Everyone shook their heads.
“No,” Perian agreed. “I pushed the chairs together after Renny had already sat down in one. And then Chamis carried her around. We wouldn’t risk her health!”
Cormal was looking at him like that was exactly what he’d done. The doctor looked supportive, Brannal looked like he was still trying not to laugh at Perian, and the Queen had the best impassive expression that Perian had ever seen.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of waiting to see if they were all going to be banished to the dungeon, the Queen spoke.
“I am glad to see that my daughter is able to experience some light-hearted moments. I would not, however, desire that these light-hearted moments interfere with anyone’s duties. Is that clear?”
They all murmured a “Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Queen smiled at Renny. “I’m glad to see that you’re still feeling well.”
“So well, Mother. I promise! It’s so much better with Perian here!”
Perian flushed as all attention shifted to him.
“It’s a lot of fun spending time with you, too,” he assured Renny.
The Queen gave him a fierce eyeball. “I still have a cell in the dungeon that could have your name on it.”
Perian nodded, pretty sure that was her way of saying that she forgave him for being a bit of an idiot. “If anything happened to Renny, I would lockmyselfin there.”
She gave a firm nod. “Doctor, if you would complete your examination. Let me know if there is anything untoward. Gentlemen, with me.”
And then, even though Cormal had his mouth open like he wanted to say something, he snapped it closed and followed after the Queen instead.
There was a moment of very pregnant silence, and then Renny burst into giggles.
“Oh, your faces. I know it’s not that funny because she’s notyourmother, butyour faces.”
Yeah, they probably had looked as though they’d been caught climbing on the furniture by the Queen of their country.
“I’m really sorry about that,” Perian told them all. “But thank you so much for joining in.”
Renny’s smile was huge, not full of humor anymore, but affection. “Oh, yes, it was so wonderful! Thank you so much for playing with me!”
Because Renny was a little girl who didn’t get to play with other children, and this might well have been the most play that she’d had since she was six.
Chamis smiled at her. He was still red-faced and red-eared, but his expression was soft. “I’m very happy to have helped, Princess. I do apologize if I took any liberties.”
Renny waved this aside as though it didn’t matter, because of course, it didn’t, to her. Perian was pretty sure that for those long minutes this afternoon, they’d let themselves forget that she was a princess and had just seen her as a little girl.
“I will do my very best not to ever get you yelled at by the Queen again,” Perian assured him.
Chamis looked at him with a thread of amusement. “But you’re expecting to get yelled at again?”
Perian shrugged. “To be honest, it seems entirely likely.”
They grinned at one another, and Perian was pretty sure that he’d just made more friends today.
It was, probably unsurprisingly, the main topic of conversation at dinner.
Molun and Bennan were both outraged to have missed it. Chamis had already quietly told Bennan that he could have had his position, though he was happy to have helped out the Princess. Bennan squeezed his hand and leaned into his side.
“How could you do all that without me!” Molun wanted to know.
“You helped,” Periantold him.
