Esamne didn't think she would ever get tired of mornings like those she shared with Novem, with their naked, sweat-damp bodies clinging to each other, tangled up in satin sheets. He smelled like a Pescelean now, like salty air and spicy dishes. Yet, his unique scent that intoxicated her was beneath all of that, and she breathed it in deeply as she stretched her long body luxuriously. The morning light floated through the gauzy curtains, washing her in its ambiance. She could hear the careful footsteps of servants outside, rushing to do everything as quiet as possible. Her stomach gurgled for the baskets of fruit that became customary for their breakfasts. She could almost taste the juicy berries already.
"Wake up," she whispered in her sleeping husband's ear.
"Just a little longer," Novem mumbled.
"I could be with child, you know," Esamne said. "You're keeping the mother of your future children away from food!"
"I'll feed you, my Queen," he replied with a suggestive grin, eyes still closed.
"Get up!" Esamne yelled and playfully tossed a pillow onto his face.
With a groan, Novem pushed the pillow off his face and rubbed his eyes awake. He yawned and sat up at last. Esamne rang the bell for the servants to enter and get them ready for the day. She had more to look forward to this morning than breakfast. They were traveling back to The Capitol, and there she would make her claim to the throne with Novem by her side. Maids rushed in, ready with washbasins and towels.
Esamne never got tired of watching Novem bathe in the mornings. By the blushing faces of her maids, she assumed they enjoyed it, too. She made a mental note to make sure Novem had his own bathing room and manservant when they were back at The Palace. After they dressed, they made their way to the simple dining room just big enough for the two of them to enjoy a meal together. Novem attacked the bacon with vigor while Esamne savored the plump fruit.
Servants packed their bags, and their traveling entourage was ready once they finished their meal. Servants escorted them to their carriage as soon as they stood up from the breakfast table, leaving Esamne very little time to wish the castle goodbye. She visited this place many times during her life, but now it took on special meaning as their first home together.
"I don't know if I'll ever get used to this," Novem said once the castle was out of sight.
"To what?" Esamne asked.
"Life being so…easy and happy…" he answered. "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up in a muddy tent next to…"
Esamne grabbed his hand to comfort him. She remembered how much pain and grief she experienced when her parents died. However, she still had uncles, aunts, and cousins. Novem lost almost everyone. The only person left was his sister, and there was no telling if that was entirely true either.
"I'm sorry." He sighed, wiping away a stray tear. "Let's talk about what to expect at The Palace. What do I need to do?"
"Just stay by my side, and I'll do the rest," Esamne answered, not taking her hand off his.
"That's not enough," Novem said, shaking his head. "They don't want to see you walking in with a puppet. They want to see a King. I'll support you unconditionally, but I have to do more than stand by and look pretty."
"Oh, but you do it so well!" Esamne said around a chuckle, then looking at his serious expression, she changed her tone. "Then, I guess, be yourself. You're a well-spoken man. You don't need instruction from me on how to be a nobleman. You've been one your whole life."
"I was raised to be a prince," Novem said. "Parvon was supposed to be the King."
"Surely, your parents gave you some education just in case," Esamne posited.
"Not really," Novem said, shaking his head. "That would have made sense, but even as a boy, Parvon convinced us he had everything handled."
"He did have that demeanor," Esamne agreed, nodding her head. "Still, I think you will be fine. Just follow your instincts."
"I will," Novem replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Once their entourage entered The Capitol, they could barely move through the crowds and fanfare. If not for the glass on their carriage windows, Novem felt certain people would be sitting in his lap. Mostly, he heard cheers of "A husband for the Queen!" However, he wasn't blind to spitting and sneering. He thought about pointing this out to Esamne, but she seemed so happy and excited to see her people rejoicing. He supposed that all royalty had their share of critics. So, he turned his attention to Esamne's beaming face.
