Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Were they lovers?
Carlton paid no mind to the identity of their visitor, his attention wholly consumed by the task of selecting an appropriately delectable sandwich from the lavish spread before him. He remained oblivious to the person’s approach, guided by Lady Maria with all the pomp and circumstance befitting a royal audience.
However, as the familiar voice rang out in greeting to Empress June, Carlton felt an unsettling sense of déjà vu wash over him. He paused mid-construction, his brow furrowing slightly as he strained to place the dulcet tones that had so abruptly intruded upon his culinary concentration.
"Your Majesty," the woman gushed saccharine sweetness, "it is an absolute honor beyond compare to bask in your radiant presence today. I am eternally indebted for your magnanimous invitation to partake in this most exquisite ritual of afternoon tea. Your boundless benevolence and generosity are truly without peer."
"My dear girl! I’m so pleased you could join us for tea. Please, do make yourself comfortable and sit beside Alaric here."
Slowly, deliberately, Carlton raised his head to confront this unwelcome intruder. As his gaze fell upon her visage, he felt a surge of shock and outrage welling up within him - so intense that it nearly choked him and caused him to sputter in indignation. When Empress June then had the audacity to order this vile creature to take a seat beside Alaric himself... well, let’s just say it was only through sheer force of will that Carlton managed to restrain himself from upending the entire table in a fit of rage.
The once carefree and slightly distracted Carlton had vanished in an instant, replaced by a cold and expressionless figure that radiated danger from every pore. Alaric, who had foolishly believed that today’s version of Carlton posed less of a threat than yesterday’s incarnation, found himself swiftly disabused of this notion. The crown prince now eyed his best friend warily, acutely aware that they were treading on very thin ice indeed.
A frigid, icy glare emanated from Carlton’s eyes as he fixed his gaze upon the woman now seated beside Alaric. The intensity of his stare was such that one might have reasonably expected frost to form on the very air between them - to flay the woman alive and wear her skin as a trophy of his rage. Kastiel, ever vigilant and attuned to the subtle shifts in Carlton’s demeanor, sprang into action with all haste.
Darting around the table with a speed belying his usual languid grace, Kastiel positioned himself beside Carlton and laid a firm hand upon the Duke’s shoulder. Etiquette and decorum be damned - there were far more pressing concerns at hand than any perceived slight against proper protocol. When faced with the looming specter of Carlton’s temper tantrums, impulsive outbursts, and absurd utterances threatening to unleash chaos upon them all... well, Kastiel was willing to sacrifice his own dignity for the greater good of preserving life and sanity within these hallowed walls.
"My head is spinning so fiercely," Kastiel groaned dramatically while massaging his temples. "I fear I must sit at once and partake of some sustenance, lest I swoon from sheer dizziness."
Empress June, her brow furrowed in confusion at Kastiel’s sudden and rather undignified display, chose to address him with a smile that did little to conceal her disapproval. "Kastiel," she began, her tone laced with gentle rebuke, "I must say that I had not anticipated such... changes in both you and Carlton. It is my sincere hope that you shall endeavor to conduct yourselves with greater decorum henceforth, so as not to bring any further shame upon the crown prince."
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Kastiel replied through gritted teeth forced into a semblance of a smile. His hand remained firmly planted upon Carlton’s shoulder even as he nodded his acquiescence. "I understand your concerns fully."
"And if you truly feel unwell," Empress June continued after taking another sip of her tea, clearly eager to move past this awkward interlude, "then by all means, do help yourself to some refreshment."
Kastiel nodded his understanding and proceeded to select a delicate pastry from the array of sweets, popping it into his mouth with exaggerated care. As he chewed slowly, savoring the confection for all he was worth, Kastiel leaned in close to Carlton’s ear and whispered urgently.
"Duke Carlton," he began, his voice low and soothing as if addressing a skittish colt, "I implore you to compose yourself. What could possibly have set you off so spectacularly upon laying eyes on Lady Charlotte?"
Indeed, it was none other than Charlotte herself who had been invited by Empress June - the very same woman who, in another world, had repeatedly wronged Carlton and caused him to suffer two miscarriages. Of course, this Charlotte bore no culpability for those past transgressions; she was merely an innocent and kind woman in this world.
Carlton’s reply came through gritted teeth, his icy glare never wavering from its target across the table. "How can I possibly maintain my composure when that vile woman has already murdered three innocent lives within my very own womb?" he seethed venomously. "The mere sight of her fills me with an overwhelming urge to exact vengeance upon her miserable existence!"
