The Kindness of Kings

by Chelsea Ballinger

  +

  As Mina and Louie slept in bliss, dreaming of each other, Caius received a request on his way home on the royal jet.

  “Your Majesty,” Bryan said, hanging up the mobile jet phone. “That was Ian Mims, chief of the royal council in Magna. He says King Kenneth would like a meeting with a representative from the royal family. Preferably you or Prince Sedgwick.”

  “I knew they would call soon,” Caius said calmly, sipping his Brandy. “They want to make sure the rumors aren’t true.”

  “What shall we do, Sir?”

  “Someone will meet with them. Ease their worries that there is no war coming for them.”

  “You’re sending Sedgwick?”

  “No, Sedgwick has better things to do; besides he is still in Gibbeth.”

  “Well if not you or Sedgwick Sir, than who? Someone from the Republic?”

  “No… Louie.”

  Chapter 17

  What do you want?

  “Louie!” Louie at the sound of Bryan’s voice outside his door. Bryan banged on the door as Louie looked down at his chest to see a sleeping Mina. After another bang on the door, Mina sat up quickly. She looked back at Louie then at the door.

  “What?!” Louie called, still staring at Mina.

  “Your Highness, it’s Bryan. The King needs to speak with you immediately.”

  Louie gout out of bed naked and searched for his clothes, quickly putting on pants from the night before and walked over to his door. He looked back at Mina who quickly wrapped herself in the bed sheet and ran into the bathroom.

  Louie opened the door. “What?”

  Bryan eyed a flushed Louie curiously and looked over his shoulder. He saw clothes sprawled on the floor and the comforter hanging off his bed. “Do you have company?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  Bryan smacked his lips and continued. “The King needs to speak to you.”

  “I’ll talk to him later.”

  “No, now. It is a serious matter.”

  Louie rolled his eyes. “Okay, I’m coming.” He slammed the door in Bryan’s face and went to his dresser drawer to fetch a shirt.

  “What’s going on?” Mina asked stepping out of the bathroom.

  “I don’t know. I have to…” Louie stared at Mina and recapped last night. They needed to talk. “I’m going to talk to my father real quick.”

  “Okay,” Mina nodded, also recapping last night’s events.

  “You can leave after ten minutes, I think. No one should be out there if you leave through the kitchen in the west wing.”

  “Do you want me to leave?”

  Louie paused. “No.”

  Mina smiled. “Then I won’t.”

  Louie nodded and hurried out the door, annoyed at his father’s demand to see him. He had so much to talk to Mina about that he couldn’t bear any torment from his father now.

  While Louie went to his father’s office, Mina threw on her clothes and paced back and forth in Louie’s bedroom. She and Louie had done the unthinkable and it was everything she could have dreamed of. Everything she could have wanted from a night of passion. But what could come of it? How could they do this?

  Mina paused, noticing a familiar set up she had seen since she was fourteen. Louie’s shoes leaned against his bed. His shirt was folded perfectly at the foot of the bed. She never knew anyone but the maids to fold things perfectly, but she realized when it came to Louie, the impossible truth was possible. She walked to his walk-in closet and slowly opened it. At the end of the long walk-in closet, against the wall, there were perfectly folded shirts, and shoes situated perfectly along them. She thought about the aspirin that sat next to her when she had passed out in Louie’s bed months ago. And she knew. She just knew.

  +

  “You want me to what?” Louie stared with wide eyes at his father.

  “Go to Magna. Meet with them; assure everything is alright between us.”

  “And is it? Is everything right between us?”

  “Do you think I’m stupid?”

  “I don’t know. You’re sending me of all people to discuss treaty laws with one of our biggest allies.”

  “I’m sure your charismatic ways will be enough to convince them.”

  Louie sat back. “When would I have to leave?”

  “Today.”

  “I have…a meeting with Mina. We need to discuss some things.”

  “Well take her with you. This meeting might get you donations for the Serenity Foundation. You never know. I hear King Kenneth’s wife is always looking for charities outside the country to help.”