At The Palace, the throngs of nobility and servants stood waiting for their arrival overwhelmed Novem. Stepping out of the carriage first, he helped Esamne down while hundreds of people on the steps applauded joyously. It was so different from his first trip here as a prisoner. Then, he had been dark and quiet. Beatings and a bag over his head disoriented him. The same people cheering now greeted him with boos and whispers when he arrived there the first time. Esamne, however, had been open to learning more about her prisoners. Remembering this, he lifted Esamne's hand and kissed it. Her amber eyes calmed his nervous heart, and the two walked hand in hand past the others to their rooms.
Her room was unfamiliar to him. All of their time in The Palace before had been in his room. He enjoyed seeing this window into his bride, with her personal effects and mementos placed around them. It all reminded him of her. Though he felt exhausted from their day of traveling, he still felt aroused watching her undress. His hands folded around her waist, and his lips teased a line up her neck. Esamne moaned and stretched, urging him to continue. Just when things were getting heated, they heard a loud knock at their door.
"Everyone knows not to disturb us tonight," Esamne whispered, a confused look on her face.
"I'll get it," Novem said. "I'm still dressed."
Cautiously, he opened the door to find several guards on the other side. Novem saw people running down the hall, and he wondered how he hadn't heard anything.
"Rioters have breached The Palace," one of the guards stated. "We need to take you and the Queen to a safe place."
Novem looked over to Esamne, who wrapped herself in a robe. She dashed over to his side, placing her hand inside his. Together, they followed guards down a winding hallway until one of them pushed into the wall, which opened to another winding hallway with a small room at the end. They handed Esamne a key before leaving the Queen and her Consort alone in the chamber. Esamne locked their door and sat on one of the few chairs available.
It was dark in the room and smelled of damp, feeling like it could have been a secret torture cell in the distant past. Novem pulled a chair up to sit beside Esamne, who seemed surprisingly calm.
"Are you all right?" Novem asked at last.
"I'm fine," she answered with a sad smile. "This will be over soon enough."
"You say that like it happens all the time." Novem laughed.
"Since Farek fled, it has happened more and more regularly," Esamne replied. "They're hungry and frightened, but they're not scared of authority anymore. They fear losing more people they love, their homes, their occupations..."
"Then, you come home married to the prince of a country they're dying in a war against…" Novem continued, and Esamne nodded.
"We have to end this war. We need to help my people."
"Our people," Novem said, taking her hand back in his.
They sat in silence for several hours, falling asleep just in time for the door to unlock from the other side. It was the light from the hallway that woke Novem. Once again, Novem found himself looking at guards waiting on the other side of a doorway. Gently, he shook Esamne awake.
"The riot ended, Your Majesties," one guard told them with a bow. "We are dealing with the ones that made it into The Palace. Everything is safe now."
Novem noted how much their courtly manners improved when they weren't rushing to save lives. He wondered how exactly the guards ended the riot. He doubted that rioters just gave up when they saw the Queensguard. Their efforts to protect the Queen, unfortunately, would sow seeds of resentment. Wearily, the pair made their way to their bed, stiff and sore from sleeping on the chairs in the small room. They spent what little time left that evening fast asleep in the luxurious bed. Morning came much too soon, but it brought newfound determination to put Esamne on the throne and fix the country's problems.
They dressed and prepared for the day. He saw how effortlessly Esamne's maidservants hid the tired circles under eyes with makeup. Above it all, she needed to look perfect to confront the Arch Dukes and take the power that rightfully belonged to her. Novem dressed in the finest clothing he ever wore in his life. He looked even more elegant than the day he married Esamne.
"Get used to it," Esamne said, laughing when she caught him gawking at himself in the mirror. "You'll likely be wearing clothes like that every day we spend at The Palace."
"I'm not complaining," Novem said with a chuckle back.
They finally made it to the room where the Arch Dukes discussed things with Esamne before. Upon opening the doors, she was surprised to see Malphesent's former assistant, Pekor, sitting among them. Esamne didn't break her cool, however. She simply squeezed Novem's hand tighter and stepped into the room. The Arch Dukes looked stony, in direct opposition to the courtiers' joyful expressions upon their arrival.
