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It wasn't that Charles wanted to kill his future husband.
Not really. He'd really rather not get his hands dirty in that way, regicide was so.. messy.
But if Charles was to be Queen, he was going to do it properly, and if that meant committing regicide to get rid of the King so he could actually get on with ruling, then so be it.
His most trusted adviser, his childhood friend Pierre, was aware of the plans, and while he didn't like it, he was aware it was what needed to be done. He knew Charles would make a fantastic Queen, but the King he was being married off to was not a good one.
The Kingdom had once been great, and still covered a vast amount of land. But nowadays The Kingdom seemed a shell of its former glory, its King reclusive and its people hungry. It both was and wasn't a surprise when the King had agreed to Charles’ brother's offer of an alliance, sealed by marriage.
A kingdom so large shouldn't have wanted anything to do with their small kingdom, let alone an alliance as powerful as one provided by marriage. But it seemed the King was desperate, and Charles’ brother Lorenzo was smart enough to take advantage.
Of course, neither Charles nor Pierre had ever actually met the King, but they'd been visited by many of the nobles in King Sebastian's court during the brief engagement period. It had been enough.
The nobles they had met were greedy, smarmy in a way that made Charles' skin crawl. He was to be their queen, yet they looked at him like he was to be their plaything.
They had another thing coming once Charles took over.
The first time Charles had met King Sebastian in person was their wedding.
He was fairly handsome in a way that indicated he would've been highly sought after in his youth, regardless of his status, and he smiled kindly at Charles as he helped him up onto the dais.
It really was a shame Charles was going to kill him.
The priest gave a long and dry speech about marriage and duty, and Charles smiled prettily and held the King's hand as they repeated their vows.
Charles was sworn in as Queen, and King Sebastian took his hand again, turning to face the rather large number of royals and nobility, presenting Charles as his Queen.
“Long Live the Queen!” King Sebastian declared, his chant quickly echoed by the gathered guests.
Such a shame.
—-
Charles knew he couldn't make his move immediately. It would be far too suspicious, and although he had never committed regicide before, he wasn't an amateur.
Charles was to attend his first day of hearings as Queen today.
Pierre was to be his only adviser, the only one from his home who had joined Charles in this new kingdom.
The King had many advisers, though Charles knew each was more corrupt than the next.
He was interested to finally begin meeting some of his people, and even more interested to see how his new husband handled hearings when his court was so utterly corrupt.
He hadn't seen a lot of his new husband in the days since their wedding. He assumed he was off with his advisers, or perhaps a mistress who'd been in the picture long before Charles.
It didn't matter too much.
If anything, it made it easier, that Charles wasn't forced to spend too much time with the man he would kill.
Charles had free roam of the castle, though he wasn't yet permitted to leave the grounds on his own.
The King had at least looked somewhat rueful when he informed Charles of this. Apparently it was something to do with an assassin plot the King's head adviser Mattia had gotten word of.
Charles didn't believe it for a second. If anyone was likely to assassinate Charles in this kingdom, it was Mattia.
But Charles had simpered and played along, because he didn't want to rock the boat, instead playing the dutiful husband and Queen, ever so grateful to Mattia for catching word of the plot before he or his beloved husband were hurt.
Charles and Pierre made their way down to the council chambers, where King Sebastian stood from his throne to greet Charles, and took his hand to help him up the steps and to the newly added throne to the left of the King's.
Charles smiled and took his seat, while Pierre fell into place at his side.
A handful of the King’s advisers mirrored Pierre's position behind the King's throne, including Mattia.
The doors were opened by the guards and the herald declared the council open for hearings.
Charles was perplexed when no one entered the chambers.
He glanced at Pierre, who looked just as confused as him.
He glanced at the advisers behind his husband before leaning over to talk softly to the King, giving them a modicum of privacy in the mostly empty chamber.
“Your Majesty, when do the people normally arrive with their grievances?” Charles asked.
King Sebastian looked surprised at Charles’ question, and glanced back at Mattia with a look of concern before leaning in to match Charles’ position.
“I- The people do not come. Anymore.” King Sebastian looked genuinely upset by this for a brief moment before his face returned to a blank neutrality.
