Larita's Kingdoms: Dawn of a New Age [O/F]

Adviser Enguerrand Urbain Armistead

All Enguerrand had heard for the past month, all that was ever really spoken of around him, was how the Queen was pregnant, that a grand ball was to be held in the honour of the new heir, and how excited everyone was to have the three Kings meet in Didlington. Yet the first thought which came to mind for the Advisor of Didlington was whether they were going to serve those chopped sausages wrapped in bacon. Enguerrand saw very little in these gatherings, often attempting to skip out on them when possible. Sometimes, if he was lucky, he could stay in his lab deep within the cellars of the castle and ignore whatever social gathering was occurring that day. Other times, like today, he was expected to attend the gathering. His arrival hinged mainly on whether it was “necessary” to see the advisor.

Wherever nobility gathered so too did their advisors and it seemed improper that Didlington’s own would not be there as well. Not that Enguerrand thought of it as “improper”, he found such a thought idiotic. Should anyone want to talk with him, they knew where to find him. To why he had to waste his time socializing when he could use it to, say, study the affects of a newly discovered herbal plant on mice was beyond him. The only aspect to this party which Enguerrand would not frown at was the food which was plentiful and at its peak taste. In fact he was already stationed by the long table adorned with little snacks which one could eat with their hands or a small fork without dirtying themselves. One particular plate- once containing sausages wrapped in bacon was now empty and he urged the nearest servant to get more.

As he took a noisy sip from his glass of wine, holding it “improperly” as it was customary for Enguerrand, he scanned the crowd. The young King of Luffnum almost huddled in a corner, too timid for his own good to even interact with any familiars. The slightly older King of Twyford holding himself as any royal would. King Roland of Didlington was nowhere to be found, but he was definitely in his private library, building the required energy to attend one of these miserable gatherings. Most of the advisors who served any wealthy landowners were gathered in a small huddle of sorts talking with one of the rare female advisors, Kiana, not too far away. The last face he fell too before jerking his head towards the entrance was the very Queen herself, Rosalind.

The two were having an affair, simple as that though Enguerrand preferred to call it a mutual friendship. Usually he tried to avoid any and all interactions with the nobility- they always appeared too hung up on tradition and social rules. But he could sympathize for the Queen. Her status as a female left her little chance of escaping their social construct of their society, leaving her prisoner in a loveless marriage and a man who clearly lacked the ability to even produce an heir. Since then Enguerrand had regularly bedded the Queen or allowed her access to his labs- a rare treat as he usually talked with others outside of his lab, never inside. ‘Risk of contamination’ he called it. But for the Queen she was one of the lucky few to be allowed in freely, especially when he found that stray cat he kept around for “observational study”- a term which really covered his true intentions of giving Rosalind a pet without having it roam around the castle and thus upset Roland.

Surely then this would have meant that her unborn child was to be his, knowing the numerous times Enguerrand and Rosalind shared a room together? Well to his relief he highly doubted this was his child. He had already produced three offspring- all of which he never met and hoped to never meet. Enguerrand had also entered his thirties, leaving him at an age now where perhaps it was best he not have a child. But the real proof was the timing of the pregnancy. Two months ago Rosalind had left to attend a meeting in Twyford, and then two months alter she learned she was pregnant. It did not take a genius to figure that she had sex with King Gregory. He was still young enough to produce viable children and was likely the one who spent the most time with his Queen.

It did not matter to Enguerrand who she slept with though, or whose child she carried. As long as it was not his child, he could care less about who knocked her up. Well alright, it would be terrible if the child she gave birth too looked clearly nothing like the King, to which the Queen might be in trouble. But if people were fooled into thinking it was Roland, her side affairs were none of his concern.

As Roland introduced himself to the crowd who clapped for their King, Enguerrand just observed. He never clapped for any King, including the one he advised, nor would he start today.


It was like his worst nightmares had come true. A room full of people, many who Denton did not recognize. In a vain effort to avoid them all he stayed huddled in the nearest corner, head down and hands up with a glass of wine. He was reminded time and time again not to cover his face at parties, but he hated these social gatherings. There were too many people; they expected him to talk about stuff he knew little about. What would happen if Roland or Gregory wanted to talk? What should he say? Were any deals going to be offered? Would it help everyone if he agreed to them or rejected them? Would a war start if he denied them?

“Ohh,” Denton fidgeted with his wine glass and closed his eyes, “why did Lisette have to die…” Sure she was a spiteful woman who wanted power, but she had been taught everything about how to be a Queen. Denton was taught nothing, expected to just marry, possibly gain a title like Duke, and enjoy himself while one of his older siblings took on the throne. And then she had to get sick and die. One would argue that this was karma for killing William, but it felt more like a personal punishment since it meant he had to be King.

All eyes turned to Roland as he entered the room, getting a rather grand introduction. Everyone clapped including Denton, but he avoided being too loud. So long as no one noticed him, he could get through this party fine.