The minister cocked his head. “You seem familiar.”
Jasyn looked back at Mych, who was already stalking over, as if he sensed the distress beginning to bubble.
“You’re a fraud with only words as your shield.” Bron had his arm on the hilt of his sword, ready to unleash it from its sheath. “Lucky for me, I have steel.”
“Siena could not be saved.”
Bron’s face immediately blanched. “Don’t you dare utter my mother’s name.”
Jasyn was bouncing his head between the two of them, taking in the conversation. Mych was at Bron’s side now. “I’ll escort you off the premises, sir.” The words, directed at Kryth, were cordial and professional, but there was an underlying sternness. Jasyn had never heard Mych use such a tone.
The minister eyed the four of them, but he lingered on Bron and then stared at Esi. Jasyn felt the urge to pull her away from the man.
“Life is such a fickle thing. It’s a shame it's cut so short for many.”
Jasyn could feel Esi tense next to him.
Then, Kryth left. Jasyn watched Mych and the minister go, and Bron stormed off shortly after, leaving just Esi and him alone together.
Esi had her arms around herself, as if she was spooked. Jasyn wanted to reach out and bring her close, but he kept his distance. “I apologize for Kryth.”
Esi snapped out of whatever daze she was in as she faced him. She curtsied, and he hated the sight of it.
“No need for formalities, Esi.” He assumed they had moved past that after yesterday’s events.
She smiled and nodded, and, as if taking that as a cue to let loose, she asked. “What’s in your hand?”
Jasyn almost forgot about the round object until she pointed it out.
He brought the object forward, resting it in his palm so she could see. She bent forward to look, but she was clearly confused. He couldn’t blame her.
In his hand was a glass ball, a golden rim wrapping around it and a clasp at its center.
“It’s my siblings’ ashes. I bring them with me to all religious events so they can be bored with me.” He laughed, but the joke must have not landed as intended, because Esi’s eyes were sad.
“I’m so sorry for both of your losses.”
It was as if the words were instinctual, as if she really blamed herself for his siblings’ deaths, but… “You can stop apologizing.” He shook his head. “It’s a risk we take entering the Undertaking. Both of my siblings knew that.”
“Do you miss them?” Her voice wavered at the question, as if she didn’t feel like it was fair to ask.
“Daily, but I continue to live each day as best I can in their honor. I train for the Undertaking to continue our legacy.”
“You marry me to strengthen the court.”
“Exactly.”
Esi twiddled her fingers. “Is that enough for you though?”
Jasyn was taken aback by the question—not because she shouldn’t be asking, but because he never thought about it. So, he was honest.
“I spend every day feeling unworthy of the prospect of being king. Some days, I think I can do it and do it well, but days like yesterday…I doubt my abilities. I’m not the sociable, easy-to-speak-to person my siblings were. Yet, I keep trying, because Iwantto lead this court the best I can. Whether others want me to be their king is another question.”
“I think you’ll make a great king,” Esi said.
“Even after I proved yesterday I can barely face my people?”
Esi rubbed her chin, as if truly pondering the question. He appreciated it; he needed honesty more than anything.
