"This is a wonderful evening. Family time I see you spoil me"
" Dad we have dinner everyday together." Lincoln His heir said making him laugh.
"You know what I mean. Your mother works so much sometimes I wonder if she ever sleep. Or take time to eat. I love my wife you know. It is a delight to have her with us"
" That is true. Mom. Don't you want to slow down? With your help gone it is surely taking a lot of energy." Alfred, their second son chimed in worried eyes landing on her pleadingly.
"Do not worry my dear. I was already working that way before. No burden"
"The exposition is soon. Like in two weeks right?"
Lincoln sipping his wine after saying that looked at her with expectations. It felt actually good to be having this family time, it even surprised him to feel that way. It was so rare lately to do that with her, that he had forgotten how it felt.
"Yes it is." Still in short answer the Queen indulged him taking a bit of her wine.
"Will you .." Alfred attempt to speak at the same time as his father shut his mouth to leave the man continue.
"You were the one who said Alicia has to grow so if she is already there why would your mother bother going? I do not get it? Plus at least there is steal one woman here."
The playful tone with which he answered his Alfred without leaving him finish his sentence was nothing Katia had never heard.He knew what he was doing, even did his best to move the conversation there without his sons being aware.
"You can? Mom?"
"Why would she not? Do not forget Lorelei is there Lincoln. That young woman is the clown of your mother brain. She knows it all. Right honey"
Smiling automatically to him the Queen shook her head doing her best to appreciate what was in her plate. She swallowed it before looking at them.
" That is right. She certainly is able to do it all. In the best way. Seriously I already thought about all of it. That is why I have not called there or inspect like I would have already done in another circumstances. If something does not work I will be informed. This is her time to put in practice her knowledge."
"So you agreed? I thought you will be happy to go." Wonder was written all over Arthur tone and face making him stopped chewing.
"Then who will direct my work here. This is not the time to let any chance to the vultures to chew me. I trust in them. Alicia will do as you said. I have a copy of the telegram you will officially send to the museum for you to sign. Raphaeli will give it to you after the dinner. "
No giving in in front of him she said calmly looking straight in his eyes.
"Why don't we speak about it later? " He asked uncertain wondering if she was not playoffs him.
"What is left to speak about. Work is work right? I may be a work alcoholic, but this one already vacated my brain. Do not make that face. I have to keep my brain from burning out. Which means good organisation. I have to control all to make work, there is a price for having a genius wife honey. I was not create to slack, this is all a formality. Raphaeli will deals with it as you please or you can go with the note I already wrote. You can add things if you think it is necessary. "
The way she was talking like it bored her to no end, had Arthur puzzled for a moment. He kept silent chewing his meat wondering if it was an act but he knew that dismissive attitude she had like the back of his hand. She was so calm it looked like it was him the fool for thinking she wanted to escape or that she was so stupid he could think for her, when she always has miles away from him in the brain department.
Like on cue, Raphaeli her new shadow as he called them, placed a file near him. After taking him in perplexed on how he was never able to have any kind of hold on them, maybe to avoid a repeat of an open war with his wife, he reminded himself. He had tried that with Norman.
The backfire had almost paralyzed his government for one week, reminding him to never go against someone who almost direct the more important portfolios of his government. His Mama had told him to settle the matter
" Pick your battles wisely son. Your father put that much power in your wife hands knowing she will make you. Her brain is your tools as she uses it for Porys, for her son to have a legacy after you. Do not make her destroy you. Always remember what a queen wants she get." The woman had never been a fool of their relationship, she was a Queen before hers she knew. From that moment it has been like it was now.
After wiping his mouth unable to resist, he took the files.
In a few words and a formal way the kingdom of Porys informed the museum that Alicia will represent them while Lorelei was the general manager of the exposition. It was signed Arthur zurow the King by his name. No mention of herself. Pleased, he nodded.
"Give that to Pradesh" he Commanded
" Make sure he send it right away. That should give the team there the time to make ajustement with their level of security, administration and all that go with it."
"Yes my Queen."
"So this is it for your daughter. The big leap"
Staring at him like he had grown a second head in that condescending way she had the secret, she dabbed her lips artistically before placing the napkin on the table neatly.
