Brother and sister

[For Maddox Oldenburg ]

With soft but rapid steps, Lorelle made her way through the corridor leading up to Max's private rooms. Lucas walked besides her, trying to keep up with his mother. She looked back at him and slowed down just a little so he could catch up. When she arrived at the door, she knocked, waiting for Max to tell her to come in. She was the Queen, yes, but she allowed her family their privacy. Also, it was Maddox. She wasn't sure if she wanted to enter without getting his approval first. Especially with Lucas around. She never knew what her brother might be up to. 

When she heard his voice telling her to enter, she would open the door and hold out a hand to stop Lucas from walking straight in. She peeked around the door to see if Max was decent and then removed her hand. Lucas would run in, towards his uncle, little hands reaching for him, wanting to be picked up and spun around. He was six, but still enjoyed being picked up by his uncle. 

"Max", she said as she walked in and closed the door behind her. "Roman told me there was a fight at the-", she looked at Lucas before looking back at Max, "B-R-O-T-H-E-L I know you go to from time to time. Please tell me you didn't have anything to do with that?" She crossed her arms and looked at her younger brother.

Max was halfway dressed when there was a knock at the door. Not knowing who it is but having no reason to deny anyone entry at the moment, he called out a quick 'Enter' as he worked on buttoning his shirt. It was only half way buttoned when he saw Lorelle peeking in and he grinned at her. That grin grew wider when Lucas ran in and towards him.

"Lucas!!" He said with delight and moved towards the little boy who was running towards him. And just like Lucas wanted, Max picked him up under his arms, lifted him high, and spun him around up a circle couple of times before he playfully tossed the little boy onto his overly soft bed with a thump and a giggle.

"I didn't have anything to do with that," he said to Lorelle with a little wink in her direction as if he was only saying it because she had asked him too. But he quickly spoke again. "But really, I didn't. I'm a lover, not a fighter," he smirked, proud of himself for his little joke as it related to brothels. "I did see it though."

The mother allowed her son and his uncle their moment, watching as he picked Lucas up. She couldn't help but smile a little. She loved seeing the two of them together. Lucas adored his uncle and looked up to him, hence why Lorelle was strict about Max's behaviour, especially around Lucas.

Lucas was plopped down on the bed and giggled, paying no mind to the conversation his mother and uncle were having. With a stern look she kept her eyes on Max when he said he didn't have anything to do with it, because it sounded like he was just repeating back what she wanted to hear. He then confirmed it with a little more conviction, which made the muscles in her forehead and around her brows relax.

But she sighed when he said he had seen it. Which meant he had been around. Which meant maybe he had still caused it, some way or another. "What happened? I can't have you involved in fights, Maddox." She rarely ever called him by his birth name, except in situations in which she was being very serious.

Max hopped on the bed, hands and knees on the mattress over his nephew as he grinned devilishly and Lucas squealed, trying to scramble away before Max started tickling him. He was still listening to his sister but not too seriously until she used his given name. He stopped tickling Lucas who did manage to escape now, still grinning, as Max looked back up to Lorelle. They might bicker sometimes but he did listen to her and that stern voice of hers often did the trick.

"It was just a coincidence, I swear," he said, sitting back on his heels. "I didn't even see how it started, I just joined in the watching crowd once it did." He had been cheering with the rest of the onlookers but that was it.

She squinted as she watched Max and Lucas play on the bed. Any other time, she would have loved seeing them together, but she was trying to have a serious conversation with him. It was her mistake that she had brought her son with her, to see his favourite uncle.

She tilted her head to the side a little to urge him to respond when he looked at her again, which he did. She then sighed and pulled a chair closer to the bed, sitting down on it. "Okay", she said, after a moment of silence. "Lucas and I just don't want to see you get hurt." To confirm what his mother said, Lucas crawled on Max' lap and pouted at him, although he had no idea what his mother and uncle were talking about. "You should go to noble parties with Roman more often. There are lovely, classy ladies around. And, most importantly, there will be royal guards to protect you."

Before she had even finished speaking, she knew how he would react to it. Or at least, she could guess. Maddox didn't particularly like Roman, for reasons unknown to her, and he seemed to prefer prostitutes over noblewomen.

He might have rolled his eyes when she said she just wanted him to not get hurt but when Lucas crawled into his lap he looked at them both lovingly and gave a little sigh. "I know, I know," he said, but it was more affectionate than exasperated. He would have reacted more to the suggestion about going to events with Roman if his nephew wasn't right there. Max still wasn't convinced that Roman had married his sister out of anything other than the honor of being married to a Queen. So no, he wasn't sold on the man, even now.

He has also never mentioned to his sister that at least half the people he messed around with were men. He didn't know why he was holding back that information but he still hadn't told her. "Classy sure, but also so dull," he said dramatically.

