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16th October 2001 – Tuesday
“Per your orders, we started the preparations for His Highness’ new Palace as well as repairing ward runes and establishing new arrangement of maids. I alerted the Court’s Healer Department about His Highness’ pregnancy and His Highness’ Primary Healer submitted the preliminary report on His Highness’ progression. Currently, we have four Healers on standby in His Highness’ Palace, as well as twelve on rotation.” Head Eunuch continued his report concisely even if His Majesty wasn’t even looking at him – rather his gaze was turned to the scroll in his hands and it hadn’t moved for a while which… didn’t mean anything good. “We also tightened the net around any Concubines who are in position to hurt His Highness as well as limit influence of some on the Children’s Palace.”
He rolled the first scroll in his hands, waving it away to His Majesty’s desk, before opening the second one.
“Concerning Concubine Haywood, as per your order we investigated any outgoing orders from her Palace as well as interrogated her assigned maids – we haven’t found anything that pointed her out as the one who provided mind-altering potion but we did compile the lists of everyone who visited her in isolation. The perpetrator,” Elson idly noticed how His Majesty rubbed his eyebrow and the lines around his eyes tightened for a split second before it went away just as swiftly. It was obvious then that His Majesty had a migraine and judging by amount of work His Majesty had done, he had it for quite a while. Sadly, His Majesty never allowed direct aid from him, but perhaps?.. “Visited the Concubine quite a few times but all of them were before the isolation. As it’s most likely that this plan was in the works for a while I retroactively checked all the reports submitted. I have the list of other suspects as well as the list of proposed measures.”
It was a sign of in how much pain His Majesty was that he didn’t even say anything – not even one disparaging comment over how his measures were useful before. Elson squinted at His Majesty before sighing.
“I’ll prepare the reports for your perusal at later time,” He said instead getting slight wave for his troubles. Frowning in concern, he deposited the scroll on His Majesty’s desk before leaving his office and heading for the only Noble Consort’s Palace that was occupied.
He barely managed to enter the Palace through front doors before one of the maids lead him to one of the living rooms, where His Highness was at the moment. She opened the doors before him, before standing to the side and waiting as he entered said room, where His Highness was sitting on the sofa, reading the book and at the same time paying attention to his children – youngest twins seemed to be in a staring match with each other while simultaneously trying to deposit their toys on the lap of the oldest, who was looking at them like someone would look at particularly persistent bug but didn’t do anything about the stacking happening in the meantime.
“Head Eunuch,” His Highness greeted him absentmindedly. “It seems that we started to meet very often.” He said and wasn’t that the truth. Especially since Head Eunuch very rarely came to the Concubines himself, preferring to send other Eunuchs but in the case of His Highness, well, he was entirely too different, especially with his future promotion, which will divide him from the rest of the Harem by an entire rank. Only blind won’t see where this was going but Eunuch already lost his faith in the intelligence of the wizards and witches of the Harem.
“True, Your Highness.” He said, bowing lowly before His Highness and standing back up after His Highness’ permission – which was entirely too familiar as it was the same gesture His Majesty used. Well, it seems these two were already at ‘sharing speech patterns and gestures’ stage, which… wasn’t entirely surprising. “But I’m here today on a personal matter, rather than business one."
His Highness raised his gaze at him, the green of it sharp and almost cutting even if the emotion in them wasn’t particularly suspicious.
“Personal matter?” He repeated lowly. “That’s new, especially coming from you, Head Eunuch.”
Elson nodded – if the situation was any different he would’ve never bothered coming to one of the Concubines, but as it were…
“Not my personal matter,” he disclosed, seeing the gaze of His Highness’ lose a bit of that sharp edge and become a bit more interested in the things happening. “I’m afraid it requires Your Highness’s presence for at least a bit this evening.” After all he would never disclose that His Majesty had a migraine in public setting, he wasn’t an idiot after all.
His Highness stared at him for a while before he turned to look at his children and then took his wand from the coffee table, waving it in sharp gesture and looking at the time. It was nearing five and Head Eunuch didn’t think it would take less than an hour or two but considering how those behaved in each other’s presence, well, he could be wrong.
“Anna,” His Highness said finally. “Watch over children. If I’m not back by eight – do take them to beds.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” Head Maid bowed before them before turning to the children.
“Lead on, Head Eunuch.” His Highness said, before waving one of the maids standing by to follow them. He was, thankfully, still in his robe so he didn’t need to change and after putting on his outer cloak they were on their way. They spent the rest of their way to His Majesty’s Palace in silence, Elson noticing out of the corner of his eyes as some of the maids scattered away as they noticed their little procession and some of them were other Concubines’ maids but honestly he hadn’t cared if one of them will tell their Mistresses or Masters about this – not at this stage of the game.
And not with His Majesty’s plans for them.
Soon they entered His Majesty’s Palace and just before they entered the office he waved the knights and the maids away, establishing a privacy ward around them with nary a gesture.
“I’m apologizing for that but I’m afraid this is a private matter.” He told His Highness, slightly turning to the doors. “His Majesty is currently suffering about of migraine. His migraines, I’m afraid, can’t be lessened by potions and majority of the time His Majesty works through them before retiring. I mostly came to you to see if you would be able to make him retire early or just sleep for a bit.”
His Highness frowned after hearing the reason, turning to the doors as well.
“And nothing helps?”
“Not potions, not herbs or teas, or even muggle remedies. Healers tried everything over the years and His Majesty refuses to take the most potent of the muggle drugs and in recent years he refuses to take anything outright. Thankfully, they don’t happen that often – mostly once or twice a year in the last decade.” Head Eunuch continued. “The only thing that helps him at least a bit was Dreamless Sleep potion but it’s addictive for continuous use and his bouts of headache can last for a couple of days before they subside.” After seeing the worried look in His Highness’ eyes he finished quietly. “As far as Healers are concerned, there isn’t anything wrong with him. He just gets migraines every once in a while.”
“So, get him to sleep?”
Elson nodded, even if His Highness already left the privacy ward and quietly entered the office proper, shutting the doors behind him. Elson summoned knights to take their posts before turning on his heels and marching on his way to his own office.
Half an hour later he wandered back to the office, checking to mirror to see if His Highness was successful and almost smiled, seeing His Majesty laying on the enlarged chaise with his head on His Highness thighs, with his back to the room, and he seemed to be sleeping, judging by the rhythmic up and downs of his chest as he breathed. His Highness was carding his fingers through His Majesty’s hair, rubbing his head in circles with one hand while the other one was somewhere below. Elson wouldn’t be surprised if they held each other’s hand where he couldn’t see them. Elson snorted.
“Don’t disturb them.” He ordered lowly, only turning away after getting affirmatives from both Knights and going back to his office once again.
17th October 2001 – Wednesday
His Majesty was staring at him measuredly and Elson was just relieved that his migraine seemed to pass after a good sleep. Even if he had to deal with His Majesty’s mood today. But even with that he didn’t regret going to His Highness yesterday.
“So what’s on agenda for today?” His Majesty asked, seemingly deciding not to bring his recent act of insolence up, and Elson opened the scroll, diving into the business as usual.
And if His Majesty was in more lenient mood than usual, well, Elson always did accept well-deserved bribes.