“Still, we must do our duty and be available to hear them, and so here we sit, 4 hours, every week.” Sebastian glanced at the open doors, no civilians in sight, “And no one comes.”
Charles' brows furrowed.
His home was barely half the size of this kingdom, and yet everytime his father, and later Lorenzo, opened the doors, the people came. Non-stop, the people came to Charles’ family with their requests, because that was their duty.
“But then how do you know what the people need?” Charles asked.
“Your Majesty, if I may,” Mattia cut in, and it took all of Charles etiquette training not to wrinkle his nose or snap at the adviser.
“As advisers to His Majesty King Sebastian it is our duty to keep in touch with what the people need, and we do our best to keep the King updated, even though the people no longer attend hearings here in the castle.”
Charles took a stabilizing breath.
“I see. Well I applaud you all for being so dedicated to our Kingdom. Thank you, Lord Mattia.”
Charles sat back, glancing at Pierre who he could tell was just as concerned about what they'd heard as heard was.
Charles straightened up, preparing to sit in the mostly empty council chambers for the next 4 hours.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see King Sebastian staring at the empty doorway, looking troubled.
—-
“Mon Dieu, Pierre, c'est pire que ce que je pensais,” Charles ranted to his friend as they made their way back to Charles’ chambers after the day of hearings. (My God, Pierre, this is worse than I thought)
They usually tried their best to stick to common languages, even in private, in order to stay in practice, but Charles was so angry he didn't want others understanding him, so he spoke in their mother tongue.
True to King Sebastians’s word, not a single civilian had come to them.
Charles ached to venture into the Kingdom, to talk to his new people and figure out what was wrong. Figure out how he could help.
Pierre clicked his tongue, “Je ne peux pas croire que les gens ne viennent pas. Je me demande pourquoi..” (I can't believe the people don't come. I wonder why..)
“Je ne sais pas, mais je parie que Mattia a quelque chose à voir avec ça. C'est un véritable spectacle de marionnettes. Cet homme est tellement corrompu que je suis sûr qu'il ne dit pas la vérité au roi sur les besoins du Royaume,” Charles ranted, as they walked. (I don't know, but I bet Mattia has something to do with it. It's a total puppet show. That man is so corrupt, I'm sure he's not telling the King the truth about what the Kingdom needs.)
“A bientôt, Charles. Il faut être patient. Cela ira mieux une fois que vous serez aux commandes,” Pierre soothed. (Soon, Charles. You have to be patient. It will get better once you're in charge.)
It was upsetting to Pierre as well, the mockery that the King was making of the royal duty, but he had faith in what he and Charles could do, once they got rid of the King.
Charles huffed, pausing in his angry walk to gesture with his hands as he spoke.
“Bien sûr que ce sera le cas. Le roi est tellement inutile qu’il ne voit pas ce qui se passe sous son nez. Le Royaume se portera bien mieux une fois qu'il sera parti.” (Of course it will. The King is so useless he can't see what is happening under his nose. The Kingdom will be far better off once he's gone.)
They were almost to Charles’ chambers by now, though they were interrupted by a wry voice from behind them where they were paused in the corridor.
“Oh? And where might I be going?”
Charles and Pierre both froze as the King spoke up from behind them.
They turned to face him, and Charles gave a polite curtsey as Pierre nodded respectfully.
“Your Majesty, I-” Charles cleared his throat.
How did the King understand them? They were speaking their mother tongue, which was a far cry from the languages spoken in this part of the world, and certainly a far cry from the common language most of them used day to day.
His mind was racing, frantically going over his and Pierre's conversation in the hopes none of it was especially damning. He should be able to get out of this. He would be fine.
“Your Majesty,” He restarted, “I apologise for my rudeness. I was merely.. surprised at how things are run here. It is so different from our home, I suppose it was just a shock.”
Then the King did something surprising. He smiled.
Charles was good, but he wasn't that good. He hadn't even fluttered his eyelashes yet.
“Charles, may I speak with you alone for a moment?” The King asked, gesturing to the door to Charles’ chambers just a few metres away.
Pierre looked worried as he met Charles’ eyes, but Charles nodded, doing his best to let Pierre know with his eyes that it would be okay. That he had it under control, even though he wasn't so sure he did anymore.
