There’s also the fact he never attempts to include me in conversations. Being the Crown Heir, this is something I’ve never encountered. That’s part of what’s so odd about him coming to escort me to the dining hall, he’s not once come to seek me out since I’ve arrived. By no means am I complaining, I’m actually quite grateful. It’s just so unusual; I can’t help but think Silas had ulterior motives. I just have to wait and find out what they are.
I’m only half paying attention to the conversations around me. Some soldiers are talking about techniques they recently learned for keeping their swords sharper. Their vulgar language is quite offensive. While Silas is discussing how training went today with Marcellus.
I’m not entirely sure what causes me to pay attention to their conversation suddenly, but I hear Silas say, “I noticed you were both missing for our meals yesterday. I also saw that you weren’t with your men during training. It isn’t like you to skip out on your duties. Would you like to tell me where you were?” He phrases it as a question, but his tone makes it sound more like a command.
Silas had been talking in a nonchalant tone until he asked his question, at which point his voice had a thread of anger laced into it. I want to peer up at them instead of on my plate, where my gaze has been focused while waiting for our meal to be over, but I don’t want them to know that I'm listening.
As if sensing my unease, Marcellus gives my knee a small squeeze, telling me everything will be okay. “I decided it would be a good idea to have a private training session with Cecily. She will one day be Queen, and if I’m to be chosen as her husband, then I think it’s important for me to know where her skill level is. I had one of the old barns closed out so I could assess her skill level in privacy.”
Huh... interesting choice of explanation. Now that he mentions it, I’m surprised he never asked me if I knew how to fight. Silas doesn’t like his answer. “You neglected an entire day of training to see what skills she has? Could you explain to me why you thought this was a better use of your time? We have goals for you, Marcellus, taking time off for frivolous things will not help us achieve them. Not to mention it doesn’t take a whole day to assess that someone doesn’t have any skills.”
Either Silas has forgotten I’m here, or he doesn’t care if I hear him. I’m willing to believe it’s the latter. “Uncle, I’ve more than proven my skills and am the one who’s been training your soldiers for the past couple of years. If I believe my time needs to be delegated to something else for a day, then that's my prerogative. I respect the fact you want me to have everyone ready for some threat that remains unknown.” Silas’ face has turned red at these words, and he hisses out a shush to Marcellus.
Not bothering to pause in what he’s saying, Marcellus continues, “But you’ve also told me to put effort into getting to know Cecily, and that's exactly what I've been doing. I might just deem it important to spend tomorrow with her as well. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I believe we’ve finished our meal.” Marcellus pats my leg twice, making sure I know he included me in his parting words.
Fates, Marcellus is attractive when he's protective. That it was in my honor had nothing to do with it. Okay... maybe a little. He pushes back his chair and helps pull mine out before taking my hand and leading me from the room.
Thankfully, Silas waited long enough into the meal to broach the subject, that I was finished eating. I’d been pushing food around my plate for a while just waiting for Marcellus to finish eating. Most nights, I eat as quickly as possible while still being ladylike, then excuse myself back to my room. Tonight, I was hoping to spend a little more time with Marcellus before the day ended.
We walk through the halls at a fast pace and end up at the door to my chambers quicker than I’d wanted. To say I’m disappointed he brought me here is an understatement. Marcellus hesitates at the door before saying, “Do you mind if we spend a little time together in one of our rooms? I don’t trust him to not try to spy on us if we go outside.” Flutters of excitement start with him not wanting to say goodnight yet.
“I don’t mind at all, I can put up a privacy bubble to ensure he can’t try to listen in on us.” I reassure Marcellus as I open my door. Forget about decorum and people judging us, we’re mates and sealing the bond is just a formality at this point. Before we can walk into my chambers, the door across the hall opens.
Frances sticks his head out of the room. “I thought I heard your voice, Your Highness. Is everything okay?” He eyes Marcellus with me, clearly seeing he was about to come into my room with me. “Give me just a moment and I’ll stand guard at your door.” I'm sure he’s questioning my decision to let Marcellus into my room, but respects me enough to not say anything.
“Thank you, Frances, we won’t be up too late.” I offer the last part as recognition for his concern and then I stride into the room with Marcellus right behind me. As soon as the door clicks closed behind us, I put up the privacy bubble. Marcellus takes a seat on the closest chair in the seating area so I make my way to the one next to it.
