Lady In Red

54

"I wish you could join me one day."

Although she didn't like traveling, she nodded. Her eyes stayed on him as he turned his face away. She was finally calm, away from the constant music and chatter. She could take her time observing him.

His soft voice didn't match his broad, muscular figure, but his face remained calm and composed. He gave one a feeling of safety. Unlike many men here, the duke was one of the rare men who spoke and acted with kindness.

Any lady would be thrilled to be with him. Yet she found herself questioning her future.

What if I made a place for myself here in court? What if I was happy working as an advisor or perhaps at a high position? What if I simply wanted to be by myself? She chuckled at her silly thoughts. The King would never, the court would never let her be unwed.

*~*

The king's eyes followed the Duke and the Princess but he didn't pay it any mind. Turning his head to Andrew and Clara he motioned for her to come forth.

"Your Majesty-" Before she could bow completely the King stood up nodding his head at the minister's. They left one by one emptying the private balcony leaving only the three.

"Did the Physician say anything?" He asked gulping down his wine.

"She is simply through her monthly cycles, Sir."

Xerxes felt his heart mellow out. He couldn't bear thinking of her in pain. Nodding as she left them be. He wasn't worried for her safety, he knew she would never be harmed under his eye. But this feeling of wanting to be close to his queen. Worrying if she was in pain. Thinking if he could do anything to help, that feeling was new. Xerxes didn't quite know what to do. Getting agitated knowing he couldn't see her yet as she might be recovering in her chambers. Possibly not wanting a man near her for the time being.

Thinking about her agitated his nerves.

"Your Majesty the Ambassador and his wife are here to greet you."

He nodded accepting their presence as the doors opened.

They greeted him with respect as he walked towards them and shook his ambassador's hand.

"Forgive me, my Queen seems to be indisposed tonight. I'll be sure to introduce her again soon."

"Don't worry, your Majesty. We had the honor of meeting the Queen at the very first ball after your wedding."

The ball was coming to an end, as the King had finally excused himself and on his heels to go see his wife. The ball stopped in its tracks as their King stood up. Everyone bowed deeply as he walked out.

He heard some chatter of the ladies as he walked over to Ruby's chamber. The maids were shocked as the King entered not expecting him. They hurriedly cleaned up anything within their vicinity and excused themselves.

Between the fuss of the ladies, he saw Lydia sitting next to the fire mantle warm to the sheet of woolen blanket. She stood up to curtsey but he waved her off. The physician was right next to her.

"Your Majesty-" She greeted as his eyes went to the closed drapes of her bed.

"She is asleep?"

"Yes, we gave her some tea right before she slept."

"You may leave." He said as she smiled walking out but he stopped Lydia by his hand. She frowned as the doors closed. He walked over to the couch taking off his coat and undid his cufflinks.

"I want you to make her medicine yourself from now on. No nobody is allowed near her when she is on her cycle"

Lydia was frozen in fear as he talked. The aura of the king was too much for her. He came off as angry and frustrated all the time. She couldn't speak only listen. Nodding at the King once she started walking towards doors to leave him alone when he stopped her again.

"Were any medicines sent by the court physician?"

She blinked turning around but unable to meet his gaze, "Yes, Your Majesty."

There was a moment of silence between them as he sat on the couch. All she could see were his legs, but now, as he kept his elbows on his knees, she realized he had undressed himself.

"Who told them?" He asked and she freaked breathing deeply under that pressuring gaze.

"I-I don't know. I-I never told anyone but Clara."

"Leave."

She didn't have to process those words. Lydia was out of that room on her heels. She sighs, closing her eyes and keeping her hands on her chest. But her head softly bumps into a chest. Jerking back, she looks up to see Fredrick. She feels much better seeing him. She smiles and grabs his hand, taking him in shock.

"Oh, thank goodness, it's you. I thought I bumped into yet another one of them."

Fredrick tilted his head, his body relaxing under her gaze and his lips forming a light smile. They naturally felt better being with their kind of people. But in Fredrick's heart, Lydia held a soft spot. Her smile calmed him a bit.

"Where are you heading?" She asked as they both walked together in the halls.

"To write a letter. I need to tell them about the new ports opened on the East Coast. I have to get their approval."

Lydia nodded, "Do you have to write about the Princ-The Queen's situation ?" Lydia corrected herself mid-way.

Fredrick smiled as she stumbled on her words, "Hard to work with these new titles ya?" She chuckled.

"Yes." She replied.

"I do report on the Queen's conditions. But sometimes, I feel like my letters do not get across. Possibly being rewritten by the mid man."

Lydia sighs.

"How is she ?" He asked and Lydia smiled, "Not well. She has always had a bad time during her monthly cycles." Fredrick looked at the balcony on the floor and turned towards it. Lydia frowned as he turned around nodding at the door. Asking her to follow him.

"His Majesty asked me not to accept any medicines from the court and make most of them myself. Do you think it's because of some threat to the Queen?"

Lydia was worried for her. Ruby was always a sensitive lady. Lydian respected her Mistress as she had treated her with nothing but kindness, having her be in danger worried her immensely.

Fredrick had snapped his head to her as she spoke of the King's command.

"If he said it. There must be something wrong. Keep an eye out for clothes. Jewellery. Anything ordinary that might seem different or tampered with." She nodded. Fredrick didn't want to question her on whatever he thought at that moment but he couldn't help it.

"Does he bed her often?"

Lydia blushed nodding. Fredrick looked down upon the grounds.

"Yet no signs of her conceiving," he whispered.

"I do not see that an issue Fredrick. They- They seem to like each other. Perhaps it's too early."

He stares straight ahead, "Perhaps he doesn't want a child from her."

"Don't say that!" Lydia defended.

"What?" Fredrick looked towards her eyes in confusion as she stared up at him with a deep frown.

"You never know what he thinks of Lydia, he might like her but we can't be sure if he wants her blood in his offspring. I can only hope she does conceive."

"What if she wants to wait..."

"I hope this isn't something you are encouraging Lydia"

Her tongue caught in her mouth as she gulped knowing very well how angry he would be.

"You have no idea how many agreements are on hold, how many lives are still in danger just because our end of the agreement has not been fulfilled"

"Our end? What does that mean? OUR END? She was married off, and that was the end of it-

"No, no-" Fred sighs looking at his feet and stretching his hands.

"Giving the King an heir was the deal."