“Of course your Majesty. Pierre, please excuse us.”
Pierre nodded and hurried off down the corridor, though Charles knew he wouldn't go far, just enough to get out of sight, and then he'd likely circle back once he and the King entered his chambers.
Charles gestured for the King to follow him and they made their way to his chambers.
“Your Majesty-” Charles began speaking once the door was closed, but the King cut him off with a wave of his hand.
“You'll excuse me if I'm a little rusty, but I haven't had much of a chance to use the language for quite some time,” the King said, “However I'd like to speak frankly for a moment, and I believe it's best not too many hear us discussing this.”
Charles’ heart was pounding. The King couldn't know. Not from what he'd heard. There was no way the King had put together Charles plans from just that, he was a fool.
Charles took a deep breath.
“Your Majesty, I'm not sure what you-”
“No, Charles, ça va. Je comprends. Tu veux me tuer, n'est-ce pas?” The King cut him off, speaking casually, like his words didn't freeze Charles’ blood. Like they weren't enough to have him hung. (No, Charles, it's okay. I understand. You mean to kill me, yes?)
Charles eyes darted around the room. Looking for what, he didn't know. An escape, maybe? A weapon?
“Your Majesty..” Charles said warily.
The King waved him off, “Enough with that, you are my husband. You can call me my name.”
“Sebastian then, what are you saying?” Charles asked.
He was still on edge, but he couldn't help but be put slightly at ease by his husband's casualness.
While he'd done his best not to pay too much attention to King Sebastian, knowing what his eventual fate would be, his husband had always been sweet to him, warm and kind in a way that was so at odds with how he ran the Kingdom.
“Vous voulez me tuer et prendre le contrôle de mon royaume, n'est-ce pas?” The King asked, “C'est bon, tu peux me le dire. Je le sais déjà.” (You want to kill me and take over my kingdom, don't you? It’s alright, you can tell me. I already know.)
Charles felt pinned in place against the door as King Sebastian met his gaze steadily.
There was an odd look in the King's eyes.
Charles couldn't explain it, the pull in his gut that he should trust what the man in front of him was saying, when he had arrived here determined to destroy him.
He swallowed thickly and nodded, “Oui,” he whispered.
The King smiled.
Charles was confused.
This was not going how it was supposed to go.
Sebastian made his way over to the bench seat at the end of the bed, gesturing for Charles to join him.
“Come, sit.”
Warily, Charles did so. He felt wrong-footed, charmed by the King, but so aware of his precarious position in this conversation.
Charles may be Queen but this was Sebastian's Kingdom. One word from him was all it would take for Charles to end up in the gallows, his own royal blood be damned.
“I think we can come to an agreement that is.. mutually beneficial,” King Sebastian said, talking softly now they were sitting so close to one another.
Bewildered, Charles could only ask, “Mutually beneficial how?”
King Sebastian took his hand and sighed softly, looking suddenly much older.
He was older than Charles by some years, but in that moment, he looked aged well beyond that, something like grief visible on his face before he took a breath and schooled his features.
“Charles, I confess I am a dreadful ruler. I never wanted to be King, not truly. I admire your passion for my kingdom, and I believe you will make a brilliant Queen. However I do admit I find myself not wanting to die.” Sebastian said, somber.
Charles looked at his husband, feeling like he was truly seeing him, perhaps for the first time.
“I-”
“As much as I am not a ruler, I do believe my talents will help the Kingdom, if I can only perfect them. With you as my beautiful Queen, I will have time to truly focus on them, and I am closer than ever to a breakthrough. You will have all the power, you can rule as you see fit. I will support you however I can.”
Charles didn't know where to begin with that.
“Your– Sebastian, why would you do this?”
“Charles, I trust you want the best for our Kingdom, for our people.. My advisers.. Mattia.. I am not so blind that I cannot see how they look after themselves first, and the people second. But I do not know how to fix it, when my people do not speak to me. I don't know where to begin.”
“You.. You mentioned your talents. A project? That will help the people?” Charles asked, the information filtering through in pieces, rearranging the puzzle of how he thought his new life would go, rearranging the puzzle of Sebastian in his mind.
Sebastian smiled, and it was bright and real, so different to the somber, bitter-sweet looks he'd been giving Charles as they spoke.
