Page 46 of The Beauty and His Beast

Willow and Udele would be in charge of the castle while Camdyn and Aldaay were gone. There could be no two better people for the task, Camdyn thought. These were women who had helped raise Everild, who knew him as well as anyone could. They understood what it meant to serve the throne, to stand by those they loved. If anyone could manage the day-to-day matters of the castle, it was them. But there was one thing that lingered on his mind, something that made him hesitate as he prepared to leave.

After Udele and Willow had each taken his hands in theirs and wished him a safe journey, Camdyn said, “Please, take care of the garden? I don’t know how long we’ll be gone.” His thoughts turned to the garden, where the garlic and onions had been growing so well. If he and Everild had to live at the palace for an extended time, he might miss the harvest, and he could never bear the thought of the garden falling into neglect.

But perhaps he could have a small garden at the palace. It wouldn’t be the same as their home, with its familiar rows ofvegetables and flowers, but it might be enough to keep a piece of their life with him.

Udele smiled gently at him, her voice soft. “Don’t worry about the crops, Camdyn. I’d have made a fine gardener if I weren’t so handy on the hunt. Is that not so, my love?”

“True enough—when I’m at your side,” Willow replied, her teasing tone light, yet filled with warmth.

Her words made Camdyn smile, and he could see how much they cared for each other. Their relationship was a source of tenderness for him, a reminder of the love that could exist between two people. But now, as he thought of Everild, he felt a pang of longing. He yearned for his husband, for the quiet moments they shared, for his laughter, his touch, his presence. The thought of being apart for even longer was almost unbearable.

Aldaay’s sharp voice broke him from his thoughts, snapping him back to reality. “Your Royal Highness, we can’t start without you! Come now, that horse of yours is slow enough!”

“Seilide is patient and careful,” Camdyn huffed, unable to help the defensive tone in his voice. He glanced back at Willow and Udele, his heart heavy with the thought of leaving them behind. “I don’t know when we’ll be back, but—thank you, truly, for all you’ve done for me.”

“Safe travels, Your Royal Highness,” Willow said with a smile, her warm, weathered hand giving his cheek a pat. “We’ll all be waiting here for you and your man, whenever you two deign to grace us with your presence once more.”

Camdyn smiled, feeling a sense of comfort in her words. It was reassuring to know that, no matter how far he and Everild traveled, there were those who cared for them, who would be waiting for their return. But even as that thought settled in his mind, another one followed swiftly—when would they return?There was so much he didn’t know, so much uncertainty that still lay ahead. But no matter the journey, he was determined to face it with courage and hope—because he knew the moment he saw Everild again, it would all be worth it.

???

Something truly remarkable happened as they traveled along the well-worn roads. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft glow over the scene. On either side of the gravel path, throngs of people seemed to appear out of nowhere, gathering to watch the procession—four guards at the front, closely followed by Camdyn and Aldaay, with the rest of the advisors and some of the riders who had come with Udele from the Capital. Behind them trailed a handful of servants and another set of guards, ensuring everything remained orderly.

It wasn’t just a few curious onlookers. Entire families—no, entire towns—had come out to witness the spectacle. Camdyn could see men, women, and children dressed in their finest clothes, all craning their necks to get a better view of the horses and riders as they passed. The scene reminded him of a field of flowers, each person blooming in their brightest colors—orange, light blue, yellow, red—creating a patchwork of joy and anticipation. The people’s excitement was palpable, and yet Camdyn couldn’t help but feel slightly out of place. Was their enthusiasm really for him? A procession like this one was an unusual sight, yes, but Camdyn wondered if it truly warranted all the finery and wide-eyed expressions. After all, the king wasn’t even with them today. Everild wasn’t by his side as they traveled.

He worried his bottom lip, feeling a strange tightness in his chest. “Do they know that Everild’s still in the Capital? I hope they won’t be disappointed.”

Aldaay, ever perceptive, leaned closer and spoke in his calm, measured tone. “No, Camdyn. They’re here to see the prince consort.”

Camdyn’s face immediately heated, his skin flushing with a mixture of surprise and confusion. “What? Why would they want to see me?”

The advisor scoffed lightly, his voice tinged with amusement. “The lovely, pious young man who’s captured and softened the heart of King Everild the Beast, and who held a grand banquet for the poor and needy during his honeymoon? I can’t imagine why the people would ever want to see you.”

Camdyn’s cheeks burned even brighter, but he couldn’t help a small, bashful smile. “Oh, well.” He fidgeted with the reins in his hands. “That’s just what you do. You give what you can to help others, and now I have more to give.”

