<h4>Chapter 287: A walk and a ball to n.</h4>


    "The crown prince was dead the day he killed his brother’s beloved and their child. Nothing you said could have changed his fate." Sigrid said in response to the thought her grandfather had.


    He was not feeling guilty, from the way things appeared. However, it seemed like he would always wonder what role he had yed.


    Sigrid reached for third blueberry of the night but Rnd stopped her from taking it, shaking his head. He turned to the duke and said, "I believe that my wife is right. It sounds to me like the fourth prince was on good terms with his brother Alexander. The crown prince was going to die one way or another." He sighed. "Sadly, it is rare for brothers to share genuine fondness for each other in the royal family."


    "Sad indeed." The duke raised a wine ss to his lips and downed the rest of the contents. Then, he stood up, stumbling from side to side.


    His valet and Brolin quickly went to his aid.


    "It seems that I have drunk a lot more wine that I realized. It is time for me to excuse myself and return to my home." he mumbled deeply, taking a deep breath after.


    His cheeks were slightly flushed, his eyes heavy. He looked both drunk and sleepy.


    "Escort my grandfather home Brolin." Sigrid ordered.


    As the duke was led away, he shouted out, "Oh, I have another story to tell. It is about...." he belched andughed. "pardon me."


    Brolin decided to carry the duke out and thest words Sigrid heard her grandfather say were, "Unhand me you beast, this is uncouth. I am a gentleman, one of the original four gentlemen of...."


    Rnd covered her ears so Sigrid did not hear thest words.


    rin excused herself, bade them goodnight and made her way to the royal hospital. It would be another long night of ufortable sleep in the sofa next to the king’s bed. She did it every night none the less and her devout behavior was already a subject of discussion on the tongues of everyone in the royal castle.


    Whenever the king opened his eyes, he would learn of his faithful wife that had not left his side during his toughest battle.


    Rnd offered his hand to Sigrid and pulled her up. He put his right hand on the curve of her back and said, "Might I invite you out for a walk with me, mydy?"


    She smiled at him and nodded.


    So they made their way to the courtyard, which was a surprise to Sigrid as she thought they would be taking the walk in the gardens or along the moat.


    "Aren’t the stars beautiful?" he asked her.


    She looked up and gave a shrug. "Eh! so-so."


    Heughed. Didn’t Galen say that taking a walk under the stars was romantic? Why did it seem to be the opposite?


    "What do you find beautiful around us?"


    She lifted her notch and stepped out in front of him, beginning a slow backwards walk. "Is it vain if I say us? You and I."


    He nted his hands on her waist, pretending that he was giving her question a thought. "Hmm, well you are more beautiful than the stars."


    She giggled for three seconds and said, "Good answer your highness. You have earned yourself a very fat reward, tonight I will do anything you ask when we are alone in bed."


    Rnd’s eyes lit up as if a switch inside had been turned on. He looked back at the royal castle, suddenly thinking that their bedroom was also a good ce to take a walk.


    "But first we mustplete our walk." She said.


    "ooh." he said slowly, drawing out the disappointed sound from his mouth. A breathy sigh apanied it and heartbreaking sadness settled on his face.


    It made her scoff. "You and Sunny are two peas in a pod when you are denied what you want. It is called dyed gratification my love, part of the thrill is waiting."


    She almost stumbled over a small rock but her caught her, tightening his hands around her waist. He turned her around and hugged her from behind, leading her to the front slowly.


    As they continued their slow walk, a servant quickly picked up the small rock and run to dispose of it. Jesting made a note to remind the servants responsible for cleaning the courtyard to get rid of every pebble and stone on the ground.


    "My love, the debutante ball will be held in two weeks time." Rnd said.


    Sigrid groaned sadly as if she was already tired. Mrs. Elsworth, Mauve, Christie and every female Thorin and nobledy she had met in thest two weeks had brought up the debutante ball and yet Sigrid had not made any preparations personally.


    "With freedom in marriage now, I thought this ball would not be something everyone focused on but I was wrong." She sighed.


    "I hate to agree with you but you were wrong indeed." Rnd’s right hand run along her waist slowly as he said this. "This will be the first ball of the season. Noble youngdies that are eligible for marriage will be presented to society. It will be the first televised debutante ball and the first one with our noble brothers and sisters from Nemoris.


    One of the best ways to make the nobles feel involved in the new empire is to bring them close to us. I yed my part by giving some of them positions in the government. Now it is your turn."


    Sigrid’s answer was another groan. "I just hate the fact that I have to throw a ball which Emmah Fairfax will be attending as a debutante. You know that she will be the most outstanding debutante of the night, right?"


    "The royal castle is our territory, we will simply deal with her the way that we did when she came for that lunch and tried to attract Prince Firron’s attention."


    Sigrid’s blood started to boil as she thought about all the things she could do to humiliate Emmah at the ball. She had a long list and she could do these things with ease, But, she did not want to ruin the first ball she was throwing....


    "Wait.." She suddenly woke up as if she had been in deep slumber and forgotten something important. "This ball is supposed to be thrown by the queen. In her absence, the secondary consort can take her ce. Why am I the one throwing it?"


    "The queen is indisposed and the queen consort is taking care of the king which leaves you as the next in charge. Besides, we both know that rin dances to your tunes." He twirled her around and looked into her eyes. "I am not stupid Sigrid, I have eyes. Like you have people watching, I too have my people watching everything that goes on everywhere. Your rtionship with rin is that of a subordinate and a superior. You are the superior. Am I wrong?"