"No big deal if you ask me. They are not just - humans- they are royalties. This includes Lorelei. That one was born with the specie. So rather a common thing to do here. No one brag for breathing right? The big things will be theirs individuals legacies, the one thing they will leave humanity with. Why was they here for? What did they improve? What thoughts come after the simple evocation of theirs names? That my dear is the grand scheme. "
"They are doing good then" Lincoln declared firmly proud of his sisters.
"Dear son. Like your aim in this world is to be a better king than your wonderful father, like he did after your grandfather. They were born programmed for the sole purpose they are fulfilling now. No child of mine could do less than shine. That said, stop slacking Alfred focus or you will not like what will come on you."
Surprised to be put on the spot like that, Alfred hand stop mid air his mouth hanging open. At the coldness of this mother stare on him now moving from his mouth to his spoon. Self-conscious under her insistent gaze he lowered the silver spoon closing his mouth all appetite gone.
"What about you son?" Clueless Arthur asked turning his attention to him, at least his son education was a concern to him the Queen thought knowing it was something she could not fail him with.
" I"
"You what? Think that you can have your colleagues doing all the work and you are all over the town making yourself a lenient drunkard reputation? What is your life about? Can you tell me why you actually live for? You think you can walk around the firm like a royal family advertising body shaming a name all fear?? What have you already accomplish there? Uh? My point...Nothing. Out. Of. The. Norme. What kind of shame do you want to put on yourself? You were doing well raising. then this? No cases, no participation. Others going up on you? Because you are pining over what? You want to be an associate of the firm, dear you will work to get there. No one will give you any help, whomever try. Dear son. Know that I.WILL.CRUSH.THEM."
Her eyes like ironclads sending merciless invisible daggers at him the Queen did not even need to move her lips to spit the fire rushing out of them. Like an invisible fire they had all of the young man body boiling like hot water poured on him alternate by blocks of icecubes.
" You will earn all the merits by your hard work. Work will be drop in your office by Monday I want a record of THE BEST CASES solved. Sleep on you law books, law texts, whatever it is you have to do but make it happen. BY YOUR WORK! Did you dreamed of being the failure of this family? Please Go ahead. I will help you stumble so low you will ask yourself if I gave birth to you. I DEMAND THE BEST. HEAR ME. For your information, you cannot take you sister as an example anymore. Kayley started school again , she decided to finish what she had stop. THAT is an example of not giving up. So man up and stop moping around for a woman that was never yours from the beginning or even of your league by what is see."
Hurt at his mother hard words Alfred fist let go of how harshly he tightened them going limp on his thighs. His head suddenly bow unable to keep up with her void gaze. Even though he knew she was like that with certain people having witnessed it sometime he would have never thought it could be direct at him. Filling his heart burst like millions of detonations were done there, he clenched his jaws.
"What your feeling are hurt? But my dear I am just stating a reality everyone certainly talk about behind your back. You are providing all the clues anyone would have think was missing by your poor reaction from day one to this very moment. You are a prince but you act like a frightened mere human. You want a high class woman??? You stop leaning on your title! Become what it said you are. A PRINCE. By working. Your people will respect that. I surely do. I beg you to test me on this one and all your prerogatives will vanish just like they were given to you when you came in this world. At that point you will be a prince BY NAME."
Jabbing her index finger firmly on the table she met his almost bloodshot eyes. He was afraid. At least he understood to have his head up. She could not bear people who always look down submitted.
"Not even your father will help you. He was born a heir to the throne but became a king by his doing. Just like you brother worked hard to own all the respect her has in this kingdom. Remember one thing son. You own what you get by you ability to fight your battles. Not the contrary. In this family and out there. I refuse to be teaching that to others people children while my own son waste his life to a misplaced sorrow. I hope I have made myself clear mister."
Nodding at her his eyes doing all their best to not get out of his face to run far away from the clutches that was the woman eyes in front of him Alfred knew he was not talking with his mother at the moment but with the Queen who was a different person from her. At lost of words a moment, some part of his brain recognized the words of the end like the final words she always used to finish her reprimand, his face closed he uttered.
"Yes my Queen. You will not have to repeat yourself. "
"Mmmm" She stood up, walking toward the door, before exiting the large dinning room she halted looking back straight at him.
"You are no one shadow Alfred. By you own you shine. Some become stars by working, you were born one. So use that light I can see in you to rise and shine. For yourself. I know you have it in you love."
Disappearing after that she left the three men in a total silence. Right at the moment she was about to placed her feet on the first step of the staircase she looked up meeting agent Karis eyes sustaining them for a moment she was about to go when Pradesh the king chief of security appeared flanked by Raphaeli, all froze seeing her like statue making military salutes.
