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Felix wiped his face. “All right, but I don’t know when I can return. If Grandma died, I can’t just leave Mum after a few days.”
“I don’t expect you to,” said Rainier. “If your Grandma’s okay, stay with them for a bit. Your family needs you, and we have less than two months, but maybe it’s better if you go.”
Felix squinted. “Why?”
Rainier took a deep breath. “Mum demanded I kick you out before, but I refused. She’s written to some Baron from the northern edge without telling me. He’s already on his way with his wife so I can meet their son. She thinks she’s found me a decent husband, and I can't get out of it now because they're already traveling here.”
He blew out a breath and looked like he’d been told he’d have to marry a sack of shit.
Felix blinked at him. “She’s invited someone to meet you for that, knowing I’m here?”
The Prince pinched the bridge of his nose. “She doesn’t like me having a pet, and I’m sure the man she thinks is appropriate for me is probably also a prude. I can’t refuse to meet them unless I want to be horribly rude, and I’m also not comfortable doing it while my companion is living with me even though I’ve already decided the answer is no. I’m not marrying anyone just because Mum thinks I should. It's fucking ridiculous that she’s gone and done this.”
Felix didn’t like that either. It was too awkward, and even if Rainier wasn’t going to marry some Baron’s son, the guy probably wouldn’t like it if he found out a whore was staying with Rainier. It was Queen Eliza’s fault, but who met a prospective match with a companion living upstairs? If Rainier said no, the Queen might say something about Felix to them to humiliate him.
Leaving early made his gut clench, but it wasn’t like this was forever anyway, and nothing more was going to happen between a whore and a Crown Prince. The Queen probably had someone else in mind, but he had no doubt that she’d be furious when he said no. She’d hound him and make his life difficult if Felix was still around or if he came back later to stay.
She probably wouldn't wait too long to get another prospective husband on the way.
“I’m sorry about your Grandma, and I’m sorry Mum’s making things difficult. I’d love to have you come back if you wanted and things end up being fine at your home, but this probably isn’t going to be the last time she does this. I'm sure that we'll end up fighting again, and-” Rainier cut off as he stroked Felix’s hair. “Go home and see your family. I’m sure when you get there, your Grandma will be better.”
Felix knew Rainier was saying that because he hoped so, but he didn’t have a good feeling in his gut. “Can I take the carriage tonight? I don’t want to wait until morning.”
“Of course.”
“I wish your Mum would…ease up.” Really, Felix wanted to say she needed to butt out, although that was rather rude to say about someone’s Mum.
“Me too.” Rainier hugged him again. “I enjoyed having you here, and not just for the kitten stuff. Everything. I loved taking you out and spending time with you.”
“I loved being with you too.”
***
Felix managed to hold back the rest of his tears until the carriage was rattling through Rosewood. Besides kissing Rainier goodbye and leaving him behind on the Castle grounds, he might come home to find Grandma had already passed and his Mother devastated.
He managed to doze in the carriage, and they only stopped a couple of times for pissing and to refill their waterskins. The two drivers had a large pail with food packed in it, and the servants had also given Felix a basket with stuff that would keep. He picked at the contents a little, but he was too worried all the next day.
It was early the next morning when they arrived, and he was wide awake when the carriage stopped in front of the house on the outskirts of Yorn. The glass tree by it was the same, and the house looked peaceful. Felix didn’t close the carriage door before he charged across the yard to knock on the door.
It didn’t take long for Mother to open it, and she was already dressed despite the early hour. At least that hadn’t changed.
“Felix! I didn’t think you’d get here so soon. Grandma’s better now. The fever broke a couple of days ago, and she’ll be fine.”
Relief flooded his limbs, but he still started crying again as Mother drew him in. “I was scared.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you, but I also had to warn you just in case-”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily! Where’s my grandson?”
Mother smiled and patted Felix’s back. “Go on. You won’t catch anything.”
He hurried across the sitting room and into Grandma’s bedroom to find her sitting up, dressed, and with her thinning hair combed. She was still an early riser at her age despite typically having nowhere to go and no baby to take care of anymore.
He rushed to hug her and breathe in her typical powdery smell.
“About time you came to see us.”
“I was so scared.”
