Nicholas immediately glanced around the room and tried to remember which part of the castle's layout usually had their secret passages. "If I were going to hide the passageway, then…"
He approached the wall behind the bed and crouched down. Nicholas touched a loose brick and twisted it around. He heard the sound of stones moving and craned his head around in search of a doorway.
A gust of wind suddenly drew his attention to one of the curtains. He pulled it open and saw the dark opening. He finally stepped inside. It reminded Nicholas of the time when he was in his Uncle Joseph's castle.
It didn't take too long for the king to locate his mother when he saw another exit. He stepped out into the light and found the Queen-mother hunched over several books. There were several tall bookshelves around her.
Nicholas realized that they were in a part of the royal library where he had never once stepped in before.
"I can't believe my mother is well enough to stand up and go around when she was on her deathbed just six months ago." Nicholas watched his mother nearly jump out in shock.
"Nicholas!" Queen Marianne turned to her son and immediately pushed the books away. "What are you doing here so late, my son?"
Nicholas looked at the several titles over her shoulder. "I could ask the same with you, mother. Do you do this often?"
His mother sighed softly. "Are you not happy that your mother is now in good health?"
"Please don't bring that point up and make me seem like a bad son." Nicholas shook his head and glared at her. "You made me swear on your deathbed to get married to Lady Karenina but now you're able to sneak around and read books!"
"Well… this is a different scenario." Queen Marianne glanced at her books, but then looked at her son. "Besides, Nicholas. You're already aware that it is a norm to have arranged marriages. You were never opposed to it before."
"I understand that it's not strange for people to marry for prestige, power, or for the growth of the kingdom." Nicholas looked at his mother intently. "But what about you and father?"
"I hated your father before." Queen Marianne pursed her lips. "You've seen how he is."
"What?" Nicholas' eyes widened.
"But I got along well with him after we both adjusted ourselves to each other. As long as there is respect, the marriage will work on its own," the queen added.
Nicholas shook his head in frustration. "Mother.. don't say that. Nothing will work on its own."
"You are too young. You don't understand," Queen Marianne insisted.
Nicholas took a deep breath, looked away, and then looked at his mother again. "Mother.. let me ask you a question."
"Go ahead."
"Were you happy?"
"Of course I was happy. My son, it seems strange to you, but doesn't it make sense that people can learn how to get along with each other and fall in love?" The queen dowager laughed weakly. "Parents do their best to find the best match for their children and ensure a bright future for them."
Nicholas frowned. "Mother, if it's a marriage for power, then Lady Karenina would not be our first choice either. We have nothing to gain from her family politically, economically or socially at all. Her father is a sniveling badger in my eyes."
"Nicholas!"
Nicholas remembered how the Viscount was willing to please everyone. He remained steadfast and looked at her. "Well, mother?"
"I have my own reasons for choosing Lady Karenina, and…" Queen Marianne looked at her son sadly. She still wasn't sure about her son's condition so she had poured her time into reading and researching. She wanted to make sure that Nicolas was truly cured. "So, what changed?"
"What do you mean?" Nicholas frowned.
"Why are you vehemently opposed to this marriage? I'm not asking you to love Lady Karenina." Queen Marianne looked at her son. "Your heart can belong to someone else, but please don't ruin the reputation of the poor girl."
"You care more about others than you care about me." Nicholas smiled sadly.
"It's because you're not even giving the girl a single chance at all." Queen Marianne shook her head. "You've shut her off… that I can't help but wonder, are you in love with someone else, Nicholas? Is that why you wish to cancel?"
Nicholas stared at his mother and was tempted to say yes, yes he fell for someone else. However, could he really admit that he was longing for Duke Romanov's wife? It was far better to lie.
He could say anything about Sophie.
"Fine. I won't cast her away myself, Mother, because I respect your wishes." Nicholas frowned. "But if Lady Karenina has her pride, she will realize that it's far better for her to break off the engagement."
***
While Queen Marianne and Nicholas conversed in the privacy of a secret royal library, one concerned father that came from a low and humble noble family already barged in his daughter's room late at night to express his disappointment and concerns.
It has already been quite some time since King Nicholas Hannebergh announced his engagement with Lady Karenina Verhoven, but unfortunately, it seemed like whatever the young woman did had no effect whatsoever on the busy king.
King Nicholas still had not talked about his plans to prepare for the wedding. He always seemed so busy and couldn't spend quality time with her, his future wife.
Since the Verhovens were only a small family from the lower nobility, they didn't have the political power to pressure the king. So, they could only wait.
"You have disappointed me, Karenina. Your task is quite simple and you have your mother's beautiful face, but there is no improvement whatsoever." Viscount Verhoven paced back and forth in his daughter's room.
"Father…"
Viscount Verhoven sighed. "I'm finally able to converse with people far above my status and yet I was rebuffed by one of them. Duke Siegfried spoke about how His Majesty was closer to the Royal Lycan Guard than you and shamed us."
Lady Karenina glanced down at her hands, teary-eyed. "I'm sorry for failing your expectations, father. It's just incredibly hard to get close to His Majesty when he always makes a lot of excuses."
Tears started welling up in her eyes. She was truly sad about her situation. Six months ago, she thought she would soon become a bride. However, now, she didn't know anymore.
"I applaud you for getting close to the queen dowager, but you still haven't gotten close to His Majesty at all." Viscount Verhoven clicked his tongue. "You met him as a prince and now he's king but there's still nothing. Are the rumors truly true?"
"What rumors, father?" Lady Karenina batted her eyes.
"That he actually prefers the same sex." Viscount Verhoven sighed and rubbed his face. "If what Duke Siegfred said is truly accurate then it seems that we must give up on trying to obtain his affection."
Lady Karenina fell silent and didn't know what to say. It seemed like her father was choosing to believe that Nicholas couldn't love Karenina at all and it stung her.
It was like a slap on her cheek. Was she really so unloveable that Nicholas suddenly became interested in men?
.
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From Missrealitybites:
Hahaha... I think Nicholas probably fanned the rumors so Karenina will think twice about marrying him.
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