At the royal palace, there was a flurry of preparation as the servants served breakfast before the royal family arrived. They had gotten information that the other princes had returned home, meaning the family had the opportunity to dine together. It was not every day that the princes were in one place considering they moved constantly, especially the Autumn prince. He was always gone with the wind.
The first to arrive at the table was Valerie since he was used to keeping to time and as the crown prince, he had many things to do. Theodore arrived almost immediately, the brothers acknowledging each other’s presence.
"You’re here, brother," Valerie said, treating Theodore with courtesy.
Although Fae’s custom did not explicitly demand respect for the firstborn, focusing more on the most capable instead, Valerie still respected his elder brother. He was a model prince after all and had to live up to his reputation.
"Yes, I am. I believe that you had a pleasant night." Theodore responded, soaking up the attention even though he knew deep down that everything was bound to change once Valerie was crowned king. He would be the one bowing his head to his younger brother and there was nothing that he could do about it.
"I did," Valerie answered curtly.
He was still mad at the spring prince for attacking Islinda. However, Theodore was still his brother and he could not outrightly hate him. The both of them sat in tense silence, waiting for the others to arrive since they couldn’t start without the king.
"Look...." Theodore breathed with a sigh, the guilt gnawing at him, "I am sorry for attacking the girl. It will not happen again."
Valerie gave his brother a long look and even after searching his expression for the truth, he did not answer.
"Come on, you can’t be mad at me forever, brother. Forever is a long time," Theodore threw his hands up, pressuring him to give in already.
"You would never lay a hand on her?" Valerie asked him, eyes narrowed with distrust.
"You have my word, brother. I promise she would not be harmed by my own hands. It’s an oath I can’t break from and you know that."
While the Fae were manipulative and could go back on their words especially when the context of their promises are not clear, they couldn’t break out from an oath. They were bound to it and would suffer severe consequences if they even thought of breaking it.
"Swear it. Not just by your hands, but by your men and members of your court. Nor would you refuse help or hide information when she’s in danger." Valerie was smart enough to think of the loopholes that his dearest brother could take advantage of. He was Fae after all.
Theodore’s expression darkened, realizing that Valerie had thought it thoroughly and as well taking advantage of him.
He said through gritted teeth, "That girl would be the death of you."
"Do you or do you not swear it, brother?" Valerie demanded, not caring for the rest of his words.
There was a tick in Theodore’s jaw as he stared at his brother with a hardened look. For a moment there, the tension between them was so thick that it became apparent Theodore was going to turn it down, only for the spring prince to say, "I swear it."
"Thank you, brother," Valerie said, relaxing at once knowing that the magic had sealed it. Now it was one Fae less coming after Islinda, he would protect her with everything he has.
He looked at him, "How is your wound? I hope you have made a full recovery."
Although Theodore scowled at him, still annoyed with the unfair deal, he answered, "It was a nasty wound but the healers did their job. I’m definitely going to return the favor to that bastard."
"Return what favor to who?" Someone interrupted their conversation and when Theodore looked over his shoulder, he discovered it was the Fae queen and he straightened up in his seat.
"Your majesty," Theodore slightly bowed his head.
"Mother." Valerie greeted her too.
Queen Maeve walked over to the long table and took the seat adjoining the King’s and sat down gracefully.
Her eyes shifted to Theodore, her brow raised questioningly, "You were saying?"
"Trust me, it’s nothing of importance, your majesty, I was merely telling Valerie one of my famed tales about an altercation with a rogue Fae, " Theodore said, pinning Valerie with a knowing look.
Valerie in question had an expressionless face as he lifted a glass of water to his lips and took a sip.
"Is that so?" Queen Maeve said disinterested, however, she added almost immediately, "However, when would you start referring to Valerie with his title of crown prince."
Theodore’s head snapped up at that comment and Valerie called her attention, "Mother..." wishing he could hide his face.
The queen shot him a chastising look, "It has been years already. When is he ever going to learn?"
"I am not complaining. Not to mention..." Valerie looked towards Theodore, "He calls me crown prince while in public. What’s so bad about putting away the ego and title when in private moments like this?"
"Valerie! Do not tell me -"
"Who’s giving my lovely queen mother wrinkles this morning?" Andre walked in with his mother arm in arm, the both of them looking dashing and picturesque.
"Your majesty, the queen," Queen Consort Victoria and Andre’s mother curtsied to her co-wife wife and Queen Fae of the kingdom of Astaria, alongside her son, Andre.
"You’re here." Queen Maeve finally composed herself, refusing to make a spectacle of herself in front of everyone. While she got along with Victoria, she was still her rival and she would never lower her defenses enough for any of them to have an advantage over her.
"Yes, your majesty," Victoria said, intentionally avoiding the other seat adjacent to the King’s knowing whom it was reserved for, choosing another one for both her and her son.
However, that spirited son of hers was not behind her, and when she looked, he was beside Queen Maeve and bowing low to her. He took her hand and pressed a kiss to it, saying,
"My queen, you shouldn’t ruin your great beauty with such a frown."