Novem pulled a chair from the table, which sat across from the Arch Dukes. Esamne nearly flinched at the echo of wood scraping the marble floor that rang through the silent and humorless room. She sat down, and Novem pushed her closer. He remained standing by her side, which wasn't protocol, but she still found soothing. Arch Duke Gretzen cleared his throat after giving Novem a withering glance, annoyed that he was even in the room.
"It is good to have you back, Your Majesty," Gretzen said. "What gives us the honor of this visit so soon after your return from your…uh…honeymoon?"
"I thought it would be obvious," Esamne replied with a smile. "I have brought you back a King, as requested during our last conversation. It is time to move forward with my coronation."
The Arch Dukes gave each other knowing looks before Fyin responded with, "You've brought back a Hicaron consort. That is not the same as a King."
"He is my husband. Therefore, he is your King," Esamne insisted, the smile leaving her face.
"He is not our King unless we agree to bestow that title upon him," Lopal explained. "That is the law."
"So, then bestow it," Esamne snapped.
"Bestow a Hicaron as King?" Aruik scoffed. "Hardly."
"Excuse me," Novem interjected, in a firm but calm manner that reminded Esamne to breathe, "but who would you consider appropriate for the title? Despite being a beautiful and impressive woman, Queen Esamne doesn't have many appropriately titled suitors from countries Pescel is not currently at war with."
"Titles mean nothing," Gretzen said. "We are after substance."
"I think I understand," Novem replied with a gracious smile and a quick nod at Pekor. "You want a King who will understand who is actually in charge."
“You misunderstand us—“
“There’s nothing to misunderstand,” Novem interrupted, not breaking his genial expression. “Not one of you has enough complexity of nature to mistake your motives. You like being in charge, even if you are bringing your country to ruin.”
Gretzen bolted out of his chair, red-faced and open-mouthed.
“Be careful what you wish for,” Novem continued. “There have been so many riots. Not one of you would look all that good with your head on a spike. Though, it might be an improvement on how you look now.”
Now all of the Arch Dukes were out of their seats flopping and gasping like fish out of water, while Pekor shrank into his chair. Esamne's honey eyes took up half her face, and she found herself speechless.
Novem offered her his hand, which she took. "My Queen," he said, kissing her fingers and helping her to her feet, "I think we have wasted enough time here. Don't you?"
Esamne nodded, and they walked out of the room, as the Arch Dukes muttered and fumed behind them. Esamne didn't know whether to feel amusement, victory, or despair. She hadn't convinced anyone to start the coronation process, but it felt so amazing to have someone sticking up for her in that daunting room among those old fossils calling themselves men.
Once in their shared room, Novem's confident face shifted to one of concern for his wife. It didn't stay like that long, however. Esamne threw her arms around him, claiming his lips fully with her own. Jumping up, her long legs wrapped around his waist, causing his body to fall back onto their bed. Esamne's lips parted from his just long enough for him to see her face lit like an oil lamp. Her eyes were on fire, and her skin glowed around the broad smile on her face.
"I don't know what brought this on, but I'm not complaining," Novem said with a breathless whisper.
"Did you mean what you said?" Esamne asked. "To the Arch Dukes?"
"I meant everything I said." Novem nodded. "They're not going to give you what you want. You're going to have to take it."
"You're right, but…how?" Esamne asked, her lustful face growing sad.
A sudden knock from the hallway door caught their attention. It hadn't been loud. It almost seemed timid. So, when Novem had answered it, he hadn’t expected to see several guards nearly the size of Kandumes on the other side. Novem looked behind him at Esamne and then back at the guards.
"More riots?" he whispered.
