3: The Royal Family

Okay, he clearly underestimated the whole thing. Horribly.

Herada didn’t even acknowledge his presence. No matter how hard he tried, she always had a way to avoid him.

The last two official meetings she attended – which was concerning the Kingdom’s defense and security –, she ignored his very presence, sometimes glaring or coldly staring at him with irritation. And when those meetings came to an end, she managed to disappear, leaving her father and uncle behind. The missives he sent to her were always returned; untouched. This has been going on for a while now, and today will make it a week. Once again, his missive has been sent back.

‘I honestly thought that the Golden Heldem will bestow unto me luck to woo her.’ Daimon mused with an internal sigh. ‘But no such luck.’

Currently, Daimon was having lunch with his family. His behavior was so strange that it got his parents and sisters glancing worriedly at him as he kept on playing with his food.

“By Hecate, what has your underwear in a twist, Daimon?” Moragan, his sister, asked with a sigh, gently dropping her utensils.

“Yes, sweetheart. Whatever is the matter?” Queen Miraene asked, staring at her son with a frown.

Daimon dropped his spoon and raised his head, facing his mother. The two stared at each other, neither willing to lose. Finally, after a minute, Daimon broke their stare down with a sigh.

“Mother,” he began, “How do I woo a Lady as off putting and apathetic as you?”

That question gained many reaction. Moragan choked on her drink; Meraena loudly dropped her spoon on her plate; his father’s brows arch high in shock; and his mother blinked belatedly in astonishment.

The silence in the dining room was so thick that one could use a knife to slice through it like butter. Even the butlers and maid standing afar off noticed that something was going down; and they kept glancing at them.

“Well… that was unexpected.” King Dhimitrios muttered after some seconds of silence.

“Daimon… if I may, why do you ask me of this?” His mother asked, looking at him quizzically. She studied the silent young man, and her results has her eyes going slightly wide in astonishment. “Daimon… are you perchance in love with someone?”

Once again, utter silence filled the room. The princesses gaped at their brother – yes, even the usual apathetic Mora – while the king stared at him with wide eyes.

Daimon, the Ice Prince, who never had no time for anything but the kingdom, is in love?

The silence persisted for a while, until it is broken by an excited squeal.

“By. The gods!” Mera, Daimon’s youngest sister, squealed in happiness. She jumped from her seat and practically flew over to him, trapping him in a neck breaking hug. “I cannot believe this! Big brother is in love!” She squealed again, increasing the grip of her hug.

Daimon winced as she squealed in his ear, grunting at the sheer volume and his depleting oxygen. Miraene, seeing her son’s discomfort, hurriedly came to his rescue; preventing him from developing an ear problem. And also possible dying from the lack of oxygen.

“Mera.” She called out, getting the young woman’s attention. “Release your brother and go sit down. You’re smothering him.” She said in fond exasperation.

Mera promptly released her brother with a grin. “Oops. Apologizes brother.” She sat herself in her seat, still looking at Daimon with expectant smile. Her older twin sister, Mora, sneered at her in distaste.

“Gratitude, mother.” Daimon nodded with a grimace, massaging his neck. Of all his siblings, Mera inherited their father’s eccentric nature. Although, hers is more than his.

Miraene waved him off. “So,” she started with an amused smirk. “Who are they?”

“Yes, big brother! Who’s the lucky girl that has caught your sight?” Mera asked with a giggle.

Mora looked at her in disdain, lips curled in a light sneer. “You don’t automatically conclude that they’re female.” She then turned to her brother, ignoring Mera who had a light frown on her face. “Who are they, Daimon?”

“And most importantly, which family do they come from?” King Dhimitrios added.

With a sigh, Daimon said, “She’s of the Armstrong family.”

This time, it was the king who choked on his drink. His wife gently patted his back, clearing his airways for him.

“Armstrong? THE Armstrong family?” Mora asked inquisitively. “I thought there are only two women in the House of Armstrong?”

Daimon cocked a brow at her, which answers her question.

“Armstrong?” Mera muttered with a frown, before her face suddenly brightened up. “Wait, are in in love with Valentina the Heart?!” She asked, jumping up again excitedly. She managed to jostle her drink, pouring it on the table.

“Mera! Sit down! Behave like a proper princess while at the dining table, for Hera’s sake!” Miraene snapped at her, getting tired of her antics.

“Apologizes, mother.” Mera whispered as she timidly sat back down, properly chided. Two maids made quick work of cleaning the spillage and poured another wine in her golden goblet.

Mora looked at her sister’s slumped form in hidden glee. Finally, someone has shut the spoiled brat up.

“Well.” The King began with a cough. “So, son, which of the Armstrong women has caught your eyes; the crown Prince of this Grecia?”

Daimon looked at the faces of his family, and their facial expressions ranged from curiosity to expectance. He closed his eyes and heaved a sigh, before opening them back. He stared at them one last time before saying, “Herada Armstrong.”

