Alan still hadn’t joined our ranks back then, and Alexei was off studying abroad. Lady Elianna had yet to make her societal debut, so she wasn’t living in the royal capital at the time. I was nervous about leaving Chris on his own, but I was equally thrilled at the prospect of putting my skills to the test in a region far from the royal capital, somewhere my father and family name held no power. I’d almost taken off in high spirits, but at the last second, it had occurred to me that some people would never get that sort of option. I recalled that Alexei had said something to that effect right before he left.
“I am proud to serve as His Highness’s aide.”
When I turned back, Chris had assured me he’d be fine with one less musclehead by his side, because he had his own wits to see him through. He added that my absence would give him a chance to better hone those skills, demonstrating zeal of a slightly different flavor than a knight’s.
Nobody had asked me what I was planning to do. Not my father, not my mother, not my brothers, not Alexei—and not Chris. It was a decision I had to make for myself. All the same, I wanted to give him my answer. What was my real reason for going to the countryside? I gave the question a little more thought.
“I swear I’ll come back, Chris. I’ll return a skilled enough knight to dispel any rumors that you only hired me because I’m your childhood friend. Just wait here while I go to make a name for myself!”
Chris’s response was the same back then as it would be now: he gave me a look like I was coming on too strong and held up a palm as a signal to get lost. Still, the smallest of smiles tugged at his lips. It held the tacit promise that he’d put me through my paces as soon as I came back home.
It was with some regret that I left Chris’s side for the next four years. By the time I returned, he’d added an eccentric named Alan to his staff—someone who had been around for four years of Chris’s life that I hadn’t. The thought reminded me that my younger brother, Randy, had also served Chris during that period of time...
That was when the musician in question spoke up. “Randy’s going to be there? Well, okay, maybe I will go.”
His exceedingly flippant tone made me question how close the two of them really were.
With a hum, Alan finally dropped his jester act, and the usual clever gleam came to his eyes. “So if I have this right, we’ll be doing some large-scale cleanup and arresting the last vestiges of the enemy faction? Hmm... I suppose it’s true that if we leave them at large, trouble is bound to keep pouring in from the western border. In particular, there’ll be a lot of scoundrels out to take revenge on Lady Elianna. Something tells me you’d rather avoid that, Your Highness.”
Continuing his analysis of the situation, he added, “Besides, I’m sure word has gotten out that the duke was arrested in the capital... Probably best to check on how things are going in his home turf. And there’s a limit to how well the navy can keep an eye on the western forces and the duke’s finances...”
After nodding to himself, he gave his final answer with a cheerfulness that belied the gravity of the situation. “Got it! You can count on Alan Ferrera here to arrive at the harbor one step ahead. It means I’ll be cutting my sick leave short, so I’m expecting double the compensation!”
In contrast to Chris, whose expression had gone stiff, I felt like Alan’s conjecture had answered a lot of my questions. If my second brother or Randy were being called to action, it meant there were either maritime incidents on the horizon or a fallout that required help from the navy. It also explained the need for Alan to infiltrate the region in advance. These were all Chris’s standard tactics.
I announced that I was on board, thrilled at the prospect of getting out of the palace for the first time in ages. Sitting on my hands for the latest series of events had clearly taken its toll on me.
Just as I was getting pumped to enter the fray for the first time in a while, my brother shared a bit of news as if it had just occurred to him. “Oh, Glen. Remember that request for vacation time you put in a while back? The imperial guard’s General Affairs Department said you’re free to take it any time within the next five days. Any later than that, and it won’t be feasible given our available man power and the urgency of the situation.”
Over the next five days, Alan would ride off on his horse, spend at least ten days traveling to Kelk Harbor, and lay the groundwork. Then would come the long-awaited arrival of the crown prince.
I don’t have a prayer! I lamented with a voiceless scream, while Chris gave a resigned nod.
“Glen. It’s always torn me up that I push you so hard. If you’re truly set on taking time off, so be it. You should concentrate on getting some rest. No matter—I’ll head off to Kelk Harbor, where my life could very well be in danger, all on my own. I’ll be fine without you to escort me, of course. It doesn’t matter if I’m attacked under the cover of night or assaulted while I’m trying to get some rest. Just enjoy your vacation to the fullest.”
I wasn’t so stupid that I couldn’t read between the lines of his oh-so-sweet smile. Fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes, I retracted my request for paid leave.
Sieg must have felt a pang of pity for me, as he followed up with a feeble attempt at consolation. “The truth is, if you had taken the time off, our mother was ready to throw you straight into a marriage meeting. Wolfe got married down south and never comes home, and Randy’s prospects seem equally questionable... She’s determined to set you up with a girl of her choosing, if no one else.”
I replied to my sympathetic brother with a question right out of those Eastern Zen dialogues Lady Elianna had told me about: “What conclusion do we draw from this?”
Sieg solemnly answered, “I wouldn’t advise taking vacation until mother loses interest again.”
My heart-rending cries of anguish echoed through the office.
The comment that followed sounded almost awed. “You must’ve been born under an unlucky star, Glen,” said Alan, clearly more amused than sympathetic.
“His own bad conduct is to blame. Take him as an example of what not to do with your life,” said Chris. Documents in hand, he added that this could make for a good cautionary tale.
I finally flew off the handle, throwing all decorum and attempts at diplomacy to the wind. “You’re the last two people I want to hear that from, Chris, Alan! You’re both the perfect examples of what I never want to be! I tell the women I like exactly how I feel. I operate on a ‘go for broke’ mentality. I’m not some idiot who would take my sweet time setting the stage for a girl to become my fiancée, only to have her almost run out on me in the end! Also! We imperial guards are the frequent victims of Chris’s tyranny, yet we’ve never once demanded anything more than our standard pay. We’re not like Alan, who’s a total money-grubber underneath that cutesy act. No one puts up with more of Chris’s nonsense than us imperial guards, and no one is more loyal! Not many people would take their job as seriously as we do! You guys could stand to learn a thing or two from our integrity!”
“Come again?” Chris fired back without missing a beat, shooting me the kind of look that could have made him famous in the backstreets. Alan likewise whined in protest. Still, just this once, I felt like I had to get a word in. Maybe it was a reaction to my recent run of bad luck.
“Don’t expect me to be your chew toy all the time! If I have something to say, I’m gonna say it. I’m not about to let you stick me with the nickname ‘Glen the Whipping Boy’!”
“Hold on, Glen!” Alan cut in. “I could come up with a much better nickname than that. You wouldn’t be Glen the Whipping Boy...you’d be Glen the Sucker!”
I snapped that he was an idiot, meanwhile doing my best to withstand the chilling gaze and tone of the demon lo... Ahem, Chris. The prince said that he heard me loud and clear, I braced myself for the oncoming assault, and his next words set off another round of our verbal back-and-forth.
Over the incessant clamor that filled the room, no one could hear Sieg mutter under his breath with a sigh, “So this is what it’s like when Alexei’s not around...”