亚洲综合中美

“Igna,” Aceline’s visage swapped, “-don’t tell me,” her lower-eye reddened – her cheeks of which was braced by makeup flushed worryingly. A decision of such a scale needed to be thought over, he calmly patted her hands and gaze into her stern resolve.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled at Aceline.

“Whatever,” she rose erratically, the stool toppled harshly – breaking the unspoken moment of fear and incertitude.

“Aceline,” cried Gallienne who rose an empty palm at her friend’s back.

“No,” he held the queen’s hands, the door slammed upon the idol’s fleeting shadow, “-I made my decision, it was selfish, same to you,” he added in a lowered tone, “-we’re cut from the same cloth. We push people away, hurt them, and take what we think is fun, I understand the feeling all too well.” Reference was drawn to Gallienne’s lifestyle of illicit relations despite her marriage, in her youth, the lass was a manipulative mastermind – matters culminated into her finding stability with Piers’ acceptance and the birth of her daughter. She understood what Igna meant, her chin dropped to her chest, tears flowed, “-I’m sorry,” was the only thing she could say, “-I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry,” he took a handkerchief and wiped tears, “-for change to occur, there ought to be sacrifices. I hate to think what’s going on in her mind,” choosing to ignore what happened, “-I accept the proposal.”

.....

“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed heavily unable to get a hold of her aching heart and bleeding tears.

“Piers,” Igna stood, “-please take it from here.”

The husband and daughter bundled close to the bed, the monitoring device had the nursing staff troubled, “-she’s emotionally unstable,” reassured Igna.

“Hey,” a sharp tug pulled him from the path to the door, “-are you ok?”

“Mother, I’ll be fine, please take care of her,” he exited the heavy room. Between him and the queen, there was much to be said and discussed. Igna made his way further out till an open hall where various ministers and nobles hurdled in discussion. An attending maid kept her hands busy at wiping a tiger statue, “-pardon me miss,” he inquired.

“Yes?” she stopped her task and stood.

“Have you seen a lady scurry out the chambers perchance?”

“If it’s the crying lady, she went outside,” added a passing butler.

“Thank you,” he hurried after, ‘-don’t run from me, Aceline.’

Her heart aching cries stopped, the chambers cleared with only Piers and Eia in attendance, “-why are you so unstable?”

“I’m sorry, Piers,” she gathered her breathing, “-I tried to manipulate... he saw right through me.”

“Mother, please, stop talking in riddles, did he say something?”

“Eia, hold a moment,” fired Piers sensing the princess’s knack for antagonistic one-sided speeches.

“Let me give him a piece of my mind.”

“Wait!” fired Gallienne, “-refrain from talking badly about Igna.”

“What’s so special?” she shrugged, “-I don’t get it,” her inclined brows added more to the irritating gestures.

“Piers, could you call in the others?”

Aceline’s sudden departure and Igna’s attitude cornered both Elvira and Courtney, the duo could but watch one another and exchange messages via blinks. King Easel found himself peering into the distance onto an unknown plot of land.

“Pardon my wife,” said Piers broadly, “-she wishes to exchange a few words, might thee please enter?” And again, no words were exchanged, the dire state of Hidros’s ruler had everyone on edge. The populous was yet to be informed – conspiring nobles within the gathering hall held backroom meetings, most were sure to line their pockets and reach greater standing within the monarchy.

“Are we not headed to the bedchambers?”

“No,” returned Piers. Instead, the walk headed for the throne-hall, the large doors unlocked to the queen in her heavy dress and crown cupped her onto the throne, the princess stood at her side, to which, the prince consort would soon join the queen’s entourage.

“I sincerely apologize for the outburst earlier,” her hands were tight around the royal staff, “-Courtney, I fear my actions may rock the kingdom’s peace to its core. I have made my decision,” the princess grudgingly took a few steps forward, “-I ask for you to accept our family to be bound by marriage.”

“GALLIENNE!” she exclaimed.

“Let me finish,” her word sliced Courtney’s interjection, “-as the sole ruler of Hidros, I have the right and say in who takes the crown and who has the prestige to lead us to a better future. Time is not on my side, we all know said fact, even now, the dragon-stone within the staff is the only catalyst able for me to sit and talk unrestrained from my malady.”

“Please continue.”

“Thank you,” she inhaled, her chest puffed, “-as I see it, there’s no one fit to rule Hidros, and I mean my words. Piers and even my own daughter do not have the qualification required to lead the nation into a better future. As a queen speaking to another queen, we understand the fate of a kingdom rests on the competency of its ruler. The marriage is a formality – once they’re wed, I’m willing to abdicate my claim as well as all the powers that come from the title of Monarch to Igna Haggard. The Riverty family line will sadly end, and I’m willing to make said sacrifice for the sake of a better future. Are you willing to accept my request for the greater good?”

Long silvery hair swayed, lady Courtney, dressed in trousers and a bottomed shirt, had her arms crossed and stare vehement – her image didn’t quite fit what people associated with being a queen. She seemed fiercer in men’s clothes, needless to say, her feminine charm never once left her side. The frosted colored eyelashes blinked coldly, “-I can’t say. The decision isn’t mine to make. We thought my son and Aceline were destined to be married, I mean, they are an unofficial couple. Are you willing to give up the matrilineage succession in favor of the Haggard name?”