She knew him well enough to know he was just saying it to ease her worries. Still, it was something, and she was glad. He didn't respond to her proposal to spend more time with Roman, and she knew he was being silent for Lucas. Lorelle didn't understand what he had against her husband, but as long as it wasn't a very serious problem, everyone was allowed to dislike who they disliked. Perhaps their personalities just clashed too much.

She chuckled at his dramatic response. "Theatrical as always. We ought to make you the court's jester", she joked. "What are you looking for, then, dear brother?"

Max grinned at the joke but he could honestly see himself in that role at a party. Not all the time of course but it could be fun to just let himself be dorky. Perhaps he'd have to wear a different face so that people didn't see the young prince as an actual jester. He pushed that thought away, it was merely an amusing passing thought anyway and not one he was currently considering seriously.

He drew his lower lip between his teeth as he considered her question. After a moment he finally answered her. "You know I would do anything that I was told in order to help you and our kingdom. If that meant some arranged married with a foreign dignitary then I would do so without a fuss. Well...without too much of a fuss," he couldn't help but still make light of the situation a little and he tossed her a wink.

"As far as what I'm actually looking for...I don't want to marry just for the sake of it. I don't care to marry some random noblewoman that I don't care for and with who my marriage would also not do anything useful for us. I want...purpose at the very least. Whether that be political or romantic, either is fine."

She wondered why she hadn't thought about an inter-kingdom marriage before for Maddox. It was a brilliant idea. It would unite them with another territory, which could be good as a defense mechanism against Rodale. She did not wish to share her kingdom with them, so letting Max marry a woman from Rodale was out of the question. She had been thinking about an alliance with Illemore, though.

Lorelle stood and walked over to the door, making a gesture at Max that would tell him she heard him and would circle back to the conversation in just a bit. She opened the door and asked for one of the soldiers to take Lucas to his nanny. It would indicate that they were about to have a serious discussion. 

The boy would protest, but would give Max a hug goodbye before leaving the room. Then, the woman would sit again. "Now that you mention it, I have been meaning to talk to you about such a marriage", she said. The fact that she had only been meaning to do so for the last three to four minutes, wasn't relevant. "The king of Illemore is very ill. He had a daughter... And from what I've heard about her, she's quite beautiful. I would like for you to meet with her." She allowed for a moment of silence to let the idea settle in. "Rodale is an ever present threat, and Almeran's ultimate goal is to reunite Idrenor once more. Illemore could be a useful ally."

Lorelle's demeanor suddenly changed and Max felt instantly suspicious. Their conversation had already been rather serious he thought but clearly this was even more important. He squeezed Lucas, tight enough to make the boy squeak playfully, and then ruffled his hair before he ran off to join his nanny. His gaze turned one more back to his sister, cocking his head to the size not unlike a curious puppy but hesitant in his gaze.

He raised a surprised brow as she took the subject back to marriage. He had only just mentioned his preferences but apparently she'd already been thinking about it? Or at least that was impression she was offering him. "Oh?" he asked hesitantly before she continued on.

He knew quite a lot about Illemore of course, the other kingdoms had been part of his studies for as long as he could remember, but he'd never actually been there. He had never even seen a painting of the royal family there so could only trust the same rumors that Lorelle was sharing, that the princess was beautiful. Still, he had only just mentioned this and already she was putting such a plan into action. While he stood by what he said, it was still a lot to take in. He was almost 30, he could have been settled down for some time now so it wasn't as if he could make an excuse that he wasn't ready, could he?

The more he thought about it though the more it intrigued him. How exciting would it be to see a new kingdom and how it was different from home? And he loved people, so why not meet and charm a beautiful princess? He didn't have anything or anyone that would hold him back from such an arrangement. He nodded slowly and thoughtfully. "You are more the politician than me, but I have to admit that an ally with Illemore does sound like a smart arrangement to make.."

He seemed to be interested, which was something. She hadn't expected Max to be so willing to marry for the good of the country. Okay, he did have some conditions and wanted to at least get along with the woman. She couldn't blame him for that.

"It's also a good step into the right direction, to reunite Idrenor", she said, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She was excited to honor Almera. "So, you're willing to give it a chance? If yes, I will write a letter to the king of Newbridge."

He felt apprehensive too of course. When he had brought up his eventual thoughts on marriage he hadn't expected her to toss out something immediately. It was sudden enough to make him nervous but he had meant what he said and he loved Lorelle and truly wanted to do what he could to help politically. He chewed his lip for a moment, making sure the best he could in this moment that he really was willing to give it a chance and then nodded.

"Yes, I'm willing to give it a try and see how it goes at the very least," he confirmed, giving her a little smile though she'd likely see he was nervous too. "Go ahead and write the letter."