I couldn’t let Klifford upstage me. From that moment forth, I would be a great actress!
I took Klifford’s hand, lacing my fingers through his. In my world, we called it a lover’s knot, and it was the same in Esfia! Klifford immediately looked at me and I met his eyes!
“……”
There was hesitation in Klifford’s eyes…probably because, as I was holding Blackfeather in my right hand, he was holding my left hand—the gloved one.
Come on, you’re supposed to grip my hand back!
Klifford got my psychic message and gripped back.
Lover’s knot—success! (Though it was a rather loose knot…)
I looked at my father and smiled.
“Father, may I introduce my beloved: Klifford Alderton. He is also my bodyguard.”
A hushed murmur filled the room.
“Alderton? That count’s son…?”
“Isn’t he adopted?”
“He was a commoner…”
“Silence.” When my father’s quiet but firm order rang out, the room immediately fell silent. “Octavia. Alderton is the one you love? And you two are romantically involved?”
I felt like I was under a hot lightbulb in an interrogation room.
“No need to ask again, Father. As I told you, we are lovers.”
“Hmm…”
His elbow still on the armrest, my father rested his chin in the palm of his hand.
“When did your relationship start?”
Wh-when, you ask? I didn’t lock that down at allll. Everything’s riding on my improv skills here…! Okay, maybe—plot twist—we secretly met as kids? Or in Turchen? No, wait, I’ve never been to Turchen! Going off when I actually met Klifford, I’d have to say—
“Three months ago, when Klifford became my bodyguard. I developed feelings for him first. And over time, our hearts joined as one.”
Me falling first was definitely more believable! I mean, my first love was Gray, one of my bodyguards.
My father’s interrogation lightbulb shone to the side.
“Alderton, what do you say?”
I watched over him, suppressing the butterflies in my stomach. I squeezed his hand.
Oh…I thought he was barely squeezing my hand, but he actually squeezed back.
“What Princess Octavia says is true.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Old reliable Klifford—undaunted, even in the face of my father the king’s inquisition. That’s the spirit, keep following my lead!
Feeling just a little cocky…I checked to see how our audience was reacting.
Sirius is…frowning? Is he upset that Klifford is my boyfriend? Why? But Sil’s got the complete opposite reaction! He looks super stoked about it. I know that look. Unless I’m mistaken, isn’t that the smile a fangirl makes when her favorite ship comes to fruition…?
I shook the thought out of my head.
No, don’t compare Sil to a modern fangirl. That’s disrespectful.
Then there was Alec…who was probably surprised to see Klifford standing beside me when I had told him it was Derek. He was staring at the floor… I didn’t know what sort of expression he was making.
“I see you’ve given Alderton a new tassel for his sword. Was that a romantic gift?”
I returned my gaze to my father. He was emotionless. And Edgar on the throne beside him was— What’s this? A smirk of understanding?
“No, Father. It had nothing to do with our romantic relationship. I gave it to Klifford as my bodyguard.”
Wait a minute. I wonder if Klifford falls under my father’s “exception” clause.
“There is an exception, however.”
You know, how he said he had veto power over any lover I introduced to him.
“And what was your true reason for not revealing the name of your lover to us sooner?”
My true reason? Well, because I didn’t actually have a boyfriend, of course! Okay, when he asked me at dinner that night why I wouldn’t drop a name, I think I said it was because I didn’t want to inconvenience him. Guess that means he won’t accept the same excuse again. Okay, gimme an excuse, any excuse…
“I thought…that it was not yet time.”
Attack with the powers of…ambiguity! But it’s not technically a lie. It actually wasn’t the right time for me…but now that I have a fake boyfriend, now’s the perfect time!
“Surely you can understand, Father?”
We got marriage proposals from Khangena and Valjean only a few days ago, for one! It would have meant giving up my single status! I was at the end of my rope!
“…” My father’s eyes narrowed slightly as he sat there quietly.
I decided to go on the attack. “Father, are you not prepared to bless my romance with Klifford?”
“This romance…is there any proof of it?”
……Proof?
Father. What in the world are you even saying?
“Words are meaningless. They are easily spoken. I know that you both have forged an amicable relationship over the past three months. His continued service as your bodyguard is evidence of that. You also helped clear Alderton’s name when he was suspected of a crime, and you gifted him a tassel to match your Blackfeather. I will acknowledge that you have a close master-servant relationship.” My father paused for a breath. Then he continued, solemnly, “Listen, Octavia. Alderton is not an exception to my rule.”
Before I could jump in the air and scream “Rock on!” my father continued.
“However…I don’t think Alderton is capable of loving another human being.”
“Well, that’s just your opinion, Father.”
“Is it?” He looked down at us. “Then show me proof of your love for each other.”
“Show me proof.”
That was my father’s final word.
Okay…Father… But what kind of “proof” do you need?
I took the direct approach and asked, “What proof do you need?”
Bring it on! I’ll give ya any proof you ask for!
“A kiss.”
“…” For a moment, I doubted my ears.
“If you two are in love, a kiss is to be expected, no?”
K-kiss? As in, the thing Sirius and Sil were doing on the very day I lost my shit and lied about having a boyfriend?
C-come on, man, no need to press lips to lips here… Y’know, there’s foreheads and cheeks and stuff.
“On the lips.”
H-he cut off my escape route. And…I’m not sure why, but I got the feeling what my father was really saying was, Checkmate. I know you can’t go through with it.