“What is she up to?” She squinted her eyes at the house’s direction, where they had just entered.
“Who? Louise?” He again had a funny undertone to his words, “I must remind you we only have 10 minutes, Miss. Is that what you really want to spend your precious time on?”
“No! No… I apologize. Let me gather my thoughts for a quick moment,” she closed her eyes, massaging her temples.
What was it that she wanted to know the most? What would be the best way to ask for the right amount of information?
“If you would allow me some advice, just speak away, Gabriel,” he sounded exasperated now, “I give you my word I won’t hold your words against you since… Well, since this conversation isn’t really happening to begin with.”
The quick silence was filled with the noises of – funnily enough – Manny’s teeth still crunching her chosen delicacies, unabashed and without shame. Somehow, that served as a calming balm to her stray thoughts.
“Very well. Why do you need my – our – cooperation? And what exactly would we be required to do?”
Gabe had the impression he straightened his back before answering.
“I need your cooperation because of a mistake of mine. You see, when I received… The Prophecy, no one knew but me and the Oracle, and I realize now that I should have kept it that way. Unfortunately, now, the information is out and the decision of whom to marry and how this must be done is once again out of my hands.”
Many other questions branched off at that.
“Who?” She set at last.
“My Mother. The Council. My Father, if he has the heart to it.”
“Why would they work against your wishes?”
“Because they have theirs to fulfil. They will use whatever they can to weaken me so I will be deprived of any choice at all. Just like… Well, just like what happened to many of my predecessors.”
“And how could we be of use in such a dire situation?”
“By being by my side, instead of theirs. Working in my – or our conjoint – benefit first. In return, I will do my best to accommodate all of your and your sister’s needs, regardless of who I end up settling with. Have you ever heard of a ‘Political marriage’, Miss Gabe?”
“Yes, Your Highness. A marriage without love, based on mutual agreement,” Gabe restrained from saying that she knew it was much more an agreement between the two families behind the parties involved than the people themselves.
He nodded.
“We might as well settle on that if things come to it. I can’t promise that… You will be the one the other powers will agree on, but even if I am to wed one of your sisters, I won’t force my will on them. Everything, including marital affairs, can be decided by agreement.”
Gabe quieted down at that. His help would be more than what she had ever expected when coming into this ordeal, though, by his words, he was far less powerful than what she had initially imagined. Even so, this deal would no doubt improve their current situation.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
One last question remained simmering in her mind.
“How can I believe you are telling the truth? And, if you are, how can I be sure you will keep your word?”
He almost gave her another exasperated smile, but stopped when he spotted her absolutely serious expression.
“It is plain to see you don’t quite understand the…” he shook his head, before pausing for a small, but definite moment.
What was it? Gabe searched deep into his face, noticing the doubt in his eyes and the frown on his thin lips. What was it that he was hiding? Why was he hesitating?
“In order to preserve what remains of our short time, I will refrain from expanding on what is commonly known as “A Fae’s Pledge”. Louise will no doubt ask you sisters on another playdate later, so you must seek her explanation when the time comes.”
His eyes left her direction as if he was questioning his own decision, before finally returning.
“That being said, I, under my birth name, Pledge that As long as you, Gabriel Thatcher, and your family, agree on cooperating on our mutual behalf, I will do no harm to you and your sisters. You and your people, too, shall do nothing that could harm me in return.”
Gabe felt the power in his voice. It was something quiet, hidden, like a breeze that travelled through a place somewhere else and hit her in her neck, making all her hair stand up by the suddenly chilly air. The closest to them, Manny, paused her activities too and looked over, wary. Her eyes searched for Gabe’s but she wasted no time.
“No,” he was stunned, anger starting to rise before she lifted a hand, quick to explain, “I can’t promise things for my whole family, your highness. I would put my hands in the fire for Alani, but the rest… Many times they are too young to fully discern when they are doing good or bad. I won’t even mention my parents, as you can see it for yourself.”
They both stared at his Father on a neighbor table, as boisterous as he could be, and her Mother close as a nail to him.
“I can give my word, however, that I will try my best to lead them straight and, as a collateral… Inform you, as soon as I am able to, of their mishaps.”
The Prince knocked on the table with his finger, considering it deeply. At last, he changed his words to accommodate her requests.
“I agree,” Gabe's voice trembled and it was done.
The maiden would have to write extensively about this later, she thought as she mindlessly held Manny’s hand in the reassurance that everything was alright.
“See? It wasn’t that hard to trust me after all,” he joked, and if she wasn’t feeling suddenly weak out of her wits, she would have spared him another glare, “I fear we have a couple more minutes left. Is there something else you’d wish to discuss?”
Oh, to have just ‘something else’ would be an understatement as huge as describing Lady Elliot as a mere “troublemaker”. Everything else would be more likely, though some questions burned more than others.
“The staff in our house answer to Her Majesty the Queen, am I correct?”
He appeared surprised, before sighing away his reaction.
“You have already found out. Of course,” his eyes were burning with curiosity again, “yes, you are correct. I believe you already know what that means.”
Gabe nodded. They were being monitored at all times. And with her newly founded allegiance to the Prince, that could harm both of them.
“You wish for my help to dispose of them,” he stated rather than questioned.
For the first time in the meeting, she allowed herself to be completely and freely truthful to him.
“I don’t know enough of the situation to make an educated move just yet. Instead, I would appreciate having at least one of your people inside while I plan my next move.”
“An acceptable request. I will see what I can do.”
Gabe took a deep breath, gazing at the house that her sisters were probably about to leave. She dealt with the future, so she might as well deal with the present.
“And what is it that Lady Elliot is up to?”
The Prince gave a very tired sigh at that.
“You and the whole kingdom ought to know, Miss Gabe,” he shook her head, “I have been wondering the same question ever since she was old enough to make her own decisions. We can only wait for whatever show she has in store.”
And like they had conjured her, Lady Elliot reappeared.