The Next Morning – Six Days Until the Wedding

You awake in your bed, you are naked. Beside the bed is your chamber maid, Sarah. Over the course of the last year and some, Sarah has changed very little. Her shoulder-length blonde hair and radiant blue eyes could almost be called undeserved for a woman of her status, but she was as loyal to as day one. If anything had changed about her, it was the new maid outfits you had ordered for all the maidservants of the castle before the coming of the wedding. They were strategically more revealing to mimic the fashionable ones that were in Phebis during your eventful trip there. Sarah had also grown more submissive to you over the course of time. A trait you suspected got amplified on account of the constant gaze of Clara on her. It had been a while since you made time to use her tantalizing body, due the upcoming wedding that had made you more busy lately. Yet, Sarah did not get needy. She would have made a great partner, if not for the fact that she had failed to get pregnant despite your best efforts. As if to remind you how busy you have been lately, Sarah spoke.

“King Bryce, You are expecting Countess Marissa soon for breakfast. It is time to get up.” She stated quickly, while shoving a robe in your arms after you stretched.

“Already? What time is it?” You yawn. You stand and put the robe on, but do not bother tying it.

There was a knock at the door, probably the guards getting ready to announce the Countess’ arrival.

“She’s here!” Whispered Sarah, then tying the robe closed for you as the guards announced Marissa’s arrival and a squad of maids and manservants delivering the breakfast.

“Let them in!” You shout with a grin. Despite Sarah not yet having completed her task.

In an instant, the doors busted open, and Sarah left her hasty job of tying the robe sit poorly around your waist as her back straightened, and her hands sat folded in front of her like a proper maid. She was doing her best not to make it seem like you and her had done something naughty before Marissa entered, even if you had not. Of course with the two of you in such proximity, at least some of the servants’ thoughts went straight to the gutter.

“Good morning, Your Majesty! I hope I didn’t wake you.” Marissa, having little care about your poor state of dress, came up to hug you.

“Don’t worry, Marissa. I have a maid that’s done that for you.”

Sarah just blushed, as she began to help the other servants set up the breakfast in your private dining area of your grand kingly chambers. Next to the relatively modest table was a series of tall windows that overlooked much of the capitol. As the servants set up the table, you and Marissa took a seat at the table.

Countess Marissa Loon of Luxem County, was only several years older than you. The curves on her already voluptuous body had grown more exaggerated in all the right places since her pregnancy ended. The dress she wore was definitely one planned for meeting a King, completely contrasting your poorer state of dress. The gown hugged her waist tightly and showed just enough skin to get a young man curious about what else was under the fabric. You, fortunately, had a very good idea, given the child that she had recently was yours and not her husband’s like the Kingdom had come to know.

“I apologize for my state of undress, Marissa. I decided to sleep in a little today.” You wanted to apologize, despite you having the excuse of being king. Especially when it seemed she went so far for you this morning, but she often did try to dress the part of your beautiful Royal Chancellor. With how much of your chest was exposed due to the poorly knotted robe, you probably looked more ready to play the part of a beggar if not for the exquisite material it was made from.

“Apologizing? And here I thought you may be rewarding me for my hard work. Or perhaps rewarding my… discretion.” Marissa shot a subtle wink as the servants finished with the table. She crossed her legs under her dresses.

“Leave us.” You tell the servants, taking a sip of the chilled juice from your silver goblet. You then turn your attention to Marissa, “What’s on my agenda today then?”

You almost sounded sad, and exhausted as you asked. Furthermore, you decided to get straight to business expecting another busy day ahead of you. A king can never rest it seems. Marissa must have heard the exhaustion, but kept her faint smile.

“Your cousin, Duke Magus, has officially settled in the Keep with his family and companions. It would behoove you to go visit him and make sure his accommodations are sufficient given the aging Keep. I would suggest wearing something that speaks of martial prowess. I think he would appreciate that.”

Marissa was just doing her job, but you could not help but chuckle inwardly to yourself. If there was anyone who knew just how much you lacked in martial ability, it was Magus. All these mutterings of “Bryce the Exorcist” was just dumb luck and even better loyal subjects. You kept your face straight out of respect for your Chancellor. In most cases, she would be correct in how to approach such matters.

“And what else?” You ask cautiously. Expecting more, while helping yourself to some of the prepared breakfast.

“That’s it.”

You clear your throat, “Sorry. I may have been chewing too loudly, I thought I heard you say that was all in the plans for today.”

“You heard right. That’s it.” This time Marissa sips from her silver goblet, hers already filled with strawberry wine this early in the morning, “Duke Oliver Medden will not visit the palace until tomorrow, and not only is Magus your cousin, albeit distant, he is also the Duke of the Frost Peaks. Showing the rest of the dukes and dignitaries your strong relationship with him will help keep them in check.”

“You’ve thought this through.” You state, biting down on some more food.

Marissa nods, “That’s my job.”

“What of the other dukes?”

“Duchess Irene and Lord Admiral Fainwright are already pressing me for a meeting with you. I’ll set that for the day after tomorrow. Everyone else will have a chance to meet you during the feast the day after that.” Marissa drinks more wine. “I think spacing things out given how busy you’ve been recently is a good change of pace before your wedding. After all, we don’t want the King of Itheria looking spent before the masses come the day of.”

Silence soon follows. You eat in peace for a moment, but you failed to notice that Marissa has yet to touch anything, she just sips her wine from time to time. Watching you. Eventually, after you satisfy your belly with a modest amount of food, you realize the pause in conversation. You look to Marissa.

“Are you satisfied, My King? Or do you require more nutrition?”