“Well, there is also the matter of the investigation Gareth set you on,” I continued. “The trail of the poison.”
“We can also look into the matter of the potion you took,” Alan added.
“Are you worried for me?”
Alan stiffened and glared out the window.
“No.” He scowled, pushed his glasses up unnecessarily, and flicked his white tail impatiently. “However, the king has need of you. What with the new laws instated about the Munni and some traditional Sunna grumbling, then the treaty with Esteria about to be signed… and of course, the princess isn’t going to marry the king now, so there are some who are worried about the stability of the throne… The time is...” Alan trailed off.
Yes. Princess Erellia had eloped with an unknown long-time companion. It turned out she had fallen in love with a less powerful lord, who had joyously received her upon her arrival at the border. Since then Rilla had been kept close to home with her newly-wedded husband and newly-acquired horse, Sanson. Landis had sent word that the princess could keep Sanson as a wedding gift from Corrin and him to her. As thanks.
That was one happy ending, but Alan was correct. Sumarene had yet to claim its own happy ending. I wanted to help make Landis’s dream come true. It was nice to see that Alan had also become invested in protecting our young king. And me. It warmed my heart a little. I found myself offering him a more genuine smile. A smaller smile flitted across Alan’s face as our gazes met. Alan blushed a little and glanced away again.
“Do you have an idea why you were targeted?” he asked after a while.
“I don’t know.” I was a little nonplussed by the mystery myself.
“Family?” Alan prompted.
“None left,” I replied bluntly.
An awkward silence. Alan nodded.
“A jealous lover?”
“They need only ask!” I protested. “I have never turned any molly or tom away from my bed. Well… unless their parents put their foot down..”
Alan folded his arms and gave me a prim frown of distaste.
“That might be the trouble, Hugh. There may be someone out there who aims for a more permanent, committed… exclusive relationship with you.”
“Oh.”
Said that way, I could see how someone might get their tail in a twist and try to—No. Wait. I do not understand.I frowned.Why send me into a state like heat? Did they hope to assail my virtue? I have none left.
“There is also the possibility that it may be politically motivated,” Alan said reluctantly. “The odds of that are… not as small as I would like, given how many enemies the king has.”
“Lord Morne?” I tilted my head. “I suppose if Gareth and I were to be removed, Landis would be more vulnerable, but there is always Corrin… and Lord Elthorne.”
“It is still something to consider, but my wager is that it was a jealous lover.”
“I might take you up on that. A wager. For a kiss.” I smirked.
“No.”
“If I win—and it’s Lord Morne, I get a kiss.” I ignored him. “If you win…”
“I’m not playing this sort of nonsense.” Alan glared at me again.
“Hm. A new book? Some kind of crafting ingredient? Paper? Pens?”
“A notebook…” Alan said, rolling his eyes. “I’ll settle for a notebook.”
“I hope I’m right.”
“You would.”
“Well, kissing you was…” I trailed off teasingly.