Kastiel blinked rapidly in stunned disbelief as he processed Carlton’s words. Déjà vu washed over him like a tidal wave - just yesterday, Carlton had leveled similar charges against Kastiel himself for the alleged murder of his eldest son. And not long after that, the Duke had also accused Marquis Dorian of sexually assaulting his other child.
Now, Lady Charlotte was being added to this rogue’s gallery of supposed conspirators bent on harming the offspring of Prince Alaric and Duke Carlton? Kastiel couldn’t help but feel that some cruel cosmic joke was being played at his expense. Was everyone in this blasted kingdom engaged in a secret competition to sabotage any potential heirs to the throne?
The sheer absurdity of it all threatened to short-circuit what little remained of Kastiel’s already overtaxed sanity. He pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers, massaging gently as if trying to ward off an impending headache.
Alaric, though unable to make out the specifics of Carlton and Kastiel’s hushed conversation, could nonetheless discern from Kastiel’s strained expression that Carlton was likely conjuring up some manner of dire scenario involving Charlotte and their ’offspring’. The crown prince mentally prepared himself for whatever fresh paranoia or accusation might be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, Empress June and Charlotte engaged in polite conversation, but the Empress found her gaze continually drawn to her eldest son. As she observed Alaric’s intense focus on Carlton, a palpable sense of unease began to take root in her heart.
Whispers had reached her ears the previous day - scandalous rumors suggesting an intimate relationship between Crown Prince Alaric and Duke Carlton, as well as the existence of a secret child from their union. The very notion made Empress June pale with shock and dismay.
Could it truly be that her beloved son preferred the company of men? And not just any man, but Carlton - this towering, ruggedly masculine figure who seemed more at home on a battlefield than in a palace? Reflecting back on their relationship, she realized how inseparable they always seemed to be... Were they truly lovers?
Empress June blanched at the very notion. Her mind reeled as she grappled with the implications of her son’s apparent sexuality and his choice of partner
Charlotte, noting the sudden pallor in Empress June’s complexion, inquired with genuine concern: "Your Majesty, are you quite alright? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost."
"I... I’m perfectly fine, dear. Just a passing moment of distraction," Empress June insisted with a strained smile that looked more like a grimace. Alaric, noticing his mother’s pallid complexion and the forced nature of her grin, fixed her with a worried gaze.
"Are you quite certain, Mother? You appear rather unwell. Perhaps we should summon the royal physician to examine you?" he suggested with genuine concern.
"No, no need for such fuss," the Empress demurred, shaking her head firmly before turning to regard both Alaric and Charlotte with an expression that was equal parts hopeful and apprehensive. "In fact, I was just thinking about your relationship..."
Alaric tensed visibly at his mother’s words, bracing himself for what he suspected would be an uncomfortable conversation. Charlotte cocked her head curiously as she awaited the Empress’ next words.
"...You two have known each other since childhood," Empress June continued carefully, choosing her words with deliberate precision. "Though you may not interact frequently in public settings..."
Everyone present immediately grasped the implication behind the Empress’ measured phrasing. Alaric’s eyes widened as he realized where this line of inquiry was headed, and he opened his mouth to interject - only for his mother to speak over him in a rush.
"...I believe it would be most advantageous if you were to take Lady Charlotte as your wife."
"Mother, no!!! I cannot possibly marry Lady Charlotte!!!" the crown prince exclaimed in a panicked voice, his eyes darting nervously towards Carlton as he desperately tried to avoid the matchmaking attempt. Empress June noted her son’s fearful glances and grew even more grim-faced.
"Alaric," she said sternly, fixing him with a serious stare. "You are of an age where it is high time for you to take a wife. Wouldn’t it be prudent for you to wed now, so that your position as Crown Prince may be strengthened by the presence of children?"
"Mother ..." Alaric began plaintively, his expression one of utter desperation as his mother broached the subject of offspring. As if on cue, Carlton slammed his teacup down onto the table with such force that both cup and surface shattered violently.
Before anyone could react to this sudden outburst, and Kastiel hadn’t even managed to clamp a hand over his mouth in time - Carlton had already begun to vent his ire in no uncertain terms, much to Alaric and Kastiel’s shared dismay. He jabbed an accusatory finger at Charlotte who regarded him with utter bewilderment.
"Mother! You dare suggest marrying my beloved husband to that wicked woman who murdered three unborn children from my womb?!"
An immediate and deafening silence descended upon the garden. Alaric felt as though he wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and bury himself in it, praying that he might awaken a century hence in a world free of the infuriating duke.
