by K. M. Shea
When Lucien finally turned to face his brother and sister-in-law, Elle was smiling serenely, and Severin had a pained expression.
“I’m sorry I doubted you,” Severin said.
“You believe me now?”
“I do.”
Elle held Severin’s hand. “You must give us time to adjust, Lucien. Frankly, I doubted you would ever learn to love anyone—besides Severin—more than you love yourself. What do you plan to do next?”
“Marry her, of course!” Lucien grinned, though it faded a bit when he saw Severin’s furrowed brows had not slackened. “What?”
“I do not doubt the strength of your feelings or hers.” He hesitated. “But I am not certain that goal is obtainable.”
“Why not?”
“She is a maid.”
“And Elle was a merchant’s daughter,” Lucien pointed out.
“I do not object to her, but do you really think the courts will accept her?” Severin asked.
“I don’t care what the other nobles think,” Lucien said.
“No, but until this point, most of your manipulations have been through charm and wit. Once married, you will no longer be able to use the lure of your single status,” Severin said. For a moment, the lines of his mouth hardened. “And I know you well enough to know you would not pretend to be disloyal to your wife for politics.” Though the words were affirming, Lucien heard the warning in Severin’s voice.
He’s right, though. Ariane deserves my loyalty—public and private.
“I’ll figure something out,” Lucien promised.
“What will you do if your father doesn’t approve?” Elle asked.
Lucien froze. “He wouldn’t…”
As far as Loire kings went, King Rèmy was surprisingly relaxed when it came to social class. That was partially due to Lucien’s mother, Queen Nicole. She was a gentle, country-bred lady, and King Rèmy could refuse her nothing after she welcomed Severin into the royal family. She was actually heavily interested in the kingdom’s justice system—though her health kept her from appearing in public often.
But…But! Lucien’s father still made him take lessons and treated him as he would a child. He would never consider allowing me to wed a maid—he thinks I will need a competent lady of nobility who will be able to rule in my place!
“He has to. They have to. I’ll make everyone accept it,” Lucien said. The realization was a bucket of ice water emptied over him. It’s Ariane—only Ariane. I will have no one else, so I will do whatever it takes.
Severin placed a hand on his shoulder. “We will support you. But you must make certain this is what Ariane wants.”
Lucien nodded. “Of course! Why should she object?”
Elle smiled and stroked her cat. “I am happy for you, brother-in-law. I am happy for both of you.”
“I am glad you found her,” Severin added.
“And I am so glad that she has you wrapped around her finger,” Elle added with great feeling.
Lucien started edging back down the hallway, moving towards the salon in which Ariane currently slept. “Yes, I’m sure you look forward to future displays. But did either of you have anything else to say?”
“No,” Severin said. “Except I hope you do not plan to skip out on the rest of the Summit meetings.”
Lucien snorted. “Who cares if I am present or not? You are the one we depend upon.”
Severin again pinched the bridge of his nose. “You are the future king, Lucien.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you for your great sacrifice—I look forward to your reports.” Lucien winked at the pair before he hurried back to the salon, his thoughts otherwise occupied.
Perhaps I should call for Severin’s barber-surgeon to get a second opinion on her health…
Chapter 10
A Task for Love
Ariane groaned as she slowly came to. Her sight was bleary, and her tongue was dry and thick.
“Ariane? Ariane, can you hear me?”
The blobby shape that hung over Ariane eventually sharpened until she could make out facial features. “…Lucien?” she asked groggily.
“If you will allow me, Your Highness, I should check her over.”
“Yes, yes, of course!”
Lucien darted out of view and was replaced with a jolly man who smiled kindly at Ariane. It took her a few moments before she recognized him as Duval, Prince Severin’s barber-surgeon who had checked her over the last time the mages attacked.
“Can you feel this?” Duval asked as he pricked various parts of Ariane’s body.
“Yes.”
“How do you feel? Can you move your limbs?”
Ariane lifted her arms, noting the bandages that had been wrapped around her spider bites, then wiggled her feet. “Yes, everything feels in order.”
Duval poked and prodded her for a few minutes more, then nodded in satisfaction. “You are in fine health. All the same, you should not do anything strenuous for the rest of the day, and keep to bland foods the next few days. Also, you should be careful to keep your arms clean as long as the bites remain, but you shouldn’t experience any lasting effects.”
“Thank you for your aid,” Ariane said.
Duval smiled. “It was a mage with healing magic who purged your body of the spider venom. I only watched over your recovery.”
“Still, thank you.”
“Of course. Please call for me if you experience any unusual symptoms or pain.” He began picking up the tools of his trade and carefully arranging them in a leather bag.
Ariane’s eyes drifted over to Lucien, who was leaning against a wall and smiling. I had hoped he left while Duval checked me over. He’s going to be insufferably smug about having his curse broken by me, I can just tell.
“Come, let’s get some fresh air out in the gardens. I can call for tea out there,” Lucien said.
Duval lowered his eyebrows. “Bland foods,” he reminded the prince.
Lucien nodded. “Yes, I will make note of that. Thank you, Duval.”
