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Felix shouldn’t have been surprised when Natalie said Eliza had moved out on her own. One day, Eliza had been bemoaning that her son wasn’t talking to her or willing to give back the crown. He was living with a whore, and she was so disappointed. She’d gotten into an argument with Natalie who boldly said that Eliza had no one to blame but herself, and Felix would make a perfect husband for Rainier. Betty finally stood up to her older sister too. The fight resulted in insults from Eliza about Betty’s weight, and the prior Queen had moved out.
A physician had also been called in before that because Eliza had issues with going to the privy.
“I don’t know what they all talked about,” Natalie told Felix as they sat outside in the garden on the edge of the fountain. “But I have a feeling it’s the herbs she gave Mother before.”
“To lose weight?”
“Yes, but they don’t really make you lose weight.” Natalie rolled her eyes. “Mother’s tried them, but they made her have to sit in the privy a lot, and she hated them.”
Felix squinted. He only thought people lost weight by crapping because they were seriously sick from polluted water or something like that. “So…if you eat food, but you’re in the privy all day thanks to these herbs, it won’t stick to you?”
“Basically. It’s something to purge the body.” She folded her arms. “I told Mother that was ridiculous, and she’d mess up her insides if she kept doing that. If you're not having trouble going, you don't need anything like that.”
Rainier had mentioned that he’d caught his Mum in the pantry one evening. Perhaps she’d kept her weight down with her meals and no snacks. If she felt she had lost control and snuck food in secret, or if she simply thought she’d gained weight, she must have used things to purge her body and thought that was healthier instead of vomiting.
“After a time, I think that would be nearly as dangerous as vomiting or starving yourself,” said Felix. “Food needs to move through our bodies in a certain way so we get the energy and good things from it.”
“Exactly. I don’t think Eliza’s been doing it every day, but I hope she stops it entirely. Even if she gains some weight, it’s not the end of the world, and she needs to stop thinking that being skinny is the main goal in life. I’m glad she moved out. I shouldn’t say that about my Aunty, but she was horrible to Rainier, and while she was living with us, she started making little comments about what we ate, and…ugh.” She threw up her hands. “Mother doesn’t need that. I think she’s happier to come here now that it’s just you and Rainier. I’ve also been trying to get her to ease up on this silly stuff about plain meals to lose weight.”
“She knows not to talk about that in front of Rainier, right?”
“I told her because I figured that wouldn’t be good for him, and he doesn’t need to hear about other people’s insecurities. He looks better.”
“He’s really been trying.”
Rainier didn’t want to eat with the family when they visited that May. Even though he’d been doing fine so far, he didn’t seem ready to have a meal in front of anybody except for Felix who didn’t push him. If he needed more time on that, it was his choice. When June came, they decided to go visit Felix’s Mother and Grandma.
Mother had asked why they were waiting to get married. Felix said Rainier had some health issues that he’d been working through and to not bring it up. He knew Mother would respect that and not pester her future son-in-law.
He wasn’t sure what gossip might have made its way down to Yorn, but Grandma didn’t seem to have realized anything at all. Mother had told her that Felix was the King now, but she hadn’t seemed to think much of that or questionwhy.
“I have to break this to her gently,” Felix said as they sat in a carriage. They were almost to Yorn, and his nerves were already on edge. “Grandma has no idea that I like men, and I told her I was cleaning in a rich whorehouse, and that’s why I made decent money. We haven’t told her that we’re engaged either, and I’m not sure how she’ll react. She might think that we’re good friends or something, and that’s why you made me your co-ruler.”
“She’s been here for a while,” said Rainier.
“I know, but she’s spent most of her life in Ranet, and most humans aren’t okay with homosexuality. She’s old and set in her ways. She knows what this realm is like, and I’ve never heard her say anything bad, but I don’t know if she’ll be okay withmebeing gay.”
Rainier squinted at him. “I’m not sure what to say. Even Mum didn’t complain about anyone being gay. It’s been normal since the beginning of time here.”
“I’ll deal with it, okay? You can sit with Mother. She’ll like you. She’ll probably try to feed you something because that’s how she is with guests. Just saying…”
“I’ll be fine.”
Felix never thought he’d be bringing a King home to meet his family. He’d also decided to ask them if they wanted to move to Rosewood. It’d be easier to visit and get to them if anything ever happened, and they could come to his wedding.
Unless Grandma decided she hated him and didn’t want to go.
He comforted himself with a side glance at Rainier. His future husband weighed a little more than he did when they met, and the strain that had often been on his face before had smoothed out too. He didn’t get dizzy when he stood, and his long hair looked a lot healthier too.
He’d started light practice with his sword, and he got a different sort of exercise with Felix in bed too. While he needed a little more weight for his height and build, he’d been eating and making progress. Felix wouldn’t say he was entirely better, but he had come a long way since last year.
When Mother let them in, she hugged them both and offered tea. Grandma was out back, and Felix said he’d go talk to her before he brought her in.
“I still can’t believe my little boy is a King now.” Mother kissed the side of his head.
“Mother, you’re embarrassing me."
“You’ll always be my little boy.”