Aldaay raised an eyebrow, but there was a knowing smile on his face. “It’s quite the change, isn’t it? The last king spent his time with drunken louts and sycophants, never thinking about the common folk. But now you have a king who’s both a war hero and, apparently, a man with a heart for his people. They see that. They’ve seen the difference.”

Camdyn’s heart swelled, but his smile faltered. “Not Everild,” he protested quickly, coming to his husband’s defense. “He might be strict, but he’s not like that.”

Aldaay waved a dismissive hand. “Everild was there, occasionally, but he is not a drunken lout or a sycophant, my apologies. I just meant to say that your husband is well-loved by the soldiers, admired for his strength and his fairness, regardless of what he thinks about his own service. He’s strict, yes, but he’s fair—and that’s a rare thing in a ruler.”

Camdyn opened his mouth to protest further but was cut off by Aldaay’s quick remark. “And you, my dear Camdyn, are the gentle, beautiful, charitable, and devout prince consort.Together, you make a perfect pair. The people are happier now than they have been in a long time. Perhaps that’s the silver lining to the regicide, at least.”

Camdyn gasped, his eyes wide with shock. “Aldaay!” he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of disbelief and mild horror. But Aldaay was unperturbed by his reaction, merely shrugging and smirking in his usual, irreverent manner.

The advisor’s words stung a little, but Camdyn couldn’t deny the truth in them. He glanced over at the excited crowd, who cheered and waved as they continued on their journey. Despite his discomfort, he realized that, for better or worse, the people were looking to him now. Not just as Camdyn, Everild’s consort, but as someone who represented hope for the future—a future where things might finally be better than they had been under the previous king.

???

They had made camp only at night, as they had grown accustomed to the rhythm of the journey. The captain of the guard had lightly suggested that perhaps it would be better for Camdyn’s constitution to camp twice a day, to give everyone more time to rest. Camdyn had simply reminded him that his trip from the monastery with his brothers had been far more dangerous. There had been no roads in many areas, for one, and the swift pace at which they had traveled had left him jostled and uncomfortable in the wooden cart. He had told the captain that camping in the evening for a proper meal and sleep had been just fine, so long as they made sure to give both man and beast ample rest throughout the day.

The food they had eaten had been typical for travelers: brown bread, hard cheese, slices of sweet red apples, handfulsof hazelnuts and almonds, strips of spiced, dried meat, and hot pottage made from lentils and vegetables thickened with crumbled bread crusts. Though there had been plenty to eat, most of the party hadn’t found the meals particularly enticing. They had come from the capital, where fine food had been readily available, and they had no love for such plain fare. Camdyn, however, had been cheered by the simplicity of it. The food had reminded him of the meals he had eaten at the monastery—nothing fancy, but hearty, filling, and surprisingly satisfying. To him, it had tasted like home, and that had made it all the more comforting.

As they continued on their journey, sometimes people from nearby villages and towns had met them on the road, offering gifts of fresh water, baskets of strawberries, salted fish, and other kinds of food. Each offering had been a warm gesture, and Camdyn had smiled and thanked them profusely, grateful for their kindness. One woman had brought a tray of freshly baked cheese tarts. Camdyn had told her truthfully that they had tasted as delicious as the ones he had eaten at his wedding, and the woman had beamed with joy and kissed his hand in gratitude. One evening, a family of three—husband, wife, and their baby, just beginning to walk—had shyly approached as they made camp. Camdyn had offered to share a bowl of pottage and apples with them, inviting them to join in the warmth of their fire. The family had stayed, bewildered but pleased, while Camdyn gently bounced the baby in his lap, making them laugh.

Though it had still been a long way to Everild, it had been incredibly encouraging to not only meet such kind-hearted people along the way, but also to see his husband’s coat of arms displayed everywhere. Flags flew atop forts and guard towers, and banners hung from windows of shops and homes. During their wedding procession, when the king had led them to Everild’s own home, the people had lined the streets, bowing,but their faces had been neutral—perhaps even distant. Everild hadn’t been with them then, but now, as they traveled without him, the crowds seemed to respond differently. As Camdyn and his retinue passed, the people had bowed, cheered, and clapped. When Camdyn had smiled and waved, they had only grown louder and more enthusiastic.

His cheeks had hurt from grinning so broadly, but he hadn’t been able to stop. It delighted him beyond words to see how much the people had already come to love Everild. His husband had always been spoken of with great respect, and sometimes with fear, but Camdyn had known better than anyone that Everild was a man who deserved love and admiration. The fact that his people proudly displayed their king’s colors from their homes and cheered for the king’s husband and his advisor had given Camdyn hope—hope that, one day, Everild would realize that he was worthy of admiration and affection, not just from Camdyn, but from everyone.

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