Arya

The Cardinal

✿Reign

18 weeks in and Oliver still hasn't returned.

"Arya, we have a problem." Daisy stood at a distance.

"Cardinal Mueller, the pope's new..."

"Yes, I know who he is. What about him?"

"He came all this way to see Oliver."

"Just tell him that he's indisposed."

"For an entire week? That's how long the Cardinals staying. He wants to renegotiate leases on the pope's tenancies in Cumbeachaux and Avallon."

"I dont know when he'll return nor if he ever will. We depend on that income."

"Maybe you can negotiate with him."

I looked at her and said, "let's just say that the cardinal wasn't my choice for his current position and he's well aware of it."

"There's something else you should know."

"Go ahead." I decided to walk around.

"It's about your uncle Christian. Oliver used his army to attack Port Bay."

I stopped walking.

"He left the Protestants and attacked..."

"Daisy."

"Yes?"

"Leave me." I faced the wall and heard her footsteps departing as well as the door closing.

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I watched the cardinal walking around the garden and Oliver approaching him.

"Mcgee," I called him.

"Yes, your majesty."

"Take Aladar and Bruno down to the Northern side. Keep him distract."

"Yes, your majesty."

"Thank you, Mcgee. Take a few men with you just for safety. However many men you think you'll need." He walked away to pick Aladar up from the farmers.

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"Thanks to you, the Guardians sent over a woman with the gift of healing." Miriam smiling as she set her notes down. "And now I can see again."

"That's wonderful news, Miriam."

"But enough of that. Let's see what's to be served for dinner."

Oliver was walking towards us but I chose to ignore his presence. Before he could place a hand on me, I moved away. He tried again but I denied his touch.

"Is something wrong?" He kept his eyes on me.

"Let's throw in something for desert. What do you have?" I kept my attention on Miriam.

"I'm glad you asked." She too ignored him. "We have the apricot-and-basil shortbread tart. A bittersweet chocolate truffle tart with candied oranges on top."

"Oh, that looks and sounds delicious. Keep that."

"Arya." Oliver placed his hand on my back put i moved my shoulder as a way to tell him not to touch me.

"Chocolate-peppermint tarts with currants and berries."

"That looks amazing. Let's just have those two and some mint ice cream to refresh the palate." I smiled and walked away to my chamber.

"Arya." He raised his voice a little.

"Leave us," I spoke to the servants that were inside.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

I waited for them to leave and once the door closed I said, "You took my last hope, leaving me to the mercy of thousands of Protestant rebels, demanding my head and my crown."

"Arya, please understand."

"I do understand." I looked him in the eyes, "you're doing what you think is best for your kingdom."

"Not only my kingdom." I looked away, walking at a distance from him. "If Cumbeachaux is beaten at Port Bay, Avallon will suffer, too. Cumbeachaux can hardly defend Avallon."

"Defend Avallon?" I raised my voice, "when have you ever defended Avallon? Except with brave words?" I looked at him in the eyes.

"That is not fair."

I spoke in a way you'd know I am hurt. "Now you want fair?" I spoke in a powerful tone, "we are rulers, not schoolchildren. Blood will be spilled because of the choice you have made, my blood."

"You dont know that. But the blood of thousands would be spilled..." He raised his voice.

"Yes. French blood, I know."

He yelled, "I do not only think of Cumbeachaux!"

"No, you do not," I looked away. "But you do out her first." My eyes grew watery. "As any king would."

"Then can you forgive me?"

I faced the stained glass window and he walked towards me and I said, "It is myself I cannot forgive. I've made an awful mistake." I looked at him as he stopped walking. "Our marriage was an awful mistake."

He looked down. "Please dont say that." He looked me in the eyes with red eyes.

"There were a thousand moments where I could've done something. Made secret treaties, sold favors, even snuck away to Auara to be with those people who need me." I tried to hold back the tears. "Do you know why I didn't?" He shook his head for the answer. "Because I love you." He smiled softly. "Because I am your wife," I spoke with regret.

"Arta, listen when we have taken Port Bay," he took a step closer. "The first thing I will do is Auara with your uncle's army." I moved away from him. "We can still save Auara."

Auara is a kingdom I depend on because it is what keeps Avallon and myself alive.

"Like when you promised you would take me Cumbeachaux with Victor? Like when you promised soldiers the time before that and the time before that?"

He spoke in a monotone voice. "You make it sound like every promise I make is an empty one."

"What other promise can you make? You are the king." A tear from both eyes came down.

"It's not that simple."

"Maybe it should be. For the both of us."

"What does that mean?"

I turned my head to look at him. "Nothing." I wiped the tears from my face. "I dont know."

He sighed and I turned to face my body towards him. "I'm only going to ask two things if you." I walked up to him. "The first is that you stop making me promises you know in your heart you can't keep."

He was going to say something but instead, he nodded his head and looked down. "And the other?" He was hurt and I knew that he had to leave again so I said, "come back to me."

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Daisy and Miriam shared the chair on the patio. Miriam sat on the chair with her right leg over her left leg and Daisy sitting on the armrest of the chair.

"Even if he survives, our marriage is..."

"What?" Miriam looked at me.

"Oliver is trying to save his kingdom, and I can forgive him for that, as I hope he will forgive me for doing what needs to be done for Auara and Avallon. Whatever that may be." I looked at them.

"What if he can't forgive you?" Daisy asked.

"Well, that will just be too bad." I rested my hands on my belly. "I ain't let him put my kingdoms at risk again." I sighed.