"My King! My King! Are you alright?"
"Keep quiet, Sylvia."
He had the nerve, even when he seemed to be ill.
"But, you don't seem to be well." She replied cautiously.
"Help me to my bed."
Sylvia did her best to balance him; he was heavy and she was heaving. She wondered at this rate when they would be able to get to his bed.
"How weak are you?"
She gritted her teeth. For someone who needed her help, he sure did have the audacity to complain. He needed to call his servants to come and help him.
"I'm trying my best."
They got to the bed, and they both fell. She landed on top of him,
"Sylvia."
"Yes?"
"Get off me, you are crushing me."
Sylvia got off him. How ungrateful he was,
"You know what."
Before she could finish her sentence, she was shocked to find blood on her hands.
"How did I hurt myself?"
Sylvia realized that it was not her bleeding, but it was probably Vernon. She looked him over and noticed that blood was soaking through his shirt.
"You are bleeding!"
"I can tell."
"Should I call the physician?"
"No, don't you dare."
She was perplexed at his answer,
"Why not?"
"No one can find out that I was injured during battle."
"Then why summon me here?"
"You are the Queen, and it would be strange if you didn't see me after the war. Besides, I didn't plan on you seeing me in this state."
"Why can't anyone know?"
"Enemies and moles, Sylvia, they will want to take advantage and finish me off. "
"Might as well let them."
"Sylvia, what did you say?"
"Nothing, My King."
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not, and if that is all, I would like to retire to my chambers."
"You are not going anywhere."
"What?"
"I don't trust you not to tell anyone."
"I give you my word, My King."
"I don't want it because you are going to be here, where I can see you."
"If I do tell, you would know it was me as I'm the only one who knows."
"That is not all."
"What else?"
"I need you to help me."
Sylvia tried to hold back her smile and satisfaction. "You need my help?"
"Yes. Don't make me repeat it."
She stood arms akimbo,
"I never thought I would see the day when mighty Vernon needs me."
"I have no other choice."
She shrugged, "Oh, but you do, My King."
"What?"
"Call your favourite concubine."
"I don't trust anyone."
"Wow, that is rich coming from you. I guarantee you, you can trust Celia."
"Well, I don't."
"I promise you, and I know from the lunch that she had, that she couldn't wait to get summoned by you."
"Sylvia......…"
"I mean, you spent your last night with her, so why not spend your first night back with her?"
"I will not discuss Celia nor the concubines right now, I'm not in the state to entertain them."
She shrugged, "That is not my problem. Your relationship with the concubines is amongst yourselves. I mean the stories I had to endure whilst you were gone."
"I don't care what you and the concubines discuss."
"Well, you should, as it does pertain to you too."
"Sylvia, I will talk with them when I'm better."
"Ah, the irony of it all. Well, I'm not sure I can take care of you, I'm busy."
"Busy?"
"Yes."
"What is more important than the well-being of the King?"
"Keeping your concubines happy. I know how important they are to you and vice versa."
"This again."
She scoffed, "Tiring isn't it?"
"I feel as if I'm obliged to ask what is?"
"What's the point if you are not truly interested?"
"Sylvia.........….."
"Imagine how I feel? You too need to hear what I had to hear during our lunch."
"As I said, I don't care for it; that is your duty, and I don't want any part in it."
"Huh."
"As I said, I don't trust anyone."
She shrugged, "So you shouldn't trust me."
"You have as much as I have to lose in this situation, Sylvia."
She knew that he had a point and was right; if Vernon lost, she too would lose everything.
"I see that you are coming to your senses."
"What would you have done if I weren't here?"
"I can't answer that as you are here."
"Can't you simply answer my question?"
"You are asking me a hypothetical question, which I can't answer as I'm not in that situation."
"I get that, but you know what I mean. You, too, are being difficult."
"Get ready for bed, I'm tired."
She turned to him, Why not just finish him and face the consequences later?
"Why are you looking at me like that, My Queen?"
She rolled her eyes and went to the door,
"I didn't dismiss you!"
"I know, but I need to go change into my night attire."
"Order them to bring it for you."
"Very well."
How Sylvia wished she could just finish the job, but rather called Maria,
"Bring me my nightgown and some books to read."
Sylvia could tell that Maria was reading it wrong; there was nothing romantic. Just her being stuck here because she had come at a bad time.
"Right away, My Lady."
Maria brought her night gown, some books, and she took it, went to the bath chambers, and changed.
She came back and felt a bit odd,
"If you are going to sleep on the chair, there is the furnace."
For someone who needed her help, he did have a horrible attitude, and he did not fail to leave her dumb founded.
"What a gentleman you are. I wasn't planning on sleeping on the chair. I just have some reading to do before I head to bed."
"Ah, take your time, the longer you take to get to bed, the better."
How she wanted to finish him off, Sylvia read until her eyes felt droopy. She decided to call it a night.
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