"My Queen." Pradesh voice echoed in the hall. Her face studying him she saw a local chain that couple often wear to celebrate years of marriage doing some digging in her head she smiled at him to his surprised.
"General Pradesh. Congratulations are due."
Following her stare the man that so many fear had a red face in no time.
"Oh, uh. Thanks you my queen."
"Fourty years is not nothing. Raphaeli send Mrs Pradesh some of the best flowers from my garden with Mama Rosa special cake. I know she loves them. Make it right away so you can go home with it. How are the children, Daniel, Cindy and Ann last time I saw them around they were so young." It was like they were the best of acquaintance by the way she remembered it all.
"They are all good my Queen. Daniel is following his mother step, an ER doctor and Cindy and Ann they are both in the army. They entered this year." Arching her eyebrows so subtly at the mention of the two women she had seen at the train field she did the oblivious one but Raphaeli saw it, taking the proud man in she could see something was bothered him, that said all of them knew what.
"Um, you most be proud of them. In no time they would be working in your squad. This place could use women officers. Don't You think?"
The way his eyes completely blanked, his face hardening Katia knew right away what was her last straw, the universe has brought Pradesh right at her feet served on two plates which she knew was his pride and life. She could see the sweat forming on his forehead, she could smelled his fear as the smell of rain hitting the a dry soil, she saw it in his eyes. Weirdly she knew he was doing no effort to hide his terror. All of them knew what happened to women officers that get near the edges of the army, those who was exceptional enough to stand without a mentor to protect them.
"I, my qu---"
"I have met with those Young's women many time I know they are exceptionally gifted. They will shine in you line. I am sure of it. Your line will benefit of it for once. I'm sure the kin--" Stoping mid work seeing her last blow had work the Queen
Innocently looked at him almost squirming under her stare, like she did not understood why he cut her one of his hand up before lowering it seeing what he had done.
Shaking his head twice like he had gone mad she stepped further completely sweating, he was trembling his eyes diverting on all sense to see if anyone else could see them. Mostly he kept looking at the dinning room door in terror.
"I, my Queen, their are my daughters --- I, I don't know what to do to-- protect them on this path. It is like opening the gate of hell for them. No parents should go --- this look like karma. But yes you are right my Queen they are exceptional gifted really."
The defeated man finished his sentence his stare anchored in the eyes of the Queen's with no shame, right here he let go of his title and man pride. He was begging for her to do something she knew they all did. Raphaeli held his breath knowing Pradesh daughters will be protected by siding with the woman army special services, they were the only option.
He respected the man more by his present action surrending himself for his kids. And more the Queen for letting him a head of dignity. She was still holding his stare not moving one of her hand holding the stairs protection.
Agent Karis who was almost the same age as Pradesh daughters could fell sweat wetting his army jacket from the inside. He was praying his mother was completely right about the Queen. He needed to know he had picked the right choice. All stares was on her, time seemed suspended while Queen katiandra remembered Lorelei words when she had admonished her to give her agents better treatments.
"Love them they will give you more than loyalty my love. They will give you their souls. It run deeper than words. It is commitment that even death can not take. A legacy you will live in those men life."
In the meantime, the dinning room was still silent, the longest one in the king noisily life. Arthur for once in his life was really out of words, unable to do or say anything, placing a finger in between his traditional shirt collar and his neck he tried to enlarge it forgetting it was not a tie.
Feeling trapped he stood his eyes on Alfred Trying to say something but knowing he was tied by katiandra clear thread to not help him. He left them there his mind set on going straight to his car feeling the need to let some steam out. For the he knew nothing in the palace was optional enough.
On his way he stopped on his track seeing the group in the hall, mostly his wife deadly looking at his Commander Pradesh. In her peripheral vision Katiandra saw her husband rushing out of the dinning room and the effect it had on Pradesh hardening her gaze to the man visible desolation she took him in not giving a moment to the king.
"I do not care of whatever you can say." Her curt voice had the effect of a hard slap on the man who stumbled behind looking at her with what she knew was crushed hope, Raphaeli and Karis eyes lowered defeated too.
Turning to leave, she took two steps up not stopping but doing it slowly.
"What is going on here. Pradesh? You can not boss my agents around Katia. That is not how it works."
