A guard comes to our side and salutes. "I am here for the corpse."
"Father said it was getting burial."
The guard nods. He waves someone over with a body bag. Once the body is put aside safely, they walk off with it. The guard gives me a bow. "Please take it easy, Your Highness."
I wait for them to leave us before turning to Jessica. "You are free to do whatever you wish. I'm going to check on Hydrangea."
"I'll come with you."
Hydrangea, Raida, William, Callie, Al, and a bunch of goblins are just beyond the estate's protection. They look relaxed. Hydrange gives me greetings first. Then everyone copies.
"When we have five minutes, I'll get your tracer going, Your Highness." William says to Jessica.
"I can't believe that's a thing." Callie takes up Jessica's hands. "Weren't you going to be a knight forever?"
Jessica refuses eye contact with Callie. "How about we chat elsewhere?"
Callie looks to me. "Alright. We're going to rest a little." She has Jessica's hand while walking through the gates.
I rub my head. Can't believe I signed that.
"Congrats." Hydrangea smirks at me. "Married life is fun. So I hear."
Raida shoves Hydrangea getting her to laugh. "You are the least likely to ever marry. I for one can't wait."
"Even if they're married, they're not in a real relationship until the country has a wedding." William waves it off. "She has a job now as crown princess. She doesn't get the benefits of a relationship."
"Not that I'd mind anything in that field, we need to hold off." My words has their eyes on me. Ha. I admit I'm interested in that statement. "We have to hand in knight titles if we want to progress. If the country thinks we're progressing, the wedding is marked."
"Don't hurt her." Hydrangea shoves a finger in my chest. I don't fight her. I know why she says it. "Jessica knew this was going to happen. She's fighting for consideration."
"Is this counting as her exam?" Raida asks. Hydrangea nods. "I'll congratulate her later then."
Al reaches for my hand. I look at the goblin sorcerer. "I would like you to visit at a later date. I have given allowance for those here."
I look to Raida. "Raida, I'm going to place your name down to take over the house. Expect it."
"Thankfully you're not asking me. I'll be asked. Again." Hydrangea rubs her head. "I'll suggest Raida as well. Considering she has a positive relationship with the goblins."
"Is Agoin here?" I scan the crowd. I don't see a leader headdress. Looks like Al has a collection of quality guards.
"No. She'll come by in a few weeks to ask for diplomacy." Al shakes their head. I nod.
"I'll look forward to it." Raida pauses. "If I'm here I'll join."
"I think I'm going to be covering things." Hydrangea looks to me. "Lucas will be your first red if you need one. I'll explain to Ryan, although I may be back when he gets out of the dungeons."
"The nice dungeons, right?" I shiver. He's a Telligence though. He needs the coverage. Hydrangea nods. "He'll be automatically removed from my wing list. I'll need to..." No. I can't re-add it afterwards. He won't trust me enough for that. I sigh. I broke the friendship I was building. "Will Ryan survive?"
"I assume so. But he may be imprisoned until everything ends unless he sides with the king." Hydrangea shrugs. "Not everyone is willing to go against their family."
I look aside. "I would."
"You're are both sides of the coin: hero and villain. I wonder in which direction you'll fall." Hydrangea eyes me. I refuse to catch her eyes. "Will you grant us peace or will you grant us dictatorship?"
Raida sighs. "And he'll be overpowered more so than most. We'll need to seriously plan how to kill him."
I flinch. I can't even tell them not to. I get the meaning. I know why. Just as Jessica said before: I murdered a head of house. "I won't call it treason, but please refuse knowledge to others." I offer them a wave while heading back inside.
William catches up with me. "You know I wouldn't do that, right?"
I glance at my friend. He was someone on my side my entire life. A real friend. Something many royals struggle to gain. And perhaps that's what I need more than anything: friendship. The connection of others may make me see humans are something less than monstrous. Father suggested that. "I'll need someone. If I'm truly becoming that monster..."
"I get it." William stops me. "Being a king means making hard choices. The way our country works means everything is truly on you. The houses are meant to pull some of the weight off of you, but it doesn't work as well as needed."
I grind my teeth thinking of it. "I can't suggest giving the houses more power. Or creating a hierarchy system like other countries have. I know it'll exhaust me. I see what's going on with my father. He is forced to handle too much." I close my eyes. "Maybe our country is too big. We've grown without letting our government grow too."
William shakes me. "Don't look at it as too much."
I sigh breaking free of him. "What if I have Xavier take half? Think he wants the port side?" It should be the easier side to handle.
"I don't suggest it. But in the end you decide things, Thomas."
I decide. Everything will be on me. "You know... For most of my life, I looked upon becoming king as a good thing."
"But not always." William knows that well. We've talked a lot. The plan that got William removed from my side was me wanting to give up my title. "Would you rather be Xavier's sword?"
"I don't know. Maybe. I'll weigh things when he's a knight."
William pats my back. "Let's get a meal. You could not have eaten enough lately."
I laugh. "I have not. Once I'm settled at a table, can you check on a few people?"
"Sure." William pushes me to the hall where food can be gained. It's not as tasty as what the ball should have, but anything should help me right now. I've pushed myself hard.