Chapter 13 - Talking To Strangers (Patreon)

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“You look sad,” said a new voice coming up behind me. It broke me from my peace.

“I don’t know if sad is the right word,” I replied, recognizing Nigel’s voice. “More like reality is seeping in, and I hate it.”

He stepped up beside me and leaned against the railing, gallant steel armor hugging him tight. A sword hung at his waist.

“This isn’t your type of thing anyway,” he said.

“That is an understatement.” I looked over at him. “I feel like I should be insulted by that, though.”

“You’re the type of girl who’d rather be at a pub with friends. These formal things aren’t your style.” Nigel paused. “No, I take it back. The first half of this, where you beat up people, was very like you.”

“I was impressive, no?”

“Seemed like you weren’t trying very hard.”

“I wasn’t. But you could still beat me.”

“Yes, I can, and I did last week.”

“Without really using your gifts. I know, I know.” I lightly slapped my forehead against the railing. “Stupid, weak body.”

“There, there.” Nigel sarcastically patted my head.

“Remember when you used to call me Lady Scarlet all the time?” I gave him a playful glare. “How about starting that over again? Show a little respect.”

“But of course, Lady Scarlet.” Nigel stepped back from the railing and bowed, one hand cast wide in theatrical surrender.

“Smartass.” I chuckled. “Don’t let your cadets see you like that.”

“It’d be fine. You are someone I’ve sworn to protect.”

“Mhmmm. Thanks for the reminder.”

“Don’t let things trouble you,” Nigel said. “It’s your birthday. You only turn 18 once. Enjoy it.”

Twice, for me, but I get the sentiment.

“I know my tits are out, but that doesn’t mean you can fall in love with me,” I said, mostly to see if I could finally embarrass him.

“There is nothing to worry about.” Nigel waved the possibility off far too quickly. “They don’t affect me.”

“Ouch, thanks.”

“Sorry.”

“There you are!” Remi called. “I knew you were hiding.”

I could feel responsibility warming its way into my break. It was obvious my parents had sent for her, and that I was going to have to mingle again. Just the thought exhausted me.

“I wasn’t hiding,” I said. “I needed some air.”

“And I got yelled at because of that.” Remi’s eyes drooped. “All I heard was, and I’m paraphrasing here, ‘Where’s my daughter? Get her ass out here.’”

Remi wore the same light black armor she always wore as a member of the castle Rangers. It made her look sharper than everyone inside and far more comfortable than I felt. Her hair was also longer now she was older. She had perfect bangs and almost always kept it in a ponytail. 

“Gaaaah, I don’t want to go back in.” I leaned harder against the railing. “Everyone inside is suffocating. The men keep grabbing me to dance even though they’re terrified, and the ones too scared to ask just keep looking at my chest.”

“Then I’ll make this easy,” Remi said, formalizing her expression. “Your father instructed me to have you introduce yourself to at least one person at this party. One conversation, and you’re free. They were purposely isolated in the balconies at the start of the event, and would very much like to meet you.”

“Who is it? Are they famous?”

“You’ll see shortly.”

“Just one? And I’m good?” I re-emphasized.

Remi nodded. “His words exactly.”

“Okay, okay.” I followed her toward the ballroom. Before stepping inside, I glanced back at Nigel. “Thanks for cheering me up. Or at least trying.”

Nigel waved. “No worries.”

The subtle hum of music, laughter, and conversation exploded before me as I returned to the festivities.

When we found a somewhat secluded place to chat, Remi turned to me. She clasped her hands together. “Are you prepared?”

“I guess so.”

“That man over there.” She pointed to a blonde man in white-and-gold clothing. A sword sat at his waist. He looked like an off-brand supermodel for a start-up clothing line. The man was clearly attractive by any objective standard. “That is Prince Christopher Zalevet.”

“Zalevet?” I immediately picked up on the last name. “As in the name of this country?”

“He’s technically fourth in line for the throne, but his mother was a maid, so he’s lower than the sons that came from direct Queens. Still higher than the other bastards, though.”

“What a word to use.”