“It was my pleasure. Good day, Your Highness, Mademoiselle.” The barber-surgeon bowed to both Ariane and Lucien, picked up his bag, and made his exit.
Ariane paused and waited for Lucien to say something smug.
“So…the gardens?” he asked, sounding surprisingly shy.
Arianne stood, blinking when the room veered for a brief moment.
Lucien was at her side faster than she thought possible. He reached for her elbow but paused instead of touching her. “Are you all right? Do we need to call Duval back?”
“I’m fine, and the gardens sound lovely,” Ariane said.
Lucien offered her his arm and a smile that made his blue eyes glow.
Ariane hesitated one moment before she tucked her arm into his and let him lead the way out of the room. What am I doing? He’s a prince. I can’t just trail behind him and become his designated social companion. I’m a maid!
She started to wonder if she should find Elle and ask her what her new duties would be for the remainder of the Summit, but she was rather distracted by walking next to Lucien—human Lucien, that was.
As a frog, she toted him everywhere. There hadn’t really been any line of conduct then. But now…and even though she had seen Lucien—as his princely self—many times before, it was different to walk side-by-side with him. He was taller than she thought, and he felt very steady. He also smelled…pleasant. Like a newly cleaned room—though there was a faint undertone of cedar.
Lucien guided Ariane from the hall onto one of the many balconies with steps that led down to the massive gardens. These happened to be, unfortunately, the same stairs where Ariane had hidden and spoken with Princess Elle after she first realized she loved Lucien.
“I’m so glad you are safe,” Lucien said as he led her deeper into the gardens. “My heart nearly stopped when you fainted from the spider venom.”
“What happened to the mages?” Ariane asked.
“They’ve been secured. It’s
why we don’t have an entourage following us—though Severin still has double the amount of patrols and guards on duty as usual,” Lucien said.
“Did you find out who sent them?”
Lucien grimly shook his head. “No. They’ve been struck mute—by their own spell or some sort of curse; we cannot tell which. We do know, however, that both mages are drop-outs from the Veneno Conclave Academy. One of the mages who was here for the Summit recognized them. They never finished their schooling and dropped out of the Academy approximately a year ago.”
“They were students?” Ariane could hardly believe her ears. Veneno Conclave-trained mages went through vigorous schooling and ethics training. They were given more instruction only upon proving they were trustworthy and would uphold the Conclave’s strict moral code. Things must be worse than I thought. There have been mages who have been exiled from the Conclave, and sorcerers and the like who use dark sources of power and teach themselves…but Conclave students acting as assassins?
“It is worrisome. Severin fears the Conclave may be losing its grip on magic users. Carabosso—the mage who has been tormenting Sole—was exiled from the Conclave and supposedly had his magic cut off. Obviously—as exemplified by the curse placed on Princess Rosalinda—it didn’t work,” Lucien said.
“The Conclave is faltering.” The words tasted like ash in Ariane’s mouth. “Could that be why they aren’t sending out more help? They’re focused on this unexpected occurrence?”
“Possibly.” Lucien shrugged. “If they are, none of the mages who attended the Summit were told. I doubt the issue is very wide-spread—the pair of mages that attacked us are the first we know of. All it means is that it would be wise if we did not plan to depend upon the Conclave.”
Ariane stared up at the beautiful sunny sky, willing the fluffy white clouds and deep blue of the sky to cheer her up. I don’t know how those in positions of power bear it—learning all this bad news all the time…
Lucien cleared his throat. “I wanted to discuss us.”
Jumping chimney sweeps. Here it comes. Ariane bit her lip and pushed her shoulders back, mentally bracing herself.
“I am in love with you, just as you must be in love with me since you broke my curse. When should we get married?”
Ariane stopped walking. I must have heard that wrong. “I beg your pardon, Your Highness. What did you say?”
Lucien rolled his eyes. “You can’t return to calling me ‘Your Highness’ just because I’m human now. And I asked when we should get married. I don’t have a preference, though I imagine we might want to wait until next year, as dead-boring as that will be. Mother would likely kill me if we tried to hold it any sooner, I think.”
It took Ariane a few moments to truly understand what Lucien had said. “Wait a moment, stop, stop, stop.”
Lucien raised his brows. “What? Do you want a summer wedding instead?”
“No. I mean, it doesn’t matter—that’s not what I’m talking about!” Ariane sucked a gasp of air in and tried to think. Unfortunately, only one sentence could make it through the murk of her mind. Lucien just proposed to me—in the most arrogant, assuming way possible—but he proposed!
When Ariane finally risked glancing up at him, his mouth was set in a slight smile as he watched her with softened eyes.
“This is moving too swiftly,” Ariane said. “We’ve known each other for less than three weeks.”
“You doubt your love?”
“No,” Ariane said.
Lucien’s expression smoothed over so he looked like a statue carved from stone. “Then you doubt my love?”
“Of course not,” Ariane snapped. “Though it is a little shocking as I know you are self-serving. You would never propose marriage out of something like duty just because I broke your curse. You would be far more likely to preen over it in a mirror at night, praising your own charm and good looks.”
“I do not preen,” Lucien said.