“Yes, I am. If the Riverty name ends as a result of the bond, who am I to argue?”

“What of Eia, what has the princess to say in the matter?”

“I will do as my mother says,” her chin kept to the floor, “-if it’s for the greater good of our kingdom, I’m willing to make sacrifices.”

“I REFUSE!” a side door bellowed under an explosion, “-I will not allow you to be married for political gain.”

“HART!” she exclaimed, guards were quick to imprison the intruder, “-mother, please,” cried the princess, “-leave him alone,” she dropped to the queen’s feet, “-have the guards unhand him!” spears were pulled to the man’s neck.

“Nicola Vonhen Hart,” said the queen in a low-monotonous tone, each pronunciation thundered, “-eldest son of Hanet Hart.”

The guards knocked him on his knees and chained his hands, “-Majesty!” he rose his head to only be beaten harshly by the overlooking guard, “-don’t make this hard on me, son,” said the helmed man.

“No,” he rose again, *smack,* the neck buckled, blood flowed down his chin, “-I won’t give up, MAJESTY!”

A spear rose to deliver a fatal blow, “-wait.”

“Majesty,” he bled profusely, Eia knelt in tears, “-please, Eia and I love one another dearly.”

“What exactly am I to do then?” she crossed her legs, “-sacrifices art to be made. If you can prove to me that you are worthy to take the crown and guide the kingdom to a peaceful future, then I’ll accept without fail,” she grilled his resolve, “-what of it, cat got your tongue? A man your age shouldn’t have fallen in love with Eia, how could this have happened?”

“It’s my fault, mother,” she cried, “-I-”

“Speak when I talk to you,” she thundered, “-answer me, Nicola Vonhen Hart, is the resolve arduous enough to guarantee the prosperity of Hidros?”

“MOTHER, what about this Igna Haggard!” the cries channeled into rage, “-WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT HIM? I don’t get it, the Haggard name... my marriage, you ending our family line for the sake of another, where’s the proof that he’ll guide us to a better future... it could be worse – tis unfair to have Nicola swear his might on such a tumultuous promise.”

“Proof,” she said, “-the one you so harshly insulted is a talent of which the world has never seen. From Staxius Haggard, my close friend, the founder of the Federation, to Igna Haggard, the nephew of a legendary figure, I’ve personally seen the latter in action. He’s singlehandedly defeated the church, saved Arda countless times, brought up his family from the depths of despair into an untouchable position. The Haggard dynasty is ranked as one of the richest dynasties on the planet. Eira Haggard, your sister is the Empress of the Alphian Empire. Julius Haggard, the son of Staxius Haggard, made waves during his time in the spotlight, reached the status of legend in the world of show business, his youngest daughter, Lizzie Haggard, is a prodigious pianist who took the classical world by storm. In comparison, we, the Riverty family, who’ve inherited our prestige from the older generation, have nothing to show. Out of the lineup of elites, Igna stands out as the one who inherited his uncle’s intellect and talent for statesmanship and warcraft. Don’t get me started on Queen Courtney or lady Elvira, who I deem to be two of the most influential people in Hidros currently – must I add more examples, or is the summary sufficient?” the princess could but drop her argument. Meanwhile, Gallienne turned to Nicola, “-after what I’ve said, do you still think you art be able to close the gap?”

“Unfair,” cried Eia,”-UNFAIR!”

“Don’t say it’s unfair,” fired Courtney, “-you’re not the only one who’s making sacrifices. My son is willing to give the love of his life... just after he decided to open his closed heart to someone he could trust, the carpet is taken from under his feet. How do you think that makes me feel, he’s going to give much more than his love-life, his freedom, his everything... I would absolutely refuse this marriage if it had been under different circumstances.”

Wind carried flower petals yonder to a solemnly crouched silhouette, “-Aceline.”

“Don’t come any closer,” she refuted, “-Igna, don’t come any closer...”

“I’m sorry,” he knelt and tightly embraced her from the back, “-it’s selfish, whatever excuse I make won’t justify the blatant infidelity.”

“Yeah, I won’t,” she grabbed his arms, “-why must it be you, why are you the one who has to take the responsibility of another. Why, answer me, why is it you...”

“Because of my family name... the responsibility that comes with being influential or powerful can’t be used selfishly, in most cases, those who have everything often lose touch with reality and what is truly important. I don’t know what to say, my selfish decision has broken your trust and heart, I don’t expect to be forgiven. Hate me if it makes thee feel better, slap me, I don’t mind, I ought to reap what I’ve sowed.”

“You,” she turned and headbutted his jaw, “-always the smooth talker,” she settled her breathing, “-I’d lie if I said I’m not angry,” she curled further with knees to her chest, “-looking at the flowerbeds makes me feel at ease. What is right and what is wrong... I don’t know...” butterflies fluttered; the wind gently sang in whispers – the fate of an entire nation laid in those few hours.