Martin sat down in his chair, straightening his High Elder robes, not meeting anyone’s gaze. He had done it. The pieces were in place, even if he did leap off the work Navir did in the trial. Navir took longer to walk in, still livid as he sat down. Nathaniel started to smile.
Navir situated himself back in his chair, glaring at Indenuel. “It will be as Martin said. He has forgiven Inessa, therefore the sin she and Indenuel committed is as though it never happened.” Navir’s words were tight, but clearly enunciated. Dalius wrote it down. “As Indenuel is still marked, he must remain in the dungeon until the mark is cleared from his chest, but Inessa has-” he closed his eyes, his nostrils flaring. “Has the rights of the betrothed. She may visit him once a day. You are allowed to hold hands, hug, and kiss, but no other touching is allowed. Once the mark is off his chest, he may be reinstated into society. He may wed Inessa, and Matteo, Isla, and Emilia may visit him again.” Navir stood up, the anger still clear on his face. “I shall have the guard come back and unlock Inessa’s chains. They are no longer required on her.” He started to leave, but Martin stood.
“Navir,” he prompted.
He glared at Martin, with a hatred so pure it could have only been formed in Hell itself. “Tolomon will not be reassigned,” he said, barely loud enough for Dalius to hear, but it was enough that Tolomon’s entire frame relaxed.
Navir turned on his heel and moved to the door. He opened it, slamming it a lot harder than necessary. Fadrique stood, glaring darkly at Inessa before following Navir out the door, pushing past the guard as he did so. Dalius was still finishing up notes before he placed the book on Cristoval’s lap and pushed him out. Nathaniel strode over to Martin before hugging him tightly. Martin hugged him back, relaxing. It was finished.
“Thank you,” Nathaniel said.
Martin patted his back. “You were incredibly brave, son.”
“Why didn’t you tell me your plan?” Nathaniel asked.
Martin smiled as he broke away. “Because Navir is right. You are a horrible liar. It was better this way. I’m sorry for the pain or terror I might have caused.”
The guard unlocked Inessa’s chains and took them away. She stood up, running to Indenuel and hugging him tightly. He was still chained but placed his cheek on the top of her head, closing his eyes.
“It never happened. We’re going to be alright,” Inessa said.
Indenuel nodded before kissing her, and she kissed him back.
“Mother will be thrilled,” Nathaniel said.
“Yes, she will. And Inessa will actually be with someone she loves.” And not only will I never sleep with her again, but no one will ever find out she is my daughter. It was that realization alone that made it feel like a huge weight had been taken off his shoulders. It was another sin he could quietly log away and pretend didn’t exist.
“My family…” Tolomon whispered. “They’re…”
“I swear to you, Tolomon, Navir will never threaten them again,” Martin said.
Tolomon leaned against his crutch, overcome. “What could you have possibly said to that man to change his mind?”
“It is between Navir and I,” Martin said.
Tolomon looked up, the smallest frown on his face. “Sir, did you…”
“No physical harm will come to him,” Martin said.
Tolomon nodded, the answer enough for him. Martin approached Indenuel and Inessa. Inessa broke away, tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Martin.” She reached to touch him, but hesitated, trying to reach around him to touch his elbow as that was the proper etiquette. Martin smiled, taking her elbow as she took his. “Thank you,” she said again.
“I wish you both all the happiness you deserve,” Martin said, using his other hand to pat Indenuel on the back. The boy still looked confused, almost like he couldn’t trust this was happening. “Get the mark off your chest, my boy. However way you wish to do it. I don’t care when, I don’t care how, just get it off.”
Indenuel nodded, looking down at Inessa. She was beaming, touching his face. “You’ll be fine. I’ll visit every day. The mark will come off, I know it.”
“You are betrothed, but not yet wed. High Elder Navir is not one to easily forgive. He will remember this, and I am afraid I’ve angered him enough that he will actively seek retribution. Please, do your best to keep the law. Do not sleep with her again until after you are wed.”
Indenuel nodded. “It won’t happen again.” He hesitated before his mouth opened. “Thank you.” It was the quietest one he’d ever heard, but he would take it.
“You are welcome. And I trust you both. We will have the wedding just as soon as the mark is gone. Nothing Navir said will move forward. Of that you have my word.”
Tolomon nodded. “Thank you, sir.” Nathaniel patted his back.
“Can you be both bodyguard and chaperon?” Martin asked.
Tolomon paused, then rubbed his forehead, looking like he was in physical pain. “Yeah, alright.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Do you have an issue with the assignment?” Martin asked, surprised.
“No, no issue. I just… have you ever chaperoned a betrothed couple?”
“Come on, it’s not that bad,” Nathaniel said. Tolomon gave him a knowing look. He then took Indenuel’s elbow and pointed him in Inessa’s direction. He saw her, then took a step forward. Inessa giggled, reached forward and kissed him again as Tolomon continued to give Nathaniel the look. The longer Inessa and Indenuel kissed, the more Tolomon died inside.
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “Alright, but not everyone was this bad.”
“You and Rosa were absolutely this bad,” Tolomon said, grabbing Indenuel and Inessa’s elbows before pulling them apart.
“No, not around you. It was one of our rules. We did nothing around you,” Nathaniel said.
“You certainly tried, yes, but being betrothed messes with your brain. That’s all there is to it.” Tolomon hardly let go of their elbows before Inessa was hugging Indenuel again. Indenuel placed his cheek against her hair, grinning. Tolomon sighed quietly, resigning himself to his fate, but there was still the smallest hint of a smile on his face.
***
Inessa hummed to herself as she rode in the carriage back to Martin’s house. She didn’t know what to do there, but she was so happy she didn’t care. Martin had done it. Managed to do what she was so certain would never happen. A man in power had listened to her and gave her everything she wanted. Indenuel was hers.
