Sigrid almost jumped out of her chair. She had been giggling as the fates of others were sealed, never imagining that her family was on the list. She looked at Esme and Esme looked at her. Both of them were stunned.
Esme had not even been given a second to digest the fact that she was the only female minister of Eldoria when her grandmother shoved a potential husband her way. Not just any potential husband but the brother of the crown princess!!
"Err..."
"Err what?" The Queen consort asked. "Are you waiting for me to send you out of the room like I did your cousin Regan?" She asked.
Esme shook her head. "There is no need for such extreme measures. However, I would like to know what the crown princess’s opinion is on this matter considering the fact that he is her brother."
"I am..." Sigrid’s eyes darted to the Queen consort. "I am staying out of it for now." She would have to wait and hear what Elowin had to say. If he lacked any interest in Esme then she would intervene.
Esme’s mouth fell open. "You can’t do that." she cried out as Sigrid broke her little heart.
The Queen consort boldlysaid, "You are the first woman minister of Eldoria and like it or not, this is going to raise a few hackles. Men will point fingers at you and say the position you hold has prevented you from marrying. Others will challenge you while claiming that you cannot run a ministry and a home at the same time. There is a lot for you to prove Esme and it is going to take you years to prove it.
In due time, you will become a target of nobles or men with hidden ambitions. Having a well established relationship is a form of protection for yourself. It helps that the young man we are talking about is a mage from a noble family. His family will defend you as much yours does."
Sigrid scoffed slowly, the Queen consort was really calculating and she had no worry at all that Sigrid could carry what was being said back to her family.
"Just look at the crown princess, it took a good marriage for her to get the necessary power and backing to challenge the old traditions of our land. A good marriage will help you too." Sylvie gestured at Sigrid and Roland.
"But he might not want to marry me." Esme said. "He is an adult man with a mind of his own. Just because you suggest a marriage between us does not mean..."
"Grow a spine and negotiate with him." The Queen consort raised her voice. "He is unmarried and not courting any woman. His passion is his work as a mage, he has no time or interest in courting. I knew a man like him once...Sir Anton Baker. He was obsessed with creating the best swords.
Every second of his time was spent in his forge hammering away at various metals. His wife, Jovanna pursued him and they married successfully. You can do the same thing, if it does not work out then I will find you someone else."
Esme looked at Sigrid.
"Don’t look at Sigrid, she is not going to help you out." The Queen Consort said.
She was tired of going round and round so she used magic to send Esme flying out of the room. Two knights that were waiting captured her and practically abducted her into the carriage.
The queen consort sent off all the unmarried royals and the married ones. Then, she turned her attention to the married but childless group, two men and one woman. Doug was one of them and he was not too pleased to be one of those that had to be put in line.
"So, I invited a doctor to check everyone’s health. Increasing the size of the royal family by having children is one of your duties. Doug, I will start with you. You are a duke, you must know that without heirs the title is empty. It might as well be stripped from you."
Doug stood up quickly, very panicked. He had not been made a minister, he was a national security advisor and that position held a lot of hot air. He knew his opinions would not be taken as he had never served in the army. All he really had to hold on to was his duke title.
"Grandmother, you can’t do that to me. I was given this title by the king."
"Roland is now the representative of the king, he can strip that title from you." The queen consort reminded him. She raised her hand before he could lament. "Keep your calm, I am not suggesting that this be done. I have questions however, why have you not had a child. You have been married for six years. I am sure that you know people are talking. If the problem lies with your wife and it cannot be fixed even with magic you have two options, take another wife or adopt some of the lovely... many bastards your brothers and cousins have gifted this royal family with."
"I won’t take another wife." He said strongly.
"I am not finished." The Queen consort cut him off. "If the problem lies with you and magic cannot fix it, the solution again is to adopt. I cannot suggest that your wife take another husband." She turned her head to Roland and Sigrid. "Can you both think of any other solutions?"
Sigrid had no plans of getting involved in Doug’s life. Whether he had children or not was none of her business unless something changed.
"I have nothing to add."
Doctor Nory, whom the queen consort had sent for arrived and he started doing health checks, beginning with Galen which was unnecessary because he had children. His fertility was unquestionable.
"Grandmother, this is unnecessary." He voiced out in a complaining voice.
"I agree," she nodded once.
Galen pulled his hand away from the doctor that was taking his pulse. He was a man of immense virility, why he had been asked to stay with his childless cousins was a puzzle.
Doctor Nory who also happened to be a mage had found something so he looked at the Queen consort and said, "Prince Galen is healthy but his lungs are beginning to weaken. I advise him to cut back on the smoking."
Galen was ready to escape and he waved at them, turned on his heels and dashed out of the door at peak speed.
Doctor Nory moved to Duke Doug who reluctantly accepted to be checked.
"He has a low sperm count as a result of a disease he suffered eight years ago. I am afraid that it will be quite difficult for his grace the duke to have a child using ordinary means. "
Sigrid’s lips formed a pout, she blinked and tapped her hands together slowly. Her conclusion was simple: Doug had probably suffered from a sexually transmitted disease which damaged his sperm-producing cells.
The fact that his wife was still with him even though he had a difficulty in that department made her wonder. Did she know about it?