Page 73 of Forsaking All Others

“Yes,” I nod.

“Yet your background dossier says you studied political science.”

Silently, I thank God that my father forced Mirabella to study the exact courses I did.

“I was made to study that,” I shrug, “but I took on a double-major so I could also pursue my passion.”

“Architecture?” He smiles as he hands me back the notebook.

‘How could you know that just from seeing these sketches?’

“Yes.”

“And that’s what you planned to do as a career?”

‘I wish.’

I shake my head.

“I appreciate historical buildings. I dreamt I might work in that field of, you know, helping people sympathetically restore and preserve. But I never really anticipated any future in that field.”

“Because of your family commitments?” He presses.

‘Because I was going to be forced to marry a rapist and have children after graduation.’

“Yes.”

He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms, his eyes meeting mine.

“I still have questions.”

‘Of course you do.’

“An answer for an answer,” I shrug.

“Very well. You asked me back in Seville why I entered this show to find a wife when I could find one outside the Game at any time. I owe you the truth. I was forced, through a commitment, a vow, to enter and find a bride. If I hadn’t done so the society I sought would be forbidden to me.”

“By society, I have to assume you mean the Courts?”

“No,” he shrugs, “but my friends are royal, so by extension, yes.”

“And is that what you want? To spend your time doing royal duties?”

“I don’t have any duties,” he shrugs, “not now the wars are over. I simply have to stay under the radar of The Families and live my life.”

“The Families?”

I play dumb, but I know exactly who he’s talking about, although they obviously play a role I was unaware of.

“Yes, the royals who make our laws and rules. The same royals who sanction these games and the death and destruction they perpetrate.”

‘The same royals my kind enable to rule and farm humans for food.’

“Which you don’t support,” I murmur. “So, in a way we’ve both kind of been forced to be here.”

“Yes.”

“You have The Families to deal with and so do I — we’re not so different after all.”