Note: This is a continuation of the Royal Heirs series. For full context please read the other chapters as well. All characters are 18 or older.
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A cold wind blew through the window of the King's chamber, bringing swirling snowflakes inside as well. He had been given the highest suite in the tallest tower of the Summit Stronghold, looking out over the sparse town that was the ruling city of the Mountain Kingdom.
The Royal Tour had arrived three days earlier, and the entire stay had thus far been devoted to politics and bureaucracy. The King's stunt at the end of their visit to the Kingdom of Isles had the intended effect -- the Reuge family had kept quiet since the King's departure, and the Siobhan family was ruling in the Crown's interest -- but the ripples it had created were proving rather frustrating.
The entire purpose of the Royal Tour was to ensure each of the eight kingdoms had a ruling family loyal and dedicated to the King, and to do so the King would give each family their future heir -- tying their families to the Royal family, and the future leaders to the King.
In every previous Royal Tour, there had been no changes to which family had actually been in power for the kingdoms. Control changed hands regularly, but was almost always left to the discretion of local politics, without interference from the Crown.
Yet the Crown's spies had intercepted a messenger traveling from the Kingdom of Isles, and after the man loosened his tongue it was decided that the Reuge family would not remain in control -- even with a royal heir their loyalty would be in question. Instead, the Siobhan family had been placed in charge, their daughter bred, and the King's control over his Empire solidified.
Or at least, so he hoped. The correspondences that had rained in from throughout his Empire had ranged from supportive, fearful, and vindictive. His ongoing battle for control would not end with the Royal Tour, though he was glad to see a reputation that he was not to be trifled with had begun to form.
Thankfully, there would be no such issue here in the Mountain Kingdom.
The ruling family had been in power since time immemorial, never questioned, and never bred with the Royal line. There had been a bubbling, accepted level of animosity between the Stroup family and the Crown, stemming from the Crown's ongoing leniency towards the Kingdom of Isles raiding their shores.
But the Mountain Kingdom paid their taxes and had accepted the Royal religion, while the Crown continued to supply necessary food when the harsh north needed their assistance. There was a hope that this first joining of their bloodlines would strengthen their relations, but Entega was not sure.
Regardless, he would play along. They had been through the necessary rituals that preceded the ceremony, feasts and greetings, and tours of the local landmarks. He had even visited the local Shrine the day before -- without his cousin, though he did feel a pang between his legs when he arrived alone.
Since his display with the Reuge family before their departure from the Islands, the King had not known intimacy, with another or with himself. He was near bursting with excitement for the release that would come with the ceremony that night.
Now, he sat in his quarters, whiling away the hours until he would be summoned and brought down to the Queen's chamber. He could not say he was excited at the prospect of being prepared by Lady Stroup, however.
She had ruled the Mountain Kingdom for nearly two decades, the last fifteen years of which she had done alone, her husband perishing in a raid. It was well known that the Kingdom was under her control even when he was alive though, and the years had done nothing but made her harder against the ever present cold of her home.
All through their stay in the Kingdom, Entega had looked for a spark of attraction to the Lady. She followed the local fashion and, out of necessity, stayed bundled up against the cold. Her hands gave her away though, the thin, wrinkled fingers betraying her age. Her face was pretty enough, but showed the years of stressful rule.
He had yet to meet the girl who would carry the Mountain Kingdom's heir, but he held out hope she did not take after her mother.
Ordran knocked on the door and let the King know that it was time. He rose and made his way out of his chambers and, despite knowing who was waiting for him a floor below, he felt his cock stir beneath his furs.
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The crackling fire did little against the omnipresent cold that truly ruled this Kingdom. The Queen paid little mind to the weather outside, ignoring the intruding snowflakes and choosing to enjoy the way the weather hardened her nipples no matter how many layers she wore.
No, the Queen let her focus settle on the young woman in front of her.
There was no pretense of choice in this Kingdom, no facade to be maintained. It was the two of them, alone in the King's chamber, and both understood what was to come that evening. Still, the Queen went through the motions expected of them for the ceremony.
If for no other reason than she wanted to have a little fun herself.
The young woman, Lady Payton Stroup, stood cloaked in furs, maintaining the Queen's gaze. The older woman paced around the girl, loosening her clothes with a pull here and there, before letting the young woman's garments fall to the ground.
The furs had hidden little. While she had a pretty, thin face that popped with her green eyes and sensuous mouth, a lifetime of too little on her plate had left the girl rail thin. The Queen traced a finger along her ribcage, counting the bones she could see plainly through the girl's skin. She had a small behind and flat chest, her breasts hardly more than bumps with nipples pointed in the cold.
Yet the girl did not shiver, she did not shy away from the Queen. Something about her remained impressive, enticing almost.
"You understand why you are here," the Queen said.
"I do," the girl replied.
The Queen gave her a pointed look.
"I do," the girl said again, sarcastically "your grace."
"And you understand why I am here."
"I do."
