Amalie saw Ori frown, and she knew it wasnât a good sign. He was going to deny her this, she just knew it. Orion was so proud. The Rayleighâs wanted the South seperate, but the King simply wasnât willing to give in. Even if it was the correct decision, he still probably wouldnât have compromised, she didnât think, for he valued his reputation above it, and he was stubborn. He would never admit defeat. However, on this occasion, Amalie could see that the South becoming a separate kingdom was not, in fact, best for her family by marriage. She wasnât even sure it was best for her family by blood either. Though they may dislike being under the rule of the North, the North would support them financially if they ever ran into trouble. And, as much as Amalie loved her sister, in her opinion, Charles Rayleigh was no King, not like her husband. Amalie knew Harriet was strong, but she wasnât sure even her sister would be able to manipulate Charles enough to make him into the leader the South would need if they were to separate. No, her husbandâs stance on the matter was right. But she simply couldnât let war break out between her families. Not when there were so many lives, so precious to her, in danger.
Ori sighed. "My dear, you know I will do what I can. But, I must warn you not to set your heart on the success of this meeting. We both want very different things. The Rayleigh's want the South to become its own country and I will not, for the life of me let that happen. I will not be the one who goes to the halls of my fathers, a man who ruined what they fought to build. I cannot be that King."
As Amalie had suspected, Orion was not willing to compromise. And, in the end, it was pride and the desire to build a legacy that was at the heart of his stubbornness.
Amalie was about to try again, more manipulatively this time, to dissuade Ori from the war he seemed to think was inevitable. But before she could, she saw something change in his eyes. It was⊠Cautiousness. He was worried about whatever he was about to say to her.
"I need you to do something for me..." he began.
Amalie bit down lightly on her lip, knowing the request would not be one she was going to enjoy.
âSweetheart, I need you to gather what information you can from Harriet about the Rayleigh's. Please know, if I could ask anyone else, I would. Unfortunately, Rayleigh supporters are loyal and they do not trust strangers. The only way for me to know what they are thinking is through your sister, she will open up to you and you can listen."
His eyes made their way up her body, reaching her eyes where her own orbs met his. Amalieâs first reaction was one of complete rejection. She may be the Queen now, and a member of the reigning Lancaster family, but Harriet was her sister! She loved her family desperately, and she would do everything within her power to ensure their safety. But this was betrayal in its purest form. She would be betraying those she was bonded permanently by blood too, and she simply couldnât do it.
âOri, IâŠâ she looked up at him, her expression torn and lost. âI canât. Sheâs my sister⊠I⊠I canât betray her like this. Isnât there any other way you canâŠ?â
Amalie stopped and sighed, but she knew sheâd lost. He was her husband, and she was his Queen. Harriet may be her sister, but this was duty, and loyalty, and love. She had married him. Her loyalties had to lie with him. Besides, his cause was right, there was no denying that. There was no way she could argue that it was a terrible decision. He was utilising what he had, and everything heâd said made sense strategically. It was clever, and displayed all the hallmarks of a good King. But, for Amalie, what he was asking her to do was so wrong.
âPlease, donât ask me to do this, darling,â she asked him, voice thick with emotion, looking up at him.