Your Majesty.
~Wedding Celebrations~
The whole wedding festivities that follow, Regulus and James spend dancing, surrounded by many of the the guests joining them.
Trying to keep his attention on James, Regulus sees the many faces only in passing.
He sees his mother stand by Euphemia, who is talking animated at her. Oh she is probably hating this.
Looking towards where the servants stand, he only recognises Remus. Sirius seems nowhere to be found. Coward, Regulus thinks to himself, theorising that Sirius is trying to avoid being spotted by their mother.
After a few hours of drink and dance, James’ smiling face shifts into something Regulus can not put his finger on. It is something in his eyes, that were glowing brightly with euphoria before, but they seem to dull, glossing over. To most people it would not even be noticeable. But after looking into his eyes for hours as a place of comfort, it is clear to Regulus that something is different.
But shortly after, the party end and they take their place at the exit. Waiting for every wedding guest to express their congratulations, Regulus is highly aware of Sirius and Remus appearing behind James and himself, doing his best not to show it.
„I wish you long a long life filled with many children, Your Royal Highnesses.“ a blond man tells them with a short bow.
James only nods.
„Your Majestys.“ A red haired woman, accompanied by a much older man, greeting them next.
„It is an honour. I am Lady Lily Snape. I am to be on your Court, King Regulus.“
„Ah, I am looking forward to meeting you properly.“ Regulus answered absentmindedly.
Leaning in a bit closer towards Regulus she adds,
„Be careful, My Lord. And know that if you send for me, I shall come.“
„Make haste Lily.“ the old man calls for her, having already arrived at their carriage.
„Coming, my dear.“ she responds, while shooting one last look towards Regulus.“
Seemingly not having noticed any of that, James leans down to whisper in Regulus‘ ear.
„I have a surprise for you.“
„A surprise?“
„A present, really. You shall need your cloak.“ shooting a look towards the two men standing behind them.
Sirius, still standing there in pure shock, gets pulled away by Remus to get the coats.
-
Driving through the dark streets of London, they arrive at a beautiful building. Regulus stayed quiet on the ride, trying to collect himself from the overwhelming events of the day.
Looking over at James, he sees him looking expressionless himself. It seems strange to Regulus, he had seemed so confident before. But maybe he got nervous about what was to come. They both knew what was supposed to happen the night after the wedding after all.
Regulus had been worried about this before, as he was uncomfortable with most body contact. It just had never been a common thing in his family. The only information he had about this kind of intimacy was from his brother.
Sirius had always been strangely comfortable with it. He had flirted with people in their town all the time when he was only fifteen. Explaining to Regulus after, why he had needed him to leave him alone sometimes when hitting it off with someone.
So Regulus knew what to do, in theory. But it was still something he was worried about. Maybe James felt the same?
„We’re here“ James said as the carriage stopped, helping Regulus step out.
Before them was a beautiful building. It was ginormous, all lit up, with red banners on both sides of the entrance.
„What do you think?“ James asked.
„It is lovely. Who lives here?“ Regulus asked.
„Oh, I had it redesigned just for you.“
„This is our house? James.“ Regulus was stunned by its beauty, not thinking much of James‘ short silence before he answered.
„It is your house.“
Confused, Regulus looked at him. „It is my house. What do you mean?“
„This is where you shall live. I had all your things moved here during the ceremony.“
„I‘m not sure I understand. If this is my house, is it not also our house?“ It was more than confusing to him. Even his parents had always lived in the same building, shared a room.
„I suppose officially, St. James‘ Palace is our house,“ James continued, not looking Regulus in the eye while speaking, „but this is where you shall stay.“
„And you shall stay…“
„I have an estate in Kew.“
„So, you shall live in Kew.“
„Yes.“ James stated, while slowly climbing the steps towards the entrance.
„And I shall live here?“
„Yes.“
This was starting to frustrate Regulus.
„It.. It is our wedding night.“
„And it is late. And you have had a long day, and I should let you get inside.“ moving a few steps fuether, Regulus following him slowly.
„You’ll need to meet your staff. You’ll… want to get some sleep.“
„No, James. It is our wedding night. We are supposed… We are married. Are we not supposed to do what married people do?“ Regulus had been scared about this part before but James‘ behaviour now… he did not understand. He would have liked to take his time with these things but he knew that consummating the marriage was vital to the security of his position. His mother had reminded him of it before the wedding.
„Are you demanding I perform my marital duty to you?“
„I… I am not demanding. I..“ he was starting to get flustered by this whole situation, painfully aware that Remus and Sirius were standing only a few feet away, by the carriage.
„I’m not even sure what marital duty is. I just know… Do we not spend the night together? My.. I was told that is what happens on our wedding night.“
Throwing a strange look over Regulus‘ shoulder towards his friends, James suddenly turned on his heel, walking up the stairs.
„Fine. I shall stay.“
„James.“
„I said I shall stay. Are you coming?“
Hurrying after James, completely bewildered by his behaviour, Regulus stepped into the foyer. He was greeted by more than a dozend servants, lined up on both sides of the entrance, clapping at their arrival.
Ignoring them completely, he called after James.
„James. James! Slow down.“
Stopping abruptly, he turned back around.
„You wanted me in the bedroom. Is that not where I shall be?“
„No.“
„No?“
„Not if you’re going to behave… You are angry. What is wrong? Is it something I have done?“
„You’ve done nothing wrong. I just… I… I want to go to Kew.“ shooting another look towards Sirius and Remus.
„So.. let us go to Kew.“ Regulus tries.
„No, I..“ James starts.
„You do not want me to go to Kew.“
„This is your home.“
„And that is yours.“ Regulus looks over his shoulder towards the door, getting a glance of his brother.