“It’s an accurate one. The King’s known for sticking himself in whatever he can,” said Remi. “He has several other children beside his heirs, all from different women. There are so many, we don’t even have accurate numbers besides the main four. The only reason Christopher’s relevant and known is because the King took his mother in as an official concubine.”

I tapped my chin. “How old is the King again? Mid-sixties?”

“Sixty-eight.”

“I hope he doesn’t get ill or die anytime soon.”

“I’m sure you’re not the only one thinking that. The last thing we need is a civil war between the heirs.” Remi shrugged. “We’re pretty isolated from it all. They don’t affect our lives that much.”

“Very true. Shit, he came here of me, didn’t he?” I guessed.

“Most likely,” agreed Remi. “Whether it was just to congratulate you or for something more, I’m not sure.” She patted my back. “Go talk to him, or your father will kill me. If he asks you to be a princess, I heavily advise taking him someone dark and isolated to seal the deal.”

I sighed. “Screw you.”

“Him, preferably.”

“Never.” Eyeing Prince Christopher, I sighed. “Fine. Screw it. Talk to him, and I’m done.” I pointed at Remi menacingly. “I have some bottles of the moonshine Talbert likes. One for each of us. I chat, say goodbye, and we sneak off to drink. Deal?”

“Deal.” Remi gave me a thumbs up. “Have fun.”

“Bite me,” I argued as I walked away.

Ughhhhhh… I hate this.

Within seconds of me entering the Prince’s vicinity, he spotted me, grinned, parted from his group, and approached me.

“That was a lovely display tonight, Lady Scarlet,” said the Prince.

“You’re too kind,” I replied with as much warmth as I could muster. “It’s an honor for someone such as yourself to praise me.”

Prince Christopher chuckled. “You hardly need my acknowledgment. Your footwork was exceptional. You have a fine teacher, but you couldn’t have gotten that far without a substantial amount of effort on your part. I applaud you.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Ah, where are my manners?” Prince Christopher’s hand dropped to his chest as he leaned forward slightly. “Christopher Zalevet, at your service.”

“Charmed. Scarlet Embers.”

I held out my hand, as taught in my required etiquette classes. Christopher took it and lightly kissed the top of my hand. Unfortunately, I’d grown accustomed to such things. 

A small crowd surrounded us.

Prince Christopher had originally been in a small group, but they acted like onlookers to our conversation. They didn’t intervene or speak. They only watched and observed. Again, weird, but I was numb to the oddities of noble life.

Up close, the prince was handsome. He had an oval-shaped face, kind green eyes, thick eyelashes, and thin lips stretched into what looked like a permanent smile. Laugh lines creased the corners of his eyes. His blonde hair was styled formally. Even though it was rather long, it was well-maintained. At his hip, accenting his white-and-gold noble uniform, sat a single sword.

“Truly, though, you were graceful,” Prince Christopher said, harkening back to earlier in our conversation. “Your sword work fell upon your enemies like a gentle snow. The movements you made were serenity personified into violence.” His voice grew higher with excitement. “And your gifts. A Dyad! I never thought I’d meet one in my lifetime. Hopeful Lake has already become vital to Zalevet’s future, and now its heir carries two gifts. You could strengthen this territory, protect its people, perhaps even stabilize the kingdom itself. Spectacular!”

“You honor me,” I mewled. My face tinted red. 

I was unusually weak to compliments, regardless of who they came from. It was way worse now than when I was Felix. I didn’t realize how starved I was for acknowledgment until I started getting it consistently. 

“Do you have gifts yourself?” I asked the Prince. He was going overboard. I would have started laughing like a villain if he’d kept going with the compliments.

“I do.” The Prince nodded. “I was blessed with the light gift.”

As if to prove it, his hand glowed a brilliant white where his bones would be as he thrust his palm toward me.

I stared at his hand. “I’ve not met another light user before.”

“Nor have I,” admitted the prince.

I surged light within my palm as well. We greeted each other warmly with a handshake. Not just as people, but as individuals with a similar ability that only a select few shared.

The glows in our hands dissipated as we broke apart.

“Am I the only person you’ve willingly talked to?”

