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“Father, Arthur is married. His wife is Sophia De Loutherbergh. You gave her the title of Duchess of Elmburgh on their wedding day, remember?” Please, today of all days, remember.
He stared at me, and for a split second, I thought—I hoped it was coming back to him. However, he brushed my hands away.
“I did no such thing. I forbid you from marrying this woman or anyone else. Honestly, Galahad, what is the matter with you? Is she even Ersovian?”
“Father!”
“Do not raise your voice at me, boy!” he hollered. “Take your companion out of here, or I will have her thrown out! Then get your brother so we can discuss what to do about your foolish behavior and complete disregard for common sense! Does she—”
“Father, we shall be going.” I bowed with my hand over my chest, quickly taking her arm and pulling her out of the room. I could not even bear to look at Odette when the door closed behind us. What was I supposed to say to her?
“Are you all right?” she whispered beside me.
“Am I?” I gasped, meeting her gaze. “Are you? Odette, I am so sorry!”
“You do not have to apologize,” she said though I could tell from her eyes that she was hurt.
“Yes, I do.” That was worse than it could have possibly been. Months ago, he was the one asking me—no, ordering that I marry or risk banishment. He did not say a word regarding whether she was Ersovian or not then! How could he—
“Hey.” She squeezed my hand to get my attention.
Intent upon looking at her, I felt the tightness in my chest loosen a bit.
“Yeah. It hurt hearing. And if it were someone else, someone not sick, I would be more upset, and I would have said words back. But he looked so confused and scared. And he was calling out to a son he could not reach. He is ill, so I think he deserves compassion.”
“He is reaching out for his favorite son.” I frowned, too embarrassed by all of this. “I know he loved me, but Arthur was his favorite.”
“Loves,” she corrected me. “He loves you. He’s not dead, just not well.”
“But Arthur is dead,” I whispered. “And when we told him that, my father got so much worse. He broke down, and since then, he has not had one clear day. I have told everyone never to bring it up again to him. But now he just keeps looking for him, and I do not know what to do.”
“I do not know what to tell you, either,” she whispered. “So hopefully, standing here with you is enough for now.”
“It is. It is more than enough.”
It was everything, giving me hope for the future.
