Imperfection - Chapter TwentyOne (Patreon)

Olwen

The king has extended an invitation to my father and me. None of the details of the invitation have been expressed, only that the royal family wishes to have an intimate evening with the both of us.

I’ve never been so nervous to meet with the king. I feel helpless, as if he’s going to deliver us bad news about Benjamin. For the first time, I can’t inference anything. To pull each of those clues together and confirm within my mind that is what he wants to speak to us about is dangerous. But I can’t think of any other possibility. For the time being, everything is caught up within the domes. Everyone is off now doing quarterly inspections, and until they return, we each have been ordered to work in our respective areas. Which is why this was the perfect opportunity for me to go on “vacation.”

I was supposed to leave tomorrow but with the king summoning my father and I, the horror of it being too late for me to help my brother is settling in. And I can’t make myself think of anything else.

“Hey.” I tense when I feel Tiberius’s hand in mine as he tries to get me to slow down. I turn to face him, a warning in my eyes as I watch him silently. He immediately notices my temperament and steps back slightly.

“I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you. Don’t freak yourself out until you know for sure. Even your mind can spiral when stressed out,” he says softly.

I take a deep breath, looking away from him to take in the empty hall. Something has shifted between Tiberius and me. I’ve tried to push down my emotions for as long as possible regarding him. What we have been doing is forbidden. Even more so that I am forming an emotional attachment to him. But ever since our small conversation about his parentage, it’s as if the last bit of a barrier that lay between us has been broken down.

At this point, I should have turned him and his father in. Tiberius’s existence is not only forbidden, but it’s dangerous. He is property of Etherium. His mind and body are a product of Etherium’s years of selective breeding, proving that even if someone like his father impregnated an outsider, the child is still capable of things beyond most lower-class citizens. The problem lies in his mother. She raised him on the outside, in a world that we know little about.

Tiberius is a dangerous product of this place and could very well be a threat. But my emotional state won’t let me believe that. I want to protect him the same way he protects me. And this is the only way I know how.

I inhale a deep breath, finding it in me to look back at Tiberius. Each time I take in his features, my heart flutters. It’s an involuntary reaction that has been prominent over the past few days, making it challenging to be in the same vicinity as him, seeing as he clouds my judgment.

“I know,” I finally whisper.

Tiberius tries again, reaching for my fingers. His fingertip gently brushes my own, holding me for a moment as he tries to give me some comfort. It’s all he can do in this public place. If anyone saw us, we would be in big trouble.

“No matter what he says, I am right here when it’s all over,” he says softly. I look into his warm eyes, nodding slowly as I try to compose myself. Once I am calm, I turn away from him, and continue the journey to the king’s wing.

* * * * *

“Thank you for joining us on such short notice, Alfred. I do wish Athena could be here as well, but I hear her time in Elysium has been very promising.” The king and my father converse lightly over tea, but it drives me crazy that the king has yet to tell us our purpose for being here. I shift my attention to Tiberius, who stands silently against the wall on the far side of the room. For once, he isn’t facing the opposite direction. He’s facing me, his eyes trained straight ahead. Only when he senses my gaze does he shift his attention to me only briefly in comfort.

“Of course, Your Majesty. We’re honored to be considered such important guests of the king,” my father says with a level tone. He must be aware of the reasoning behind our summons, as his voice gives no indication of fear. It instantly helps my mental state to know that whatever his purpose in summoning us hasn’t shaken my father.

The king shifts his attention to me.

“Olwen, I understand you’ve put in a vacation request,” he says.

“Yes. I think it’s time I take a break for myself,” I say, hoping he’ll take the hint that I don’t want to talk about it.

“Well, I hope you enjoy your time off. It’s well deserved,” he says with a smile. I have to stop myself from showing concern at his word choice. He’s being overly kind, which is out of character, seeing as he denied me what I’ve asked of him ever since I started as part of the council, and basically snubbed my request in the last meeting with everyone in attendance.

“I’m sure you’re curious as to why I’ve asked the both of you here. As you know, the dome has been bustling with news of Olwen’s newest scores. They’re unparalleled, unlike anything we’ve ever seen. This could be the breakthrough of our generation to take us into a future no one could have ever imagined,” he says. I feel my stomach churning in discomfort as he speaks, my mind anticipating every direction he could possibly take this conversation.

Out of instinct, I briefly glance at Tiberius for comfort. The action shocks me myself. But as soon as his familiar warm eyes meet mine, his presence is that much more prominent.

