The Queen of Stones

Chapter 8

I walk to the forty-year-old man serving himself to a drink. He is well-dressed but, in comparison to the nobles around him, he is still very underdressed.

"Archibald Bradbury," I say greeting him. "I'm so glad you could come on such short notice."

He performs a mediocre curtsy and clears his throat. "It is my pleasure to be here, Your Majesty. It's not every day you are invited to the royal palace."

"Well, we only invite important people. In fact, I was really excited to meet you because of an article I saw in the newspaper today," I say with a calming tone. "The article you wrote."

He scratches the back of his head. "Oh, you saw that."

"Of course I saw that." I give a soft smile. "Everybody saw that."

"Look, I know that... I know that you may not like everything that I wrote," he says straightening his posture. "But you have to know that I'm not against you or your government, just against some of the options you've been making recently."

"My government is my options, but that's okay, let's put that in the past. I understand that you need to sell newspapers." I touch his arm. "Actually, I hear that you are doing quite well. You have a promising career, a lovely family... Two girls, right?"

"Yes, Your..." He clears his throat. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"That's amazing. It would be a shame if something happened." I say with a joyful tone and a delicate smile while I watch him take a step back. "In fact, I took the liberty of doing something for you."

I make a gesture to Vincent Wardwell, who is standing near the door watching over the party, waiting for a noble to need something. Luckily, he already knows what I need. He walks over to us and presents to Bradbury the folder I had prepared.

"As you know, Naming Season has just begun; and I can only imagine how excited your readers must be to have some information about this time at court," I say while Archibald Bradbury grabs the folder with shaking hands, allowing Wardwell to go back to his previous post. "Consider this a present. This season we have two girls from the five families being named; and with the other nobles, there are seven people receiving their names this year. In the folder, you will find an article about this, along with a few names that may be given to them."

"How do you know which names will be chosen if the boxes haven't even been placed yet?"

"We asked people." I change to a cheerful tone. "Come, let me introduce you to the Viscount of Sofia. I believe you were born in Sofia. Am I correct?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Well, the Viscount happens to have a son who would be perfect for one of your daughters."

His eyes light up. "I'm sorry, are you referring to marriage? Because that would be impossible."

"Nothing is impossible when the queen is on your side," I say. "Come."

I start to walk in the direction of the group of nobles talking and Archibald Bradbury follows me, with the folder under his left arm. Ernest Van Coren is the first one to acknowledge my arrival.

"Your Majesty," Van Coren says, being followed by Sebastian Coldwell, who had already finished speaking with his daughter and was back in the conversation, the Viscount of Sofia and the Earl of Bristown. I nod in response and turn to the fifty-year-old man with red hair.

"Lord Bloomfield, may I introduce you to Archibald Bradbury." I watch while they shake hands. "Bradbury is a prized journalist from Sofia and has two lovely daughters in marrying age. I believe that you are currently looking for a bride for your son."