He’d use his dagger to shave, ashe’d done on the road, no need to get too comfortable.
“I’ll have it prepared straight away.”
Pivoting on his heel, the servant strolled down the hall to do Erich’s bidding. But before Erich could trudge up the stairs, Ivar appeared atop the landing.
“Your majesty! I was about to send the boy out to search for you!” Ivar said.
“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine, Ivar, just out late,” Erich said wearily as he attempted to squeeze past him, but Ivar thrust out his arm, blocking him.
“While I am relieved to see you, I have an urgent matter to discuss.” Ivar shoved a piece of parchment beneath Erich’s nose.
Eyes blurred from lack of sleep; it took him a moment to comprehend. Skimming past the posturing, pomp, and flattery of formal correspondence, he skipped to the bottom.
I,Empress Eveline of Neolyra,propose an alliance with Sundland, sealed in good faith by the marriage of our children: Princess Liane Starweber and Prince Erich Ostrom.
At the bottom, Empress Eveline had signed in big looping letters and pressed a seal into wax, the Starweber twelve-pointed star. For a long moment, he stared at the words, trying to change their meaning. Liane assured him it was all pretend, that nothing would be formally announced. Did she know and fail to tell him? But how could she have when they’d spent all morning together...
There was still time.Royal marriages took months of negotiation, dowries must be agreed upon, and allegiance terms settled. By sunrise, he’d be gone, and this mess would be behind him. Father might hear rumors of his appearance, but he’d never catch him.
“Toss it into the fire,” Erich said with a fake yawn.
As he stretched his arms over his head, he pushed Ivar out of his way toascend the stairs.
“We cannot simply disregard this offer. The empress will be expecting a response,” Ivar’s voice rose, squeaking a bit.
“Isn’t it your job to handle these sorts of things? Let them know we will take it into consideration, and there are many offers I am considering.”
“You’ve been seen courting Princess Liane. This isn’t someone like Greta who you can discard at your convenience.”
Erich flinched. He deserved that, but it didn’t change his mind either. Suppose they were to marry after he’d been cured, and he chose to reclaim his title. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t pass on this curse as his mother had to him.
“Can’t I?” Erich said, giving Ivar a savage look.
Ivar didn’t flinch, and instead, he puffed up his chest.
“I had hoped you’d come to your senses, but it seems you’re determined to refuse your destiny until the end?” Ivar asked. His tone had shifted from a groveling supplicant to a disappointed father.
“It isn’t my destiny but a burden my father wishes to foist upon me. I will not take it, and I will not become him.”
“Duke Mattison is on his way to Artria. If you refuse the empress’ proposal, he’ll take it.”
Erich’s fist clenched. Duke Mattison was old enough to be Liane’s father and a sadist who’d delight in breaking her. But still… he couldn’t get involved. Though the thought of leaving her to an uncertain fate made the dragon roll inside him, fighting to break free, he tightened the chains around it. His survival was all that mattered. Knowing Liane, surely, she’d find a way to avoid it.
“How long before Mattison gets here?” That’s all that mattered, avoiding his uncle.
“A few more days. He’ll be here to celebrate the Sun Ceremony.”
Good enough. He’d be long gone by then.
“Then he can have her.”
“Lord Endland would be ashamed if he saw you now. Running away like a coward. He thought better of you. And for a moment, I thought you might choose the good of Sundland over yourself. If you walk away now, then all he did for you would be for nothing.”
The insult cut to the marrow because it was true. He was a shadow of the man he’d envisioned as a boy. Endland took him in, raised him as a son, with the vision of making him a great king. Despite the darkness which lived inside him, Erich thought he could be good. But after a few months at the palace and everything good and bright within him turned to shadows. Father recognized the power inside him and twisted it to his own ends, and what scared him more was he enjoyed it. The control, to make those that hurt him suffer. This potent concoction of darkness and power was too dangerous in the hands of a ruler, and even if he were cured, the shadow would always remain, a reminder of what he might become if tempted.
“I cannot fulfill his dreams or yours. I’m sorry, Ivar. I’m not the man you thought I was.”
Erich went to his room, where a bowl of water and a bar of soap awaited him. But he didn’t deserve such a luxury, nor did he have the patience to shave. His mood soured, and his appetite was ruined. He was feeling restless and eager to get moving on with his plan. First, he had to meet up with Fritz and make plans to steal the sword. Before he left, he wanted to get his dagger. Kneeling on the bed, he ran his hand along the gap where the bed met the wall until he brushed against a bundle of fabric. The space was tighter than he realized, and he had to tug it free, and in doing so, the fabric unraveled, flopping it onto the bed inscription side up.
