Even more than they constantly were that a weak woman was kicking the asses of all the fighters in Nerthus.
Okay, okay, I’ll figure out something for real. I know. There’s—I need your support and patience too. I’m doing my best.
I was glad they backed off when they felt my upset. I tried to hide it from everyone, but honestly it was too much at times.
It really was.
But Eloise still misbehaved. A bit too much for a two vs one fight. I wasn’t sure who might notice or could tell since the crowd seemed more upset that the female fighter was winning again.
Seriously, when were they going to get over it and learn their lesson?
The amount of times I’d heard that I’d cost someone money and I owed them, or they were going to take it out on my ass—whatever stupidity was ridiculous. They chose to gamble. They took the risk, especially when it was illegal.
“Report me to the police,” I shouted when one guy slammed his hand on the cage and said I better pay up. I even gave him the middle finger, Eloise enjoying that since we always had to be royal family perfect.
Yeah, okay, I enjoyed it too. I really did.
Myriam noticed Eloise acting up as well and I didn’t have the energy to be polite about it. Like no shit I needed to fly.
Could someone help me figure out how to facilitate that instead of constantly saying I needed to?
She didn’t have that answer, but she promised she had another idea. Nothing shocked me more than when she brought me to the city’s summer night market. They were a huge tourist attraction in Nerthus… And something I’d never experienced.
“Oh shit, I didn’t know you could be adorable,” Myriam whispered with too much amusement. “You look like you’ve never been to…”
I gave a half shrug. Yeah, I never had.
“Sorry. I guess I figured you at least went home during summer breaks and your parents would have…”
“No,” I whispered. “I normally went to other hidden training or somewhere undisclosed to handle my dragon. I wasn’t ever wanted at home.”
“I’m sure they wanted you around,” she argued.
I snorted as I made my way to the first stall. “They visited once. Just once.” I sniffled and wiped under my eyes hoping she didn’t see.
But Myriam was too observant. “What happened?”
I opened my mouth but then closed it. I glanced around and leaned into her more. “I proudly showed my mother how I could use mystic magic to glamour and she couldn’t hide her horror. Father was—they left. I didn’t hear from them for two weeks and it was—we never recovered. I never did with them.”
She gave me a half hug. “That was the last time you saw them as your parents and not something else.”
I nodded. Yeah, that was when I only saw them as my king and queen. After that, it was all I could see them as.
They’d proven I wasn’t a daughter they could love, but simply a responsibility and heir. So why would I give them anything else?
I realized something and wanted to throw a fit, Eloise about to for sure. “I don’t have any money.”
Myriam snorted. “I got you.” She shook her head when I tried to argue. “You don’t think I’ve been making some side cash on all of this too? Please. I’m making bank betting at other places.”
She looked a bit embarrassed saying that, but I made her meet my gaze and told her I was glad. She wanted to build up her emergency funds too after how her father had treated her.
“I’ll get you whatever you need to have an account in Thovudin,” I muttered. “I won’t ever let him get you, Myriam. You’re safe here.”
She nodded, but I could sense the hesitation off of her. Not because she didn’t trust my words… Because I wasn’t safe either and might not be able to keep my promise no matter how hard I tried.
That was fair.
“My uncle would always hide you.” I nodded when she did a double take. “That man takes loyalty like—you’ve been good to me and he knows it’s in ways he can’t understand. He would go to war with your whole family to protect you after that, so if I ever fail, get to his area.”
