Page 79 of Noble Charms

Prittey’s smile turned to a smirk. “You are a clever boy. Morgan sent me. Before he left, he came to my suite.”

Noble groaned. “Of course he did.”

“He told me that you needed my guidance. Specifically mine. Which means you’ve probably done something that will let the family down, huh? Tell me. What’s wrong with her? A convicted felon? A princess from Nightveil?” Prittey gestured for Noble to continue on.

“He’s an elven bard.” Noble spoke in a rush, like he may not be able to get the words out if he’d spoken more carefully. “His name is Aria Charms of Highfell. I met him long ago, but we only became friends recently, and I—” There it was. The point where he’d choke on it, on the truth. “I love him.”

Prittey’s smile fell, replaced by a round-eyed look of shock. Noble's hands numbed. His mouth was dry. Prittey said, “Never did it cross my mind that you may have proclivities beyond the fairer sex.”

“You and I both.” Noble's voice cracked. “But I’ve thought about it with no end the last fortnight, and I think I’ve always liked men like this, but…"

“You also like women.”

“Yes. And so, that’s where I put my energy, and I married Virginia, and I never had to think about anything else. Until now.” He couldn't meet Prittey's unwavering gaze. He'd said it aloud: he liked men. And it wasn't relieving, and he didn't feel stronger for it. No, in fact, he couldn't breathe. His stomach rolled.

Prittey checked her pocket watch and hummed. “Well,” said Prittey, “You're such a sweet boy. It makes sense you'd love everyone.”

Noble peeked up at his aunt, hands shaking.

Prittey rose from the chair and placed her hand upon Noble’s chin, tilting his head up. She smiled. “You needn't fear me. Or anyone, Noble. Do you need me to say it? I still love you, of course.”

Noble tried to wrest away the tears that suddenly blurred his sight. “I love you too.”

“Will you dine with me and tell me of Aria Charms?”

A tear broke free, chasing down his face, and Noble swiped it away, like he could escape Prittey's notice if he moved quickly enough. “My mother’s expecting me at our family dinner.”

Prittey kissed the top of Noble's head. “Let tonight be a bit of practice for you in disappointing Countess St. Clair. First, you miss dinner.”

Inside Prittey’s room, Noble pushed around the remaining peas on his plate. He still had yet to eat meat since parting ways with Aria. He thought perhaps he would never do so again. Aria had changed him fundamentally, and he liked his diet of breads and vegetables. He’d already told Prittey everything—started from their first disastrous meeting in Argosin and made his way all the way to the night they finally made love. He did spare her the details, which he knew Aria would appreciate.

Prittey asked, “He’s no title?”

“No.” Noble looked down. He wouldn’t have one either, if he went through with this.

“Good thing your name’s Noble, Noble. No one can divorce that from you.”

The words settled over him, a comforting blanket of truth. He would always be Noble, wouldn’t he? “The family could pretend I didn’t exist, though.”

Prittey snorted. “They did that to me, and look at me now. At the family estate. Doing as I please. And my brother still somehow loves me, even as king.”

“My mom doesn’t like you much, though,” said Noble, and then he cringed at his own honesty.

Prittey drank her wine and sighed. “You care a lot about being liked, huh?”

Noble said, “I suppose I do.”

“Is your mother’s affection more important than Aria?”

Noble raised an eyebrow. He saw his mother sparingly—and even at their closest, she’d never been affectionate. She placed a chilly kiss upon his cheek in greeting once per day during this stay, and that was the most they’d embraced since he was a toddler. “No.”

“Then go get him.”

Noble laughed, but didn’t feel it within. “It’s not quite that simple. He doesn’t share my feelings, Auntie.”

“That is a problem. Why not?”

Noble said, “I’m spoiled, and we had a bad history together. I don’t think he trusts me, or anyone, to treat him right.”