We walked through a corridor full of obnoxious portraits as she continued her recollection. ‘So mother said if the new queen allows us to come back, we would.’
‘Allow you?’ The meaning of what she said went over my head. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
Unease showed in the way she fidgeted. ‘We had been banished and ordered to stay at least five hundred miles from the closest castle.’
What the fuck? Over a man? ‘You’ll be able to come back once I’m crowned. I’d wait just now, since we don’t exactly know where mother dearest hid herself.’
The girl fell to her knees. I rushed to pick her up. ‘Stop that.’
‘We are so grateful,’ she chanted, still on the ground. ‘We are so delighted.’
There were tears in her eyes. Gods, how strange was this girl? Couldn’t they have just moved out of Ortensia if things were that bad for them? ‘Okay, stop making a scene and take me to the dean. I’m late already, which probably won’t bode well on their assessment of my management skills.’
‘I’m so sorry; let’s go.’ She put her bony arm through mine and walked me there like a mediaeval chaperone. I didn’t have the heart to tell her how much she weirded me out.
The wrinkled man opened the door while we remained ten feet away. Then he smiled like he appreciated my presence.
What a day.
‘Miss Willow, how pleased I am to see you,’ he said, gesturing to come inside. I sat in the leather chair that faced his and waited for him. ‘It feels like yesterday that we had your sister and your mother completing the same training.’
Bullshit. ‘Does it?’
The smile on his face looked genuine, and his voice remained steady. ‘Of course. Though, in my age, time feels different from to you younglings. How do you like theuniversity so far? I took the liberty of clearing it for you, since future monarchs deserve our greatest support.’
Oh. ‘There is nobody else here?’
‘Except for me, you, Cindy, whom you have just met, and a couple of professors. We have certainly had prospective rulers request the University work as normal, but I have to say it is discouraged.’
I leaned back. ‘How come?’
Another smile, this time shy. ‘You see, during the training you might need to share your opinions on sensitive topics… In the past, while we stay firm in our expectation of confidentiality, some of these opinions have got out.’
‘Okay. If everyone’s getting a break while I’m here, why is poor Cindy accompanying me?’
‘Oh dear, I didn’t explain that,’ he giggled. ‘I apologise. Cindy has won the Monarch’s Help contest; she is here to assist you with whatever you need.’
What kind of messed up practice was that? ‘Monarch’s Help?’
The man nodded. ‘Yes, it’s a contest focusing on knowledge regarding a given kingdom, in your case Ortensia.’
‘Why would anyone want to win a position of being a monarch’s assistant?’ The idea seemed abhorrent. ‘I bet she was the only constant, right?’
The dean paused, visibly appalled. ‘Quite the contrary, young lady. We have had hundreds of Ortensians take part.’
That surprised me. A bunch of masochists. Who in their right mind craved slavery?
‘Oh. Cool.’ I didn’t know what to say. ‘What does she get out of it?’
‘In what way?’ he asked, scratching his beard.
‘Well, if she is to serve me, shouldn’t she be rewarded somehow?’ I explained. ‘I mean, maybe you’re assuming monarchs would express gratitude, but most wouldn’t.’
He considered it. Then he gasped as if what I said led to an epiphany. ‘You’re making an excellent point, Willow. What do you propose?’
‘I don’t know.’ In all of my criticism, I didn’t expect to be asked for an opinion. ‘Ask her what she wants.’
The man leaned back, mimicking my position, and assessed me. ‘I have a great feeling about you. Despite what the Elders think.’