She walked out of the carriage to see Adosina running up to her and giving her a tight hug. Inessa smiled as she hugged her back. “There are too many lines of tree gossip to sort through!” Adosina said, placing a hand on her shoulder and leading her toward the front of the door.
“Oh, are the trees not blocked anymore?” Inessa asked.
“It happened a couple days ago or so. Honestly, the city is abuzz. Are you alright? Did we give you enough food in the dungeon? You honestly look like you’ve lost weight.”
Inessa giggled. “You’re starting to sound like your mother.”
Adosina beamed. “Don’t change the subject! Come into the kitchens! You must tell me everything. Absolutely everything! Is it true what my father did? You are no longer his concubine? You are betrothed to Indenuel?”
“Tree gossip travels fast,” Inessa said.
“It’s been half a day already! What were you doing in the Cathedral for that long?” Adosina asked.
Inessa’s cheeks grew warm. “Saying goodbye to Indenuel, getting things sorted out at the dungeons. Making sure he was going to be fine for my visit tomorrow. Saying goodbye again.”
Adosina laughed, placing her head on Inessa’s shoulder as they made their way inside. “You are absolutely smitten. Like a child with their first love!”
The red in Inessa’s cheeks deepened in color. In a way, Indenuel had been her first love. She had been intimate with so many men, but Indenuel was the only man she wanted to stay with.
“And my father allowed all this?” Adosina asked, her voice quieter as they entered the house and curtseyed to Derio. “He is allowing you to… to be wed?”
Inessa nodded, her voice dropping too. “He is. The other High Elders wanted to punish us to the harshest degree, but not Martin. He forgave us, like it never happened.”
Adosina remained quiet, and Inessa didn’t dare intrude her thoughts. She understood the silence. With her being in the dungeons for three days, she didn’t know how much of Adosina and Martin’s relationship had been patched up. True, Adosina wasn’t wearing quite the humble, homespun dresses she had before. Tima had caught wind of Adosina’s rebellion, and instead of making fancy dresses for her, made the simple homespun dresses fancier and more affordable for the lower class and still had their practicality. Inessa had helped her concubine sisters go to Tima, and Adosina had helped the middle and lower class go to her. Her dress shop had one of the widest class diversity of anyone in the city.
It meant Adosina would wear the simple yet beautiful dresses for a while now. And she doubted it helped her relationship with Martin. But if Adosina felt jealous of Inessa being able to wed, she didn’t show it. In fact, Adosina broke the silence by giving Inessa’s arm a squeeze. “I shall have the servants make as many apple pastries tonight as you can stomach! You are betrothed! This is a time to celebrate! Now, where are you to stay while Indenuel is being healed?”
Inessa paused as she understood Adosina’s question. After everything that happened, she hadn’t thought of where she would stay. “I don’t know. I am no longer Martin’s concubine, but I cannot go back home and wait.”
“We have plenty of guest rooms in the house,” Adosina said as they entered the kitchen. “I must insist you stay.”
“Are you certain? I do not wish to intrude,” Inessa said.
“Enough! You cannot travel back and forth from your hometown to the city to visit Indenuel! You must stay with us! We would be glad to have you!” Adosina beamed at Sara. “Mother! Did you hear the exciting news!”
“News, or gossip? Everything is in such chaos I don’t know what I should believe,” Sara said, picking up a tasting spoon.
“Api has forgiven Inessa and relinquished his hold on her as his concubine!” Adosina said before gasping and looking at Inessa. “Forgive me, did you want to tell her?”
“No, no, that’s quite alright,” Inessa said, smiling. She saw it, the visible way Sara’s face relaxed and happiness entered her eyes as Adosina confirmed what she didn’t dare hope to believe was true. This knowledge had made her five years younger, and tears sprang into her eyes.
“Then is it true you are betrothed to Indenuel?” Sara asked.
Inessa smiled, tears of happiness coming to her eyes as well. This had turned out far better than she could possibly imagine. “It is.”
Sara smiled, squealing. “This is incredible news! Inessa! I am so happy for you!” Sara wrapped Inessa in a hug. A hug that finally felt like it came from a grandmother. A lot of hurt and anger had been forgiven in that hug, and just as easily as Martin handed Inessa over to Indenuel, Sara let go of all the jealousies and anger that had been left over from Inessa sleeping with Martin. Inessa stepped away, gladly, from her responsibilities, and Sara took them back, refusing to treat Inessa with the pettiness and anger that the other High Elders’ wives had.
“She will be staying with us, yes?” Adosina asked as they broke away.
“Even with Indenuel away it would be improper for her to move into his house. Of course she may stay. She may even have the same room if she so wishes,” Sara said.
“No, no,” Inessa said. “I am a guest now of your family. It would be improper to have a room so close to you and Martin. I shall choose a guest room and have the servants begin moving my things immediately.”
Sara smiled. “Thank you, Inessa.” She took her wrists, opening them to give her a better idea of what she looked like and gave a tisk. “Too skinny. Far too skinny. Did you eat anything I had my children bring you? You need to clean up. Oh, and you are no longer a concubine. You must go visit Tima and get a completely new wardrobe. We must have a party to celebrate your betrothal! We shall invite everyone of the court to celebrate this joyous occasion! I shall get this done at once!”
Inessa tucked some stray hair behind her ear. “Are you certain? I don’t want to put too much of a burden on you.”
“Nonsense! We are all far too worried about the Empress’ arrival! We must break up the worry with a party here and there! There is so much to do! You two need to go shopping!” Sara said.
“Actually,” Inessa said, looking down. “I think I’d like to have a bath right now.”