Tale of Four

The dining hall was packed. Numerous men and women sat around long tables, the central one seated with the numerous Doyle family members and close courtiers. Although bastards were usually kept away from the main table. Gerlad sat next to his father, as the event surrounded him. Mabel clicked her tongue in annoyance as Ser Keep followed close behind. His eyes scanned the room, trying to find any hidden danger.

Before Adrian Doyle, Mabel placed a hand on her chest and bowed. Once again, she refused the dresses provided. Although she was willing to wear a dress if it was beautiful enough, the one provided didn’t suit her tastes; it was rather childish in its design, having numerous ribbons and decorations, compared to the sleek, bare dresses she preferred.

"Lord Doyle. Forgive me for not wearing what was provided. I struggled to fit into it without my corset. After such a long journey, I am sure you can understand my wish to be comfortable." Mabel easily lied and smiled. Adrian nodded, accepting the lie and smiled back.

"Of course, Princess. Even without the dress, your beauty is still radiant." Mabel chuckled and took her seat, the chair pulled by Ser Keep. Adrian rose the moment she sat to get the attention of the rest of the room. The music died down along with the conversations, and all eyes focused on the bald lord.

"My Lords. Honoured guests and faithful servants." His voice was clear, bouncing off the walls of the room. Getting the final bit of attention he was waiting for, he carried on, "Today is a blessed day for the realm, my family and our brilliant liege. It is with great honour and humility that I can announce the marriage of my dear son, Gerlad and the beautiful Princess, tying our houses together. The relam is stronger when we are united, and I am proud to say that my family will be involved in this future. One of strength, prosperity and unity."

Adrian raised a glass. "Now, I know everyone wishes to celebrate this occasion, and I do not wish to keep everybody waiting, so I shall be brief. A toast to the better future to come. But more importantly, a toast to the Princess. May the Gods favour her." Adrian took a sip of his drink and, with the rest of the hall, followed. Looking around and happy, he sat back down and looked at Mabel as the music and conversation erupted once more.

"Thank you for joining us, Princess. I understand you nearly missed this dinner. I completely understand you desire to rest; after all, long travel makes me tired, and I cannot imagine how it must have been for you." Mabel politely smiled and looked down at her plate. Taking her cutlery, she nearly swooped up the large chunk of meat and nearly tore into it, but stopped herself. It was fine before family or in private, but right now it would be pushing the boundaries. After all, she had already refused Lord Doyle’s gift of an outfit. Eating in any way other than a polite fashion would be a grave insult, especially to one of her father’s allies.

Cutting a bite, she opened her mouth the minimal amount and chewed as few times as possible before swallowing. It was a terrible way to eat for her. Food was meant to be enjoyed, and to do that, one had to devour their meal, not make it a performance.

"It’s lovely." Offering her compliments to Adrian, she took a few more bites before sliding the plate away from her, unable to stand the way of eating she was forcing herself to do. Before anyone could say anything, she held her hand up and clicked her fingers. Ser Keep pulled the letter from Anton’s off his belt and handed it to Mabel. "Lord Doyle. Whilst everyone is excited for the wedding." Her eyes narrowed, and her tone went flat. "My father has sent me word regarding it."

Lord Doyle frowned but quickly covered it up, smiling and taking the letter. Calling a servant over, they handed him a pair of thick-rimmed glasses. Putting them on, he quickly read, his face darkening when he finished. Looking at Gerlad, he handed the letter towards him. The bastard’s once joyful mood collapsed as his lip twitched, unsure whether to frown or laugh.

"This is unbelievable." Throwing the letter back to Mabel, he chuckled, "What is this?"

"As you have read, my father has decreed that this marriage shall be said in my favour. Alongside this, all children will be mine, as well as barring you from taking the last name of my family." Gerlad scoffed.

"Outragous. The king does understand the laws of marriage. Men do not offer the vows of servitude. It is sacrilegious to even order such a thing."

"Careful, Gerald." Adrian was the one to speak up. "My son meant no offence, princess, Ser Keep." Adrian huffed, "But even if he worded it wrong, he makes a fair point. You cannot truly be asking my son to be the lesser in this marriage."

