Alexious stood outside the library doors. He told Lucina he would schedule a meeting with his father yesterday, but in fact, he only knew of a suitable time to interrupt him. He smoothed over his jacket and did a couple of passes through his hair with his fingers, tucking any stray hairs behind his ears. He already triple-checked his appearance before making the trek over, but any flaw would give his case demerits before he even spoke. Despite his nerves, somehow he managed to keep his tone casual upon entering. “Father, if I may have some time.”

The King of Oranhail shut the large tome he read with a resounding thud. He removed his thin silver reading glasses and set them on top of the book. His thick blond brows, peppered with gray hairs, furrowed as their gazes met. It was both a simple movement and a statement: I have been interrupted and it better be for good reason.

“It regards the Xete survivor,” Alexious stated, struggling to keep his voice steady. Knowing he had one chance to convince Father made it difficult to breathe. Yes, he personally wanted to keep her by his side but a royal member had to be impartial. Personal feelings could never govern decisions over reason. That mantra was beaten into his head both figuratively and literally since the day he could speak.

First, he would appeal to her deeds. “Despite her age, she survived the journey from Xete alone.”

“Indeed.”

He handed him a piece of paper. “These are her stats, confirmed by Father Noask.”

King Yuri could not hide the widening of his eyes upon viewing the paper. Yet, he masked his surprise a heartbeat later and tossed the paper aside as though it were trash. “As I recall, she had high starting stats.” His mouth remained a straight line.

“It would be a shame not to develop an obvious innate talent.”

“What do you have in mind?” Father’s gaze had such an intense stare that it may have well been an invisible fire spell the way it sent shivers of heat through every pore.

Alexious fought the urge to shift his weight and straightened his spine. “Allow her to become one of my retainers and grant passage to Sovalian Academy when she comes of age.”

“A retainer, you say? Is that befitting of her title?”

“She is of a noble house.”

“A dead noble house,” Father corrected. “Xete is no more and there is no strategic benefit to keeping her here. Her title has been stripped and she is now Aer. Once we regain Xete, I will hand over the land to a noble of my choosing.”

Aer. The name of their world, the surname given to those who had no lineage. "Is Xete not her birthright to own?"

“I know it may be hard for you to understand, child, but for every position close to you, there must always be a benefit for the crown as its cost. She cannot pay that price. Not anymore.”

His tone had the severity of finality.

"I understand, however--"

"Would you give a child a fiefdom to manage?"

He could say nothing in response; should such a responsibility fall to his shoulders, he would have no clue what to do.

"Who shall be her guardian? And what influence do you think such a person would have upon her?"

Alexious clenched his fist. He understood the situation from a royal point of view but accepting it was a different beast. When he had learned of the Porian invasion, the meticulously bottled emotions inside him exploded. He destroyed a centuries-old vase by throwing it against the wall in a fit of rage. Ricardo had punished him severely for that, but the anger still simmered underneath his façade. He had to be alone for the entire afternoon in order to sort his emotions and develop a plan for her rescue. He told himself it was payment for the crabeas incident. It would be the right thing to do. Father didn’t believe her story, of course. Neither did Teo, but he claimed to send a scout out of respect for his little brother’s first crush. The reason didn’t matter so much as the scout confirming her story true.

Despite her soiled and ratty armor, her skin caked in dirt and blood, her hair matted and wild, she still had a dignity to her that anyone else in her position would lack. In fact, that dirtiness only served to emphasize those clear turquoise eyes that seemed to cut everything to its marrow. The moment he saw her in that dungeon, even before she mourned the death of her people, he knew she told the truth.

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Which is why he knew he couldn’t ever let her go. She would succeed no matter where she turned up, that much was certain, but he wanted her expertise to be served at his side. She already displayed a finesse for battle and as the second son, he was expected to command the army to protect Crown Prince Teo. A perfect pairing. Even if would not be through marriage and only professional duty.

Was this the curse of being a prince? Thrown into a politically suitable match, by chance not hating the arrangement, only to have it dissolved in a heartbeat because the political advantage vanished?

Negotiations were not won in a single round. He had to persist. “Even so, you have seen her stats. I insist the benefits to keeping her are worth more than discarding her.”

“Should her words ring true and Poran advances upon us, we can find a use for her.”

