Gathering Threads - Chapter 5
Previous Chapters: Masterpost, 1, 2, 3, 4
“What do you mean he is still technically the King?” Louise shouted across the table at Iada Javok, her Head Councilor.
“I mean, my Queen, that we don’t know what has happened to him, so we have to enact Order 67 of the High Rule Act that both you and your King signed on your wedding day,”
Iada explained, shuffling in her large, wooden chair and flicking her grey hair out of her face.
“So what happens while he is missing? He can’t rule a kingdom while he has no contact with us,” Louise, who had only been in the meeting for five minutes, seethed.
“It means you will temporarily be in charge until we receive proof or evidence that states he has broken the High Rule Act or decided to leave you,” she assured Louise, carefully polishing her spectacles to read the finer print of the document in front of her.
The cosy council room was both big enough to fit the long table and small enough that it only required one smaller fireplace to heat the whole room. After all, it was always winter here in Izabalia, which was so far north that the seasons never really changed. Even still, Louise was hot under the collar of the dress she had selected this morning.
“But it could be days or even years before we hear from him. How am I meant to put long-term measures in place if war breaks out and he is still ‘technically’ King?” Louise argued, pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.
“Order 67 does have some leniency, my Lady, when our country is placed in threat or if he has disappeared without trace for over a year,” Jack interrupted from his seat next to Iada, indicating a line in the document.
“This is ridiculous.” Louise sighed, rubbing her forehead as her second headache started to form, the first having come after hours of crying.
“It is the law you signed,” Iada stated, staring her Queen dead in the eye.
“Because I was forced into marriage,” Louise coldly replied, finally stopping her pacing.
“My Lady-”
“Don’t ‘my Lady’ me. In truth I never wanted to marry that Pavo Woods man. He was ten years older than me and a pig,” Louise fumed.
“I am sure we can find a better match next time round,” Thomas interjected, breaking the staring contest that had started between Louise and Iada.
“There will be no next time round,” Louise concluded, finally sitting down in her ornate wooden chair and turning her attention to Thomas.
It was with a heavy sigh that Thomas realised it was his turn to be argued with, and the sound annoyed Louise. All these people seemed to believe her to be a child, ignorant to the way of ruling, but what they needed to understand was that if she was going to rule, she would do it her way. “But, your majesty-”
“I was a peace offering to keep us from war,” Louise cut in.
“I understand-”
“I am no peace offering and don’t intend to be again,” Louise shouted, the whole world suddenly still. “If I marry again, then it will be for love, not peace.”
“It is your duty to the people of this kingdom,” Iada snapped, finally losing her own temper, her old grey eyes almost glowing with disdain.
Louise was still as she almost hissed her response, cold pure anger flowing through her veins and her headache worsening by the minute. “I will not have them ruled again by another southern pig. If you have something more productive to say, Iada, say it.”
“I am sure I can go over the finer points of Order 67 at another point,” Iada answered, all anger dispersed by Louise’s tone. The head of the council was finally done dealing with what she clearly viewed Louise as: an immature young girl.
“And you, Zarithian?” Louise asked her trade adviser, who helped her maintain her successful and flourishing business transactions with the south.
“I am a merchant. Trade is my specialty, not love. The trade is good with the south, so I am good. However, I would advise against any course that might...displease our trading partners,” Opal Zarithian purred, still casually leaning back in her chair and inspecting a fat, ruby ring round her slender, black hand. She was always uninterested in any topic unless she could see how it might affect trade. However, Thomas Snofrid, Louise’s cousin and best adviser, was not as relaxed.
Thomas was not too tall or small but had a strong build and was certainly a force to be reckoned with. Even with his dirty blonde hair, you could still mistake him as being Louise’s brother, so alike were their mannerisms and looks. Both of them possessed the Snofrid curls and ice cold eyes, Thomas’ more grey and Louise’s more blue. With such similar features, it was a wonder more people didn’t mistake them for twins even; they were so close in age and friendship, they easily could have been.
“Thomas, you wish to speak?” Louise observed as Thomas stopped fidgeting with the cuffs of his sleeves and looked Louise dead in the eye. Ice grey and ice blue eyes locked in place.
“I would like to say one thing, Lou, while we are on the subject of the south. As much as you don’t wish to marry, the southern countries will not stay peaceful forever when they hear of the King's disappearance. When this gets out, there will be many foul rumours about whether you caused it, and no doubt they will want a peace offering or war. The balance between our kingdoms is very unstable.
“We need plans for if this does happen, as this could affect both trade and peace. I do not want to have to send people to war without a reason. Whether it be gold or Darcy’s future hand-”
“Thomas, enough. I will not sell my daughter for peace either,” Louise almost snarled, dismissing him.
Thomas was not finished, though, as he continued, “I am simply being logical. It’s only a matter of time before we hear from Hazel-”
“We do not use the Butcher’s real name. Not now, not ever,” Jack interrupted before Louise could, his face plastered with shock.
After a moment, Louise finally thundered, “You keep your traitor sister out of this. You keep my daughter out of this. We are done for today,” and with that, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door purposefully loud behind her.
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