Editor's Note: Ideally this will be an ongoing series about a busty Queen dealing with a perverted old man. It will eventually involve significant adultery, and I put it in the Loving Wives category for that reason. If that doesn't float your boat, you don't have to read it! This is the intro chapter that has no sex, just sets the story in motion. Happy reading and respectful comments or feedback (both good or bad) are always welcome and appreciated. ~ SE
*****
King Erik held the scroll with trembling hands, his voice cracking as he read the words to the small trusted group assembled in the 'war room' off the Great Hall, "The Kienan Lineage will end with Erik, for his Queen will be assassinated the night of the Feast of Eden. Should he re-marry, he will only succeed in guaranteeing the death of another beautiful little minx. Fear the Rats, for we are everywhere," he paused before adding, "And it's signed with a bloody outline of a rat."
The room was silent as the 28 year old young king put the scribbled note on the table, looking around the room that grew steadily more uncomfortable by the minute. There were only four others - his Uncle Jaime, his personal bodyguard Viktor, his father's old advisor Walter, and his older sister Nayli.
"Bloody Fookin' Rats," his Uncle finally blurted out, breaking the silence, "This is what they do, fear-mongering at it's finest. It's bullshit Erik, you know that," he scoffed.
Nayli looked perturbed, "Uncle Jaime he can't just ... ignore it. They threatened to kill Elena!" she remarked, referring to her brother's gorgeous wife who had been strategically left out of the secret meaning. "We have to protect her at all costs."
"I swear I'm going to kill every last one of them bastards. T'hell with them and their lame ass name," Viktor seethed, angrily rubbing his burly hands together as his scarred face took on a look of pure hatred.
"Well one thing's for damn sure, that letter doesn't leave this room," her Uncle noted with a foreboding tone in his voice. "One little rumor gets out and all of Synia will be buzzing for months. We better double the guards on duty for the Feast of Eden Festival and call in the Royal Palace reserves just in case." The older man had been serving the Kingdom of Synia ever since his brother had taken the throne nearly 40 years ago, and he and Walter were the senior voices at the table.
Erik looked around the small table where he stood, feeling the tension in the air as the enormity of the decision weighed on him. Synia had been at peace for over a decade, though lately there were little signs and issues that had been springing up all over their lands for the past 18 months, ever since his father had passed on and he had taken the throne. Notably, the Rats - the self named underground clan of degenerates that held allegiance to no one - had been doing just enough mischief to become a nuisance for Synia and the neighboring kingdom of Elyria. From rumors that they set the main port on fire to cause untold economic damage to allegedly sabotaging jousting tournaments to screw with the nobility's favorite pastime; they were a cult that believed in chaos and disorder and a warped vision on how to bring back power to the lower class.
For the next twenty minutes the group debated the proper course of action as well as trying to determine how someone managed to either break into the palace in secret or pay off someone in the castle to sneak into the Royal Bedchamber to toss the scroll on Erik and Elena's bed. The young King noticed that Walter had been silent for most of the discussion, as he often was, choosing to listen and think rather than voice the first thought that came to his head. His mannerisms and appearance often led him to be seen as wise, though the old man certainly had his share of skeletons in his closet. The advisor to Erik's father, the late King Charles, he had survived through numerous political scandals that gave Erik subtle uneasiness about his loyalty. Still, he valued his judgment in situations such as this one as he often had a different point of view.
"Walter, how do you think we should handle this," Erik asked him bluntly.
Walter gazed back at the young man who was 40+ years his junior, casually stroking his grey sideburns with his thumb and ring finger. "While doubling the guards would help, it wouldn't prevent Elena's murder," he said, his voice somber as the mention of the Queen's death created a sense of darkened urgency. "There's at least one person, if not more, on the inside. No typical Rat from town would have the ability to get that scroll past the guards and up the tower to your chambers Erik. Whomever it was knows too much and has seemingly unrestricted access. Your wife isn't safe within the castle walls."
The mood of the room seemed to shift from anger to fear, and for his part Erik nervously shifted in his stance. While strong and proficient in battle, he wasn't the most confident of Kings when it came to strategy, politics, or major decision making. "Agreed, but it's not like I can just leave with her to go to stay with one of our allies, especially with the festival coming up," he said, knowing that he couldn't afford to appear weak to his people.
"No, and I wouldn't trust your allies any more than your own Kingdom," Walter responded.
"This is just so horrible! She's not safe here and she's not safe somewhere else," Nayli said, shaking her head and feeling terrible for her sister-in-law. "What are we supposed to do?"
Jaime looked over at Walter, "What are you saying Walt, she needs to go into hiding?"
Viktor, who usually didn't offer much of an opinion as he was simply the King's personal guard said, "I know a few remote caves and abandoned huts. Not sure the Queen would like them too much though."
"Thank you Viktor, but the Queen needs food and a real roof over her head," Walter said and Erik breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't like the thought of his gorgeous wife out on her own fending for herself, "but yes, going into hiding is what I'd recommend. Specifically, taking on a new identity in one of the villages on the outskirts of the Kingdom where she'd be less likely to be noticed. She could stay there until this whole mess is figured out and we uncover the traitors."
"It's not a bad idea," Jaime said, thinking out loud as he rubbed his balding head.
"But ... but I won't be able to see her and make sure she's alright, the furthest villages are a two or three day ride form here," Erik said, sounding more like a boy than a man at the moment. His thin frame hunched over the table as he put his hand down on the edge to support himself, his head hanging low before looking back up. "How will I know she'll be protected? What sort of identity would she take? She's not exactly used to ... village life," he said, referring to the slightly haughty noble side of his voluptuous wife.
Walter shrugged as he looked up at the young King, "That's why she'll need to be 'married.' Fake of course, but instant protection," he said as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"WHAT?!? Married? I will not have the Queen betrothed to another man," Erik said, standing up rigid at the suggestion. He shook his head and looking quite flustered. "Plus there's no chance she'll ever go for it. Literally no chance."
"Relax," Walter said in a condescending tone, daring to talk down to the King a bit. "This isn't about your feelings Erik, this is about the Queen's safety. You want her unhappy or you want her fucking dead?" he said, pausing for dramatic flair. Erik remained silent, his eyes narrowing as the words took effect, before Walter continued, "I said fake marriage, it's only a guise - we have her live with someone we can trust is all, and the only way it will seem normal is if everyone thinks they're married."
"I just don't think ..." Erik began before Jaime cut him off, "The plan has merit Erik. There are times that call for tough choices and this is obviously one of them. How would we explain her absence?" he asked, as if it were a foregone conclusion.
"The Flu's going around ... could say she got a bad case of that and is bedridden for a few weeks or a month," Walter replied nonchalantly.