The booming voice echoed in the hall Arthur knew in the terror domain the woman he married was more sadistic than he was, under her angelic behavior he knew the true her.
Looking at Pradesh he saw something that only him had power to bring out of the man. Even ot outpassed it, he was terrorised.it was Pure fear. But this time it's rawness made him wondered what had happened. Looking up at his wife he met her gaze from the middle of the staircase.
"I am not bossing anyone around. I really am not in the mood of drama this night. Why people can not do simple tasks. Tell me? I know how it works around dear that is why I was for the sake of all demanding your agent to do his work correctly. I do not take stupidity very well. Nor people who think they are too hight for their own good. Raphaeli make sure those two recruits are back in A&B squad BY.TOMORROW.MORNING. Am I clear Pradesh? I do not care if they are your daughters! AT ALL. Give them back!"
Without another word she gracefully turned her back for good, arrived up then turned to the left.
"Which recruits are your daughters? Look... You know what? I don't care. But do us all a favor. I don't want cold war in this palace. It is good for no one. I'm out of here. SERIOUSLY PRADESH! I don't want to hear about it again."
Shaking his head while he was going he added the end more like he was talking to child, most like hitting his fingers for punishment. Not moving an inch to follow him the commander knew he was not needed to accompany him. Men was trained for that.
The moment her door closed Raphaeli eyes met Karis whose gaze shown his relief, placing his hand on Pradesh shoulders Raphaeli squeezed it then gave them it two taps.
"You can be proud of your daughters properly now commander. I am sure they will follow right on you steps to be commanders one day too those two are tough materials . I've seen them train, they are good, exceptional even. You made it happened. We should head to mama Rosa to have your wife gift ready mate. You are bringing Santa back home tonight!"
Shaking his head Pradesh concentrated on breathing normal, he had seen it all but nothing had prepared him to the Queen mastery of strategies, she had known her husband would come out that was what she was waiting for. All for the sake of making it looked like a Queen tantrum. She knew her husband hated them. Heck! No one around like them.
Those everyone knew the king avoid at all cost. The man had a wild chance she was a good woman not abusing her power. The way she played it had them all in admiration, realizing he was really going to change his family perspectives with what he would bring to them Pradesh laughter filled the corridor followed by the two others men.
Karis made a joke which made them laughing harder, no one had to point it but by the way Pradesh and Raphaeli gazes met then let go. They knew they were playing for the same team forever form this point of theirs lives.
Kindness had crossed Pradesh life so many times he could count it with his fingers. First With wife and children, then when he decided to take Karis under his wings and from the exterior this night was the first, he could never forget the Queen generous actions toward his family. NEVER.
Not aware of the situation out of the dinning room the siblings who could not afford not eating, they had a tennis match before the dinner in the play room, kept silent for a moment doing just that.
Wiping his mouth, Lincoln looked at his younger brother knowing it was his obligation to keep him on the line, that was what he was here for.
"You know she loves you."
"Yes. I mean she would have never add the end if not. Jeez I really messed this up. "
Chuckling at that Lincoln sipped his wine, his eyes taking his trouble brother one, then he made a toast up with it making a laugh come from the other side of the table. Placing it back on the table he leaned back on his comfortable chair becoming serious.
"Welcome to the messy club bro. Mom is... just being Mom. You know if she is hard with you it is for your own good tomorrow you will thanks her for it. I know I do. You can not imagine how many time she had talked me out of giving up. You are the best she always says, I believed it and still do. And as a result I became the best in all I did and still do. "
"Even you, I had no idea." Surprised and wondering when it had happened the young brother said placing his chin in the palm of his left hand.
"You thought she was out there hating you so much her personal aim is to fail you? Hear this one. You certainly was not aware she was as hard with Lorelei? No? She made her have a panic attack or something by giving her tough love. Like she just did with you. But guess she had learned with that to soften the blow, hence the end. No panic for you right?"
Making an indignant stare at his big brother Alfred threw him a morcel of bread shaking his head negatively.
"Nah. Boy. Tomorrow is Monday. I should have some sleep before the slavery start? Night Lincoln"
Vowing to do all his best, Alfred jogged on his way up to his side of the palace, making the wish to never have his mother look at him with THAT look of nothingness in her eyes like he was not visible for her or he was but not worth her time. It was frightening. Never would go throught it again. NEVER. Closing his door her jumped on his bed all clothed letting out an exhausted sigh.