“Well, certainly not,” Queen Marta stuttered because of James’s sudden presence. “But your queen gave me her word--”

“A promise is a promise but when one family member needs immediate care and attention, he or she deserves all the proper care and attention they need,” James replied, interrupting Queen Marta. He stood beside me and continued, “If your family had this kind of situation, we would humbly understand and move the meeting to another day.”

“In doing so, it shows you and your family don’t value time at all,” she smirked as she opened her fan, trying to cower James with her insensitive remarks.

“On the contrary, we do value time in this kingdom,” James stepped forward with a confident smile. “We value time with the people important to us. Meetings can wait and can happen at any time but when our family is in some kind of emergency, family comes first before anything.”

“Well… your son could’ve taken care of this meeting on his own,” she stuttered, trying to think of a better comeback on what James said. “He should’ve been the one who took the journey to discuss important matters with me. He’s well-capable of taking care of himself.”

“Robert has been taking care of his mother ever since she fell ill. He never left her side even though he hasn’t got enough rest,” James reasoned. “He knows what to value in life and he values time with his mother. You, of all people, should understand that the most. Am I right?”

Queen Marta cleared her throat, looking down to the ground after being embarrassed by the situation. She’s a ruling monarch. She’s a mother and she did mention that she misses the time when her children are by her side. She should’ve understood this situation from the very beginning.

“Well, if you say that this is an emergency, I guess I have to… reconsider. My apologies for being inconsiderate,” she bowed her head as she closed her fan, grasping them tightly.

“There’s no need to apologize, Your Majesty. We understand where your point is coming from,” James nodded.

“But we have to start immediately. I still have a lot to take care of back at home,” she instantly went back to her queen-ly actions after apologizing.

“This way, Your Majesty,” James answered with a smile, leading the way to the accepting room.

♔♔♔

“I came here to discuss the wedding. All the details have yet to be fully talked about,” Queen Marta started as a maid poured tea on her little cup. “The theme, the food to be prepared, the place where it will be held, the dress for the bride, the suit for the groom, outfits for the guests, even the priest that will conduct the ceremony,” she continued, sipping some tea after.

James and I cleared our throats, adjusting ourselves in our chairs as we listened to Queen Marta list everything that needs to be prepared.

“I’m curious to know if there’s still a wedding that will happen because I don’t sense any kind of urgency on your part,” she added. “I understand that the wedding is to be held by the time the young prince has turned twenty-one thousand years of age but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t prepare.”

“Allow me to give our deepest apologies for not putting enough attention on the wedding, Your Majesty,” James said, leaning towards her. “As of the moment, we have a lot in our minds right now. As you can see, my wife’s condition isn’t of the best.”

“Then you should’ve given us the responsibility to plan everything. It wouldn’t have taken this long to discuss every important detail,” she replied, smirking with an eyebrow up.

Her reply didn’t sit right with me. Is she implicating that we’re irresponsible with this matter? As a fellow monarch, she knows we have so much to take care of and had the audacity to insult us in our own kingdom. I don’t want to believe that she traveled all the way from her little throne room just to humiliate us.

“Was that a suggestion or are you insulting my family? I asked, raising an eyebrow as well.

“I beg your pardon, young man?” she turned to me in disbelief. “I don’t think I appreciate that tone of yours.”

“Robert,” James turned to me, stopping me but that little warning of his will not work with me. I will not sit on this chair and watch someone say such words against my family.

I leaned in and put my arms on the table. “As I recall from the marriage negotiations, we agreed that we plan the wedding together, dividing all matters equally,” I started. “Your side suggested that you will handle all the gold needed and we, on our behalf, will take care of the wedding details. It seems to me that you, wanting to do the plans yourself is an insult to my family.”

“An insult?” she put her cup down. “I don’t think that I’ve said anything to offend you or your family, young man.”

“It is an insult, Your Majesty. No matter how hard you try to deny it or say it, it sounded like an insult,” I moved closer, “You see, if you do everything for this wedding, you can brag to all the other kingdoms that you took care of everything while we sat around and did nothing.” I continued, “And everybody will see us in a bad light which will destroy our reputation, something we’re very careful with.”

My answer stunned her. With wide-open eyes, she gently took another sip of tea.

“So, allow me to ask you once more: are you suggesting this idea or are you degrading my family’s name so your kingdom could have all the glory?” I repeated the question as I laid back on my chair.

There was nothing but silence within the room, tension accompanied it in its entry. I don’t speak out during these kinds of meetings but when it comes to my family, it’s a different conversation.