She did not even have to think about the answer, it was already available. "Didn’t she run around half-naked in our lake last week? Now is the ti for those pictures and a short video to make an appearance."
When he did not respond, she opened her eyes and sat up, noticing that he was frowning. Her mind imdiately associated it with what she intended to do with Emmah and she thought that perhaps Roland did not agree with it. "What’s wrong? Do you think that I am cruel? I am a woman after all and here I am, getting ready to ruin another woman."
"That’s not it," he slowly rotated her right foot before moving to the left one. His eyes were distant, gazing int he direction of the cackling fire place. "I am thinking ahead. picturing what will happen after those pictures and video is released.
If you put the wound on her face together with the public shaming and scandal which will no doubt follow, I think she will not leave the house for a while. If she doesn’t leave the house, how will you deal with her?"
Sigrid was impressed, Roland would have made a great attorney. He was right, Emmah could not be allowed to go into hiding otherwise the mission would drag on and Sigrid would risk losing another baby or dying like she was supposed to in the novel.
"She cannot hibernate, its not good for __us. I guess I will be sending her so face cream in your na. We will make sure that everyone knows that you helped your savior when she was in such a difficult ti. It will be better if you are overheard saying sothing like, there is more to won that what is beneath their clothes. Miss Emmah behaved inappropriately but she has a good heart and her careless mistake is worth overlooking.
Not only will it make it look like you are on her side and confuse her more as she will once again be undecided between you, Benjamin and Roland but it will make won respect, love and support you. Your popularity will outgrow Benjamin’s."
It frightened Roland how his wife’s mind worked sotis. Every ti he took two steps ahead, she took ten more and thought beyond the scope of his imagination.
And so the plotting continued, Sigrid aid to turn her husband into Eldoria’s most beloved prince.
********
At this sa ti, in the city, the royal castle to be exact, prince Galen had his head bowed slightly before his father the king. The King was looking at three papers that Galen had brought.
"You say that is this map of the fifth piece of the shard."
Galen raised his head and nodded, in a more authoritative voice laden with confidence he answered, "Yes father, I have confird it more that two tis. Five days ago, I happened to co upon a caravan of singing dwarves passing through the canal of Saint Topher. One of them was was drunk and happened to loose so of his property which got into my hands."
King Raff laughed, he was sure that his son had played a part in getting the dwarf drunk. It was more likely that Galen had stolen the three papers. One was a map that led sowhere in dicine valley, the other was an underground path to Nemoris and on the last paper were words written in a language the king could not decipher. "Where did the dwarves originate?"
"doris." Galen answered.
He knew that his father would be angered and he was. "Those bastards, how dare they cross into my kingdom? Did you slaughter every last one of them?"
Galen nodded, king Raff looked upon him with pride. For the first ti, he saw his wandering carefree son as worthy.
"I also left n behind to guard that road leading to the underground path through which Nemorians have been crossing into our kingdom." A wicked smile blessed Galen’s lips. "I am more than sure that if my younger brother Benjamin had gone to Saint Topher as you instructed we would have discovered this sooner."
King Raff showed so displeasure on his face when the na of his favorite son was ntioned. In the old days, that na would have him smiling, lately, it did the opposite.
"I had forgotten that he disobeyed my orders and he is among those blind fools demanding for my fairy dew. I never thought that your brother would beco a fool for a woman. He has lost his poise as a mber of this royal family. He pants after that common girl like a thirsty dog and he had abandoned his duties in my court." The king slamd his right hand on the armrest of his throne. Where is Benjamin?"
A knight that was standing next to the king answered, "At the town house which is owned by the pri minister. The entire Windrider family moved there after the unfortunate fire, the third prince has been spending many hours there. If he is not there, he is usually found visiting every alchemist, hospital or the mage estate in search of a cure for Miss Emmah Windrider’s face."
King Raff was even more displeased by this news. As an adult son of the king, rather than helping out in handling his father’s worries, he was running around doing useless things.
Galen decided that he had not poured enough oil on the fire he had set. Nonchalantly, he said, "My brother is truly in love, he is actually planning to go to Sheepsfield, into the dicine valley to find the mysterious herb that cures all ailnts and poisons."
King Raff almost pulled out his sword when he heard what Galen said. "I sent him to dicine valley and he returned within less than a day, claiming he was too ill to travel. For this Emmah, he is now healed and willing to travel. Ungrateful son!! It seems his duty to Emmah is greater than his duty to this family."
He was practically growling as he looked around for the herald. "Pass my order, the third prince is grounded to his estate until my say so. From today, he is not allowed to step beyond the gates of his ho. If he disobeys my decree, throw him in prison."
The decree was written and handed off to one of the king’s advisors that set off imdiately with so red knights to deliver the king’s ssage.
"Father, have you thought about my third brother’s marriage?" Galen poked his mouth out as he studied his father’s face. "If sothing is not done about it, I am afraid that Benjamin will marry the wrong woman. You selected Sigrid for Roland and look how happy they are now. The Thorin family has other daughter’s maybe one of them can be given in marriage to Benjamin.
They have handed in their military authority and proven to be loyal. Even the Rosewood family is a good option and the Givenchy’s. Rumor has it that my uncle’s on mother’s side are preparing a bride as well. It is the sa as many other families in the empire, the Windrider’s being one of them. Which family would you rather Benjamin marry into? Who do you trust not to harbor wicked ambitions for the throne?"
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