„Yes.“
„I see.“ Regulus‘ voice shifting from confused to ice cold.
„You do. Good.“ seemingly relieved. „So you are all right. I shall speak with you later.“ starting to leave.
„I am not all right. I.. This is our marriage? You there, and me here?“
„Yes.“
„Why?“
„I… I thought it would.. It is easier.“
„For whom?“
„What?“
„Easier for whom? You or me?“ Regulus demands.
„I’m not going to debate this with you.“ James‘ voice starting to grow aggravated.
„I merely want to understand. You need to tell me-“
Interrupting him mid sentence, James starts to shout, making Regulus flinch.
„I do not need to do anything! I decide! I have decided. I am your King!“
Regulus‘ mind goes blank. Retreating into himself instantly. With a complete neutral voice, he replies.
„My mistake. I thought you were just James. Forgive me your majesty.“ bowing formally.
„Regulus.“
„May I withdraw, Your Majesty, or did you want to say anything else to me?“
With a pained look of regret, James takes a step forward, trying to close the distance between them. But like a reflex, Regulus takes a step back, keeping him away.
„Re.. Regulus, this is for the best.“ James tries.
„Of course, your Majesty. Whatever you wish.“
Looking as if he wants to say something else, James opens his mouth, just to close it again, turning to leave. Sirius being only steps behind him, leaving as well.
Not even waiting until they have stepped through the door, Regulus rushes in the other direction. He doesn’t know where he’s going, just somewhere other than here.
As he passes doors and hallways, climbs up stairs, he hears footsteps behind him.
„Remus.“
„Yes, Your Majesty.“
„You are here as well.“ he says to Remus, stopping near a window in a hallway, not looking at him.
„I am wherever you are, Your Majesty.“
„I am fine.“
„Of course.“ he answers quietly.
„You need not follow me.“
„But I shall, Your Majesty.“
Turning around now, he looks at Remus with fury in his eyes.
„Stop calling me Your Majesty! We talked about this!“
„Yes, I apologise. I was unsure. You are the King now after all.“
„Am I? Well I did not notice.“ he answers sarcastically.
„Yes. And well I did not know if you still wanted me to call you by your first name after..“ he Stopps himself.
„Well as I told you, I am fine. And I do not care about what you call me. I just wish you’d leave me alone.“
„It is my duty to take care of you Regulus. I swore it to the King himself.“
„I do not want you here!“ he shouts.
With a sad look in his eyes, Remus lowers his gaze.
„I hope in time you’ll become used to me Regulus.“
„Wonderful.“ He turns, walking away. „We can spend the rest of our lives together.“
~1817 Royal Palace~
Storming through the halls, towards the sitting room, Regulus looks at Remus briefly.
„Is he sober?“
„I don’t know what to say Regulus.“
„It is not yet 11 in the morning…“
He nods at the servant standing by the door to open it.
Sitting inside are Harry and his friends, most of them chattering, only Harry sitting with swollen eyes, staring at the ground, cigarette in hand.
„His Majesty, Regulus, King of the United Kingdom.“
„Hello, son. And others..“
Harry looks up at him.
„Father. It is so early. You cannot summon us this way. My friends and I have business to attend to.“
„By Business, do you mean spending the whole day drinking and fornicating with people you have no intent to marry?“
„Your Majesty, Harry did marry, did he not?“ a young woman with dark skin and hair flowing in curls over her shoulders.
Sending a cold look towards her, Regulus turns back to Harry.
„And where did this get us? Nowhere! The only heir to the throne is dead.“
At this Harry starts to sob.
Patting Harry lightly on the shoulder, Regulus trys to comfort him the best way he can.
„Sorrows, Sorrows. Prayers.“
„This is a crisis. You need only find a partner and marry. I do not care if you adopt or make them yourself, but you need to be providing the crown with heirs. It cannot be this hard. Your father and I did manage it after all and so shall you.“
As he is saying this, Regulus‘ mind goes back to the carriage he was in so many years ago. His mother demanding that exact thing of him. It scares him for a moment. No. He is nothing like her! Not sure if he says it for himself or for Harry, he adds, „Sorrows, Prayers.“ and leaves the room in a swift motion.
~1761 Regulus‘ Estate~
After walking around the house for a while, Remus seemed to have guided him subtly into his bedchambers, wanting to come in and help him get ready for bed, maybe talk.
But Regulus had ordered him to stay outside and not bother him anymore.
What in the world had just happened? It all was speeding through Regulus‘ head as he sat on his bed, fully dressed.
He looked at himself in the full length mirror across the room. He looked so small. I’m this big empty room, on this big empty bed. Only a few candles were lighting the room.
Regulus felt compressed by all that happened today. He found his brother. Who was not happy to see him. Well he shouldn’t, as Regulus was not either.
He met this man, just James. And he married him. And then he met a completely different man. Who was cold and angry and scared him. It did not make sense. How could the person who just screamed at him, be the same as the person who was so gentle and kind when they met in the garden? Only hours before, with nothing that could have set him off.
At least Regulus could not think of anything that happened or that Regulus did to make him this angry. But it had to have been something Regulus had done. He was with him the whole time. He must have done something wrong. As his mother had warned him not to..
But he had managed it anyway. And now he was to live alone in this big house, with only Remus and the thought of revenge on his brother as company.
Regulus scrambled out of his clothes, relieved to finally get rid of them and getting into bed. He closed his eyes, pulling the blanked over his head and
pretended to be under his fathers desk, waiting for candy. As he drifts into a light sleep, he whispering to himself.
„I should have gone over the wall.“