Open Season
Charles waited until they were out of the city walls to embrace Logan. Logan hugged Charles more tightly than Charles could recall ever being hugged, and the man may have even shed a tear or two.
Charles handed Logan the purse full of gold. "Since I no longer need that for your safety, maybe you can use that for Jean's contract. It's only a matter of time before he does the same to her, and we both know it."
"Do I even wanna know where you got this from, Charile?"
"I didn't kill a man, if that's what your asking. Didn't rob anyone either."
"I'd argue you may or may not have just robbed the state of a few hands of labor," Logan joked dryly. "We're too old to go anywhere and start over, you know that right? We'd be dead before we ever earned our own land. Besides, you, Moira, Alex, Hank; you're our family."
Charles contemplated Logan's points.
"What if you kept the gold, and worked as a free man for Kurt and bought Jean's contract that way, using the gold for a place for us all one day?"
"I'd like that very much, Charlie."
Charles and Logan split up when they crested the hill before the manor and the house came into view. Charles ran to the back cottage where Alex and Hank were waiting to help him undress, and Moira was with Jean waiting nervously for news if the plan would work.
Moira was the first to see Logan turn on the path to the house. "Jean! Jean!"
Jean took off and ran to embrace Logan in the courtyard. Logan caught her and laughed, and kissed her. Moira began to cry and Alex clapped.
"What is the matter with you two?" Kurt huffed into the room, curious and annoyed.
Logan and Jean had reached the threshold, their arms around each other.
Kurt glared at Logan, annoyed. "I thought I sold you off this morning?"
Logan shrugged. "The prince was feeling generous this morning and thought I was too old, I should spend my last years with my wife. If you'll allow it, I'd like to work off the rest of her contract so we can die free men."
Kurt pursed his lips. "Fine. Your wages will go directly to her contract though, and since we have no contract I reserve the right to terminate if and when it is convenient for me.
"Fair enough monsieur," Logan said, not looking at Kurt. He kissed Jeans cheeks and held her face in his hands.
Kurt rolled his eyes and walked further back into the house. Charles and Logan shared their idea of using the Prince's gold to buy a small cottage they would make into a commune for everyone away from the Markos, and they delighted in the possibility and basked in the feeling of hope, grateful to be together again.
******
The king summoned Erik to his chambers in the evening, after the pleasantries of Emma's arrival. When Erik walked in he had a hand on his temple, feigning an ongoing headache. Erik waited for his father to speak.
"Why. Why must you not only defy me, publicly, but also drag guests and dignitaries alike into our affairs like this?"
Erik said nothing.
"Do you know how many royal families Emma is acquainted with? Do you know how quickly our alliance with Spain could fall apart once they hear you intend to back out of the marriage?"
Prince Erik weighed his words carefully before answering; his father had never before now seemed to be genuinely interested in Erik's feelings on the matter of his impending marriage. Erik thought of the many fights his parents had in his youth, and their growing distance as he grew older. There was a period in his early teens where they were only ever in the same room for public functions. He thought of how loneliness seemed to engulf his family no matter how many people sought their audience. He thought of how much he would regret letting his children one day feeling as he did in his boyhood.
"Forgive me for what I am about to say, father, but an arranged marriage never made anyone in this room very happy."
The King and Queen looked at each other sullenly, and the Queen cleared her throat. "Is the peace of our kingdom not worth the personal sacrifice? We are so rarely called to serve, and we are revered for it anyways."
Erik wavered. He knew it must look like a spoilt child, but he did not want to share the fate of his parents and their loveless political marriage.
"If there is no other way... I will do as the country needs. But we haven't even tried any other way, we are just going by what tradition suggests will work. Surely, if the Spanish want an allegiance with us enough to promise their firstborn to the French, they simply want the allegiance. We must have other things we can offer them."
The King sighed heavily. "Emma suggested we sign a 10 year contract with Spain, tying together trade routes so we don't compete with each other and focus on England. She also says if we remove some language barriers for the Spanish, send a few tutors to teach their nobles at court, it would go a long way for political and public perception among the Spanish, make us more amiable... I don't know what you said to convince her to help you, but she is a very clever woman and we are all very lucky she has no interest in being a wager of war.
"I shall give you a month to find a spouse of your choosing. If we have no reason to suggest an alternative to a betrothal, the Spanish will think we are just slowly backing out of the alliance. If it is love you seek, the Spanish King and Queen are very passionate about one another; Emma thinks love is something they would respect.
"I know it's not a lot of time, but it's the best we can do without sacrificing anything politically in the long term."
Prince Erik processed what he was being given. A month was infinite compared to the chance he had when he'd started the day.
"Thank you father, I-"
"Please be very cautious with your choice; your bride will be a princess- or a prince- and it will give their family a lot of power. You need a match who can also handle the challenges and obligations of marrying so high. I don't want to be compelled to veto your decision."
"Of course." Erik couldn't see himself choosing anyone who would not understand the obligations of the crown, and even if they didn't he reasoned his future spouse would at least understand the importance of his family's position.
"Please choose wisely, my dear," The Queen implored. "Divorce is something they only do in England."
******
Roughly mid-morning shrieking alarmed Charles that Baron Marko was having another one of his fame-worthy bouts of terror. Charles had long since learned it was better to come running rather than avoid the Baron, so with a heavy sigh he rose and trotted towards the villa.
Charles entered the fray of the house; Kurt and Cain were yelling at the servants in the room, Moria, Alex, and Jean were standing by the wall with their heads bowed, Raven was staring at the front door in a state of bewilderment.
"You!" Kurt's tone was dripping with accusation.
"Why would you not say anything?!" cried Cain.
Kurt advanced on Charles and grabbed him roughly by the arm, and shoved him into the nearest chair. Charles' eyes widened in fear and he fought to keep his composure.
"Baron, I do not understand?" Charles protested.
"No? You do not understand why the crowned Prince of France was here today, returning one of our horses? Do you have any justification for keeping us privy to a royal visit?"
Charles fought to not show relief. "I- I swore an oath of secrecy to the Prince. If I had broken that, such an offense is punishable by death. If he had not asked it of me I would have come to you immediately, I swear it." That his silence was bought, rather than sworn, Charles prayed was a very small detail that the Prince did not divulge.
Kurt's face soured, and then relented. He smoothed out his tunic and said "Well, I suppose I can forgive disloyalty to the House this once, considering I have been outranked by a prince. Fortunately for you, Cain was very quick on his feet and charming to the Prince, so despite being caught unprepared the Markos have still mad a good impression on his Highness."
Cain basked in Kurt's kind words, smiling and tilting his head impossibly higher than normal.
Charles finally collapsed into the chair.
"I think he likes me, Papa. Too bad he's betrothed to that Spanish cow, Jano-"
"Cain!" Raven shrieked.
"What? It's not as if he loves his fiance, he's not even French! How sad and lonely the life of a monarch must be."
"It is his cross to bear for us, bless him," Kurt agreed.
Charles could see Moira roll her eyes behind the Markos. He was going to give her a playful shove later for almost making him laugh in this moment.