[Velius's POV]
The air was crisp and clean, refreshing almost, if not for the smell of the horses grazing near our accommodation. Instead I woke up bright and early beside my complaining wife and her shrivelled grimace. It was a strong smell, one the lavender in our cushions did not do a good job of disguising.
I waited impatiently for the servant to enter to dress me and left without, passing the coachmen without reprimanding them despite the smell irritating me as well. The matter of morning tea forgotten in favour of other tasks.
I was eternally bored living in the palace, it was a feeling I had grown up with and never quite stricken off of my chest. When I had been pushed towards marriage I had selected a woman who no matter how irritating and useless had resembled me in that sense, despite coming from a less prominent family. She was bitter with boredom.
I had been offered many roles and done them all badly, had no interest in work but saw only fleeting interest in play.
Today, however, I had goal, and that alone was so delicious I imagined the sweet, candied conclusion if I played my cards just right.
Firstly, of course, one must ascertain whether the two fools were indeed in some sort of relationship. That would by far be the most difficult of any of the steps, however the fact that they were unlikely to know I suspected, would be of great benefit to me.
So I headed out towards one of three tents housing the serving staff, of mixed stations and roles. They were primitive thin fabric-ed structures that would not have housed more than two at most had they not reduced the bed size down to a stiff mat that I had confirmed in the past, was no fun at all to bed someone on.
The one closest to my own lodgings should have been where he was staying, and it was early enough in the morning that he had no reason to be gone, especially considering his lack of any duties that would compel him to wake at a certain time.
I peered inside, holding the drapery door open with three firm fingers. There was no light inside but the entire tent seemed to be occupied aside from three beds.
I stepped inside quietly, perused the sleeping individuals, one waking and seeming startled, frightened first then confused as he realised who I was, looking around at the other men to see who I might be searching for.
The Joker was clearly not here.
I left just as easily, head still held high.
Interesting, my inward smile turned outward.
As the diligent sort that I am I went through the servants lodgings, first the other men's tent, then finally the women's, to which there was some nervous muttering, the women being notoriously earlier to wake, this was for fun more than for the sake of the search.
There were a few servants eating while they had the chance, things they had stored from the night before, and brewing tea. They peered round at me as I passed, curious by nature but too submissive to ever approach.
So I approached instead, and asked them where such a fellow might be. Most nervously tried to correct their clothing as I proceeded towards them and when I asked shook their heads cluelessly, all save for one, a tasteful brown haired boy who had unfortunate teeth who occasionally worked caring for my horses.
"That's Elpis, sir. He didn't come back last night. Went off to work late last night, he'll return soon, Lord Velius."
"We thought he was with you." A woman replied, retying her bonnet. She looked up and hastily added. "I mean- With- Playing music, Sir."
"I see." They began to speak again but I turned and left.
He had left in the night but not returned. If I was correct, and I was always correct, he had either been falsely called from his bed to service Ophelos or snuck off to meet him after playing for His Majesty.
I could hardly imagine another outcome that would not have the guards searching for a body, an escapee, or the boy being nursed back to health.
It was all quite delicious. I should just love to see the expression on his face when I dangled that titbit of information over his head. It was such an attractive sort of expression.
So I thought the best person to collect any further confirmation or information must be the great big military oaf himself.
[Elpis's POV]
I rushed from the bed to scramble for my clothes and dress when the servant slipped inside, again with a request for audience with the King. My presumption was that it was Thera, and I could not possibly design a reason for my being here, half dressed as I was, when she knew I must have spent the night.
My hair was mussed and damp and my back throbbing with a slow ache and I was marked from neck to hip with the blushing results of his lips on my skin. They would not disappear for some time and I could not even be sure I would be able to sufficiently cover them with the clothes I had.
And with no mirror or time to check I struggled to finish dressing as Demosthenes approached the servant and exited the tent, to greet his visitor at the entrance, only glancing at me once as he stood up. "I shall speak to them outside. Slow down before you hurt yourself." He spoke with some annoyance.
But that was far easier said than done, even a peak would show me to be there, all the marks of sex still displayed on me no matter what efforts I put to smoothening my hair back and smoothening my clothes. It was there, the warmth and looseness and hooded eyes, the imprint of an active night and a deep rest.
I was nervous and flustered as I hid by the edges of the somewhat circular room. There were no adequate spots to hide and any other exits were not obvious to me.
"Your Majesty," Came the distant familiar voice. Though who exactly it was, was not coming into mind.
There was a pause while they presumably bowed and the King replied, his voice significantly muffled yet somehow still distinct and clear. "You wished to speak with me, state your cause." He said in a low flat tone.
I inched closer, feeling more hidden the closer I was and out of sight through the gap in the entrance.
"Sir," Another pause for a bow. "Some silly little thing dropped his handkerchief as he was passing by... I asked to whom it might belong and was told it was it was that odd entertainer who was brought along. They told me he might be with you?"
A pause. "A handkerchief."
Another pause. "Well, he is an entertainer, he cannot have much and I shouldn't like to dispossess him of anything simply for lack of trying." The man spoke in a kind and articulate manner.
"Well I called for him last night. He has since returned, what would he be doing here in the morning?" He sounded genuine and irritated. Such an impressive liar.
I stood blushing in the middle of that lie, still looking at the tangled remains of where we had been sleeping.
He said nothing for a short while, then one peek proved a smile on the face of Lord Verius and my heart grew cold, the blood pumping through my body similarly so. I should have recognised his voice but the tone was so different when not snide or arrogant.
"Well, I'd better search elsewhere then hadn't I?" He smiled with a kind smile that barely suited him and bowed formally once more, turning without question, as though he did not know I was here.
But surely asking questions such as though he must know. He must know.
The moment the coast was clear I spared no thought, forgot to say goodbye or greet him even semi-formally. It was a bold and rude exit that I took as I fled the room with a racing heart and wide, worried eyes.
His Majesty made no effort to stop me as I scurried off, but that one last look on his face almost, eyes narrowed and eyebrow raised, resembled suspicion as he observed me in all my hurry...
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