I blinked. “Hmm?”

“This reception has been going on for quite a while. You’ve danced with many other people, but never of your own accord. Then you disappeared for a while. Now that you’ve returned, you’re talking to me.” Prince Christopher held my gaze, a warm smile humbling his face. “Why is that?”

Oddly enough, it felt more like an I terrogation than an observation. It was like he didn’t trust me, or felt I had bad intentions. Which was fair. I was only talking to him because I was made to.

I stared back. “It’s not every day a Prince visits my lovely home, Your Highness.”

The prince’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Oh? So you are only talking to me because I’m a prince?”

“Well, you’re only fourth in line,” I replied flippantly. My eyes widened. I slapped my hand over my mouth. “Shit. Sorry.”

Silence.

Oh Gods, I’m going to be execu—

The prince laughed. “Ah, too true. I have very little power in my family. I’m a descendant of the King, but I will never be one. It is fine. The lineage provides me with a fair life to do what I want and help those who need it.”

“I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“You didn’t. It’s refreshing. Most people aren’t so blunt right to my face.”

“It’s a bad habit.”

“It’s charming.”

“If you say so.” I hesitated, replaying our convo, then honed in on parts of his earlier speech. “You were paying attention to me that much? Enough to notice who I was and wasn’t talking to?”

“How could I not when you exhibit such grace and beauty?” the prince remarked. “I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to talk to you. I’m glad you came over first.” His eyes twinkled knowingly. “It’s as if fate meant for us to meet this day.”

Ah, that’s your game. What do you need from me, sir? Trying to charm me? Or is this something else?

“I suppose we will never know.” I took a step back, smiled, and bowed. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Your Highness, but I’m afraid I must mingle with the other guests.”

“Of course.” The prince gave me a smile. “Enjoy your night, Lady Scarlet.”

“An-And you as well!”

In a daze, thinking back to how awkward that was and how poorly I handled things, I trudged back to where Remi was.

Fingers snapped before my face. “Wake up!” Remi shouted in my ear.

I flinched. “Sorry. Daydreaming.”

“Daydreaming of getting railed,” snorted Remi.

“It is something I think about every now and again. Always makes me feel like a weirdo pervert.” I shook my head. “But no, that’s not what I’m doing.” I tapped my chin. “That dude is up to something.”

“That dude?” Remi scoffed. “You mean the Prince?”

“Yeah, that dude.”

I didn’t really have a concrete reason why, though, so I didn’t voice my concerns any further. It was better just to drop it. My obligations were done.

“That’s all I had to do, right?” I reconfirmed with Remi.

She smiled cutely. “That’s all your father told me! You should go confirm with him yourself.”

“I’m confirming with you.”

“If you say so!”

“Traitor,” I grumbled.

My body whipped in the direction of the Baron, who was chatting with some local nobles I’d met plenty of times before.

As soon as I was in range, he sensed my presence. His eyes flicked my way, and he suddenly looked very tired and ten years older.

The Baron excused himself and stepped toward me, leaving the baroness behind to entertain on her own.

“Good job with the fight. You picked outstanding mercenaries to demonstrate your prowess.” The Baron smiled at me. 

“And thank you for ruining my ploy.”

“I am sadly used to your antics,” he said. “Don’t do something that dangerous again. You’re lucky they were so beholden to money. If they’d turned on any of the guests, it would have permanently harmed our reputation.”

“What did you think I was going for?” I muttered.

The Baron sighed. “Did you speak with the prince?” he said, getting right to business.

“I did.”

“And?”

“He was cordial, I was nice. We parted on good terms.”

“Did he ask you anything?”

“No,” I replied. “Was he supposed to?”

The Baron sighed again. “I suppose not.” He waved me off. “You may do what you wish now. Just don’t cause me any more trouble.”

“Yes, sir!” I saluted him and took off.

I basically skipped back to Remi.

“You’re free?” she said.

“I’m free!”

“Good.” She patted my shoulder. “But I’m not, so give me a few minutes while I conclude my duties.”

“Shirk them!”