  Louie thought to himself how this would be a perfect opportunity for them to expand the foundation and talk about everything that happened and what it meant.

  “This would also help your brother,” Bryan added. “The Crown Prince has been under a lot of stress lately.”

  “You don’t want your brother to stress any more than he needs to, do you Louie?” Caius asked, smirking.

  “You don’t have to manipulate me Father. If it’s for Sedgwick and this country and a way for me to help the foundation, I’ll do it.”

  “My, my. You almost sound like an adult.”

  “You almost sound threatened by my sudden change.”

  Caius’ face fell at Louie snarky comment. “Bryan will arrange everything. Be ready at noon.”

  Louie left the office and headed for his room and back to Mina. His heart jumped the closer he reached his door. Once in, he shut the door and faced an already dressed Mina. He saw this as a sign of regret.

  “So, what did your father need to talk to you about?”

  Louie laughed to himself and scratched the back of his head. “Um… he wants me to go to Magna and discuss the peace treaty alliance. Assure them that everything is okay with us.”

  “Is it?”

  “I have no idea, but I’m going.”

  “When do you have to leave?”

  “Today.”

  “Oh.” Mina felt a certain loss at Louie’s news. She didn’t want to be further away from him, not now after it was just beginning.

  Louie noticed a slight unease in Mina’s “oh.” It gave him relief and courage to continue.

  “He also… well, he suggested you come with me. He said that we could propose the Serenity Foundation to the Queen.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, do you want me to go?”

  Louie paused for a second. “I don’t know…” He paused again. “Yes. But the real question is do you want to go?”

  Mina stared at him and then looked to the side at his walk-in closet. Louie followed her gaze and wondered why she was so focused on his closet.

  She looked back at him and answered. “Okay.”

  Chapter 18

  Magna

  Magna was quiet different from Serenity, also known for its beauty, but with more of a tropical nature. Located in the Southern hemishpere where the temperature never fell below forty degrees, Magna was known for its wonderful tourist attractions and the purest organic produce.

  “You okay?” Louie asked Mina while in the limo with Bartleby.

  “Yeah. I’m good.” She looked at Bartleby. “Like the suit, B.”

  “Thank you.” Bartleby smiled and adjusted his tie. “The Prince’s assistant has to look his best.”

  “You guys are the most unconventional Prince and royal assistant in life, you know that, right?” Mina laughed.

  “Yes, but that’s what’s so great about us. Isn’t that right, Louie?”

  “Yep.”

  The awkward silence returned and Bartleby eyed them suspiciously. “So, did you two have sex or something?”

  They stared wide eyed at Bartleby, who started laughing. “Holy shit, you did! Up top!” Bartleby raised his hands to both of them, waiting for a high five, but immediately dropped them when he saw the glares that were thrown at him.

  “My bad. But I’m really happy for you guys
. I was wondering when it was going to happen. Was it good?”

  Mina flushed and shot daggers at him, along with Louie.

  Bartleby smiled to himself. “Yep, it was good.”

  Mina and Louie both shifted in their seats and cleared their throats.

  “So... can I tell Christina?”

  “Bartleby!” Louie snapped.

  “Shutup,” Mina added softly.

  Bartleby zipped his lips and continued staring at them as they looked out their windows, nervous to look at each other and acknowledge their situation. The awkward limo ride was saved when they arrived at the large black and gold gates of the Royal Palace, home of the King and Queen of Magna.

  “Oh my God,” Mina said as she laid eyes on the beautiful yellow and white enchanted home that was as big as Serenity Castle, but more beuatiful. Serenity Castle was dark and beautiful, but the Royal Palace was bright and seemed warmer.

  Two butlers came out of the palace doors and one of them opened Louie’s door. He stepped out and helped Mina out. Bartleby stepped out and the three of them stared at the beautiful attraction.

  “You ever been here, Louie?” Bartleby asked.