“You absolutely do—I’ve seen it!” Ariane snorted. “It is merely that this is all very fast. Yes, I love you, Lucien. But we’ve been chained together for the duration of the Summit. I think it would be ill-advised to forge a lifelong relationship off such a short duration.”
“Time or location isn’t going to change my feelings for you, Ariane,” Lucien said. His smile was back, and the warmth in his eyes increased as he caressed her cheek with warm fingers.
Ariane nearly leaned into his warmth but instead shook her head and backed up. No! I cannot let him swindle me with his sweet looks! I must be strong! “Yes, I can believe that. You are just as mule-headed as I am. The problem is our lives. You live in the palace—which I clean.”
“You’re worried because you are a maid? Why? It won’t matter. I’m the prince—who will stop me from marrying you?”
You will, Ariane silently thought, when you realize what that means. “You are right; I am a maid. I know the best way to polish wood and clean glass. I can clean a room so it is fit for a queen, chase spiders, and know the different ways to polish silver, brass, and gold. What I cannot do is run a country.”
Lucien blinked.
He’s listening. “I barely understand Loire’s government, much less know all its laws. Putting a child on the throne will do you just as much good as it would be for me to become your queen.”
“You can learn. You’re smart, Ariane. If you attend my lessons with me, I’m sure you’ll be a fast student. Besides, my father will live for a long time yet, and we will have Severin and Elle!” Lucien’s smile was lazy this time. He again stepped closer to Ariane and tried to slide his hands around her waist.
Ariane hurriedly skittered away from his touch. If I let him lure me in with expressions of affection, I’ll never get this out—and the sly fox knows that! “But Lucien, do you really think Loire will tolerate a crown prince and princess who both have to attend lessons?” Ariane asked.
This made Lucien pause. After a moment, he shook his head. “It will be fine. Father let Severin marry Elle.”
Ariane pressed her lips together. “Severin and Elle are not a good counter-argument. The King is already concerned about you. He will not give you permission to marry a maid as long as he believes you will not be a competent ruler.”
“And Severin was already a competent military leader and a brilliant tactician before he met Elle,” Lucien said, his voice neutral.
Araine bit her lip again as she peered up at his stony face. Do I comfort him, or is it too risky? Eventually, Ariane’s soft heart drove her forward. She placed a hand on Lucien’s cheek. “You are brilliant as well, Lucien, but you so rarely show it. You cannot blame your father for perceiving something you hide deep within yourself.”
Lucien stepped into Ariane—though he refrained from touching her with his hands and instead leaned his head against hers. “You saw it.”
“Because you were within arms-reach for days,” Ariane said. “It might seem unfair, Lucien, but he is king. He must care for the entire country—just as you will one day. He must make a decision based on the information you have shared with him.”
Lucien placed his hands under her elbows and leaned back so he could look her in the eye. “Then I’ll give him new information. I’ll prove I really do know what they’ve tried forcing down my throat for years and drop my silly classes. I’ll show him I can be a competent leader, and then I’ll marry you.”
As Ariane studied Lucien, taking in the earnestness in his eyes and his happy grin, her heart squeezed in her chest. The mere fact that he’s made such a suggestion really does prove how much he loves me. He’s willing to give up everything he strove to hide just to marry me. What does he see in me that drives him to this kind of brash action? Giving up his incompetent cover was not something Lucien would lightly suggest. He had spent years hiding.
Ariane struggled to swallow and not to cry—no one had ever loved her so passionately that they were willing to entirely change their lives for her. It was rather humbling to experience.
But I don’t know that he understands what it will mean. “I am very honored you say that.” She was proud her voice barely shook. “But Lucien…have you really counted what that will cost you?”
Lucien tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“It means you will have to rule. You will have to put yourself out and show that you are listening. The days when people expect less from you will be gone. You’ll be looked to for large-scale decisions. You won’t be able to write anyone off anymore by declaring you are bored or say you want wine—which I know is a distraction and a ploy you have managed to use against even Elle,” Ariane said.
Lucien slid his hands down her arms so he could intertwine his fingers with hers. “You’ll be worth it, Ariane. I love you. I don’t want to live without you.”
“But will you hate me when one day you become King, and the country will expect you to stand on your own?” Ariane asked.
She didn’t want to point this out to Lucien. She didn’t want to try and convince him not to marry her—even if he had been arrogant when declaring their mutual feelings. What she wanted to do was squeal yes and laugh and cry and kiss him.
But if there came a day when Lucien did hate me…it would break my heart. I don’t want him to be miserable; I want him to be happy. He has so convinced himself he is lesser, I’m not sure he could stand revealing his cleverness.
Lucien sighed, though he did not drop her hands. “I see your worry, but it’s nothing. I’ll throw myself into the government with all possible enthusiasm if it means I get you in the bargain, Ariane.”
It took every ounce of Ariane’s will not to throw herself at her charming prince and hug him. This is all still too fast. He needs time to consider it. If his intentions remain the same afterwards, I will believe he has the will. But making a quick decision now risks pain for both of us in the future…But I don’t want to say no! I love him!
“What can I do to prove it to you?” Lucien asked.