The silence that came upon the room was deafening, that if someone should drop a grain of sand, it could be heard throughout the room.

Everyone, including the servants, were staring at Daimon with facial expressions varying from shock to utmost disbelief. The queen hurriedly motions for the servants to leave, and they do so hurriedly. The silence lasted for a full whole minute before the Princesses decided to break it.

“You’re in love with the Beloved Beauty of Hades?”

“You’re in love with the Hades worshipper?”

Mora and Mera both asked, respectively.

“Please stop throwing the word ‘Love’ around so freely.” Daimon sighed. “I like her. She interests me.”

Herada Armstrong is well-known in Grecia. To some part of the kingdom, she’s the young woman who stopped a rebellion from erupting in the north; but to other parts, especially in Athens, her birth place and where she lived most of her life; she’s known as the child who was blessed by the god of the Underworld.

Beloved Child of Hades, Dark Beauty of Hades, the Mortal Price of the Underworld; those where some of the names given to her.

When she was two years old, Herada was kidnapped by a woman who pretended to be a maid in the Armstrong manor. Turned out that she was a part the most notorious gang, The Dark Circle, who have been causing a lot of trouble for the Police, due to them having an Instant Teleportation Ancient Artifact in their possession. They left a missive saying that the family had to pay a ransom before they got her back. Unknowingly to the, Herada’s late mother, Morgaine, was a magik petitioner – she’s also rumored to be a Sorceress – and had a tracking spell on her daughter. They tracked the group to a desolated and crumbling manor.

When they got there, they were met with a blood shed. Bodies laid, dismembered and torn, scattered across the room. The few that were alive were traumatized, muttering and holding their eyes; looking quite insane. They didn’t find Herada there, and in a fit of rage, Rihardos killed the surviving gang. They couldn’t find Herada for the rest of the day. For some reason, Morgaine’s spell on Herada stopped there. The entire family were almost going crazy. The police and most of the Athenians helped in the search, and got nothing.

It wasn’t until evening that Rinoa, the Priestess of the Sect of Hades, walked up to the door of the Armstrongs with Herada in her arms; sleeping soundly and covered with a red hood. To the astonishment of everyone, Herada made her way to the Temple of Hades. She stayed at the feet of his statue, dressed in a black, free flowing gown. On her head was a crown of black roses, with her raven black hair flowing freely. All these were not on her person when she got abducted.

According to the Priestess, she and her followers found Herada chatting excitedly with their Lord’s statue, unbothered by the unnatural darkness surrounding her. When she saw Rinoa, she waddled over to her, not afraid of the Priestess like most of the people in Athens, and raised her arms for the Priestess to pick her up. Let’s just say that the Sect fell in love with her from that day. They treated her as one of their own. From there onwards, they visited her once or twice a week in the Armstrong home; and when she got old enough to know her left and right, she did the visiting.

After the death of Herada’s mother and 99% of the Armstrong Clan, the Priestess, as well as the Sect, became her official family. To make matters perplexing, Hades, the freaking god of the Underworld, clearly favored her. When she was young, he protected her fiercely from any danger. Even now, when she can clearly protect herself, he still intervenes sometimes. Heavens, it even seems that Persephone favored her too; seeing as spring in Athens is more glorious than other parts of Grecia.

Herada being favored by the god of the Underworld didn’t deter men – example: Daimon – from coming to seek her hand in marriage. Being who see was, she rejected them, not interested in such futile things like marriage. The rejected suitors accept her decision and walk off, not willing to test the myth surrounding her. Well, most of them, that is. Sone foolish ones decide to not heed to advise and either threaten or challenge her. Let’s just say that it didn’t end well for them. Most of them are dealt with by Herada, while the rest with more hidden nefarious agendas are dealt with by Hades’ blessing on her.

So, hearing the Prince of the Kingdom of Grecia narrate how many times he has sent anonymous letters containing poems to Herada, and each time there’re returned, untouched; it was baffling. How in the world is he not cursed yet?

“Brother…” Mora began after Daimon finished his narration. “You not being cursed, or better yet, dead, is truly a miracle. I know you you’re just coming back after five years of travelling; and even when you were home, you didn’t bother much about the gossips of the kingdom. But big brother... Herada Armstrong isn’t notorious of being the formidably woman she is just because she’s in the Military; but also because of the supernatural events surrounding her.” She said, her arms folded. “It’s widely known that she’s favored by Hades, the god of the Underworld. Not only that, but there are rumors that she’s a Sorceress, just like her mother. Most men who pester her for her hand in courtship are either dealt with a curse, or killed. But surprisingly, here you are. Still alive.”

Mora held her chin, looking at him with scrutinizing blue eyes. “Reasons might be either that Lord Hades sees the good intentions you have in your heart and has approved of you wooing her; or she doesn’t know who you are due to you not putting your name in the missives, and in doing so, the blessing surrounding her can’t pin point your location and end you.” She said, giving a hum.