“Not all of us can be as free-spirited as you,” Remi said as she walked away. Her ponytail swayed behind her.

“Killjoy,” I muttered.

With nothing else to really do, I found a secluded table away from everyone and sat down. Rebecca and Lacey were drunk, so they didn’t pay me any mind. Likewise, the men who’d danced with me saw my secluded, closed-off demeanor and opted not to talk to me again. 

All the locals already knew I was a holy terror. For example, Porter Forbank made eye contact with me for a single second, remembered the several times I’d beat him up, shivered, and turned away.

Honestly amazing my parents haven’t written me off yet.

I grabbed an empty glass and filled it with wine. Once it hit the very top and was nearly spilling out, I stopped. The bitter red liquid did little to alleviate my boredom. It didn’t have enough alcohol. But I did drain it in one very long shot.

“Fuck this bullshit.” I sighed.

I propped and crossed my feet up on a vacant seat beside me. I leaned back, yawned, and put my hands behind my head. My eyes focused completely on the ceiling as I swirled the wine glass between my fingers.

“Hurry up, Remi,” I said quietly.

“You seem fun and different,” a new voice said.

I looked down to find someone completely unfamiliar to me. He had to be from another city.

The man was a little older than me, though not by much. He had olive skin and messy, short black hair. His blue eyes looked like bright sapphires. He was tall, between Nigel and Alexander’s height. Broad and lean. But he looked tired, with half-closed eyes.

“No one’s ever said that to me who hasn’t been hit,” I told the stranger.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

He walked by me and snatched the wine bottle off the table. Sliding into the seat beside me, he set his feet on the table and began drinking without a glass.

I marveled at the sight.

Okay, he’s not so bad. As long as he doesn’t hit on me, I may have found a new buddy till Remi gets back.

“Rude.” I rocked forward, kicking my feet off their chair. I propped my elbow on the table and stared at the guy, cocking my head to the side. “There’s nothing left for me now.”

The guy finished drinking, shook the bottle, and let it lazily droop between his fingers. Then he stared at me.

After a moment, he pulled a tin out of his jacket. He picked up a glass filled halfway with wine, poured it directly onto the table, then refilled it with what was in the flask.

He pushed it toward me.

Graciously, I took the offering. I tipped it to my lips and—

Whiskey!

I nearly cried. “Thank the Gods.”

“You’ve had this before?” asked the man. “Most women hate the taste.”

My tongue rubbed the top of my lip out of excitement. Realizing this, I blinked myself out of my daze. “Ah, sorry. Yes. I love any and all alcohol I can get. The stronger, the better. Not that it does much, anyway.”

“Why?”

“I’m an Eater.”

“No shit? Noble or knight?” he asked.

“Noble.”

“Would I know you?”

“That depends.” I grabbed the glass of whiskey and chugged it in one shot before setting it back down. “Who are you?”

“Gai Regal,” he said.

Vaguely familiar last name, but I can’t remember why.

“No idea who you are,” I admitted.

“Then I probably wouldn’t know you either. Let’s just be two temporary friends drinking at a shitty party,” Gai said, grinning.

“A shitty party, huh?” I paused. “True. Hear, hear.”

I clinked my empty glass against his empty bottle. It earned us both a chuckle.

I relaxed my feet back on a separate chair. My dress slid up slightly, and I caught Gai glancing at my legs before looking away.

“When did you get to town?” I asked him, striking up conversation. I had nothing better to do.

“I’m on a Pilgrimage,” he said. “Seeing the world as true as it can be for as long as I can stomach it.”

“And your family let you?”

“I have other siblings. They could replace me if they had to.”

“Dark.”

“But true.” He peeked at me. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Depends,” I said.

“Depends on what?”

“If it’s vulgar or not.”

“The next question will be, but not this one,” he joked.

I laughed. “Then go ahead.”

“Whose party is this?”

My brow crinkled together. “Are you serious?”

Gai pointed at the door. “Long story short, I befriended a lovely woman who invited me here as her companion for the night. We were late falling temporarily in love in a room nearby, then parted when her family found her disgracing herself with me.” He whirled his hand in a circle. “I fled. Found this room. Now I’m here. Care to fill me in?”