The last line signaled the argument started to sway to his favor. Now to attack assumptions. “You already believe her story, do you not?”

Father’s eyes narrowed.

He pressed on, “If you imagined that she lied, why declare her Aer?”

“You understand how improbable it is that she made the trek alone. If she tells the truth and Xete is gone, she is Aer. If she does not, she has lied to her king and committed treason. She will not die a noble’s death in either scenario.”

Is dying a noble's death really such an honor? Noble or not, we're all food for worms in the end. Alexious ground his teeth. The advantage he thought he had grasped slipped away between his fingers like sand. The harder he clenched his fist the more granules slipped away.

“Teo tells me you are fond of the former Maelle girl.”

Despite the storm of frustration inside his core, he kept his voice steady and tone detached of vulnerability. “Teo speaks many things. What other lies has he told?” Even if the battle was lost, he had no intention of backing down and letting his emotions show. That’s what Father wanted him to do. That’s why he goaded him using his brother’s name and dehumanizing Lucina in the same sentence. A simple mention of a crush would not be enough to provoke something out of him. Not when her life was at stake.

Father crossed his arms. “After visiting Xete, the reports from Ricardo showed exponential growth in all subjects. What other reason could it be?”

“Shame. What sort of prince allows a duchess to protect him in lieu of protecting himself?”

He chuckled. “Shame would have created a different monster inside your heart.”

The sound of father chuckling was foreign to his ears. Ice-cold tendrils of fear went down his spine. This wasn’t just a losing battle of wits.

Father patted his knee. “Come.”

His stomach churned. What is this?

“You dare disobey your King Father?”

Duty became the impetus for movement even as the world spun around him.

Father’s weathered hands grasped his shoulders and squeezed. “You are both a young man and a boy. Your words have a natural finesse and gravity to them that is beyond your years.”

Compliments? Affection? His heartbeat became erratic. Somehow, he managed to spit out a simple, “Thank you, King Father.”

“We must guard our every human desire to maintain a neutral position, yet most children are impulsive and governed by greed. That is normal for any child. Your brother was that way. You, however, seem to already understand this world and its rules.”

Were those compliments or insults? The one thing he heard the loudest was you are not like your brother. A fact he understood far too well. Teo had the looks, the brains, the charisma, the admiration of all the palace. He was a weird boy, only complimented because he didn’t cry or act like a baby. But he wasn’t loved as much as Teo. Not even close.

“You have argued the point well enough. It would be a shame to let the girl’s natural talents be wasted. If she has not committed treason, perhaps General Percival de Villiers would be interested in her. As I recall, he lost a child to the Ashen Scales several years ago.”

Alexious sucked in a breath. “You mean--”

“He may be interested in an orphan with militaristic talent to replace his dead child.”

His chest tightened. The mask of emotions slipped off and crashed. He gushed, “King Father, I thank--”

“I also have a request.”

If those words were a punch, he would be knocked out. Why did he allow himself to think for even a second that this transaction would be anything charitable?

“Your golden tongue is better suited for politics than military. I have not decided whether it is a blessing or curse from the Mother of Us All, but just as you would hate to see Lucina’s aptitude for battle wasted, I would also hate to see your skills wasted. In addition to military pursuits, I request you study politics and cultures in the same preparation as Teo.”

“You mean...” His throat became dry and his heart pounded to the point it felt like his ribcage strangled it. Teo was first in line, the one who was always going to be the next king. But to request that, could it possibly--

“I believe you capable.”

Icy tendrils of dread wrapped around Alexious’ neck. Father never, ever, ever gave encouragement. He always seemed stern and distant, someone who concerned himself with the responsibility of his people over his personal desires, a model of what a royal should be, but this cast a new perspective upon him. Was it truly an expression of his duty to take care of their country and people?

The doubt, once formed, proved invasive, casting a light onto the shadows that lurked behind the shining icon of King Father. Not even his own children were spared from being declared pawns.

One thing rang clear. Father would have always requested this. Bartering the fate of Lucina meant he at least received something in exchange.

Very well. He’ll play his part for now and discover the extent of his role. “I will.”

The door opened and Teo came inside. His gaze bounced between the two of them. He raised his brows slightly before flashing a broad smile. “Our little scout has found an army.”