Will had grown up starving. One of the many orphans on the streets of Aontacht. It wasn't until he'd joined the Imperial Army that he'd learned what a full belly felt like, but years of starving and malnutrition had taken their toll. He couldn't put on weight and muscle mass the way the other boys his age could, but he could fight for days on half the rations the rest of them could. It had felt natural to move toward being a scout, the awareness of survival from the streets lent itself well to the role, and Will had been surprised at how much he enjoyed it.
He'd never in his life expected to meet one of the heirs to the kingdom during his service.
Or to become best friends with him.
Or whatever the fuck they were now.
Most lords weren't so attached to their personal messengers. And most personal messengers weren't trained to defend to the level Will was, nor were they welcomed to speak their mind the way he was.
Eric hadn't noticed. Of course, he hadn't. He was typical royal-blind in that way, though not in others, thankfully. Will probably wouldn't have stuck with him for so long if he was just like all the others.
His siblings hadn't been that bad, though his oldest brother had been the worst, raised from birth with the knowledge that he was the heir. It was probably best that the one who'd actually ended up with the crown was another.
If he'd been raised any other way, the oldest son probably would have been fine. But the pressure of the crown had destroyed him in this life, and his assassination had probably been a relief even for him in the end.
As much as Eric was Will's best friend and a king he was honored to serve, a part of him was always on alert for any sign that the pressure was causing fractures in Eric.
So far, there seemed to be nothing, but Will knew that could change overnight.
This woman, Zhao Yunli, was certainly beautiful, but was she capable of being the partner Eric needed to prevent those cracks? Will had been keeping track of what was happening at the Camelia, possibly even more than Eric, since he'd seen the way insidious rumors destroyed people in the Imperial Army.
Zhao Yunli's brother was unsavable, he thought, which was unfortunate because he was also innocent. Will had no evidence to offer, just his gut, which made the situation all the more frustrating.
Eric was going to become involved sooner rather than later; things were calming in the capital, despite his enemies' best attempts. Eric's tendency to think before he acted left them little ammunition against him, but likely prevented significant bloodshed.
Regardless, Zhao Yunli was stepping onto a battlefield, and she looked far too fragile to survive it.
And then she invited him to have tea.
Something that wouldn't have been strange if it were just Eric and Will, but it never happened with anyone else present. Will was too careful, Eric too serious.
What was Yunli?
He glanced at Eric, waiting for the signal to refuse, but it didn't come. Eric looked thoughtful instead, so Will took the empty chair, and the three of them crowded around the small, round table.
Yunli poured a third cup of tea and then refilled hers and Eric's.
"The situation with your brother is unfortunate." Will offered.
Yunli's face faltered, but to her credit, only for a second. "Yes. I am not sure who hates him so much, but I look forward to the moment when they, and the truth, are revealed. My brother is a good man. He should not bear the consequences of the envy of others."
She was quite impassioned by the end. Will's sympathy grew, but so did his belief that there was nothing that could save Zhao Mingzhe now. Even if he survived, his reputation would forever be tarnished. It was something else to be hated so much by someone. Especially when you had no idea who that person was.
But that seemed to be the way of nobles, smiling to your face and attacking your back. Even the good ones.
"It is a difficult situation." Eric sighed, showing more emotion than he usually did in new company.
Yunli smiled sadly. "I know, but I must hold out hope. And do what I can."
Eric turned to Will. "Yunli is Eirian's choice for queen."
As if Will didn't already know that. "Princess Soliel has excellent judgment." And cunning. She must have thought there was something to Yunli that Eric needed.
"Lady Zhao has no interest in sex beyond children," Eric stated bluntly.
Will froze, but Yunli simply smiled. "That's… interesting."
She took pity on him. "I find it painful and unenjoyable."
"Ah, I have met people like that before." Will relaxed. "I don't know if that helps or hinders this marriage." He glanced at Eric, a little too knowing.
Eric simply smiled.
He liked her, Will realized. Not surprisingly, Eirian knew her cousin well. He probably liked her enough that it could have become love, but sex was too important a part of Eric's attachment to allow it to develop without it.
Still, his fondness was already enough that a strong friendship could blossom. And that was arguably much more important in the kind of marriage this would be.
"I want many children." Yunli continued, smile bright. "Despite the pain. And a partner to raise them with."
She didn't, Will noticed, say she wanted a husband.
No wonder Eric liked her, and Eirian chose her. She could ensure the survival of the line without the complicated personal feelings that often led to the end of that same thing.
Noble families had been pushing unmarried daughters and sons at Eric ever since he'd been crowned. He'd skipped half the festivities typically thrown to celebrate the new king to avoid them.
A strong survival instinct. Eric would need it to survive what was coming.
~ tbc