The advisor looked back, curiously, over his shoulder.
"If I decided that I did not wish to marry Lady Delilah, what would need to be done?"
Theo saw Maximus’ sharp intake of breath. No doubt his brain had gone into instant overdrive, thinking of all the things he would have to do if such a thing would happen.
"My Lord, I fear that after so long being promised to the lady, it would be almost impossible to break the arrangement," Maximus explained. His cheeks that had been red suddenly grew deathly pale as though he were frightened of vexing his king.
"Almost but not impossible?" Theo questioned.
Maximus's lips quivered as though he was trying to speak but could not find the words.
"I...I would strongly advise against doing anything rash, My Lord," he stammered, his knuckles turning white on the door handle as if he were gripping it for dear life.
"It is your job to advise me." Theo rolled his eyes at the man and shook his head. "I will do nothing rash but I wish for you to make enquiries about the matter."
Maximus opened his mouth as if to argue but Theo lifted his hand to silence him.
"Do it quietly and only with those who can be trusted not to spread rumors," he insisted. "I must be sure I have all bases covered before I enter into this marriage."
"This marriage is a good one, My Lord, if I do say so myself." Maximus sounded as though he was trying to tread lightly. "May I ask why you would wish to end the arrangement?"
Theo wondered for a moment whether he should deny the man an answer. Then he realized something. If he couldn't talk to his closest advisor about the matter, how could he ever hope to solve his predicament?
"What if I were to tell you that I wished to pick another to be my bride?"
Maximus's usually dull eyes seemed to brim with surprise and perhaps even a little excitement. It was clear he was curious either way.
"Is there a specific lady in mind?" Maximus asked, his hand loosening on the doorknob as he turned slightly to face his king.
I have said enough, Theo thought firmly. He shook his head.
"See to what I have asked, Maximus. There is nobody in particular. I just wish to know my options."
Chapter 4 - Fleur
The Golden Dawn was a magnificent ship of dark wood and golden decorations but no amount of beauty could make a ship more comfortable when sea sickness had a grip on a person's stomach.
Fleur had been struggling from the moment they set sail but she had for the most part been able to hold her tongue on the matter. Delilah on the other hand had done nothing but complain.
"Will this torturous ordeal never end?" Delilah groaned and rolled over onto her side on the bed that had been fastened to the floor in her quarters for her comfort.
Fleur had suggested many times that perhaps lying down wasn't the best position to make oneself feel better but she had long since given up wasting her breath.
"Would you like me to fetch some fresh water?" Fleur suggested. In that moment she would have given anything to go up on deck for some fresh air and cease listening to Delilah's complaining.
"How are you so calm?" Delilah demanded, utterly ignoring Fleur's offer. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up to glare at Fleur who was sitting in a chair across the room. An envious look spread across Delilah's face and her blue eyes blazed as if she wished to punish Fleur for having an easier time of it.
If only you could see inside my head, Fleur sighed, then you'd see how much chaos I am really in.
There had been little to do during the journey across the sea but listen to Delilah moan and think of the fact she wished to be anywhere but there, sailing towards the very man she wished never to see again.
Do you really wish never to see him again?
"Oh! My stomach!" Delilah groaned and quickly threw herself back down on the bed before Fleur could answer her. "Remind me again why we couldn't have flown?"
Fleur gritted her teeth. She was beginning to feel more and more like a governess than a lady's companion. Delilah had been acting more like a petulant child than a lady. With every day that passed it only seemed to be getting worse.
"Flying is too dangerous," Fleur explained for about the hundredth time. "If we had flown ourselves we might have been caught by a strong wind and dashed into the ocean. Our wings would be useless while wet and we probably would have drowned before we managed to swim to anywhere remotely safe."