A Royal Hunt

(I have my own story plot line about where to take this, but I’ve opened it up to allow others to contribute their own ideas to the story. Have fun.)

Chapter 1

Lady Vivienne Carrow inspected the guns of the house, her vibrant green eyes studying the twin barrels of the guns, the gamekeeper of Rosewood Manor, Vivienne smile satisfied afterwards, “Yes, these will do nicely,” the woman said handing them back.

Ordinarily she wouldn’t have been inspecting these, but Rosewood manor was to be reviving some special guests, the King and Queen of Cordelia, a country in the continent, a week of hunting and a retreat into the countryside of Thalassia. It was quite a thing for them, thankfully Vivienne was a relation to the Duke of Oakshire of whom the King of Cordelia was good friends.

But the interest of Lady Vivienne was not the king, at least not yet. No, it was his Queen who caught her interest, the fabled queen of Cordelia, Imperial Princess of Cielbleu, a beauty unlike any other if one were to be believed. And if rumors were to be believed, at odds with her husband.

Five years they had been married, and yet no heir. Vivienne’s curiosity was stroked. After all it was no secret that the marriage between King Marco and Queen Gabrielle had been one born out of political motivations than any real desire between them.

Vivienne strolled back up the stairs to the great hall of the manor, she thought about her own predicament. She’d been married young, barely eighteen, to an older Duke, a loveless marriage arranged by her father, when he died during the war, she had not mourned him.

Her butler greeted her when she reached the top of the stairs, a stately looking man, he had served her husband the late Duke of Windmere loyally and now served his widow now. “Your ladyship, I’ve just received word from the train station that his majesty and his entourage have arrived.”

Vivienne smiled, now her plans would unfold. “Thank you, have the servants prepared to greet him,” the noblewoman said.

——

In the car the king quietly looked out the window. This place was a sleepy town in comparison to the bustling capital of Cordelia, he would be glad to be away from it all. The politics, the stress, the lies.

His wife was in the other car, perhaps a foolish thing if they were meant to pretend they were a happy couple, but nothing would change what she had done. He’d cursed hee told her to go to hell the night he had discovered it. As far as he was concerned he was done with Gabrielle. Still appearances must be kept, and so they still went on trips, they still made appearances as husband and wife, but in private settings there was no warmth or smiles.

——

The servants of Rosewood manor had lined up to greet their royal visitors, the maids looking as pretty as possible, the footmen standing tall and regal, and even the gardeners, had come to stand at attention for a royal visitor.

The eyes of everyone on the king as he descended from the car, the rumors of the king behind handsome were no lie. A man mere thirty years of age, he was tall and commanding, with a physique honed by years of martial training, he cut a striking figure with his olive skin and intense green eyes that seemed to radiate an inner fire.

And there was something else about him; it was the aura of power and authority that surrounded him, a testament to his unwavering dedication to his kingdom and its people.

But as Vivienne curtsied her eyes went to the Queen whom she really wanted to introduce herself to. The noblewoman’s blue eyes flickered to the Queen. She was tall as well, regal in appearance, with black hair that contested against Vivienne’s blonde locks.

And why exactly had the king and queen come in separate cars, perhaps those rumors were more than rumors?

“Your majesty, welcome to Rosewood Manor, it is an honor to host you.”