“We absolutely should!” Evelyn hugged him.
“Hands off the Princess!” Damien shouted at them.
Evelyn pulled away and wiped at her eyes. Damien jogged over to them.
“Drat!” Nicolas complained with mock irritation. “I had nearly convinced her to run away with me.”
“You don’t even know hownotfunny that is this week,” Damien grumbled.
“Shut up, Damien,” Evelyn barked.
“We’re going to need to work on your attitude once you’re a queen.”
“Bite me.”
“Don’t tempt him,” Nicolas warned, making Damien smile.
“I actually came out here for a reason,” Damien remembered. “Evelyn, Moeller wants to see you.”
“Moeller? Why?” Evelyn asked.
“He didn’t say. He’s in one of the second floor offices.”
“Do I have to?”
“Oh, do you not like High Councilors anymore?”
“I should have you fired once I’m the queen.”
“Idareyou.”
Nicolas put a hand on Damien’s shoulder. “Can you go five minutes without bothering the princess?”
Damien grinned at him. “Do I get to botheryouinstead?”
“Run while you can, Evelyn,” Nicolas advised without breaking eye contact with Damien.
Councilor Moeller had several open books spread out on the desk in front of him.
Evelyn tapped a heel to get his attention. “You wanted to see me?”
He glanced up with his usual expression of mild distaste. “Have a seat.”
Feeling slightly trapped, she sat in an armchair facing him.
“That’s a lovely necklace,” Moeller commented. “My wife on the Legislative Council has one just like it.”
“What a coincidence,” Evelyn said dryly.
“Did your father give it to you?”
Damien asked me the same thing.
“No, he didn’t. Why would you think it was my father?” Evelyn asked.
“Ah, so it was Ritter.”
“Is that important?”
