Lord Dazuz waited just outside of the palace for her; Rene expected some kind of comment as a result, but instead he just frowned at her in silent disapproval. He didn’t offer his umbrella, giving her a disdainful look—one that seemed to imply that he forgot she only had a jacket.
“Hurry up,” he said. “You still need to get your things.”
Rene nodded, walking a few steps behind him as he started going back to the mansion. She decided not to question him until or so long as he didn’t question her—the entire walk, she half-anticipated to hear some kind of comment on why she was in the palace of all places. She knew the simple joy from playing with Adelinde and Matteo still gave her a kind of smile she wouldn’t don for any other reason.
He didn’t even ramble on about ‘the cause’ or ‘heritage’ or being ‘special’ when they got to the mansion, simply repeating his earlier comment and letting her go to her room without saying anything else.
She had a majority of her things laid out already; she only had four or five complete outfits that she mixed and matched to make it seem like a bit more, with the addition of loaned clothes from Elina having been put inside her room with a long list of what she couldn’t do in them and how soon Elina expected them to be back. All she needed to do from there was put them in a bag.
When she had everything packed, she hesitated near the photo wall. She should probably take down the picture of her, Adelinde, and Matteo—or at least the sakura necklace so someone didn’t decide to take it. She didn’t have locks like Adelinde did; she couldn’t keep people out.
Rene reached for one, then decided against it. At most, Elina might glance inside her room to see if Rene happened to leave the borrowed clothes behind—she trusted her adopted family and the mansion staff just enough not to rummage around beyond that. As long as she had a good enough excuse—whether or not it was believed—she shouldn’t be questioned too much. So the photo and necklace couldn’t be taken, however, she waited an extra few minutes to bind them to the wall; until she came back, no one else could remove them.
She’d rather get lectured for them being there than pretend they didn’t exist—and if they were there, they ought to proudly stay there. A mundane use for the power she had, sure, but she didn’t want to have to track them down again if someone stole them. She’d be back before any side effects kicked in, so it wouldn’t hurt.
With that decided, she left her room and joined Lord Dazuz downstairs again, who had one of the staff carry his things out. He offered her a spare umbrella, then led the way to the train station.
…
The train started at around sunset and continued on into the next morning; most of her waking time was spent staring out the window. As it got closer to the desired location, Rene grew to recognize the scenery remarkably well given the fact she hadn’t been this way more than once. She cast a curious glance at Lord Dazuz.
“You didn’t say the guy was in Eyset,” she noted.
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“I was starting to wonder when you would notice,” he replied, leaning back in his seat. “But you shouldn’t be surprised—it’s the largest northern port. It’s been cleaned up since you left.”
Shopping for something to bring back to Matteo and Adelinde would be easier, at least. Rene would still be able to get around as long as the layout stayed the same.
Lord Dazuz frowned; considering the look, her expression might have shifted to something he knew wouldn’t come from first island and recreation business.
“You’re staying where I can see you,” he said firmly. “We’re meeting with him and immediately leaving with the next train.”
“I promised a gift for someone,” Rene explained.
His frown just deepened. “For the queen, you mean?”
“For the prince,” she corrected him, carrying on with a simpler tone she used for most of her half-truths. “Getting his favor is the easiest way to gain Adelinde’s trust.”
He just looked skeptical, at first, then sighed.
“Did you forget what I initially told you?”
“I didn’t.” She’d be better off if she could, honestly. Then she wouldn’t have any reason to hesitate or doubt.
“Why bother with the woman, then?” he asked. “She’ll be an inconvenience at best, an absolute menace at worst. Trying to convince the regent to aid us might be more useful, seeing as how she hasn’t been actively ruling in three years, closer to four at this point.”
“I can reason it out with her.” Although, if she ever did, it likely wouldn’t be painting ‘the effort’ in a positive light.
“I doubt that. Aurik said the same—not long later he tried to kill her just so he didn’t have to deal with the consequences of being in a relationship.”
“Aurik tried to manage both at once,” Rene argued. She slowly lost her even tone as she continued, but thought of the words enough that it could still be interpreted either way. Whether or not Lord Dazuz saw through it despite her effort, she couldn’t tell. “He wanted to create a nation and have Adelinde with him—he couldn’t chose, and in the end he lost both. I know what I want, though—which one I’ll choose when I need to make that decision. I’m not dumb enough to try to balance both.”
His response was delayed by someone knocking on the compartment door.
“The train will be stopping in another hour,” a woman said. “However, if you would like to get something to eat, breakfast is being served in the dining car and will be provided free of charge.”
“Thank you,” Lord Dazuz called back with some kind of forced kindness.
“Of course, sir. I hope your travels go smoothly.”
Some fading footsteps and the same pleasantries being exchanged in the next room meant she moved on. Lord Dazuz stood up and opened the door, glancing back at her before he opened it.
“For the queen’s sake, if not yours,” he said coldly, “I hope what you ‘want’ aligns with the right thing. Let this visit to Eyset remind you of what should be considered ‘right.’”
“I already know,” Rene replied, giving him a smile of sorts. “And I’m fully confident in that belief.”
He opened the door and frowned at her. “Don’t disappoint me. We’ll be at this for another two decades if I lose you.”
He offered very little time for her to respond—not that she would have, at that point—before he left, closing the door again behind him. Rene waited a minute or two before following after him.
Whether or not he agreed, she wouldn’t go to a new nation just to leave something else behind. Being back in her hometown did remind her of that.