The Dragomir Heir (Watty Award)

Secrets in the Garden

“Glaring at the Tsar will not get you anywhere,” said Dante. Lucius turned to his cousin and noted the despair in his eyes. The same despair that Lucius was suffering. So they both had been rejected tonight. Lucius blame his suit. Turning back to where the princess and her peacock of a boyfriend were, he found her missing. Damn! He wanted to watch the bastard’s every move and make sure he didn’t do anything more than hold hands with the princess while they were dancing. And only while dancing. Now that they were unsupervised, Alek could be doing something more than merely hold hands with the princess.

Catching their quick exit out into the garden, Lucius left his brooding cousin and hastened to the couple. Once outside, he almost lost them as they rounded a corner towards a bench overlooking the kingdom. As Lucius moved closer, he heard them talk and froze when his name was mentioned.

“For once, Lucius Vladonov wasn’t watching his investment”, said the Princess as Alek laughed. “Clearly, not a businessman in the makings”, commented Alek. Sitting beside Valentina on the bench and taking her hand, Alek grew serious.

“I love you Valentina and wish that your father would have looked towards the north before he signed his daughter away to a playboy king”.

“I don’t even know what Father was thinking”, said Valentina. “Union with the Vladonov? Didn’t he see the power hungriness in their eyes? And when we do marry, am I to ignore his bastard children and his mistresses? I will not have my children's rule challenged.” Valentina sighed as she acknowledged that being a female ruler will be harder than a male one. 

“I offer you my kingdom and equal rule. I offer you my complete loyalty and fidelity. For you, I’m willing to combine our last names and establish a new rule”, Alek shared with Valentina.

“Mmmm… Crown Prince Draco Dragonov… sounds frightening”, laughed Valentina. “Well, I like it already”, said Alek. Upon hearing this, Lucius’ heart started to break as he visualize a boy with emerald eyes and dark brown hair, riding his horse with his mother in the Carpathians. Lucius could actually see himself watching the pair as they walk through Bucharest, mother and son. He was certain that if that future came to pass, he will hate the boy.

“We could escape now and marry in a church”, suggested Alek. “I mean who would say no to a Dragomir AND a Romanov?”

“And start war with the Vladonov?” asked Valentina. “We have no idea what their military strategies are or how Lucius fight in combat. Despite his inclination to bed every maiden possible, his current physique is not due to bed exercises”.

“You know together we could defeat him”, said Alek. “We can gather all our alliances”.

“No, we must do this smartly”, said Valentina. “Unfortunately, it seems that the only choice, so far, is for me to marry him. I can’t find a loop-hole in the decree. There is nothing that says the decree will dissolve upon any violation”.

Gleefully, Lucius grinned. So she does have some sense. With that, he sent his father a silent prayer, thanking his foresight.

“Alek, I want to marry you instead”, said Valentina, breaking Lucius’s heart once more. At that statement, Alek leaned down towards her face and kissed Lucius’ betrothed passionately. I wasn’t merely a kiss  but a sexual kiss, which Lucius had enough of witnessing and moved out of his hiding spot to pull Valentina away from Alek’s hold. He heard Valentina inhale as she was pulled out  and then felt her fierce emerald eyes on him. Alek suddenly stood up and in a flash, pulled out his own wooden stake.

“Release the princess, Vladonov”, demanded Alek, as he fingered his stake. “This palace is new and we don’t want to stain it... yet”.

“It is improper to not have an escort, my betrothed”, Lucius said to Valentina. “It is most improper to have relations with another while in the company of your future husband”. He was met with a glare from the princess that made his inside stop. Luckily, the ruthless training with his uncle had taught him to hide his emotions well and so as the princess gave him her damning glare, Lucius remained neutral.

“Very well my lord. I shall return to the ballroom. I believe supper is ready”, said Valentina as she removed herself from Lucius’ clutches. Then she turned to Alek and addressed him in a language that Lucius did not recognize. It sounded a bit like Italian but with a rather ancient air. Latin? Who speaks or converse in Latin these day?

Valentina then turned towards the ballroom, held out her hand to Alek and together, with Lucius trailing behind them, the party of three returned to the ballroom. 

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Anna ===>