“Yes, I have a project. I’ve been breeding bugs.”
Charles blinked.
“Bugs..?”
Sebastian chuckled at Charles’ reaction, his thumb gently stroking the back of his hand.
“Yes, bugs. I’ve been working on it since I was a boy. They eat Whiteflies. I’m not sure how much you know about our agricultural struggles in the last few years, but it has been a horrible issue for our farmers. My people may not speak to me anymore, but I still remember. Whiteflies are terrible pests, they eat almost anything and they have next to no natural predators in this region due to a toxin they store and can inject into our crops. My bugs can eat them. Love to, in fact.”
Charles couldn't help but be drawn in by Sebastian’s passion, as he continued explaining his bug project.
It was so different to the indifferent fool Charles had thought him to be. He couldn’t understand how he’d gotten things so wrong.
Charles was built to be a leader, he had always known.
People flocked to him, naturally drawn in by his good looks and charm, and his family had always impressed upon him the importance of their duty to the people.
It had been clear when Charles had first began researching his new kingdom after the betrothal that King Sebastian was not built to be a leader.
But Charles was learning that that did not mean he did not wish to help. That he didn’t feel his duty to the people as much as Charles did, perhaps more, as these were his people by birth, not marriage.
He was doing his best to make good in a bad situation, one that honestly likely had started well before Sebastian had become King, given the average age of all his advisers Charles wouldn’t be surprised if many of them had been advisers to Sebastian’s father.
King Sebastian didn’t know how to lead, but he had been working on what he did know, what he felt he could control. He had a plan to help his farmers, to try and avoid the famine that was sure to come if their kingdom continued on it’s current path.
He didn’t know how to lead, but that was okay. He had Charles now.
Charles took Sebastian’s hand in his own, the one Sebastian wasn’t already holding, and Sebastian paused his explanation.
Charles was charmed by the flush that spread across his husband’s cheeks.
“Ah, I apologise. You don’t wish to hear about my bugs. I just-”
“Sebastian, I accept.” Charles interrupted, smiling incredibly fondly at the man he had steadfastly been planning to kill as recently as this morning.
“You do?” Sebastian asked, looking as though he hadn’t quite expected Charles to agree to his offer.
“Yes. Oui. Yes, I accept your proposal. WE will help our Kingdom, we will save them. You with your bugs and me as their Queen,” Charles nodded, clutching both of Sebastian’s hands between his own.
Sebastian looked at him, smiling, searching his eyes.
Charles let him look, knowing he meant what he was saying.
Sebastian rearranged their hands so their fingers were intertwined, squeezing Charles’ hands gently.
“I’m very glad,” he said, then laughed softly.
Charles was mesmerised. He couldn’t believe how quickly his view of the King had changed.
“What is so funny?” Charles asked, though he couldn’t help but match the King’s smile.
“I just.. Charles, you are an incredible Queen. I have no doubt you will be an incredible ruler to our people. I have already said I don’t wish to die, but when I figured out your intentions I was not scared for my people. I am just very glad you will allow me to continue my work.”
Charles hadn’t wanted to kill his husband. Not really. He had felt it a necessary evil in order to take his rightful place, in order to help the people of his new kingdom.
So no, he hadn’t wanted to do it, but he hadn’t felt guilty either.
He did now.
He had been so incredibly wrong about Sebastian. It was a wake up call he needed, and one that he was glad he had gotten before he’d put his plans into motion.
He wasn’t always right, and he knew that, but somewhere along the way he’d been blinded.
He cupped Sebastian’s cheek gently.
“Sebastian, you could’ve had me hung for treason. Conspiracy. Instead, you invited me to rule your kingdom on your behalf,” Charles smiled, though his eyes were slightly teary as he realised the magnitude of how selfless his husband was.
“Charles, may I hug you?” Sebastian said, after a beat of the two just looking at each other.
Charles laughed, pulling the King in close, and wrapping his arms around his neck.
“Of course you can, you silly man. You are my husband.”
Sebastian laughed, and Charles felt his strong arms wrap around his waist, tightening as they rocked backwards slightly.
They hugged for a long time.
Charles shifted to bury his face in Sebastian’s neck, the tension seeping out of him as they both decompressed from the conversation, processing it, quietly but together.
