Book 4, Chapter 7: The Great Floral Escape
It was a strange thing, this life. You’d think being the monarch I’d get my way. Like the old saying, it’s good to be king. No, not really. It’s all about threats and intimidation, half-truths and false promises. And nastiness. Taking children on the pretense of education, training in statecraft to be a noble, but really just to ensure their parents wouldn’t attack you. Or, in my case, begin a civil war.
Would Carlisele support me? The man was weak and an idiot. Hence, I went through his wife. She’d either get him to commit or well, I was stuck with Hafthon and the prospect of beating this duchy back into submission after the Barclay duchy, after the Ketzles. Yup, sure, no problem! Just an exercise in transportation, as the Laemacian Ambassador said.
I wondered how long his brother’s offer of marriage would last. He might be marrying me to eliminate my military power. If I lose the coming battles, but somehow survive them, I’d find out. Might be the only option then. Except that, he’d know that, too.
“Lovely to see you roaming the halls, Your Highness. Are you headed to our favorite hiding spot?”
The young earl, Maitlan, came down the stairs I was just about to go up. Well shaven today, black hair short, a smile on his face and twinkle in his blue eyes. He held up a bouquet of thin tree branches, upon which small pink and white blossoms were sprinkled. “I brought you these flowers. From the garden, the only ones that flower in winter.”
I took the bouquet from him by the bottom, which was wrapped in thick paper. “Uh, thank you for killing these for me.”
One of my four guards coughed, but the others were quiet.
Maitlan was about to say something, but paused, straightened up, then re-smiled, “Winter cherry blossoms, found only here.”
“They’re lovely. I’ll put them on display, thank you. How did you know I’d be here?”
“Oh, I was just passing by.”
“I’m headed back to my apartments.”
“If you’re free later, perhaps we can watch the sunset again?” He came closer, hand lifting to take mine.
I dodged around him, holding the flowered branches between us, “Weapons training. I have lots and lots of weapons training.”
Face on the other side of the branches, he gently parted them to peer through, “With your former bodyguard?”
Backing up toward the stairs now, “You mean Sir Morrentz. Yes, he’s a good teacher.”
“Perhaps you’d indulge me to spar with you at some point.”
“I can’t imagine I’m anywhere near your level, Maitlan.”
“Well, you handily dealt with that brute who ravished you on the dance floor. If your swordsmanship is as competent, we’d be evenly matched.”
“Oh my god.” My arm and the flowers dropped to my side, “Ravished? Seriously, that’s the word you’re going with?”
“His kiss was clearly unwelcome. After all, you tossed him to the floor.”
Gun, his hand pressed into my back, his lips touching mine. “Why oh why are we talking about this?”
“I’m curious as to his punishment.”
“It was just a kiss, Maitlan. He got carried away. I . . . he resumed his normal duties.”
“If that excuse works, I shall have to craft one of my own, for your lips are like a swollen flower to a bee, and-”
“No,” I stopped, waving the bouquet in front of his chest, “please, please don’t get poetic on me.” Worried, I looked at my hand - no fire! Maitlan would likely survive this encounter. I couldn’t be sure, though it seemed a plus to me.
“But Cayce,” he saw my look and hastened to correct himself, “Princess Cayce, you drive me to think poetry about you. I have written some, if you’d allow me to show you.”
“I’m not poetic. I’m anti-poetry. Apoetrical, I don’t even believe in it!” I turned and rushed up the steps, branches shaking.
Unfortunately, he had legs and used them to follow me, the guards clanking up after him. “Come now, that’s the furthest thing from the truth. You adore sunsets. I’m eager to share another with you, perhaps a view from another tower.”
“Hey, ah, aren’t there, uhm, other girls with whom you could be spending time?”
“There aren’t other girls, my lady.”
“Right. Ok, this is my stop. My door. I’ll, uh, catch you later. Thank you for escorting me.” I opened the door just enough to squeeze in and pushed through the little gap, crushing the upper branches and buds as I closed the door, forcing me to reopen it.
He pushed it open a little further to say, “I hope to see you later.”
“Ok, bye!” Slam. I think the soldiers outside snickered.
***
“Cayce! Where were you?” Brin, blond hair spilling past her blue dress, held up a hand, “No, ok, never mind that. You’ve kept Etienne waiting!”
“What, today? Tread said my schedule was free.”
“I don’t know, but the wizard is waiting in your practice room. Wait. Are those winter cherry blossoms?”
“Yeah. Uh, Maitlan.”
“He’s denuding the trees for you now.”
“Did you have to use that word?”
“Would you prefer nuding?”
“Not really.”
“I’ll put those in water.”
“Or we could use them for firewood.”
“Don’t blame the flowers because Gun didn’t give them to you.”
“Hey!”
“Come on, mustn’t keep the wizard waiting,” she took the slightly crushed, soon to be blooming flowers out of my hands, set them on the nearby table, took me by the arm, led on to our private rooms.
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