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Jade
“I have completely forgotten about your family.” I told the boy, as I ate the dinner he had brought me. Caleb. I must learn that better.
Caleb’s green eyes were wide. “My parents....shoot... I forgot..”
“No matter”, I said, “We will send a message out tonight that you are staying here. Tomorrow, you may gather your things for your stay here.”
“You make it sound so easy. How do you know my parents will let me?” He started to sound frantic. “What about school?What will my friends think when they know I’ve hid after Amber dumped me?! What about--”
I put up a hand to silence him. “Your parents will easily allow it. They cannot go against the king. You shall study with me and my tutor, and it will be added to your transcript. You may call your friends on the phone.”
“You think of everything.”
“I try.”
I took out my phone to text my messenger. Technology these days.
“Last name?”
“Aznelrof.”
I stared at him. “Are you joking?”
“Nope.”
Tell Caleb Aznelrof’s parents that he is staying here.
Copy.
Every message went to the messenger. Every message. If I ever needed to spy on anyone in the castle, I would go to him.
I texted my maids as well, to prepare a small cot for Caleb to sleep in until a room in my wing could be prepared for him. Mariana and Desinda came in a few minutes later.
As Desinda prepared Caleb’s bed in a corner of my room, I saw Mariana out of the corner of my eye edging closer and closer to Caleb, about to reach her arm out.
What is she doing!? Caleb, still emotionally weak from this whole fiasco of a day, has no room for romantic involvements, especially this late at night!
“Caleb”, I called, “Come here.”
Caleb walked up to my side, and I saw, satisfyingly, Mariana’s arm went back to her side.
“I hope this will suit you for now.” I said, pointing at the mattress propped up on the legs of the cot, with my second-best blankets on it.
He stared at it, almost hungrily, which is when I realized he must be tired as well. Poor, poor boy, I had promised him rest and he hadn’t had any.
I dismissed my maids, but lead them to the door, so I could see them off. I would trust no one now.
When I turned back around, Caleb was already in his bed.
“This is soooo much more comfortable than my bed back home.” He smiled, and I found myself smiling too. But on the inside, not the outside.
“Well, sometimes when you are so tired, even the most uncomfortable of beds will seem like a luxury.”
I pointed to a door. “That leads to the bathroom. I’ll go first.”
He nodded at this. I went through the door to the bathroom, and locked it behind me.
As I took a shower, I realized that this was one of the most eventful days of my life, if only for the dramatics of this evening. The boy’s breakup, the dinner. But I had believed Caleb when he had said we would make them bite their words. I was assured I had the ability to strengthen the people of my kingdom.