As I pass Marcellus, his arms dart out and catch me by the hips, pulling me onto his lap. Giggling, I say, “What are you doing? You’re not acting like my knight right now!” I swat at his hands halfheartedly. Deep down I hope he wins at keeping me on his lap. I squirm around, not wanting him to think he’s won so quickly.
“Darling,” he purrs in my ear, “don’t you want to snuggle in this chair with me? Surely, there's enough room for the two of us.” He makes a good point. These chairs are quite roomy. I stop struggling and gaze up at him. “Hmmm... I don’t know, Marcellus. You’re pretty bulky. I'm not sure if there's enough room in this chair for anyone but you!” His retaliation is instant. His hands move from my hips to my waist where he tickles me.
I try to slide out of his grip by going to the floor, but he just follows me down. His fingers don’t relent, even though I’m squealing through my laughter. I squirm along the floor trying to make my escape, while also trying to breathe through my laughter and defend myself from his attack.
Finally, Marcellus gives me some mercy and stops his tickling. With a twinkle in his eyes, he gazes down on me and brushes some hair behind my ear. “Thank you for spending more time with me, Cecily.” His face is so close, but suddenly the comment he made as he walked away from me earlier enters my mind.
My smile falls from my lips, and I pull away from him to sit up. You know what... I may change my mind incessantly, but after dinner tonight, and Marcellus showing signs of being wary of Silas, I’m going to lay some groundwork about us leaving. “What just happened with Silas?” I ask as a way to start our discussion.
Marcellus sighs and runs his hand through his short hair. “He’s been acting unlike himself since he came back with you. In truth, it was more around the time when he accidentally spilled his potion on my arm. Although after you showed me your matching mark and what he said in the hall tonight, I’m thinking it wasn’t an accident.” He pauses before adding, “Tension has been high between us, it just seems like it keeps getting worse.”
“Do you have any idea what’s causing it?” I ask. We’re sitting on the floor side by side now with our backs leaning against the chair we were in before. His knees are bent with his arms draped over them. I shift a little closer and wrap my arm around his closest to me, resting my head on his shoulder.
He moves his other hand to rest on my arm and places his head on mine. “I’m starting to believe he’s been lying to me my whole life, and he isn’t able to control our conversations now, so he doesn't know what conflicting things you’re telling me. Just look at how domineering he was over our first several days, and how he would constantly interrupt us. I think he was trying to protect the lies he told me. And now he has no way of doing that with how much time we’re spending alone together.”
He taps his foot on the ground but quickly stops and kisses the top of my head before standing and pacing back and forth in agitation. “I suddenly find myself doubting everything he’s ever said to me. I don't know what the truth is. It’s like I’m losing a grip on who I am, it’s very disconcerting. I hate it.”
I feel a sharp pang in my heart at seeing him in distress. His doubts about what his uncle has taught him his whole life are valid, and I don't know how to help him if he still hasn’t given me his full trust. I rub at my brow where a headache is forming. I hate lacking the foresight of how to help him, so I guess we have that in common.
“The way he’s acting, though, doesn’t make much sense. He told me it was important for me to get to know you and that it was crucial for us to build trust... or was it for you to trust me...?” The last part seems more like he’s questioning himself, because how would I know what his uncle said to him?
“What did you mean when you said you were getting all the soldiers ready for an unknown threat?” Marcellus pauses and gapes at me with bewilderment at my question.
“When did I say that?” he asks me. I’m slightly surprised he doesn't know what I’m talking about. The floor is getting uncomfortable, so I move to the seat I’m leaning against.
“You mentioned it when you were talking to Silas at the table…” He rubs his face with both hands this time and murmurs a curse that I can’t quite make out. His hands move up to his hair, which he grips, pulling on the strands, appearing a bit unhinged.
“Oh, this isn’t good. Silas is going to be furious with me. I never should’ve mentioned that in front of others. I was just so heated in the moment.” He finally releases his hair and most of it remains standing up, which is a bit distracting.
“So are you going to tell me what that means?” Marcellus inhales a deep breath and lets it out slowly, his eyes appear glazed over like he’s staring deep into the unknown. He walks over and kneels in front of me, grabbing one of my hands with both of his.
