Eventually, and only because the water cooled, we got out of the tub and dried ourselves with fluffy towels. Hydris gave me a robe that barely came to my knees and didn’t hide a single thing down the center of me, but I wore it for him as we went into the main room for dinner.
“Did you know Ottokar is seeing Sarosh, one of the stablehands?” I asked as I served the duck breasts onto our plates.
“Oh? No, I knew he was courting someone but not who.”
And Hydris didn’t seem at all scandalized, so I was right to think rank didn’t matter so much. But I still wanted to understand.
“The only reason they haven’t become official or public or whatever,” I continued, “is because Sarosh doesn’t want to get sent off to Ottokar’s estate. They want to stay together.”
“Well, yes, that makes sense.”
“So why would he be expected to leave?”
Hydris blinked at me and then a blush bloomed on his cheeks. “Um, I guess that’s my fault.”
“How so?”
“I, uh, wanted the full attention of my council members.”
I cocked my head at him and hoped my entire expression conveyed my disappointment.
“Things weren’t going well,” he tried to explain but stopped to sigh.
“Hydris, might that be a rule you could reverse?”
“Um, yes?”
“Yes, it is, Bridge, and I would be happy to do that right away.”
He frowned at me. “Yes, it is, Bridge, and I will speak to Lord Ottokar to be certain it is what he wishes before making such a declaration.”
“Oh, look at you! Very nice, Your Highness.”
He squinted at me so much that there was only a tiny sliver of blue eyes visible.
I chuckled and corrected my mistake. “Very nice, Hydris.”
He instantly relaxed. “Thank you.”
We ate for a few minutes, me wondering how many of his advisors had relationships they were separated from or hiding. Hydris seemed to have been considering something similar when he spoke.
“I suppose it is hypocritical of me to court you and have you right here and yet force them away from their partners.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“I’ll fix it, then, before we make anything official. And I’ll apologize.”
I shrugged. “You can apologize, but also thank them for their dedication. They could’ve walked away, right? Fought back?”
“True. And it’s only been two years.” He paused and then shook his head. “No, that’s still bad. I don’t like going a few hours without you.”
The table was small enough that I could lean over it and steal a kiss. He blushed more and two new flowers bloomed on top of his head. I had a feeling he had no idea that had happened.
“I just worry…” Hydris said before clearing his throat.
“Worry about what?”
He sighed. “Mannix. It was actually his suggestion, and one of the last, um, proclamations I made.” His shrug looked full of self-doubt.
