The Dragon Brothers
Chapter 31 - Your Devoted Wolf

* The Castle at Drakor; The Capital of the Chromos * Viola POV

The festival is finally here. My dress is a light pink with red roses streamed from one shoulder across my body down into the folds of the dress. As I walked from the castle to the town with Lucian next to me people cheered for their King and Queen. We passed the dancing stadium which was already filled with people dancing and having fun. The feast set out for the people was also gaining a lot of attention as people were waiting in line to get to the food. Lucian walked me to the food bank which was wrapped in a red ribbon with a big red bow at the front. I was so nervous about giving the speech in front of the crowd but I knew this could be a defining moment for Drakor.

"To the people of Drakor as your queen I am aware of your struggles and I am willing to do what I can to ease the burden. Everyone struggles in this world to overcome obstacles and there is nothing wrong with asking for help to get through a rough spot. This food bank offers food to anyone that asks. There is no application process, interviews, or request for identification so nobody will know who comes to the bank. Local farmers are providing the supplies so this is truly our community helping each other out." After saying my speech Lucian holds the ribbon for me and so I can cut it. The crowd starts cheering as people line up to get their first package of food.

"I could not be more proud of you than I am right now." Lucian admits and then leans down to kiss me. I have tears in my eyes because for the first time I feel like a queen leading her community.

"I've also done some thinking and if you really want to attend the ballroom dancing inside the castle I won't make you stay on bedrest. But, you have to stay seated on our platform. Does that sound like a compromise you can live with?" Lucian puts his arms around me and smiles.

"Oh Lucian, that would make me so happy! I promise that I'll stay seated and not dance. You do seem a lot less strict than you were when we first met." Lucian just laughs at me and gives me a quick kiss on the lips. I think he's becoming softer on me in his old age. But of course I'll still try and get in trouble because and as far as I'm concerned there will be plenty of time for bedrest when I'm dead. I have started feeling some cramps which I have no intention of telling Lucian about. Besides, the doctor was only guessing that I'm pregnant so I may not be.

*Runswick: A Small Village in the Salona Kingdom*

Wolf POV

My men and I finally make it to Runswick; our last stop before we can return to the castle and I can see Emily again. The village is the same as all of the others. It's small, cobblestone streets, small businesses along the main street with homes on top of them, and small huts on the outside edges for people that raise small livestock. I quickly made my way towards the local bookstore where I found a wonderful edition of Beowolf. On the front cover is a beautiful picture of Beowolf fighting Grendel. Then I found a florist to pick out roses for Emily. They could not deliver to Roselake today but promised that Emily would get her flowers tomorrow. I picked out a dozen white roses with red tips. On the card for the flowers I wrote:

'But Lancelot mused a little space. He said she has a lovely face. God in his mercy lend her grace. The lady of Shalott.' ~ Your Devoted Wolf

I wish we were not confined by society's rules when courting and I know that I cannot just whisk her away from her life so sending the gifts is my way of courting her from afar. With each gift I want her to feel special and know that I am thinking of her. I am but a hopeless romantic and already so in love.

* Roselake: A Small Village in the Salona Kingdom *

Lord Garbg POV

I've been working to prove to people that this new king and his empire's rules are not a good fit for the Roselake. I believe that I have enough people for a revolt if he decides to come back through here again. I won't let him take my Emily. She belongs to ME and no one else. He may be a king of the kingdom and a prince of the empire but I know deep down she wants to be with me and I will have no one but her.

I do not give up easily and I am very competitive. I hope this king knows I won't go down without a fight. I wonder if there's a way to force her to my manor and lock her up there. Now, that's not a bad idea.

I walk into Mrs Fishere's seamstress shop and ring the bell. Emily walks up front from the back of the store.

"Hello, Lord Garbg. How may I be of service to you?" Emily is always so happy to see me. I know she doesn't greet every customer that walks into the shop this way.

"Yes, I know that you and your father are in need of money and I thought I could hire you as my personal maid in the afternoon after you're done with your work here." She should jump at the chance to be my personal maid. I bet she can't wait to get started.

"Well, if all of my work here is done then I could and we could use the extra money. Aren't there any other jobs available other than your personal maid?" She scrunches up her nose when she says personal maid. She's so adorable. "No. That's the only one available at this time. When can you start? How about this afternoon?" I want to rush to seal the deal. I need to get home so I can make sure she has something to do when she gets there. I can't wait to tell the men at the tavern that I now have a personal maid. *Kingdom of Cait * Molle POV

Every day the head maid, Jillian, has been giving me chores and work to do. She handed me an old yellow dress and told me to wear that while cleaning. She's had me scrub floors, polish the silverware, and cook in the kitchen. Jillian and some of the other maids will whisper about me and I know they're gossiping but I don't really care. I don't have time for their childish games but recently their games have turned more into taunting and even bullying. I don't mind the work as it gives me something to do but I'm curious what my new master will say. He seems very overprotective of me. Today, I was scrubbing the floor in the dining room and I heard someone walking in through the kitchen door but I thought nothing of it.

"Oh well look at the slave girl scrubbing the floors. When you're done slave girl I need you to scrub the floor of the throne room." Jillian says walking in with another maid. As she turns to leave the other maid kicks my bucket over spilling the dirty water all over me and the floor.

"Now look at what you've done! You're soaking wet and the floor is covered in dirty water. What a stupid girl! You cause me more trouble than any other maid here does." Jillian turns on me not seeing the other maid kick over the bucket. She starts pulling on my hair and slapping me in the face. I try to fight her off but I can hardly move in between the slaps. Finally she shoves me down on the ground so my face is on the floor. "Get this room and the throne room scrubbed before dark and don't expect a meal waiting for you in the kitchen. You'll go hungry tonight for this mess." With that she and the other maid turn and walk out. I start crying as it's now the third day since I had a meal other than scraps I found in the trash. I don't mean to feel sorry for myself but I've been working so hard and barely eating anything. I try to comfort myself by saying that this isn't much different from the manor and at least I haven't been beaten or whipped here. A/N

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