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Finally, the king leaned forward as he rubbed the queen’s shoulder. “Aironell, I will admit that I’m not entirely pleased that Isabella brought that up.”
“Father, please don’t be upset with her. I-I was persistent.” She looked at him more sincerely than she ever had. “I just want to know how I’m like you, father.” Her eyes shone bright as she kept firm contact with him. “She told me about how the kingdom was different and you, well, you were Bachusa’s biggest champion.”
Aironell stood with her weight pressing down her arms full force on her hands. Hands that pressed into the table.
“Oh, sweetie.” His tone was soft. There was no rasp or sternness. His face gave nothing away.
She didn’t want him to try to back out of giving her an answer. “I promise I can take it, whatever the reason or answer. I, well, I’m not a little kid.” Aironell gazed at her mother who still had her mouth gaped open, but her eyes revealed a sense of understanding. Aironell snapped her attention back to her father. “I’m an adult by Bachusa standards, please?” She felt sure, ready.
King Francisco grabbed his wife’s hand, pulled it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Then he held onto her hand. Aironell smiled at the sight. It was hard to imagine him with another woman.
“Aironell,” the queen broke her silence. “You are right. You are an adult.” Queen Evalyn glanced to her husband and then continued. “We need you to know that this is hard for us.”
The king nodded. He looked grave but took a breath. “I’m not proud of what happened. Please don’t judge us too harshly.”
Aironell nodded and sat down in her chair. Her hands folded beneath her chin.
“Did you break her heart?”
The king swallowed and then shook his head. “Neither of us truly loved the other. No, I’m just ashamed because I single-handedly changed the course of her life.”
“I will never condemn you.” Her eyes shifted to her mother. “Both of you have been nothing but generous and kind to me.”
The queen blew her a kiss.
“That means more than you know,” King Francisco said. He placed his hands on the table and sat back, just a bit.
“Father, is this the reason we have a rebellion on our hands? I was told about how you worked hard to improve the kingdom, yet I know there are people that are not pleased with us.”
He grimaced as his hands rubbed at his muscled arms. “Aironell, you are quite wise, maybe even to clever.”
“We had no way of knowing that our marriage would have such an effect.” Queen Evalyn said.
“Your mother is right. Sweetheart, the princess I was to marry was not in love–at least not with me.” He lowered his gaze.
Aironell bit at her lower lip but she was alert. Maybe there was a peaceful way to end this rebellion.
“I’m sorry, father.”
“Don’t be. At one time that fact pained me, but things changed when I met your mother.” He took a sip of his tea. Aironell sat soaking in each detail.
“She was in love with a man from her own kingdom.”
Aironell frowned as her brows creased together.
“He was not considered a suitable match.” The queen added.
“What was wrong with him?” Aironell looked between the both of them. “Was he a bad man?”
The king did not look at her.
“No,” Queen Evalyn said. “He was from a family of sorcerers, like me.” Aironell tilted her head to the side and continued to frown.
“Her parents expected her to marry someone with…more to offer.”
“More to offer? What does that mean?” Aironell could feel this rage storm within her. “Does that mean what I think?”
“They wanted her married to a future king, and well, Bachusa could offer their kingdom an alliance; which they needed.”
