“He’s devoted, that one,” he said.
“It seems he is. Did you know that he was so fond of me? I feel bad. I don’t think I’ve treated him fairly, given what I’ve learned.”
“Youdidcall him dull,” he said.
“I don’t remember that,” I said.
“He does.”
“He does?” I asked. I huffed. “Damn.”
“Svana,” he said.
“Why doyouget to say it, but I don’t?” I asked.
“I don’t say it,” he said.
“Ser Willoughby does,” I said.
“Get some rest, Your Highness,” he said. I frowned. “Sorry. Get some rest,Svana.”
“Fine. Since you’re so adamant to get rid of me.”
“I only wish to see you rest. If I had more time to spare, I’d stay to sit with you. I could bore you to sleep with the novel I’mreading lately,” he said. “But I don’t have time. I barely have time to read it.”
“Could you find time soon?” I asked. “Even just to… I don’t know. Play chess or walk somewhere else? Or! I can walk with you right now to your assignment, even. I don’t mind.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
“Then come on our ride if that would make you happy. You could see there isn’t anything to be concerned about.”
He shook his head.
“I don’t mind,” I lied.
He said, “You asked for a chance to make mistakes. I am a humbled man. I want to give you room to do what you want.”
“Youwantme to make mistakes?” I asked.
“No,” he said, rolling his eyes. “You want to.Iwant you to know that when you do, nothing changes, I guess.”
“You guess?” I asked.
He sighed. “This is what I meant about the vow on fighting,” he said. “You don’t even realize how similar you are to her. I can’t decide if it’s a blessing or a curse.”
“You couldtellme of our similarities,” I offered, motioning to the room. “And then we could decide on curses together.”
He was quiet. “Another time.”
“Please?” I asked.
He said, “I’m not mad at you. Everything is fine. We’ll speak of your mother another day, I promise. Right now, I have to go. Good night, Svana.”
Elías closed the door behind me. I leaned my head against it and shut my eyes.
Things were fine, I thought. Good even, despite my desire to crawl into a hole and never come out. The room was empty and hollow, until a clear, but quiet“Whoaa, alright!”bled through the window from outside, and ignited my need to see its bearer again.
Mr. Evergreen’s voice was so enticing that I had to move intentionally to the bed and let my body sink into the edge of it. I gripped the sheet, failing to ignore the velvet comfort of his words as he continued to corral whatever steed he argued with, but as I sent my eyes to anything else, all I saw was thebedpost.All I wanted to see was how it might feel against my body as I listened to him speak.