“Your talents are wasted on my council. You see things beyond our comprehension, and I am sure you are aware that once you return, we will shift your day-to-day and create a new page in history with you.” The king’s words penetrate my thoughts, bringing my reservations to light. I knew it was a matter of time, and he has confirmed that for me.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, is this why you needed me and my father?” I ask.

The king chuckles, gesturing to the guards standing near the door. They bow before opening doors to reveal Julius. My eyes widen slightly and it takes all of my willpower to remain in my seat. I know exactly what this is before the king even voices it.

“I think it would be a waste not to have your talent as part of the royal family. Of course, it will be a few years off, but we have decided to extend a proposal of marriage between our families formally,” the king says.

I suddenly feel sick. I fight tooth and nail to remain stoic, pushing my emotions down as far as I can as the king continues to speak of all the opportunities this will generate for Etherium and how my presence will propel the royal bloodline forward while giving my family another notch of prestige. I want to look to Tiberius for comfort or an answer, but I can’t. Not with Julius sitting right across from me, smiling along with his father. Not while the king of Etherium takes away any and all future plans I had for myself.

“This is such an honor to be considered for. I am sure you’ll give us time to speak to my wife and her brother about this before making a decision.” I am grateful for my father’s presence in this moment as he is able to get the words out that feel like lead on my tongue.

The rest of the afternoon is crushing. I plaster on the proper emotions and give the proper reactions when spoken to, but I can’t shake the emptiness forming in my chest. My life is over. My plans are over. Of course, I cannot deny the king's request. His giving us the opportunity to think is merely open politeness. If I don’t accept, I will be forced. The royal family would never let someone like me get away.

In the months leading up to this, I’ve felt emotions that I didn’t know was possible. And it’s all thanks to Tiberius. I’ve never had these feelings before. This curiosity to know the world around me or even know about the people beneath me. I’ve never had the urge to open myself up and let my guard down. I’ve never desired happiness. I’ve just been a part of Etherium, doing whatever was desired of me. And prior to Tiberius, I may have been content with this opportunity. But at this moment, it feels devastating.

And I don’t want to acknowledge why.

* * * * *

“You knew, didn’t you?” I glare at my father in anger as he stands before me, his body language telling me everything I need to know.

“How could you? How could you when he’s doing everything in his power to ignore your son's struggle in a failing dome?” I snap.

I whip away from my father, pacing around the apartment in anger. A swirl of emotions bombard me and I don’t know which one to feel and for how long. But I know that anger is the most dominant, so that’s the one I’ve decided to feel.

“How could you just let him decide my future like that?” I shout.

“I didn’t know you would feel this strongly about it. Up until a few weeks ago, you would do anything for Etherium. This is a good thing for our family and the future of Etherium. You, of all people, should know this,” my father says.

I shake my head.

“No. You, of all people, should know Etherium isn’t worth sacrificing your family!” I shout. My father looks taken aback by my words, his confusion at my anger showing. He takes a small step towards me.

“Olwen—”

“No. This place isn’t perfect. It is filled with corruption from the top to the bottom. Why should I sacrifice my life that I’ve never gotten to live for myself for a place that is a lie?” I say. My voice cracks as I speak the words. But they have been on my mind ever since I found out the truth about the Hightowers. It’s been something that bothered me since I realized what the government truly does. And since the king continually turned his back on my brother.

My brother, who, like me, is willing to die for a lie.

I turn away from my father, searching for Tiberius. But he’s nowhere in sight. Of course, he isn’t. Because of our laws, he is nothing in the face of my father and me. But in truth, he is as much an Etherian as we are. And he was cast out because of his father’s mistake that we never made him pay for.

“Olwen… what’s gotten into you?” My father says. I shake my head.

“Just leave. I need to be alone,” I say.

My father is silent for a moment.

“Olwen—”

“I said get out!” I scream. I don’t look at him. I can’t. I keep my back to the door until I hear him leave. I then grab the nearest glass decor, throwing it at the wall with a scream. My mind is a mess. It can’t make sense of everything. My emotions are too much.

I slowly sink to the floor, curling myself up in a ball as I let my tears flow. I’m crying so hard that I don’t hear the footsteps approach. But I do feel the arms wrapping around me, pulling me into the familiar warmth I’ve grown to need.

Tiberius doesn’t speak. He just holds me to him, letting me cry into his arms without judgment.