Two Swords and the Angel’s Feather - Chapter 37

“I knew you were eyeing the queen’s well-behaved maid. And according to rumors within the palace, so is Sir River?”

Ryder sighed while rubbing his face with one hand. River did not mind rumors circulating in the palace, but he did. He didn’t like women running at him, nor the backbiting. To be honest, it was annoying.

He wanted only one woman. But the woman was already River’s. Even if River allowed him in bed, getting married was an entirely different matter.

If in the event he had held Ellen first, the problem might have been different. If Ellen liked him more and he was able to allow her to River, it could have been different. But he hated that she and River were lovers and that he was regarded as a third party.

Yes, he knew well he was being selfish. And that he would better back off and leave River and Ellen alone. If he took part in it, it would only stir up more trouble.

“Have you ever thought about having the queen all to yourself alone?”

“I always do.”

Ced leaned back in the chair and stretched his legs forward. Ryder gave him a slightly surprised look.

“Then…”

“That doesn’t mean I’ll do that. And I can’t do it either. Celia needs both of us.”

“Why does a woman need two men?”

Ced raised his eyebrows.

“That, I don’t know. Celia needs us both, so to make her happy, we simply have to work together, whether we like each other or not.”

As Ryder was still looking at him with an incomprehensible look, Ced smiled lowly and pulled himself a little towards the table.

“You’re probably the one who knows best how I feel about her. And you probably remember well what I was going to do first when I got back.”

“You planned to succeed to the throne, oust the former queen, and take the current one as your queen.”

“Well, not necessarily in that order, but roughly. I was confident. I was confident that I could make her happy. And I was sure that if I failed, Aryll would still protect Celia as much as I would. One woman for one man, that’s what I thought was natural back then.”

“Then what made you change your mind?”

Ced shrugged his shoulders.

“As I said, it was for Celia. Celia cried when she had to choose between Aryll and me, begging me to save his life. That’s when a thought hit me: Celia can’t live without me, but without Aryll, a hole would remain in her heart. Then why don’t Aryll and I protect Celia together?”

Ced gazed into the air for a moment and chuckled at his friend.

“This is funny. I’ve thought before that if I failed, Aryll would protect Celia. But now I am sure of it. Even if I make a mistake, fail, and die, Celia will be safe because Aryll is there. On the contrary, if Aryll makes a mistake or fails, I can protect her. I can say it with confidence because Celia is the wife of both of us. Realizing it really puts my heart at ease.”

“Don’t you sometimes think Her Majesty cares more about Aryll? Or moments when you think that you might be hindering their relationship?”.

Ced looked at him for a moment, then showed a strange smile and screamed, looking towards the bedroom.

“Aryll!”

While Ryder was staring suspiciously, the bedroom door opened, and Aryll, a baby in his arms, came out with a dissatisfied look.

“What?”

“Tell Ryder about your attitude as a good husband.”

Aryll looked at Ryder with a kind of sour look he hardly displayed even when taking care of political affairs. Ced stood up and looked at Ryder.

“I’ve never thought of that before, so I don’t know, but maybe Aryll can answer it correctly.”

“About what?”

Ced raised one eyebrow, took the prince from Aryll’s arms, entered the bedroom, and closed the door. After confirming that the door was completely closed, Aryll sat on the same seat Ced had just sat on.

“What do you want to ask? It doesn’t seem to be about politics.”

Ryder looked at Aryll for a moment and spoke carefully.

“Have you ever thought that Her Majesty cares more about Ced and that you might be a burden or a distraction?”

Aryll remained motionless for a moment. Then he looked at Ryder and waved a finger in the air as if something suddenly came to my mind.

“Is this about Celia’s maid, Lady Ellen?”

Did everyone in the palace know about him, River, and Ellen’s issue? Ryder sighed and nodded. Aryll did not laugh. He just leaned against the chair with his arms crossed and a thoughtful face.

“I often think of it. She’s been following Ced more than she did for me. How did we maintain our relationship? Maybe I’m even more amazed about it than the aristocrats.”

Suddenly feeling closer to Aryll than Ced, who was his best friend and lord for several years, Ryder spoke in a low voice.

“River laid with Ellen first. Ellen first showed interest in River too. If the two get along well, I don’t want to get caught in between. Even if they were… generous enough to let me in bed, wouldn’t that crumble the very foundation of their marriage?”

Aryll squinted his eyes at him and asked.

“Lady Ellen, that well-mannered lady, laid with you both? Together, or separately?”

Ryder replied, feeling his neck turning red.

“Together.”