Daimon blinked, brows furrowed in thought. Looks like he had to find out more about Herada then. He shouldn’t do this blindly.

“But why her?” Mera blurted out with a frown. She drew her family’s attention to herself. She shrank a little under their stares, before she straightened herself and schooled her expression. “There are good reasons why men avoid her, and one of them is unexplainable death.” She said. “Why not court Valentina?” She asked with a smile. “Not only is she an Armstrong, but she’s well known in Athens as one of the beautiful maidens in the city. And she’s not an heir too. So if there’s any complication in bearing more children, there won’t be any problem on who to take the throne or the Armstrong line.” She grinned. “And I heard she’s jovial and fun to be with. Not too stiffy or cold. She’ll make a good wife.”

Her statement has her parents blinking in surprise at her insight; her brother to frown at her; and her sister to cold raise an eyebrow at her. Before Daimon and his parents could reply, Mora retorted coldly.

“Not everyone wants to court someone as air-headed and incompetent as you, Meraena.” The eldest Princess stated, getting an indignant splutter from her sister. “From what I have heard about her, she’s the unserious type and knows nothing of how to run a kingdom, nevertheless building up a perfect strategy for the kingdom. As the future King of Grecia, Daimon needs someone who wouldn’t flinch to make tough decisions when it comes to the betterment of the Kingdom. He needs someone as responsible, resilient, attentive, considerate and strong willed to rule this kingdom by his side. And Valentina Armstrong is not one of those. What I get from her is a spoilt brat who wouldn’t know what to do when power is handed over to her. She’ll just look like a moron, looking for who to carry her cross.”

Mera gritted her teeth, glaring at her sister. She ignored the sting her long statement caused in her chest. “But she can improve!” She exclaimed. “Just be patient and give her some time.”

“And look where that has gotten you.” Mora quipped, letting out a disgusted grunt with a sneer on her lips.

Her words had Mera flinching back as if she had been slapped in the face, looking at her sister with a hurt expression. Daimon grimaced at her blunt statement, while her parents frowned at her in disapproval.

“Moragan! That is enough.” Miraene said with a harsh frown on her face.

The eldest Princess didn’t even pay her parents a lick of attention. Instead, she just took up her goblet and took a sip of her wine.

“Moragan.” Her father called out with a stern voice. “Apologize to your sister.”

Mora just stared at him through the corner of her eye, an eyebrow raised. When she saw that he was serious, and wasn’t letting up, she heaved a sigh into her goblet. She dropped her goblet down, before looking at her sister, who was glaring hotly at her. Mera couldn’t help but lightly flinch at the dead look in her eyes, but she doesn’t back down. Mora cocked an unimpressed brow at her.

“Apologizes, sister.” Mera opened her mouth to reject her half assed apology, when she continued regardless. “I’m sorry if I stating a fact hurt your spoilt and fragile pride. After all, the truth, as they say, is a better potion to swallow.”

Mera’s glare intensified ten times, but Mora could care less. She just took up her goblet again and continued drinking her wine, slapping her lips in an obnoxious way. Mera let out a frustrated grunt through her gritted teeth. Mora cocked an eyebrow at her, daring her to do something. Knowing that she couldn’t do anything, while they were all dining no less, the young woman sat down with an enraged frown. Mora loudly chuckled.

The tension was so thick that one could use a knife to cut through it like cake. Miraene heaved a tired sigh at the behavior of both of her daughters. For women who were sister – Mora being the senior by one year – these two acted like the greatest of enemies. She’ll never know what made them stop being the sisters they were when growing up. To ease up the tension, Queen Miraene focused on Daimon once more.

“So, Daimon, when are you and your father going to the summit?” She asked.

“Oh shit! I forgot to tell you!” The King exclaimed.

“Language, husband.” She sighed out, making the King to laugh nervously as he scratched the back of his head.

“We’re leaving by the break of dawn, mother.” Daimon replied. “Father and I, and the little bit of guards we’re taking – maybe six ore five – will be making use of Athens’ Lanuae Magicae; before going to the city of the summit on horses. We won’t be for five days.”

“Hmm.” Miraene hummed at the back of her throat. Looks like she has enough time to look into Herada, and maybe talk to her personally. She has heard so much about her, but she wants to get to know the young woman personally. If her son was this adamant about someone or something, he’s definitely not going to give up that easy.

Mora shot a surreptitious glance at her mother, recognizing the expression she had on. Looks like she’s not the only one thinking about investigating into Herada’s life, and probably setting up a meeting to speak with her. Well, what do you know? The apple didn’t fall far from the tree after all when it came to her and her mother.

Mora took a sip of her wine, glancing at her sister from the corner of her eye. She hurriedly averted her eyes as Mera turned to face her. She sneered in distaste into her cup.

Only the gods know where her sibling got her stupidity and lack of brains from. Clearly not from this family. The possibility that her mother had an affair became more convincing as the annoying thing moves and breathe.

Well, whatever.