“Sounds like you’ve been filling in enough tonight,” I joked.

“Not nearly.” He returned my energy. “But seriously.”

“This is a party for Baron Johnathan Embers’s daughter’s eighteenth birthday,” I said. “Her name’s Scarlet Embers.”

“Interesting.” Gai looked about. “Can you point her out for me?”

“Why?”

“I know who she is. Chosen Child. Apparently very beautiful. I’d be curious to see if the rumors are true.”

I feigned looking around. “Don’t see her.”

“Ah, oh well.” He looked at me, his eyes scanning me up and down. “If you had to compare yourself to her, how do you fare?”

“Why do you ask?” I tapped my lips with my fingertip. “That’s potentially a very rude question.”

“Because you’re stunning and blunt. I know I’ll get a straight answer from you.”

“Hmmm, true. I’m both those things.” I thought for a moment. “We’re about the same in terms of looks.”

“Then I must find her when I get the chance.”

“And leave me all alone?”

Gai grinned. “No, that would be very disgraceful of me.” He looked my way. “What’s your name?”

“Miya,” I said quickly.

“Miya, what is it you do?”

“Drink and wait to die,” I replied. “Such is a noble’s life.” I sat up, suddenly serious. “Tell me about your pilgrimage.”

“Oh?” Gai leaned forward, matching me. He rested his elbows on the table and his head on his hands. “Thinking of doing one yourself?”

“It’s the right of any noble to go on a pilgrimage, should they get permission from their family,” I replied. “It’s a right of passage for all noble children meant to help them understand the world.”

“You mean their sons. Second sons and after, mind you.”

“What of it?”

“You’re a woman.”

“Don’t remind me,” I grumbled.

“You could always go to the University in Camden if you want that,” said Gai.

“But I want danger. I’m an Eater.”

Gai didn’t say anything for a moment. He drank once from his empty glass, annoyed by the result. “I’ve been all throughout Zalevet. Small towns, beaches, large cities. Everywhere. I like to fight, too. There’s no shortage of that.” He looked over to me. “And after a long day, I prefer a soft woman to warm my bed and nurture my cold, dark heart,” he revealed sarcastically. “I do what I want, when I want, with whoever I want.”

“See? That sounds fun!” I said, excited. “Traveling. Fighting. Sleeping under the stars. Seeing new places. Drinking. Fucking. An actual adventure! Something to look back on with a smile, having helped and made a difference along the way!”

Yeah, I had a major hero complex. It was an itch I desperately wanted to scratch.

Gai stared at me. He reclined back into his seat. “That so?”

I stared back at Gai. My eyes met his. I did not blink. “The life of an adventurer can end before it starts. But it’s a life freely chosen. That’s the point.” I laid my head on the table, groaning. It was very unladylike. “I’ve only ever lived in this general area. I’ve never fought a Synborn or a monster. Never stopped bandits. Never crushed a band of criminals threatening a town. Nothing! I could be doing that right now!” I shot up. “I could be envoy for our nation striking peace deals! Treaties! I could have world peace!”

But as much as that explosive energy hit me, the come down was just as hard. My energy spilled out and I slammed back into my seat. My expression faltered, eyebrows knitted together, and my demeanor sank. 

“Instead, I’m just wasting my time until I’m married off or lose my chance to be something,” I muttered.

The amusement in Gai’s face receded. Recognition flashed across his features. He took in a breath and held it in his chest, then slowly released it out his nose. “Ah. I see. Okay. That’s why I’m here.” He chuckled. “Fate’s funny like that.”

What?

Gai leaned forward. His hand rested under my chin. He raised my head so that I was looking into his eyes. We were a mere inch apart now.

My breathing stopped.

“I can save you if you want.”

Little butterflies beat about in my stoma—

Screw you, body! Fuck off!

With those simple words, Gai released me. He got up.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve gotta take a piss,” he said. “Goodbye, new friend of mine!”

Without another word, he walked out of the large ballroom until he was entirely out of sight.

I stared after him.

What the hell was all that?!

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