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Velidos.”
    Titania looked at him in surprise.
    â€œWhat do you mean? Surely as King he must have a large role to play in the development of his country.”
    â€œI am afraid not,” answered Darius. “King Alexius is a very intelligent man, but extremely reserved and that is why his people know very little about him. Even those like myself, who serve him, find it is difficult to break down the barriers with which he surrounds himself.”
    Titania became interested.
    â€œThat seems strange. I never thought of a King being like that. In fact in most countries they are very busy and continually in the public eye.”
    â€œI wish I could say the same about Velidos. King Alexius is almost a recluse.”
    â€œWhat does he do? What is he interested in?”
    â€œHe is writing a book at the moment on the history of Velidos, which is actually, as you have just said, very little known to the outside world.”
    â€œThat is helpful at any rate,” Titania said. “But surely if he is writing a book about his country, he must be interested in it.”
    â€œI think as far as his book is concerned he is only at the beginning, when hundreds of years ago Velidos was part of Greece.”
    â€œI had no idea.”
    â€œIt’s true and of course the people in those days obviously accepted the Greek philosophy and their belief in their Gods and Goddesses.”
    â€œI want to believe in them now,” Titania told him.
    â€œThat of course is what your King must give his people.”
    Darius laughed.
    â€œI doubt if His Majesty would accept such a suggestion, even if you had the chance of making it.”
    â€œAre you saying it is difficult to see the King?”
    â€œHe finds the luncheon and dinner parties which take place at the Palace extremely boring. He prefers to dine with one other Equerry and myself and while we are very privileged and it is most interesting for us, I often wish those who criticise him could understand what he is feeling and thinking about his country.”
    Titania was intrigued. This was something she had never expected to hear and was certainly different from any Royalty she had visited when she had been travelling with her father and mother.
    â€œTell me more about the King,” she begged.
    â€œI do not want you to become interested in him,” replied Darius, “and then be disappointed. I find him an exceptional person and it’s only because he isolates himself from the ordinary people that I feel he is making a mistake in the way he is reigning Velidos.”
    â€œHave you told the King about your feelings?” enquired Titania.
    â€œI doubt if he would listen to me. He has chosen his way of life and left the Crown Prince to take over many of the duties which should be his.”
    Because Titania was very perceptive, she realised from the inflection in Darius’s voice that he did not like Prince Frederick.
    â€œI suppose,” she said a little tentatively, “what you are saying is that, since there is no Queen, my cousin will have a great deal to do.”
    â€œPerhaps she will enjoy it. I only wish the King would take on some of his duties and get to know the people who are alive in Velidos now rather than those who lived there hundreds of years ago.”
    â€œI suppose he finds research very absorbing,” commented Titania. “My father undertook a great deal of research before he visited the countries which interested him. As soon as I was old enough I used to help him.”
    â€œAnd then you travelled with him?”
    â€œI have been to a great many places in the world, which is why I do not think I will find it very difficult to learn your language.”
    â€œWe will start your lessons tomorrow,” Darius promised, “and of course I will be a very strict teacher. You will have to work very hard if you are to speak fluently by the time we arrive.”
    Titania knew he was teasing her.