Page 77 of Noble Charms

“Well, and logistically, how would it work, an adame-husband? Would you still get a salary? No, that’s quite odd.”

Aria pushed himself away from Hampenstead, and nearly tripped as he climbed to his feet. “No. Not—no salary, of course not.”

Hampenstead hesitated before nodding. “Right, then. I feel like I’ve misunderstood something.”

“I don’t want to be an adame. I want love.”

“I could love you as an adame.”

“What about as a husband?”

“You’re untitled, and an elf, and moreover—an adame. I cannot imagine how it would work. I’d lose face, lose business, should I try something like that. You understand, don’t you? You could be my adame in title, and we could carry on in love.”

“I have been dating you—we’ve been courting already.”

“Have we?” Hampenstead’s brows pinched. He seemed genuinely concerned as he asked, “Are you dating nobility so you may wed one of us? For our coffers?”

Aria’s chest grew hot. “Absolutely not.”

“Then why would you suggest courtship over⁠—"

Aria said, voice rising despite himself, “Because I want to be loved, Eric, not used.”

“Come now, that’s an old-fashioned way of thinking. Adame are highly respected. Revered, even.”

“I don’t want to be paid to be by your side.”

“What’s marriage but a different type of payment? One that puts me, specifically, in a poor position.”

“A husband is someone you love. Someone you love as an equal.”

Hampenstead said, “We aren’t equals, Aria. I’m a viscount. You’re an adame.”

We aren’t equals, Aria.

We aren’t equals.

Aria trembled as he backed away. “I didn’t realize you felt that way.”

“D-don’t be like that,” said Hampenstead, following him step for step. “What I propose is—is better. You can stop being a bard. Stop working shitty gigs at parties for people who don’t care about you, and join me. I care about you. Be my adame and I’ll keep you happy. Or t-try to. I swear.”

Aria kept moving back, until he hit the door. “No.”

Hampenstead asked, “Are you dating nobility for our coin?”

He whispered, “I cannot believe you’d ask me such a thing.”

Hampenstead’s face twisted into a frown, and he said, “Well, you’ve fucked two nobles in short order, and were about to suck a third, so you may forgive me for my c-confusion.”

“I told you that it wasn’t like that with Noble.”

“No? You didn’t use him for a place to stay? You didn’t use him for opportunities to meet other elites like me? You didn’t use him for sex? What did you call it? Comfort. He comforted you. You used him. You told me yourself—you didn’t even perform adame duties for his home.”

“No,” whispered Aria, hand scrambling for the doorknob. “It’s not like that at all.”

Hampenstead captured Aria’s hands in both of his own. “I don’t say this to hurt you. I’m n-not trying to be cruel. I simply want you to consider the proposition. You know me, do you not? I care for you. Be my adame. Let me pay you for your services, and we will travel the world together. You deserve a fresh start with me. We won’t marry, but we’ll be together. See?”

Aria could only shake his head. “Why can’t you love me?”