Sebastian gave good hugs.
They only separated when there was a small knock on Charles’ door.
Charles pulled back, slightly flushed, as he took in Sebastian’s rumpled clothes, smoothing down his own.
He cleared his throat.
“Yes, who is it?”
Pierre’s voice came through the door.
“Your highness, I just wanted to make sure everything is okay.”
Charles nearly burst into tears all over again at his closest friend’s voice.
He rushed over to the door to let him in, tugging him into the chamber and hugging him.
Pierre hugged him back instantly.
“Charles? Hey, are you okay? What did the King want, are you hurt? Did he do anythi-”
Pierre’s frantic questions cut themselves off as he caught sight of Sebastian sitting on the bench near Charles’ bed, watching them with fondness in his eyes.
“Charles..” Pierre said warily, “What’s going on?”
Charles pulled back and gripped Pierre by the shoulders.
“It’s going to be okay Pierre.”
“What is?”
“Everything. Pierre, we– He knows, he figured it out, but it’s okay!” Charles said, emphatically soothing him when Pierre tensed.
“It’s okay. Pierre, he will let us. He will let me rule,” Charles said, guiding his friend’s face to look at him.
“He will..?” Pierre narrowed his eyes, “What’s the catch?”
“No catch. He has a project. I will explain everything later, I promise,” Charles said, smiling at him.
“You are sure?” Pierre asked, eyes flicking to Sebastian.
“I am sure. Pierre, this will be good, I swear to you,” Charles implored.
Pierre nodded slowly, looking between Charles & Sebastian, who was still watching them fondly, but starting to look a little uncomfortable.
“Okay, you are okay, yes? I will leave you be.” Pierre said, making up his mind. He trusted that Charles would explain properly when they could talk in private.
Pierre stepped back as Charles nodded.
He knew Sebastian could understand them, but he still spoke in their mother tongue as he told Charles seriously, “Je viendrai si tu appelles.” (I will come if you call.)
Charles smiled and kissed Pierre’s cheek.
“Merci mon ami,” He said, and saw Pierre out. (Thank you, my friend.)
Charles took a breath as he shut the doors, before making his way back to Sebastian.
He sat back beside him and took his hand.
“Sebastian, I want to apologise.”
Sebastian began to talk but Charles squeezed his hand gently to stop him.
“No, I have been a poor husband. I didn’t give you a chance. It is.. unbecoming.” Charles said, looking down at their joined hands, “I will do better, from now on. I want to hear about your bug project, and I want you to tell me what you know about the court, because I know now that just because you haven’t been able to stop it, doesn’t mean you don’t know. I want to try, truly, to be your husband. If you’ll have me. Because I think you are far more than I gave you credit for when I first arrived.”
Sebastian smiled softly, moving his free hand to cup Charles’ face gently, stroking the soft skin there.
“Charles, I would like that very much. Thank you.”
Charles darted forward and into Sebastian’s arms, hugging him tightly again.
“Thank you,” he murmured, though his words were muffled against the man in front of him.
They shifted until they found a comfortable position, Sebastian leaning against the taller arm of the bench seat, and Charles tucked against him, cradled between the end of his bed and his husband.
It was the most intimate than they had been since their wedding night.
Sebastian was the first to break the silence, his hand trailing gently up and down Charles’ back over his tunic.
“Your friend cares about you very much.”
“He does. I care very much for him as well. We have known each other since we were quite young.”
“It is good to have such friends. I’m glad you have him,” Sebastian said softly.
Charles looked up at him, finding himself incredibly curious about the man he was married to, for perhaps the first time.
“Do you have any friends from when you were young still?”
“Ah, I did, but we haven’t seen each other in many years now. We used to visit regularly, but he is a busy man, far more successful than me, and I’ve been so focused on my project..”
“Maybe we can invite him to visit, once I’ve sorted out the court.”
Sebastian laughed softly.
“Oh yes? And what is your plan to sort out the court?”
Charles smiled innocently up at Sebastian, though he knew the mischief was clear on his face.
He wondered if Sebastian was able to read him like that yet, and somehow knew that if he couldn’t, that would change soon enough.
“Well, it starts with Mattia…”