Mabel failed to hide her smirk at the men’s faces and interlocked her fingers. Leaning forward, she smiled, "Allow me to make my father’s intent clear. Your son is a bastard. I am a Cosmaton. If I were to say the vows, what name would I take? Surely you cannot expect a Cosmaton to take on the name Stem." Mabel closed her eyes. "Some, not my father or anyone in my family, would already say this is insulting enough to my family to marry him, and yet here I am accepting such a proposal."

"My son can be legitimised." Gerald’s eyes widened at Adrian’s words, as he stared at him with a sense of longing. Mabel nodded.

"Of course, that is possible. But legitimisation is a long process. I am more than happy to wait for you to get approval from the Clovers, the church and the king for that. Sure, you may say it yourself, but until all of these bodies accept such a thing, he will be known by the rest of the realm as a bastard." Mabel lowered her head to suppress her laughter. "The only issue is, Lord Elvissia must sign off on all legitimizations of bastards for a Lord such as yourself. I cannot help but think that such a matter will be delayed with the current war. Alongside this, Gerald is Sandra Clover’s child. The Clovers are aligned with my treasonous uncle. I wonder if Lord Elvissia would keep such a matter private."

The table fell silent. Peeking at Gerlad, Mabel saw him shaking in rage at her words, unable to say anything, knowing she was right. Adrian closed his eyes, able to keep himself calm despite everything. "This is an insult to the culture of my lands."

"As I already said. Some say this entire marriage is an insult to my family. We all must make sacrifices for the prosperous future you spoke of." Mabel grabbed the glass of wine next to her. Taking a sip, she couldn’t help but enjoy the sweet taste. Swirling the glass and bringing it to her nose, she took a deep inhale, releasing the Doyle’s had spared no expense on her, "As for the insult to your culture, this is not intended. I understand the Flatland has its own view on marriage, but a Cosmaton doesn’t represent them alone. We are the realm, and becuase of that we embrace all cultures."

"This is unheard of throughout the realm." Adrian tried to counter again, and Ser Keep twitched and, sensing his opportunity, spoke up.

"Do you insult me, my Lord?" His deep voice cut through like a knife. "It is well known what the Fools Dance came from. Yes, women tend to be the lesser in marriage in my homeland, but this is not always the case. Your words are an insult to the valley."

"I meant no disrespect, Ser." Adrian quickly apologised, realising his mistake. Mabel couldn’t help but scoff. Even to her, a princess, he wasn’t so quick to back down, but before Ser Keep, a Kingsguard and third son, he was quick to backtrack. "This is just sudden."

"Your apology is accepted." Ser Keep replied, "As for the Princess, she speaks the truth. She is one of the many stars that look down upon us all." Ser Keep stepped foward. Placing a hand on the back of Mabel’s chair, he scanned everyone, focusing on Gerlad, "A star looks upon all, yet is always above. They embrace all."

Adrian took a deep breath. Looking to Gerlad, he saw his son, wishing to scream about the matter, and urged him to hold back with his eyes. After a moment, he nodded, "I understand."

"Father!" Adrian raised a hand to silence Gerlad.

"We shall accept. As the king put it. We are loyal subjects, and a letter is enough. But I cannot help feel insulted at having this thrown at me so suddenly. There is no blame to the princess, but this must be acknowledged. After all, Gerlad is my precious son, and I do not appreciate him being treated as such, even if he does not carry my name."

"Of course. The crown will be happy to resolve this." Adrian smiled at her words.

"In that case, to wash away the insult of bastard blood, we hope, not ask, but hope, that your firstborn daughter be married to the Prince Regent’s son, when he has one. This way, no one can dare say any child that has come from me is an insult to the Cosmatons."

’So ambtious.’ Mabel couldn’t help but internally scoff, Adrian barely concealing his ambitions. But she couldn’t counter; after all, he didn’t ask for anything and even humbled himself. ’What a shrewd bastard.’

"Of course this can happen," Mabel said, suppressing her thoughts. Lifitng a glass, she smiled, "I shall speak to my brother."

"That is all I ask." Adrian lifted a glass.

"To a bright future, Lord Doyle."

"May the stars guide us." Mabel finished her drink in one go, pouring another. Finishing that, she poured a third, in an attempt to make herself feel as ill as she could the next day.

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