"You’re making me a parent to a pre-teen when I’m not yet twenty-five—and still taking our home away?" Her voice rose as the heat in her chest threatened to consume her. "When I only make an apprentice’s salary? Where exactly do you expect us to go, you sniveling piece of?—"
A firm hand on her knee stopped her mid-sentence. Lewis. A strategic interruption.
"Your Excellency," Lewis cut in smoothly, his tone all politeness, though his grip on her knee remained steady. "Surely there’s another solution?"
Montaghue inhaled sharply, his oversized teeth glinting as he shuffled a few papers for show. "You are welcome to appeal these decisions with the King," he said with a theatrical sigh.
"I imagine that appeal would happen during an audience with the King?" Lewis prompted, his tone pleasant but pointed.
The Chancellor gave a sharp nod.
Lewis turned to Vivienne. She was still simmering, barely containing the words she really wanted to say. He knew her well enough to recognize when it was best for him to manage a conversation.
"We’d like to add our names to the list," Lewis said, waving at the enormous ledgers.
Montaghue flipped between pages, tapping a finger against a schedule. "We have availability in six weeks… or… tomorrow."
Lewis leaned toward Vivienne. "What’s better for you?"
She inhaled slowly.They’ve already been missing for too long. Six weeks is out of the question. By then, Briar and I won’t have anywhere to live.
"Tomorrow," she said, the word leaden on her tongue.
Montaghue didn’t look up as he scribbled their names into the ledger. "Tomorrow it is. Report to Eirenden Keep at one o’clock sharp." He handed Vivienne a parchment scroll. His nose wrinkled slightly as he scanned her. "And do put more care into your appearance for tomorrow."
Vivienne opened her mouth, ready to tell him exactly where he could shove his parchment scroll, but Lewis stepped in.
"I will," he said brightly, flashing a grin. Before she could throttle the man, he guided her out of the office.
* * *
“That went well,"Lewis drawled, his voice baked in sarcasm as they wound their way down the narrow street, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the Chancellor’s office.
Vivienne let out a scoff, running a hand over her braid. "This might be the strangest and worst twenty-four hours of my life." Her voice teetered on the edge of disbelief, as if saying it aloud would make it more real. "Yesterday, I had a family, a career path, and a home. Today, all of those things are hanging by a thread… and I’m somehow supposed to take care of Briar."
Lewis nodded, a teasing lilt slipping into his voice. "Well, today you also got to add‘cool scroll of parchment’and‘vendetta against the Chancellor’to the list. So that’s something."
Vivienne threw her arms up. "Oh, right! Can’t forget those two sparkling additions."
They walked in silence for a few steps, the city sounds filling the space between them.
Lewis’ voice was careful when he spoke again. "You still have a family. And a career. And we’ll figure out the home thing. If your parents don’t come back?—"
Vivienne cut him off, her voice sharp. "You meanwhenthey come back."
His jaw flexed. A barely-there nod. "Sure.When."
She wasn’t sure if he was agreeing or choosing to let it go.
"You still have Johanna," he continued, "Briar, the library…" He inhaled, hands disappearing into his pockets as his gaze flicked anywhere but at her. "And… me."
Vivienne blinked at him, surprised by his sudden shift in tone. His voice was steady, but that hesitation—why did he hesitate?
She smiled, shoving the thought away. "I know that," she said, bumping his shoulder with her own. "You know that. But sometimes I need a reminder. Thank you."
Lewis glanced sideways at her. He smiled, small and lopsided. "Don’t mention it."
They fell into step again.
