A Beast's Tale

Chapter 58

She started attending the palace church the next Sunday, much to my annoyance, but I didn't say anything about it. Based on what she'd said, she'd probably been raised in the church. It undoubtedly meant something to her, though she hadn't attended services since I'd known her. Maybe she'd been a regular attender until her mother became ill. Whatever the case, my schedule was unaffected. I slept in, regardless of the day of the week, and she didn't ask me to come with her. That was probably a good thing. I wasn't sure I was willing to go that far for her. The church was a place for ceremony and tradition, and nothing more.

But I was willing to set rules to keep myself in check while she worked through her issues surrounding physical intimacy. That was of paramount importance. If I had to wait until the honeymoon for her to be ready, then so be it. My recommendations were simple. First, we shouldn't be allowed in each other's bedrooms anymore, and second, we needed a time limit for our increasingly heated moments alone. After the time was up, we had to either separate or join the company of other people. She agreed, and the rules were set.

They made nothing easier.

I decided to add more trips away from the palace for my sanity.

It was late November when I left with Clavis for an impromptu visit with Gilbert at the border. Flandre's barony had been transferred to a noble who was actually worth something, and that was the location of our meeting. We took our horses and a few dozen knights as a precaution.

"Ah, isn't this nice, riding out to Obsidian without the prospect of a bloodbath ahead of us," Clavis said happily. "And I finally get the opportunity to dance on Flandre's grave. Goodie, goodie. Any vandalism planned, Chev?"

"Of course not," I scoffed.

"You lack creative flair. But I guess you're more worried about whatever Gilbert has to say. Seems you and he have been rather friendly lately. Not thinking of replacing me, are you?"

Every day of my life.

"And then there's this new baron. He's been very loyal, and I understand he's got a daughter he's looking to marry off. Wonder if he's going to ask you about her?"

"I've made it clear that I'm not interested in anybody other than Ivetta," I said coolly.

"I know that, but that doesn't stop all these pesky marriage proposals. They don't even care about the rest of your poor lonely brothers anymore, now that bigamy is a legal option for you."

"Thanks to a womanizer hundreds of years ago," I muttered under my breath. I'd have to talk to Sariel about changing that law. That may be the only way to stop the opportunistic vultures with their ambitious daughters.

Like the new baron. And his black-haired, green-eyed daughter, who was far too forward.

"Hm, I'd heard she was a blonde," Clavis said later that night when we were finally shown to our rooms.

I hadn't heard anything about her, but I'd noticed the occasional stain along her hairline evidencing the dye she'd used.

"Wonder if they thought she'd have a better chance if she looked more like Ivetta?'

"Do you ever shut up?" I snapped.

Two more days. Two more miserable days.

And then Gilbert was late for the meeting the next afternoon, further irritating me.

"Hope something didn't happen to him," Clavis commented, running off his mouth as usual. "Things have been a bit rocky between him and the emperor, right? A little internal conflict makes for juicy news, but not for stable political relationships."