10

Javi joins your Vercher House lessons with Dominique and Beaumont. Though there's no sign of him starting another fight, and he is not overtly hostile in public, you have the sense that he's hoping to use every moment to get one over on you, whether it's giving a more expansive answer in Politics or working more efficiently in Natural Science.

That becomes even clearer during one Politics class discussing the Linwood-Philippe exiles.

"Obviously it was such a shame that the Linwood-Philippe situation happened at all," Clemence says, standing once more in front of the blackboard at the front of the class. "But I personally believe it was dealt with effectively."

The story is practically everyone's first History lesson at school, along with your own family history. A hundred years ago, Timothy Linwood rallied together a collection of revolutionaries and nearly assassinated your great-grandfather King Gian. Though Gian was injured, the aftermath went poorly for Linwood and his friends, and the ringleaders were swiftly exiled to a southern island; spies rooted out their followers, and anyone suspected as such, and scattered them across Westerlin to perform hard labor.

Nothing so outrageous has happened in your lifetime, of course. But the accounts and memories remain, and Westerlind aristocrats have remained nervous about troublemakers over the centuries.

Clemence nods thoughtfully. "Some have said it was an extreme response," they say, "but King Gian had been terribly wounded. It would have been dreadful if something worse had happened to him."

Javi's face is the picture of horror. "So you'd justify King Gian throwing people away because they might have been following Linwood?" he says. "That's terrible!"

Clemence pauses a moment, glancing at the clock. Perhaps they're calculating whether they can afford their lesson to be drawn out for hours on the topic of the ethics of exile. In the end, they spread their hands and say, "I'd love to have your thoughts on this, Prince Javi, in this week's prep work. Now, about Philippe's part in discovering the dissidents…"

That particular discussion aside, you generally deal with Javi in class by:

You figure that it's easy enough to rile Javi up, and you innocently mention certain things—such as Prince Rosario's marriage—to distract him from focusing on lessons. But during a Politics debate, Clemence steps in.

"I don't think that's relevant," they say, mildly but firmly.

You are docked several points. In the end, Javi wins the discussion.

Javi aside, most of the younger students are star-struck whenever you appear, and it's never more in evidence than after breakfast. This morning, you and Asher are making your way out of the hall when Asher nudges you.

"There, you're being tailed," they say quietly.

You turn to see an eager cluster of students scurrying behind you. They're always different, but their keen demeanor makes them interchangeable. The bravest, a short girl, steps forward. "May we carry your bags, Your Highness?"

"I'd love for you to take my bags. I wonder if you'd be so kind as to bring my refreshments next time we have prep?" you say. "I do get peckish at that time of day."

"Oh," she says, looking lost. "Yes! Of course! If the teachers let us!"

With a low curtsey, she and the others trail you and Asher all the way to Vercher House in silence. At the door, she hands you your bag and curtseys again, and they all scurry away.

"They're sweet," says Asher as you head into the hallway.

As is their habit, Asher walks a few paces in front of you, eyeing the space ahead and around. For their part, they haven't mentioned anything about your intimate conversation, and have avoided talk of anything personal. They are at your side between lessons or during recreation time, but deal with other business while you're learning. What exactly they get up to in those times, you do not know.

It's straightforward to issue crisp commands to Asher when needed, and allow your eye to skim over them when they're at rest. Asher's excellent at fading into the background if they want to, and you've had the impression that they relish the challenge when you're both under such constant scrutiny.

In the common room, Dominique is sitting at the card table, sorting through a tall pile of letters. He looks up and smiles as you enter. "Oh!" he says. "You've got a letter. Here."

You settle in the reading nook while Dominique leafs through more letters; Asher stands silently against the wall. The thick envelope is embossed with the royal crest, and sealed with your mother's seal.

Her letter begins with the usual warm greetings, and she writes that:

It's strange in the palace with only Oliver," she writes. "This wasn't how we planned it before, was it? I didn't think about how it would feel with you gone."

Strange, too, to read such a personal letter from her. When you've been away on holiday in the past without your mother, her letters have tended to be cheerfully factual, detailing silly encounters or sending a small gift. She writes that the papers have been intrigued about your schooling, and that she's kept them at bay with puff pieces about your childhood.

"King Mateo telephoned me the other day," she writes, and your heart sinks. King Mateo is one of Javi's parents, and the monarch of Zaledo. You read on: "I didn't realize Prince Javi was attending Archambault too—what a coincidence, and such nice news! I always thought you and he would make a lovely match."

You let out a laugh, and both Asher and Dominique startle.

"Are you…all right?" Dominique says, but he doesn't let you finish. Instead he rushes on, "Is it about Javi? One of my parents said you're practically engaged."

You recall Dominique's parents as the life of any party, surrounded by eager hangers-on. Dominique has definitely inherited their penchant for gossip.

"What?" Asher says softly.

Dominique laughs behind his hand, eyes alight. "I can picture it now. Hibiscus flowers in your hair, the lights…."

The Door Opens