Ever After

eighteen | eikko

The next two weeks pass in a whirlwind of stolen kisses and secret office meetings, watching over Osten, and seeing pictures of Kaden and Josie circulate the press. 

Three days after we got back, Kaden made the formal announcement of courtship, like all royals have to do. Josie is now Lady Josie Woodwork in the papers, and it has gotten out that she works alongside Eadlyn in the office. 

On the bright side, Neena's boyfriend has been transferred to Angels to work in a biology lab, so Eadlyn's best friend can see him more. I must admit, I quite like the man. Kaden spends time talking science with him when he visits, which I can never follow, so I always take the chance to sneak off to Eadlyn's office, knowing Neena won't be there. 

America, as I have finally taken to calling Eadlyn's mother, and Maxon, who, once he found out I was calling his wife America, bodily threatened me until I called him Maxon, are searching for retirement homes just outside of the palace. Eadlyn keeps telling them not to move. First, for safety reasons. Second, because she doesn't want them to go. 

I doubt they will. The Legers and Woodworks are not going anywhere, and for some reason, I find that comforting. I know how much Eadlyn needs them near her.

Miss Lucy's hand tightens in my arm, and I look down at the small woman. I had not known the palace family long, but I always felt accepted and loved. So, when Miss Lucy, Miss Marlee, or Miss America needed to go somewhere, I escorted them. I didn't have to, propriety didn't even demand it, but I liked walking with them. They were fun ladies, and I knew how much Eadlyn loved them. 

General Leger's office was at the opposite end of the hall from Eadlyn's. It takes me three seconds to decide to visit her once I drop off Miss Lucy. 

"Oh, hello, dear," General Leger stands from his desk and meets us at the door. He smiles at me. "Eikko."

I nod. Aspen Leger scares me more than Eadlyn's actual father sometimes, but most of the time, he's jolly and kind. Right now, his voice has a stressed edge to it.

He takes his wife's hand and kisses it. "I'd stop by your wife's office if you weren't already planning on it," he tells me. "She's going to be stressed after the announcement."

"Announcement?" I release Miss Lucy's arm and she drifts over to General Leger's side, her eyes asking the same question. 

He sighs as if a large weight has set on his shoulders. "Marid Illea has publicly announced his decision to run in the election of the prime minister. A few others did so today too, but Marid is the most worrisome."

My muscles all tighten. We knew, of course, that Marid would run. He'd said as much to Eadlyn already. But to publically announce it was a whole other thing. There was no turning back. 

I nod stiffly and am about to say something like that bastard, which General Leger would not have liked me saying in front of his wife but would have agreed with all the same, when a maid scurried up next to me. 

"Oh! There you are. Her majesty is asking for you in her office," she says. 

I nod. "Thank you."

The maid, having delivered her message, hustled away and into a servant's tunnel. 

I turn back to the Legers and smile tightly. "I've been summoned."

They smile back. Miss Lucy squeezes my arm. "Better hurry."

I rush down the hall and push her door open without knocking. Eadlyn is at her desk, head in her hands. I shut the door and hurry over. 

"Rakas?"