"No," the oldest guard answered, shaking his head. "Though, we would like to discuss those with Queen Esamne. In private, if possible. If…if it's not too much of an imposition, that is to say if we might just have a moment to plead our case…"
"I'm confused," Novem interrupted, feeling a headache coming on. "What is it that you need?"
A younger guard stepped forward, nodding at the guard who had just spoken. "We want to help the Queen get her throne and her crown. Can you meet us in the hiding room at midnight?"
Novem took another look behind him at his wife. He knew she couldn't have heard anything all the way back there. The guards were careful to whisper everything. Esamne watched them with a thousand questions and worries on her face. He just smiled and nodded at her to give her some comfort. He considered asking her to come forward and give them her answer. Thinking back to how the Arch Dukes treated her moments earlier, he decided to answer the guards himself.
"We will meet you then," he whispered. "If you'll excuse me, the Queen and I were in the middle of important state matters."
Closing the door behind him, he wondered if making love to his wife was considered an important state matter. He kissed up her long arm and thought of the royal child that might already be forming in her womb. Esamne cleared her throat. She needed answers, not seduction. With a sigh, Novem leaned away from her and sat down. He explained the conversation, fearful that she might take offense that he answered for her. However, a proud smile appeared on her face.
"Remember when I told you to be yourself, and you would be fine?" Esamne asked.
Novem laughed. "Yes, I seem to recall that."
"I gave you pretty excellent advice," she said, kissing him.
Kissing Esamne was like the sun rising in his heart. Her touch flooded Novem with warmth and happiness. She pushed him flat on his back and straddled him. As he watched her hike her skirts up to her waist, he decided that making love to the Queen happened to be the most important state matter he could possibly attend to this morning.
Throughout the celebratory dinner held that night in honor of the Queen's recent marriage, Novem found himself reading the faces of those in the room. It was a banquet of sycophants. They could be fawning over Esamne now and stabbing her in the back later. Novem's thoughts drifted from Pescel to Hicares, where the Duke held his sister. He wished he had seen the betrayal there that he could spot so quick here. Perhaps then he would have two brothers to share his good fortune with right now.
The guards around the room looked so impassive, almost as if frozen in time. It was easy to forget they were there most of the time, but it occurred to Novem that they were always around. How else could they keep Esamne safe from harm? From everything he heard of the night Malphesent fled, these guards did everything in their power to protect her, almost to a fault. Perhaps, if there had not been so many guards surrounding their Queen, the Regent wouldn't have escaped.
How many conversations did these guards hear? How well did they know the nobility sitting at these tables? How much did they know about the Arch Dukes? Had his relationship with their Queen been transparent when he was a prisoner here? He didn't know whether or not he wanted the answers to those questions. Yet, they still weighed heavily on him close to midnight, walking hand in hand with Esamne to the hiding room.
His bride could have found it with her eyes closed. All the unrest in Pescel helped her become practiced in finding her way to the chamber. So, Esamne didn't bother grabbing a torch to light their way. They didn't want to distract any courtiers from their late-night entertainment or servants from their silent errands.
Several guards already crowded the room when they arrived. With worried glances all around, they closed the door and lit a candle. The soldier who spoke so directly earlier that day seemed to be their designated leader for this situation. Once Esamne and Novem sat down, he sat in a smaller chair across from them.
"I understand that you want to help me claim my birthright," Esamne said in the voice she reserved for her duties as Queen.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the young guard answered. "As you can imagine, we see a great deal during our duties. We saw Malphesent manipulating the Arch Dukes. He convinced them that the Statue of the Goddess Winds would give them even more fortune than they already possess. They will never give you any power."
"If you have known for so long about the Arch Dukes' corruption, why are you just coming to me now?" Esamne asked.
After shifting, the guard answered with a sigh, "We weren't entirely sure what your desires were until recently."
"My desires?" Esamne scoffed and let out a short, bitter laugh. "My desires are for a strong and prosperous nation."
