Joint post with Brasland
Old Palace, Synessia
2020
The Prince and Princess of Capys sat on one of the palace’s courtyards watching their two older children play football. Prince Henri moved gracefully across the cobblestone floor, keeping the ball for himself as his younger brother, Prince Guy, ran after him. The Prince of Capys smiled with satisfaction upon seeing his sons enjoying themselves, while his wife seemed distracted as she held their two-year-old daughter, Princess Sibylle.
“Maman! Maman!”, shouted Prince Guy as he ran back towards his parents.
Princess Alexia looked at her son.
“Yes, chérie?”, she said.
“Why is our hair dark but Sibylle’s is yellow?”, he asked.
The Prince of Capys made a clear gesture of displeasure and stood up, while his wife looked at her son nervously.
“Well, my love, sometimes children inherit different traits from their parents”, she said. “Your father has black hair, while my hair is lighter.”
The boy seemed satisfied with the explanation and headed back to play. Alexia tried to find her husband with her eyes, but he had left the courtyard. She sighed, feeling a sudden despair that she had been holding up for months. Her mind wandered to 2017, a troubled time in her life.
***
Old Palace, Synessia
2017
The Sovereign Princess of Synessia and her consort, the Duke of Kallepia, sat on a long table facing each other, while the officers of the princely court sat to their sides.
“The King of Brasland will arrive in the morning at the Prince Manuel VI Airport”, said the Duke of Livera, Seneschal of the Court. “Upon his arrival, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will escort him to review the troops. The Prince Theodor Regiment will be in attendance, Madame.”
“Why the Theodor Regiment?”, grumbled Prince Roger, Duke of Kallepia. “Why not mine?”
“Prince Theodor was Braslander, Sire”, said Livera. “It’s a courteous reminder of what Brasland has done for Synessia in the past.”
“Braslanders taxed this country up to the neck!”, shouted the prince. “They were worse than the Qubtians!”
The princess pretended she did not hear the latest of her husband’s many complaints, which had become incessant as he grew older.
“Will my son and daughter-in-law join us for the reception at the airport?”, she asked.
“Yes, Madame, they will”, answered Livera.
“Then why aren’t they here?”, she asked. “They need to know the programme.”
“I’m afraid Their Royal Highnesses had to excuse themselves”, said Livera discreetly. “They were otherwise engaged.”
Princess Constance sighed.
“They are fighting again, aren’t they?”, she said, concerned.
None of the courtiers dared to reply. On a different wing of the palace, servants exchanged concerned glances as they heard shouting and insults from the Prince and Princess of Capys’ apartments.
“You are a disgusting pig!”, screamed the princess. “You don’t even care to hide your whores from the court! Everyone knows you’re scre**** her!”
“I don’t love you and you know it!”, the prince, angry, said in return.
“Then stop this torture and divorce me!”, she said, crying.
“You know we can’t divorce!”, he shouted, furious.
“I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!”, she screamed again.
*
Old Palace, Synessia
Two days later, the Synessian princely family offered a state banquet in honour of King Georg IV. Both the Princess and the Braslander monarch pronounced words encouraging closer ties between their countries. As the King finished his speech, he sat and exchanged a friendly glance with Princess Constance.
“How nice of you to remember family ties, my dear Georg”, she said.
He took her hand and kissed the air above it.
“How could I not, Aunt Constance?”, he replied.
The King turned to the woman to his right.
“Did you like my speech, Madame?”, he asked.
“Yes, Sire”, said Princess Alexia, absent-mindedly. “Although after you attend a few of these banquets, all speeches sound the same.”
Georg laughed.
“You don’t hold your tongue, cousin”, he said. “May I ask why you look so sad?”
Alexia looked at him and did an effort to control her feelings. She was about to cry. The King understood.
“I see”, he said. “Let’s talk about happier things, like how beautiful you look tonight.”
“Are you flirting with me, Sire?”, she asked.
“I’m only trying to cheer you up”, he replied, smiling with his eyes more than with his mouth.
She smiled.
“You are succeeding”, she said. “It’s so nice to talk to someone new, not the usual bores I’m stuck with.”
“Is it so terrible?”, he asked.
“No, Sire”, she replied. “It is worst.”
They both laughed light-heartedly.
“Please, Madame, tell me about you”, he said. “What are your passions in life?”
“I used to have passions”, said Alexia. “Now I only have duties. No, I’m wrong. My children are my passion. How could I forget? You must think I’m horrible.”
“You are honest and I appreciate that”, said Georg. “Now let’s drink for your passions. May they have long, happy lives!”
As they both sipped from their wine, Alexia extended her hand under the table and placed it over his. Georg, surprised, looked at her, while she stared at him with no inhibition. Later that night, as the King was in his bedroom taking off his uniform, someone knocked the door. He opened it and she entered. She kissed him, and he kissed her back. When they had gotten rid of all obstacles, they fell into bed and spent a happy night together that neither of them would ever forget.