The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

60. Legacy

"Put these on," says Thessarion.

"Gloves?"

"Yes. We are going to touch very strange substances, some of them poisonous."

"Fair enough," I shrug and slip my hands inside.

"Where do you want to start?" he asks.

"I, uh, used to read a lot about plants some time ago. And I was thinking there are about six vegetal substances that might help. We can also combine them. Three of them are easy to get, the other not so much. But you can ask my husband. He can send his soldiers to fetch them if he really wants results here," I say and shrug. It earns me a small smile.

Theon looks at the list.

"Does he do that often?" he asks.

"Only when I upset him." I know exactly what he means. None of us is looking at the other. The day before I just left and he didn't chase me, but then today I came back and he didn't protest or complain, but apparently he isn't letting it go either.

"What can you possibly have done to annoy him that badly," he says and rolls his eyes.

I talked nicely about you to the advisors, I guess. And he took it the wrong way.

"I don't always understand. But that only means I might not be smart enough."

"Certainly not," replies Thessarion drily.

"They will heal," I say.

"Probably but that's not the point."

"It's also not the point for you to cast judgement about it."

"People cast judgement about all things all the time. This is just me stating it and I stand by it."

"What do you want me to do, Lord Thessarion?" I ask sternly.

"To undress... A bit. So I can help," he says, very matter of factly.

"Oh. So you indeed did something."

He nods.

"I wanted to let it go, but it was on my mind the whole time yesterday after you left so I thought I might as well act on it."

"What benefit do you have from it? It's not your problem."

"A bit of your trust? And a bit of knowledge for science. Besides, my life's work is to make others' problems my own." He shrugs and smiles tight lipped.

"What would you want my trust for?" I ask. My voice is soft despite my will.

"Synergy," he answers and starts unwrapping the scarf from around my neck.

He is way too familiar for what I am used to. At court nobody just does this to the wife of the Emperor but meanwhile I feel that in the dark library and in his eyes I am stripped of the title and I don't seem to mind that much.

I would say for the better or the worse but it's both that mingle without the possibility to distinguish. Or... For the better because in the end I enjoy being free of my title, a title that meant exclusively bad things for me, like a simbol of oppression but also worse because I don't know how to be without it, or don't know anymore who I am without it.

Too lost in thought I recoil when he opens a little vial.

It smells like aloe vera.

"Did you, like... Enhance this with Nanite?"

He nods and puts a bit on his finger. My eyes go big.

"You can do the shoulder yourself but I don't think you see your own neck. And if you don't mind, I would like to withness it. I haven't seen the pumpkin seeds in action and was thinking about it for a long time."