A Beast's Tale

Chapter 27

She was attracting a crowd.

I heard Luke's casual drawl paired with Jin's deep voice when they arrived, and Belle's higher tones rose in volume enough for me to hear her on occasion as well. The librarian didn't speak up often, but I knew he was there. I'd seen him when I entered. He had been frequenting his desk with increasing regularity since Ivetta had taken up employment here; it seemed the man couldn't be bothered to do his job without the incentive of a pretty face. And Luke couldn't be bothered to study without a similar reason. And Jin was more than willing to take advantage of that while also indulging his predilection for feminine companionship.

It wasn't a crowd, per se, but it was enough to annoy me.

Belle, however, was here to study, and Ivetta was here to work. The initial conversation died down as they returned to their original tasks, forcing Luke and Jin to do the same. A question punctuated the ensuing silence from time to time.

I would have to get used to this. Or find somewhere else to read. I had numerous locations within the palace grounds I'd utilized to escape such situations before, and in all honesty, spending more time away from Ivetta might be in my best interest.

My mind kept drifting to our conversation this morning. The brief recounting of my childhood had bothered her, in particular, my mother's fear of me. I'd never questioned it. From my earliest memories, everyone with whom I'd interacted had treated me with respect and some level of fear. I'd surpassed everybody so quickly. What eight-year-old child could beat his swordsmanship instructor black and blue, stump his tutor, and formulate a complex strategy that salvaged a losing battle? I had been a threat to everyone, especially my father, and my mother had wanted a child who would win her husband's affections for her, not drive him further away.

Although my intelligence and physical ability had nothing to do with his refusal to see her. He'd performed his duty with each of his wives, and once they became pregnant, he had nothing more to do with them. Jin's mother had held his heart until the day he died, again illustrating the foolishness of succumbing to emotions.

And yet...

If she couldn't accept your intelligence and giftedness, that was her mistake.

Nobody had ever said such a thing to me before. Nobody had ever told me I wouldn't hurt them and then pushed me away to emphasize the point. And even more revealing, I'd allowed her to do it.

I sighed and turned the page. Clavis wouldn't believe I was even thinking about such nonsense.

It was odd that he hadn't arrived by now.

Time passed. I finished one book and started another, and I was halfway through it when I heard voices outside my door.

"Are ya sure?"

"I'll just be a moment, Prince Luke."

Then came her soft knock. She opened the door wide enough to slip inside before she shut it in Luke's face. He must have noticed her distress following my previous lecture. I had been rather harsh. Too harsh, I thought, watching her fix her eyes on the end table next to me and take a deep breath.

"Prince Chevalier, I know you don't like it when I apologize unnecessarily, but I've been thinking about what you said, and I think it's necessary. I've been careless. I keep getting into trouble and making extra work for you, and while I appreciate your help, that can't continue. So, I'm sorry, and I will be more careful from now on."

"No, you won't."

She furrowed her brow and lifted her eyes to meet mine. "Yes, I—"

"You'll try, but the moment you encounter someone in need, you will forget yourself in favor of assisting them."