Emilia paused in the doorway of Chief Counselor Torgny's office, recognizing that she was not the person he wanted to see. Regardless, she felt that she was the best person to deliver the news to him. While his other counselors worked with him closely, they each went home at night to their wives and children. Torgny stayed in his apartment on the capitol's estate at the end of the day and Emilia stayed in hers. She was the closest thing he had to a family, and the closest thing for Lucasta.
"Stalling won't change what you're going to say, Emilia."
She sighed and closed the distance between the door and Torgny's desk. The office was dark, the only light coming from the moon which shone through the window behind it. Torgny rarely took the time to look out that window, too busy with running a nation and being at war to enjoy the view, but his chair was turned so that he was staring directly out of it.
"You could at least look at me while I'm here," Emilia said evenly. "You know that looking out the window won't bring her back any sooner."
"Thank you, truely," Torgny's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I know that you're technically retired, Emilia, but one of the basic parts of your position is to offer comfort. Have you forgotten that?"
"Comfort for the people, not you," she answered as she sat down on the window pane. Torgny was slumped in his chair, his tie loosened and his hair messy. She paused for a moment and took the Chief Counselor in as no one else would ever see him. Eventually she continued, her voice softer this time. "We have the best men available out looking for her and they will find her."
"And in the meanwhile? What do you think they'll do to her in the time it takes to find her?"
"These people are not savages, Torgny. Rebels, maybe. Traitors, most certainly. But these people must have some moral code, or at least some intellect. They'll ransom her, parade her around as a way they have beaten us, but they won't hurt her. She's innocent."
Torgny snorted at the statement. "You know better than anyone that Lucasta is not innocent."
Emilia had no more words. Torgny was right. But she had been taught to never leave her countrymen hopeless, and she stood before the Chief Counselor unable to comfort or assist. Leaving him alone to ponder and sulk went against everything in her nature, but Emilia didn't have the energy to care at the moment. Lucasta's kidnapping had created more work for her than she'd ever had while in the position and she was exhausted. She imagined that her hair had already grown back grey. So she rose from her seat, pressed her lips against Torgny's forehead and left him to his silence.
Written for "Your Antagonist gets a kiss" prompt. 8 Mar 2016
