“No.”
“Then you did not care to be caught?” I asked. “You have so little respect for me?”
He craned deeper into the sill.
“He told me, you know? Mr. Evergreen.” I sighed. “Not that the mystery was very difficult to solve. There is onlyoneperson, in all the land, brazen enough to step in and defy his Princess like that. You.”
“And what did you say?” Elías asked, “What came of your Blade’s confession?”
“Thiscame of it,” I said. “Cyrus told me that he sent me a letter to me and that it was returned to him unopened. Seeing as I did notreceiveit, I knew you were at work. Whatshould’vecome from it?” I asked. “Anger? Is that what you want from me? You want me to reprimand you? You want me to dress you down? Why? To see if I have the gall to do it? Well, I do! But I also want-” I hesitated; my hands shook. “I also want to consider this a minor blemish upon our otherwise flawless closeness. Don’t you?”
He didn’t reply.
“We’ve been together for so long. I cannot remember a time without you there. I don’twantto imagine one. Do you?”
“There hasn’t ever been a time,” he told me. “And therewon’tever be a time. That is fact.”
“Good,” I said.
“Good? Good? Before you were even a thought in your father’s head, I was your mother’s confidant. Isworeto her that I would be yours. Do you think you even have the power to sway me from that promise?”
“I-”
“One day, should I be so honored to live as long, I’ll be your child’s most trusted companion, too. I willnotallow you to sever this connection, no matter how angry you are. You’re hurt? Fine. Get over it.”
“G-Get over it?” I asked.
“Aye. You think you’ve caught me in some scheme, here? Oh, brava, but it is not impressive to anticipate what is obvious, Svana. It is myjobto protect you. It is myjob as Lord Commanderto deploy someone I trust in my place when I cannot see to something. I did not lie to you; I could not make the detail. Thus, I sent Ser Willoughby to see to the strictness of your safety, and to clearly define the outcome of his choices toMr. Evergreen,should he make a bad decision.”
“You threatened him?” I said.
“There is no one I would not threaten for you,” he said. “Your cousin is in possession of very valuable skills. I will use him as I see is required.”
“You will deliver my mail, Eli,”I said.
He was quiet.
“Please,”I told him. “...Please,” I said more politely. “Too many of my own letters have been discarded or lost. Just… Just let me read what comes to me. If I must trust you blindly, then you must trust that I might remain rational, and trust me to make my own decisions and replies.”
“You don’t need to reply to letters from rakes,” he said.
“Cyrusis nota rake.”
“And youknowthat?” he asked. “Or youhopeit?Did he tell you he was engaged?”
“I—” I flexed my jaw. “Yes, he told me. They have since parted.”
“Convenient,” Elías said.
“I hope for nothing, Ser. Hope is a luxury that I have never had. And what? You think that because a man sends me a letter, something might grow between us? We’re friends!”
“A moment ago, you said Josie was your only friend.”
“You pick apart everything!” I cried.
“That is because Iknowyou. And I know that you are only upset about the boy because you have feelings for him. So yes, I think that if letters are exchanged, something will grow.”
“Feelings,” I spat, humored. “Feelings!”
