Chapter 89 - Parlez With The King
"What was so urgent that the Marquess had to send his messenger yesterday asking for a parlez with me?" A gruff yet surprisingly soothing voice echoed in the large empty hall.
Marquess Sullivan Samed looked up after he finished the proper greeting that was fit to be given to the King of Rosnehyde.
He had entered the magnificent-looking Throne room along with Duke Brodie a few moments ago and now, he was standing before the King himself.
Sitting on the throne was the man who would soon be touching the milestone of being alive for thirty years.
Bright blonde hair that loosely fell over his shoulders glimmered under the regal golden crown that adorned his head.
His face had kind features and a soothing aura which made one feel comforted by just staying in their presence.
If it wasn't for his legendary blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes which were the trademark of the Royal Family of Rosenhyde, people would mistake him for a wise sage.
However, the silent and calm aura would disappear if someone or something were to threaten the peace of his Kingdom or the safety of his family.
'Let us hope that he stays this calm and kind after he hears what I have come here to say.' Sullivan wished as he cleared his throat to speak up.
King Ophire Rosenhyde sat upon his throne which was elevated by a few steps above the ground level and glanced at the man standing before him, lost in his thoughts.
He then glanced at his close aide and right-hand man, Duke Maldock Brodie who now stood at the bottom of the steps.
The Duke smiled at the King's curious eyes and then turned to Marquess Samed who was flipping through the pages of the heavy book that he had brought along with him to the Palace.
"I have something important to speak with you, Your Majesty." Sullivan declared in a bold and clear voice when he finally found what he was looking for.
King Ophire recognized the book that the man was holding and then turned his gaze to his face, following which he gave him a nod.
'You wouldn't be allowed inside if you did not have something important to say.' King Ophire controlled the urge to snicker at the young man who was called the 'Most intelligent man' in Amarthea.
Since the King loved his privacy the most, his citizens rarely got the chance to see him and hence they had no clue about his real personality.
He waited for Sullivan to collect his thoughts while his eyes were focused on the book which contained the history of this Kingdom from its emergence.
"My King, there seems to be a problem that might arise in the future if we do not make certain changes to the policies made by our deceased King, your father." Sullivan Samed finally uttered what he had come here for.
The calm and serene atmosphere in the throne room changed in an instant when these words echoed throughout the room.
Sullivan shuddered when he felt eyes on him from different corners of the room.
He was certain that those sharp and stern gazes were from the hidden knights, the black shadow knights who were always present by the King's side.
"What are you trying to imply, Marquess? Elaborate!" King Ophire commanded as his voice grew louder than before.
His family had always been his bottom line and he would not spare anyone who would even dream of touching them.
'Is he trying to taint my dead father's image?' King Ophire pondered as he continued glaring at the man.
Sullivan felt like throwing up the refreshments he had been served earlier in the Royal Parlor when he was subjected to this gruesome treatment.
"Pardon, My King! I have no intention of pointing fingers at King Greggor's policies." Sullivan stammered as he tried to keep his shaking feet still.
"I only wish to point out something that has become a problem due to the growing population." He explained his reasons for appearing in this room.
King Ophire withdrew the pressure of the regal yet frightening aura that he had aimed at the now trembling man.
'That brat has made me go through so much!' Sullivan cursed the little girl whose brain had to figure out the flaws in the policies when he was present.
If she had never told him about this matter then he would never have been subjected to such a scary experience in his life.
"Speak your mind." King Ophire's calm voice made him look up once again.
The room went back to normal and it seemed as though he had imagined the entire episode in his mind.
Yet the trembling feet that refused to stay still was proof that what he had just gone through was not a figment of his imagination.
"My King, it was brought to my notice that if ever we face the unfortunate situation of a third plague then the consequences might be dire for the Rosenhyde Kingdom." He reveals after calming himself to the best of his abilities.
King Ophire's expressions once again changed but this time to those of concern and curiosity.
His straight back stiffened when he heard the word 'plague' being uttered.
The plagues that had devastated the Kingdom when his father was still alive and then the one which he had to face as the King were still fresh in his mind.
His ears were perked as he attentively listened to what Marquess Sullivan Samed had to say in regards to this matter.
The longer he listened, the deeper his brows furrowed until it seemed as though the two distinct eyebrows almost touched each other.
After Sullivan completed his speech, he took a deep breath in to calm his ragged breathing because he spoke for a long time.
While he was catching his breath, King Ophire and Duke Brodie were contemplating and trying to gauge the problem that was made known to them.
"This seems to be a flaw that had been neglected by the town planners." Maldock Bodie muttered while rubbing his chin then caressed his long ginger beard that reached his neck.
Sullivan nodded in agreement with Duke Brodie's word and then glanced at the king who had yet to express his opinion.
After what seemed like an eternity for Sullivan as he stood on pins and needles in the eagerness of what His Majesty might say, he finally noticed the King looking up.
"There does seem to be such a shortcoming that we were not aware of before this day." He acknowledged that even though he could have stayed mum about it.
The image of the elegance and nobility that the King possessed in Sullivan's eyes grew bigger than the image of the indulgent and doting father that he had seen in recent times.
'He is the King after all!' Sullivan chided himself for his distorted view of their King and then gave a humble nod.
King Ophire's shining blue eyes which had yet to lose their radiance leered at the man then at the book in his hand.
He had already thought up a plan on how to fix this problem but he would have to consult with his ministers and the Royal Medical Association before he could take a step further.
Sullivan had completed his work here and had decided to take his leave as he would soon have to reach the other side of the vast palace grounds for his class.
The class he was thinking about was his lesson with the Royal Princess Felicia and her playmates, Glennise Brodie and Rika Kiron.
Just as he was about to ask for permission from the King, he halted when the King himself posed a question.
"Marquess, you said earlier that this matter was brought to your notice." King Ophire mentioned which was answered with a fervent nod.
"Yes, Your Majesty. That is correct." Sullivan responded with his words when he felt that his gesture could be considered disrespectful.
'Spending time with that disrespectful child is causing me to forget my manners.' He reprimanded his own behavior.
"Then does mean there was someone who thought of this before you did?" Ophir once again polled the Royal Tutor.
Sullivan felt that the wise King that he had heard a lot about was still a little slow on the intake.
"Yes, Your Majesty it is true." He replied with another positive answer.
'He does not act like the sharpest mind in the capital.' Ophire derided the man who was not able to understand the direction in which this conversation was heading.
While the two men were forming a bad opinion about the other in their minds, the only normal person there decided to give them a helping hand to get this over with.
"Marquess Samed, would you be so kind as to reveal this great mind who was able to grasp the fault in our generation's old policy?" Maldock Brodie requested with a sincere smile.
Sullivan finally understood what they wished to know and nodded as a proud and slightly arrogant smile emerged on his face.
"It was none other than my prized pupil, the only daughter of Earl St. Claire." He revealed and reveled in the expressions of surprise and shock that appeared on their faces which were calm and stoic until now.
"Yvonne St. Claire." The name that they had heard before, once again echoed in the large throne room.
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