  “Yes, when I was younger, before my mother died.”

  “Your Higness.” A short and skinny blonde woman in a pin stripe jacket and skirt and beige heels stepped down from the steps and curtsied for Louie. “We are so happy that you could make it. I am the King’s royal assistant, Margeret Crawley.”

  “Hello.”

  Bartleby cleared his throat and stretched out his hand. “I am Prince Louie’s royal assistant, Bartleby Simms.”

  Mina snickered at Bartleby’s hilarious effort to sound professional.

  The woman eyed him curiously. “Hello. I wasn’t aware His Higness had an assistant.”

  “It’s not official yet.”

  Louie gripped Bartleby’s shoulder and laughed. “Mr. Simms is my dear friend and confidant. That’s as official as it gets, Mr. Simms.” He grabbed Mina and brought him next to him. “And this is my associate, Ms. Mina Farren.”

  “Hello,” Mina smiled and shook her hand.

  “Lovely to meet you. The King and Queen are in their study. Follow me, if you will.” The trio followed Mrs. Crawley through the gold and red foyer of the palace. Bartleby and Mina gawked at the centuries-old paintings that hung on every space of the wall, as they walked through the artifacts room where evidence of the history of Magna resided in glass cases with velvet red ropes surrounding them.

  “Oh my God!” Mina stopped in her tracks and everyone else did too. She pointed frantically at the large case to an old wooden spear with a real silver pointy end attached to it. “That’s the spear of King Aries.”

  “The what?” Louie asked, confused.

  “She’s talking about the second King of Magna,” Mrs. Crawley interjected. “Long ago during the Trio War with Gibbeth and Lorell, King Aries fought with his soildiers. Back then the kingdoms were small so there were only an army of four hundred against Gibbeth who had a thousand and Lorell who had maybe a hundred. That spear is what he used to kill the King of Gibbeth. Once the King of Gibbeth died, his men lost the will to fight. Magna took advantage of that and defeated them, along with Lorell.”

  “You really didn’t pay attention in history, did you?” Mina laughed and shook her head at Louie.

  “Nope, he was too busy either sleeping or paying attention to you three seats in front of him.”

  Everyone turned their heads at Bartleby who was texting Christina about Louie and Mina. Ms Crawley stared at the Prince and Mina, confused, while Louie sneered at his friend and Mina looked at him.

  “I guess that’s another one of your secrets, huh?” Mina said in a harsh tone, and Louie did not understand why.

  “Um... well if you all will continue following me,” Mrs. Crawley broke the tension between them and Mina followed her. Louie grabbed Bartleby by the back of his neck.

  “Ow!” Bartleby winced.

  “I think I liked you better when you were fat,” Louie said and they followed Mrs. Crawley and Mina.

  When they reached the study, they were greeted by a tall man tossing a small child in the air.

  “Your Majesty.” The tall man caught his little girl and faced Mrs. Crawley and the others. “Your guests have arrived.”

  He smiled and sat his daughter down next to two other children who were playing with toys. His wife rose from the couch and brushed off her beige dress.

  Louie found himself nervous and slowly walked up to the King of Magna and bowed.

  “Your Majesty.”

  The King eyed him suspiciously, then after a pause, stuck out his hand. “Your Higness,” he said as Louie shook his hand. “Glad you could make it. I was wondering when your father would stop dodging our calls.”

  “Kenneth, give the boy a break,” his Queen said.

  Louie bowed his head to her. “Your Majesty.”

  She took his hand in both hands and shook it gently. “Lovely to see you again, Louie.”

  Louie stared at her, confused. “You were only a child when we met and I was a newly married Princess to this one.”

  “Princess Arianna,” Louie said and smiled. “I mean Queen Arianna.”

  “Yes, a lot has changed. You look just like your mother. She was a great Queen. When they vistied she was kind to a then-nineteen-year-old scared Princess.”

  “Too bad we can’t say the same thing about your father and his kindness.”

