Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 68691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
But the crowd ate it up, bursting into applause, murmurs of approval running through the air. So my dad continued.
“We are here today to celebrate the induction of two new warriors into the esteemed brotherhood of Legionnaires, established by my ancestor, Karon the Fifth in 1512 as a contingent of personal body men for the royal family,” continued my dad. “We welcome these two gallant knights into the brotherhood as loyal servants of the King, serpents of the staff, and centurions of the future!”
I schooled myself to remain impassive, the metaphors really getting to me. Hopefully people weren’t laughing behind their hands, they realized this was just Georg being Georg. But on cue, Karl and Kato came out, striding onto the dais confidently, their bearing immaculate, soldiers to the core.
The men dropped to one knee before my father, one arm crossed across their chests. And my dad took a long staff, ready to touch them on each shoulder. It was kinda like being knighted, there was just no title associated with the induction.
“Do you swear to be loyal of hand and of staff, seeking to serve every man as best ye may? Seek ye the fellowship of good men, hearken unto their words and remember them?” My dad droned on and on, reciting the pledge of the Legionnaires, reading off a teleprompter now.
But finally, he got to the end.
“And do you, Karl and Kato …” he sputtered for a moment, eyes bugging wide.
What was the problem? Did the teleprompter malfunction? Did he get a crick in his throat for some reason? Who knew? Georg took a deep breath and started again.
“Do you, Karl and Kato Smith-Venetia, solemnly swear to obey the fiat of the Legionnaires, commit yourself to the Brotherhood wholeheartedly, and become one with the true faith?”
I started then, trying to keep my expression calm. Smith-Venetia? What the hell was that? Where did that name come from? I’d known the twins’ last name was Smith, seen it on countless papers, approved their security clearance based on it. So what was this Venetia shit?
Because Venetia is my last name. Or my accurately, it’s the last name of the Venetian royal family, has been for centuries. Was this some kind of fucking joke? I shook my head. What the hell was going on?
TINA
I didn’t understand what the uproar was about. Violet and I stood in the crowd, watching the induction, and it was fine as far as I could tell. Kristian, Karl and Kato were so handsome, Kristian standing beside the King as Georg worked his way through the pageantry. I wasn’t even listening, I was so happy and proud to see my men up there.
Of course, no one in the crowd but Violet knew that I had three lovers, the three black-haired, blue-eyed giants commanding the crowd with their presence at the instant moment. But it was fine. I knew our love was pure and true, even if it was hidden from the world at the moment.
But everyone saw the King choke momentarily before he moved on, and a hushed gasp ran through the air.
“What is it?” I turned to Violet, “Why is everyone whispering? Everything’s fine, right?”
And the older woman turned towards me, eyes bright with tears.
“The boys, their last name is Smith-Venetia,” she said slowly.
“Really?” I asked. “I had no idea that they had a double-barrel last name, they never mentioned it,” I shook my head, confused. “I thought it was just Smith.”
“No honey,” replied Violet. “Because my maiden name is Smith, they usually just use that alone. But the second part,” she said, her voice trailing off.
“The second name is their dad’s,” I finished for her. “But why is that so significant now? Is it because he’s here somewhere?” I asked, craning my head.
“Oh he’s here,” she replied, a single tear spilling down her cheek now, “he’s here.”
I couldn’t tell if it was a tear of joy or sadness because Violet was staring at the dais the entire time. And I couldn’t see that anything was wrong per se, except that the King seemed tightlipped suddenly, moving about stiffly as he touched both Karl and Kato’s shoulders with a massive staff, inducting them into the Legionnaires.
And after it was done, Kristian stepped forward, face oddly pale, expression unreadable.
“Welcome brothers, into the fraternity. Let the revelry begin.”
And with that, the ceremony ended, the party starting up again. But what was I missing? Why did everyone look so stunned?
“Violet, what’s going on? What does everyone know that I don’t?” I demanded, swiveling to my companion.
And the older woman looked at me, her face wet with tears now.
“Their last name is Venetia because it’s the last name of the royal family here,” she said simply. “King Georg is their father.”
And I gasped, my outburst drowned out by the din of the crowd, the thin strains of the orchestra. Karl and Kato were the sons of the King? That made them princes too … and half-brothers of Prince Kristian? Holy fuck, I’d been having sex with not two brothers, but three?