Chapter 50
Chapter
Fifty
Elias stood far too many steps away from the white mask sitting out in the open, contrasting so strongly with the dark wood of the table.
Why did I not consider that he might come back early?
“Colette.” Gerard’s gaze fixed on her. He took a few steps into the room, not even glancing at the table and the mask. “I didn’t realise you’d be here.”
Elias smiled, trying to slow his breathing. “We were just finishing up her lessons.”
“I’m sorry.” Gerard stopped walking. He glanced between them. He stood between them and the mask. “I didn’t mean to disturb.”
Maybe Elias could get him to leave for a few minutes whilst he and Colette “finished up.”
Elias opened his mouth, but Colette got in first. “It’s no problem at all.” Colette smiled brightly. “I was just leaving.”
She took a step towards Gerard rather than the door. Was she going to try to walk past Gerard and pick up the mask on her way out? She’d need to weirdly veer to get the mask and then head to the door. But maybe it would work.
Then Gerard turned towards her, stepping in her way, the mask remaining behind him. “Actually, I passed a servant who is looking for you.”
“You did?” she asked, voice too loud.
Elias took a step. Maybe if he came up near Gerard, he could grab the mask without Gerard noticing? The mask was only a couple of steps behind Gerard. Could Elias manage it?
“A letter just arrived from your family,” Gerard said.
Elias took another step. Then another.
“Really? I will be sure to seek them out. I have not heard from my family in a week, and I am so keen to know how they are doing!” She moved closer to Gerard, perhaps trying to keep Gerard’s attention on her rather than on Elias.
“My sister had a cold last I heard. I hope she is better. I do not like to think of her unwell.”
Gerard nodded. “Well, I hope the letter has good news.”
“I hope so too. I fret and fret.” She laughed. “I know it is just a trifling cold. I know I shouldn’t worry. But I do! And she has a little one, my niece. Only three years old. I hope she hasn’t caught the cold too!”
Creeping forward, Elias reached out. He picked up the mask. Holding his breath, he carefully placed it on the chair, tucking it beneath the table.
It was not an ideal hiding place. But at least it was no longer out in the open. He just needed to get Gerard to leave so he could hide it properly. That and close the fucking lid to his trunk! The robes could easily be seen by anyone who peered inside.
His stomach twisted. He was lying to Gerard. Deceiving him.
He’d said he wanted honesty in their relationship. And right now, he was doing everything to keep something from him. Elias closed his eyes. He could pretend that him being a lightning archmage was in the past, but he was just fooling himself.
He was still an archmage. Even if he never wore the robes and mask again, even if he never fought or cast, it was still a part of his past and thus would always be a part of him.
He would always be lying to Gerard.
But there was no way around it. He was not allowed to reveal his true identity. He’d taken a vow! But if he kept the secret, did he doom his relationship with Gerard?
“It is admirable that you care about your sister and niece,” Gerard said to Colette.
“I’m glad you think so. Many think me overly sentimental. No doubt my sister would think me silly for worrying so much.” She laughed, glancing at Elias, as if not quite certain what to do now.
“Go find your letter. I hope it says that your sister has made a full recovery and that your niece is well,” Elias said, knowing her sister had never been sick.
That twist in his stomach tightened. Another untruth.
She nodded. “All right. Thank you for today, Elias.” She left.
When the door closed, Elias smiled. “Shall we go find food? I’m starving.” Another falsehood.
But if they went to get food, Elias could feign forgetting something and return to the room quickly to lock away the mask and robes. It would be more untruths. But what else could Elias do?
Elias walked to the door.
But Gerard didn’t follow. “In a moment.” A frown tugged at his features.
Has he seen the mask?
Gerard turned to face Elias. He paused. “I wished to discuss something with you first.”
“What?”
Gerard didn’t move. He just stared at the floor.
“Is something wrong?” Elias asked.
Gerard exhaled and rubbed at the back of his neck. “Not really. I just … I spoke to Albert and Prince Beau on the way here. Your half-brother—” His lips pursed. “—he made accusations against you.”
“What accusations?” Suddenly Gerard had Elias’s full attention.
Or almost his full attention. Elias could just glimpse the white of the mask beneath the edge of the table. Nothing could have his full attention until that was locked away and hidden in the secret compartment in his trunk.
“I don’t believe them, of course,” Gerard rushed out. “I know your half-brother is a liar. But I wanted to raise it with you.”
“What accusations, Gerard?”
Gerard paced back and forth. He walked past the table and the chair, so close to Elias’s secret. Elias’s heart galloped. His throat clenched.
Gerard stopped walking, right next to the chair with the mask on it. “He said you called me vile and repulsive. He said you called me the dragon wretch.” His voice came out tight and strained. “But I know he lies. I know you would not say that.”
Elias’s heart dropped. Because he had said that. He’d said those exact words to convince his stepmother to arrange the marriage between him and Gerard. He should have thought that it could get back to Gerard. He should have mentioned it before now.
But he could explain now. Tell the truth. Gerard would understand. He would believe Elias.
Elias licked his lips. He stepped forward. “I did say those things, but only—”
“What?” Gerard swung around. His arm knocked the chair. It teetered.
Elias held his breath.
The mask fell. It clattered onto the floor, right in front of Gerard. The white-and-gold mask rocked from side to side. Then finally it lay unmoving, staring with its empty sockets straight up at Gerard.