  Everyone in the room stilled at Kenneth’s glare at Louie. Arianna wanted to smack her husband for his rudeness, while Mina and Bartleby wanted to grab Louie and run away from the palace. Louie stared the King up and down and nodded.

  “Yeah, the old man is a real bastard, isnt he?”

  Mina and Bartleby closed their eyes and hung their heads, surprised at Louie’s unprofessional comment and profanity in front of a King, of all people.

  The King stared at Louie with a blank expression and then, shocking everyone, chuckled and smiled. He smacked Louie on the shoulder and pointed to him. “I always knew you were a smart kid.”

  They watched in shock as King Kenneth and Louie laughed with each other and acted like the best of friends. Here was Louie, a Prince that was not in a suit, insulting his father in front of another King, and yet accepted and liked. As Mina thought, when it came to Louie, nothing was impossible.

  “I would like to introduce you to my friend and personal assistant, Bartleby and my friend and business associate, Mina Farren.” Mina and Bartleby bowed to the King and Queen who welcomed them with smiles.

  “These are our children,” Mrs. Arianna said as she picked up the youngest. “This is Lila. She is two.” She patted the heads of the two children standing in front of her. “This is Abram; he’s seven, and this is Collin. He is five.”

  Louie glanced at Kenneth in shock. Two sons close in age. Maybe technology fooled them like it did their parents.

  Chapter 19

  Say too Much

  The King and Queen of Magna and their guests settled on the backyard patio.

  “Mina, why don’t we sit here and have a drink?” Queen Arianna said, leading Mina to the brown deck where a white tent was centered over a white table with three chairs. Princess Lila sat in front of Mina and smiled at her while Bartleby played with the two young Princes in the field.

  “Are you going to be okay?” Louie asked Mina before he headed for a walk with the King.

  Queen Arianna noticed the slight tenderness and love in Louie’s eyes and voice.

  “Yes,” Mina said softly.

  Mina watched as Louie and the King walked across the lawn and then glanced down at the little girl in front of her. “She’s so beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Arianna said as one of the maids came out with a tray of two glasses and a pitcher of mixed drinks that contained mixtures of fruit. As the maid poured their glasses, Mina couldn’t help but think about the child she had lost. She realized in that moment how
she would love to have a child again.

  “So, Mina, how old are you?”

  “Twenty-two, Your Majesty.”

  “Please, call me Arianna.” Mina could feel the warmth Arianna displayed toward her. “I remember that age. It was awesome. Being thirty-one is awesome too. Remember Mina, the older women get, the wiser; the older men get, the crankier and slower, isn’t that right, Lila?”

  They all laughed and as Mina and the Queen bonded over shared love for children and views on men, Louie and Kenneth walked across the lawn with three body guards far behind them. One of them was Weseley.

  “I understand your concern, Sir, but my father insists that we are not and never will be at war with you,” Louie said to the King.

  “Louie, when I met your father, I was a kid myself, but even I knew the greed inside him. I’m sorry for being so bold in saying that.”

  “No Sir, I understand. He is my father, but I am sure you have heard the rumors of our lack of relationship.”

  “Yes, I have, and I am sorry for that. My father and I too had a strained relationship.”

  “My brother Sedgwick also has a say in it and I am sure that even if there was a chance, he would persuade our father not to. If anyone can, it is him.”

  “Yes, but is that said to be the same in reverse?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I have met Sedgwick, and he reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger... before Arianna. My father could easily persuade me to go his way because of my eagerness to please him. So, can the same be said for Sedgwick, Louie? If your father was thinking of forging an alliance with Gibbeth, could he easily persuade your brother to agree with him?”

  Louie could not answer. He knew his brother and he knew that when Caius said “jump,” Sedgwick asked “how high?”

  “No, Your Majesty, I do not know the answer to that. I can only say that my brother is a good man and I have faith in him and his decisions. Also as member of the roya family, I give you my word thst I will do my best to see to it that no harm or foul play comes to our peace treaty.”