“Oh is it? Thank you for that wonderful bit of information, Marco. Anything else you'd like to share?”
“Don't be like that, Magdalena. There's no need for sarcasm at this time. It's not going to get us anywhere.”
“Well, I'm just a little bit confused why you sound so upset about your father's surgery being scheduled in July,” she said. “Does it not suit your vacation schedule?”
“I just didn't expect it to be so soon,” Marco replied. “I'll be forced to cut this vacation short.”
“No need to do that.” Magdalena was abrupt as she spoke. “Please, enjoy your trip, Marco. We'll see you when you get back at the beginning of September. As you said, you and your father already discussed it.”
“What are you talking about? I'm going to come home to see my father. We didn't discuss me being away for his surgery,” he growled into the phone. The woman enjoyed pressing his buttons. “I won't let him go into surgery without me being there.”
“Well, if you're planning on coming home early, then I suppose I should tell you what else is currently being organized for that same week in July,” she said.
The vein on Marco's forehead started to pulse as his blood pressure rose. He couldn't understand why Magdalena had to play these games with him, leaking one tiny bit of information at a time. It was as though she liked to see Marco squirm. He knew she had control issues, but now he began to fully understand just how bad it actually was.
“What is it, Magdalena?” Marco asked after waiting a moment. “What else do you have planned?”
“I've decided to hold a ball at the Palace,” she said, her excitement becoming obvious in the way she spoke. “It will be in your father's honor.”
A ball? For my father? Why would she schedule it so close to the date of his surgery? Marco thought.
“He's about to have lung surgery. How can you hold a ball for him if he's going to be recovering?”
“Such a smart boy,” she said. “This is why I've decided to hold the ball on the night before his surgery. Your father will be in tip top shape that evening, as he will have been resting all of the days before it. The ball will be a celebration of his health and will give him positive energy for his surgery that is scheduled for the following morning.”
Marco stopped midstep and stared at his phone. “Do you really think that my father would want to have a ball during a time like this?” he asked.
“I think that it would be good for King Carlo to have one last formal appearance before his retirement,” she said.
Marco thought it over some more. It was as though the Queen feared that Carlo wouldn't make it through the surgery, so she wanted to have one last party. It made Marco's stomach turn.
“Is that what this is really about, though, Magdalena?” His voice had become a low growl. “Are you really doing this for the king, or is this ball more for you? We all know how you enjoy a good party.”
“How dare you, Marco. You bite your tongue right now before it gets you into trouble.”
“I'll do nothing of the sort, Magdalena. Besides, I've said nothing wrong. I've only asked a simple question. I don't understand why you've chosen such an elaborate celebration for a man who is about to go into surgery. I've known my father for longer than you have, and I can tell you that he loathes formal public appearances.”
“I've already told you, Marco. It's for the good of the island. The citizens need to see your father healthy and well. It's important for the country's morale to see that their leader is strong and ready. It's the least we can do for the people of Orsino.”
“I care as much about the citizens of the island as you do,” he said. “But right now, I'm more concerned about my father. The people of Orsino will understand if you cancel the ball for the sake of their King's health.”
Magdalena scoffed. “Cancel the ball? Have you been drinking today, Marco? Because you're not making any sense. There's not a chance on this green earth that I'll cancel the ball. Arrangements are already being made. The party will be held at the Palace on July fourteenth and that's final.”
“And m
y father is actually okay with this?” Marco asked.
“Of course he is,” she said. “He's agreed that this is a good opportunity.”
Marco rolled his eyes. He could see straight through her lies. He knew his father, and there was no way that he was looking forward to his palace being filled with strangers. But until he had a chance to actually speak to his father himself, he'd have to take Magdalena's word for it.
“I'd love to hear him say that on his own,” Marco said. “But something tells me that you're not going to let that happen.”
“Marco, I'm warning you one more time, you bite your tongue.” Magdalena sounded even more upset than usual. “You've already caused enough trouble by abandoning your family for some silly meandering around a foreign country, and now you think you can just speak to me however you wish? You had better show me some respect, my son, or else I will make your life a living hell.”
“I didn't abandon my family,” Marco said, defensively. “I simply took a little bit of time off to spread my wings. That's all. I don't deserve to be chastised for it, especially since I had my father's blessing to take this trip. He's the only one whose opinion I respect anyway, for your future reference.”
Magdalena was silent for a moment and Marco knew that he had managed to strike a chord with the last comment. It satisfied him in one way, but also made him feel uneasy. For every point he scored, Magdalena seemed to find ways to even it.