"Which aligns with our own," the guard replied in haste, trying not to upset his Queen. "We lost loved ones to this war and poverty, Your Majesty. We struggle with keeping the sick and starving away from the gates. For a long time, it has left us unable to sleep at night."
"I don't want that for anyone," Esamne whispered.
"We believe you now," the guard answered and then stammered. "I-I overheard you talking here last night. You both want to end this war. You want to concentrate on healing our country. The Arch Dukes will never let you do that."
"What do you suggest?" Esamne asked.
"A coup, Your Majesty," the guard answered.
Everyone in the room held their breaths; not a sound escaped them. Esamne and Novem sat stunned. Only the young guard who just spoke could look at their Queen right now. The rest looked worried someone was about to burst in and string them up as traitors.
"You're saying I should just overthrow the Arch Dukes," Esamne said. "You think the nobles will just allow that to happen?"
"With my utmost respect, Your Majesty," the young guard responded, "I think we will experience very little resistance from the courtiers who only stand to gain power for themselves in all of this. Even if they do try to challenge it, we are willing to risk whatever we need to so that you can end this war."
"Even then…a coup…" Esamne muttered and then, looking up at the other guards, asked. "Do you all feel this way?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," an older guard, dressed in the highest-ranked uniform among them, replied before taking off his hat, placing it over his heart, and bowing before her.
The other guards followed suit. Esamne watched them all and then turned back to the young guard. He was also kneeling, but his earnest eyes stayed on hers.
"What about outside of this room?" She asked him.
"Every guard is yours," he answered. "All six-hundred-ninety-four of us on the palace grounds. Not to mention the Cuvanos."
“The Cuvanos?” Esamne gasped.
"What would traveling entertainers have to do with this?" Novem asked, and the young guard turned his head towards him.
"Who do you think Farek Malphesent practiced magical attacks on?" he responded and then whispered. "My mother's side is Cuvanos. Many of us have ties. They have some of the fiercest fighters in Telverin. You already have an army of thousands, Your Majesty."
Esamne stood as if to pace, but there was nowhere to move in the cramped room. Instead, she looked into Novem's eyes, as if there might be an answer there. This was risky, no matter what the young guard was saying. If she did nothing, she could continue carrying on a pleasant life with Novem. They would have babies and enjoy living in luxury. A coup put that in jeopardy.
She remembered how simple life had been as a child. Her parents ruled Pescel while she trained as a princess and future Queen. Things were lighter, happier. Her parents seemed glad to go along with whatever the Arch Dukes wanted. For the most part, they enjoyed being figureheads, investing more time in socializing with the Pescelean nobility. Yet, they died relatively young.
No, you were never safe from the power-hungry. Merely having a title painted a target on your back. Any decision Esamne made was a risk. Even then, could she ever be happy living her dream life with Novem knowing that the Arch Dukes sacrificed Pescelean lives to satisfy their greed? Many died under the flag that bore her crest. She should be willing to risk her own life in return.
Esamne reached down and took Novem's hand. Squeezing his fingers, she mouthed the words, "I have to."
Novem squeezed her hand back and nodded with a confident smile.
A tear ran down her cheek. Farek had always questioned her decisions, vetting and editing every choice she made. He never fully supported her. Novem was so willing to lay down his life for her, if necessary. Turning back to the guards, she saw their patient but worried expressions. She put a confident smile on her face that she didn't quite feel in her heart yet.
"Yes," she answered, "I agree to this plan. I am humbled by your support and look forward to bringing our brothers and sisters home from this war. Our country will be whole again."
She found herself shaking with emotion and felt a wave of relief when Novem stood up and held onto her.
"We will do everything in our power to help the Pesceleans," Novem said and then looked at the young guard, "and the Cuvanos."
The young guard jumped up in joy, momentarily forgetting he was in the presence of royalty. He bowed, and Novem laughed. The guards all shared relieved smiles, and a collective exhale blew through the room like a Summer breeze.
"Don't rest easy yet," Esamne said. "We still have so much to do. We have a throne to win."