. I am no quitter. I am going to give Bash a larger title tomorrow and fully show him that I am his friend. Then he will tell his father and his father will want to speak to me to thank me. That's when I'll pull out all the stocks. I plan to threaten him saying that I could easily revoke his son's title and humiliate him, if I don't get his vote." Adler explained.
"When did we resort to lying and blackmail?"
"I'm doing this for you!" Adler shouted.
"We don't need the vote." Monroe replied. "All I want is you." Monroe cried.
Adler shook his head. "You obviously don't see the advantage in having more votes. The more votes we get now, the more people won't oppose me when I'm king and you are my queen." Adler explained. "All I want is for us to not have to worry, so we can wed in peace and live happily." He grabbed Monroe's hand and rubbed her cheek with his other hand. "I love you, but you have to trust me. I am sorry that I neglected you, but you must realize that we will have a lifetime together." He moves his hand off her face and grabbed her other hand. "Tomorrow, after breakfast and after I give Bash his title, you two can meet and you can join us for a card game or something." Adler promised.
Monroe smiled. "Alright."
Adler leaned in and kissed her. "I love you."
Monroe lied down in bed. "I love you too."
Adler stood up and moved around to the other side of the bed. He climbed in and wrapped his arms around Monroe. Together, they had a peaceful sleep. The calm before the storm.