Forgiveness and Promise

FERDINARD

"This is quite...impressive. I hadn't imagined he would be this eloquent."

The letter from Lord Silver first arrived at my table before reaching my father's. His excuse was almost flawless and it was enough to buy him time before my father and brother left for the pantheon. But...why didn't he want to meet my father?

I haven't met anyone who was this unwilling to meet my father, well, except Winifred. He was proudly a heathen and could stand his ground against Bishop Matthew. He was the type of man my father would've loved talking to as his intellect surpassed his age. Or...did it?

Deep in my thoughts, I didn't notice the door of my office was open until I heard the intruder clear their throat. I looked up and was surprised to see Circe. I was doubting I would ever see her again.

"Do I have to authorize your letter of transfer? If you're going to leave me, let's do this quickly so I can go back to my room and cry."

"Why would you cry? You are a grown man, your highness."

"I know. Anyone would cry if their dearest friend was leaving them."

"When did I say I was leaving you? I came to deliver this letter from her majesty."

"So you're not leaving me? Really?"

"I swore an oath. I'm not stupid enough to ignore such a powerful thing...unlike someone I know."

"Circe, you know I would never willingly endanger you. I knew you were going to be safe, safer than the rest of us in fact."

"Did you really, your highness?"

I felt like my words weren't convincing enough. I got up and moved closer, taking her hand in mine. Her face was as impassive as ever but I could tell she was annoyed with the brief contact. I didn't let go.

"If anything had happened to you, or any of you, I would've gone ahead to fight a god. I pledged my life to you the same way you pledged yours to mine."

"Our lives aren't worth as much as a prince's, it seems."

"Circe, please do not think like that. Your life is worth more to me than anything else in this world. If you leave me, I'll..."

"Enough! This is beginning to sound like a love confession and it is making me very uncomfortable. Please let go, your highness."

"Right!" I dropped her hand like it was heated coal and left a safe distance. She glared at me and held her wrist.

"Her majesty would love it if you responded...quickly."

It was most likely another proposal from my mother. Whenever she could catch Circe, she would give her the letters to give to me so I would be forced to read them. It was burdensome for Circe, especially since she was the one who had to give them to me and return them to my mother.

My usual way of response was to slightly burn the edge of the proposal and send them back so it would be over and done with. I took out my lighter and switched it on.

"You aren't going to check this one?"

"Is there any particular reason I should?"

"I just thought you'd be surprised, that is all."

Although it was tempting, the best thing to do was burn the edge and send it back. I would have to talk to my mother to stop sending me the proposals. She didn't think I was capable of taking the throne. What was the point of sending me endless burdensome proposals?

I handed the proposal back to Circe and went back to my table. When I looked back up, she was still there, this time with the letter open. Her eyes were wide with shock and her mouth wide open.

"This...isn't a proposal, your highness. This is..."

NATHAN

"Why are you so pouty? Isn't this what you wanted?"

"You have proved to me again, that you can't always get what you want. Unfortunately for you, I can't live like this. I won't accept it."

"Oh, right. I forgot you could vaguely see now. This dress is lovely for the pantheon. The goddesses would be jealous of your beauty."

"When has that ever turned out well for a mortal?"

I chuckled because she was right. It was a pity she was rejecting the dress. It would take too much time to make another one as fortified as this one. I won't deny that I had some ulterior intentions when making the dress that color especially since I knew how stubborn she could be.

"It would really be hard to fortify another dress..."

"Fine, I'll wear it. But, I'll only do that on one condition."

"I'm not wearing a dress. I'll be wearing a toga. Is that good enough for you?"

"You will be showing off your bare chest. I hope one of the jealous gods strike you down," she says spitefully. She is the most adorable when she is spiteful. It is also a good thing she isn't capable of reading minds.

Her control over the shadow monster was really intriguing to see. Since it was almost blind, its eyes were of no importance but it was a really important tool in her arsenal. She no longer needed anyone around her to protect her.

"Nathan?"

"Yes, Winifred?"

"I need you to promise me something."

"If this is a promise, this must mean you are scared of something, right?"

Her deadpan stare was also adorable. It was a real shame I couldn't pinch her lovely, fluffy looking cheeks.

"I need you to promise me that no matter the situation, you will not leave me for your lover."

"Why would I ever leave you for someone who willingly betrayed me? You have so little faith in me, Winifred."

"I just need you to promise me this. Your lover is not the reason we're going. We just need your body and we leave. Is that clear?"

"Alright. I'll promise you this, Winifred. You will be my first priority. Did I do it right?"

"We'll just have to wait and see."