I eased. “...You’re a sap.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. How dare you soothe me. But thank you. Also, I should leave you here with Ser Willoughby for making me feel good about myself and future. The two of you could engage in night after night of mindless sentiments possessing no purpose, the same as every word from his mouth, and that would serve you right for your offense.”
“Be kind,” he told me. “Ser Willoughby is?—”
“Dull. As far as Blades go,” I said.
“Your second cousin and still learning,” he replied. “He’s also just ascended to the Kingsguard. It’s not easy being appointed so soon in one’s career. I should know.”
“The other day, I watched him stumble in place while speaking to my new maid. He’sdull,”I said. “In fact, so dull, he–”
“Your Highness?”
Certainly,by chance, the man I’d been insulting’s voice called from behind me. I stood frozen in my humiliation for an entire second before widening my eyes to feign an underserved innocence to turn around.
“SerWilloughby,”I said back. “How delightful. I wasjusttelling Ser Elías...that, uh, you should sharpen your sword. It’s shocking how dull it is.”
We stared at one another until he looked oddly at his blade. It was still sheathed and fixed to his belt.
“Beg pardon, Your Highness,” Willoughby said. “I’ll apply mineral oil straight away.”
“Did you require my attention for something?” I asked. “Or were you justlurking?”
“ ...You requested to be informed when His Majesty had found a break from his work.”
I waited for the rest of his thought. “... And is thatnow?”I asked.
“Aye, yes, Your High-”
“Right. Thank you!” I hooked Elías by the bend of his arm and carted him past the man.“Do you think he heard me?”I conspired.
“Yes.”
“You do?” I hissed.
“Aye, but if he did, he’d never say,” Elías said.
“That’s even worse,” I said.
“You could apologize,” Eli returned.
“But if he didn’t hear me, then I would be confessing to something he knows nothing of,”I whispered.
“Let’s just find your father,” he said.
“Right. Father. Right. There are a number of things I need to express, starting first with how soon I can return. How do I do that?”
“Might I speak candidly?” he asked.
“Like you have to ask,” I said. We stopped just shy of the study. He kept his voice low.
“This is your first real trial as Heir Apparent, Svana. Shelve the daughter; speak to His Majesty as the future Queen, and leave out your insecurities. You don’t want him to worry he’s failed to prepare you for this.”
“But hedidn’tprepare me,” I buzzed.“Youdid.”
“Not something I’d ever let him hear you say.”
