16. Robin #2
“Robin!” Maisie spots me and bounces over. “The kids are in school today. We have no one to play with!”
“What do you want me to do about it?” I ask with mock seriousness. “Enroll you for the rest of your vacation?”
“Actually,” Alicia says thoughtfully, “that might be fun. Seeing what school is like in another country.”
I blink at her in shock. Alicia hates school at home—constantly complains about boring teachers and pointless assignments, talks about dropping out the minute she turns sixteen. The idea that she’d voluntarily want to attend classes anywhere, let alone in a foreign language, is mind-boggling.
“You hate school,” I remind her.
“I hate our school,” she corrects. “This place seems different. More... I don’t know. Real.”
Before I can process this revelation fully, Adrian grabs my arm and steers me a few steps away from the others.
“Give me some advice here,” he says quietly. “I actually like Mira, okay? But every time I try to talk to her, Pretty Boy over there swoops in with some ridiculous story about his glamorous life.”
I glance back at where Dimi is now showing Mira something on his phone, probably photos from whatever exotic location he visited last month. She’s leaning close to see the screen, their heads nearly touching.
“He’s just flirting,” I tell Adrian. “It’s meaningless. Besides, you have an advantage Dimi doesn’t.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re new. Novel. He’s probably been charming village girls for years—you’re fresh territory.” I bump his shoulder with mine. “Trust me on this one.”
Adrian considers this, then nods. “You’re not the greatest wingman,” he says, “but thanks for the pep talk.”
He raises his voice, calling across the square. “Hey, Mira! Did your dirt bike survive overnight, or do we need to fine-tune it?”
Mira turns at the sound of her name, and I watch her face light up with genuine delight. “It’s running so well! Come see.”
Dimi steps back with theatrical gallantry, but not before catching my eye and winking. The message is clear: he’s enjoying this little competition as much as Mira is.
As Adrian hurries over to examine the bike with the enthusiasm of someone trying very hard to appear interested in mechanical details, Dimi sidles up to me.
“He’s quite determined, your brother,” he observes.
“He likes her.”
“I know. It’s charming, really.” Dimi’s smile turns mischievous. “Though I confess I can’t resist making him work for it a little. She’ll enjoy it more this way—what woman doesn’t like being pursued by multiple suitors?”
I shake my head at him, amused despite myself. “You’re terrible.”
“I’m helpful,” he corrects. “And Adrian will appreciate his victory more if he has to earn it.”
“If he wins.”
“Oh, he’ll win,” Dimi says with casual confidence. “She’s already chosen him. I’m just providing a useful foil.”
Adrian calls out something that makes Mira laugh, and I feel a surge of strange pride. My baby brother, figuring out how to navigate the complicated waters of attraction and rivalry.
“We should find somewhere for lunch,” Adrian announces, glancing meaningfully at Dimi. “ My treat.”
The challenge in his voice is unmistakable, and I have to bite back a smile when Dimi raises his hands in mock surrender.
“Whatever the lady suggests,” Dimi says graciously. “I defer to local expertise.”
Mira leads us to the same tavern we went to after yesterday’s confrontation at the other pub.
I think again about Eva’s expression when that woman snapped at her, and wish I’d steered everyone away sooner.
That pub was where I’d received a “warning” of my own, and I’d known the people there were not exactly fans.
But here the proprietor greets us warmly, even asks after “the lady,” and soon we’re arranged around a sturdy wooden table with steaming bowls of soup and fresh bread.
“So, Mira,” I ask, “do you come up to the castle often?”
“Most days,” she confirms, tearing her bread into pieces. “I like to visit my grandfather.”
“Your grandfather works there?”
“Leon,” she says simply.
I nearly choke on my soup. “Leon is your grandfather?”
Mira nods, clearly puzzled by my surprise. “You must know him?”
“Of course I do, yes. He’s…he’s been very kind to my family.” I study her face, suddenly seeing the resemblance I missed before—the same direct gaze, the same unconscious confidence, the same way of holding herself that suggests she can handle whatever life throws at her.
“Would you like to shoot this afternoon?” Mira asks Adrian suddenly.
“Shoot?” he echoes blankly.
“Target practice,” Mira supplies, seeing Adrian’s hesitation.
“With arrows,” she adds quickly, when I stare at her.
I don’t want Adrian running around with guns, even if he is technically an adult now.
“I’m very good,” Mira assures me, without any false modesty at all.
“There is no danger. A place in the forest, safe to practice, away from the village. Targets on old trees. We could take the crossbow, too.” She turns back to Adrian. “I could show you how.”
Adrian’s face lights up at the idea, I assume, of Mira pressing close and helping him line up a shot. “Yes. Definitely yes, that sounds?—”
“Ooh, archery,” Dimi interjects. “May I join? I’m quite skilled with a bow and arrow, you know—I won several archery competitions at university.”
I catch the spark of competitive fire that flashes through Adrian’s eyes, but before he can respond, Mira nods with delight.
“Perfect! Competition makes everything more interesting.”
Dimi catches my eye and gives me the smallest of winks.
I shake my head at his shameless manipulation, but I can’t deny the results. Adrian is sitting straighter, glaring at Dimi, while Mira practically glows with anticipation. She certainly seems to enjoy having two attractive men vie for her attention.
“What about you two?” Adrian asks, nodding toward Alicia and Maisie.
“Gardens,” I say decisively. “We’ll head back up to the castle, maybe explore the hedge maze properly this time.”
“Can we pick some flowers, too?” Maisie asks hopefully.
“Of course.”
As we prepare to leave the tavern, I find myself glancing back toward the direction of the castle, wondering how Dane is faring with his spreadsheet analysis.
Part of me worries about how easily Eva drew him into Consortium business, even if it’s supposedly just anonymous numbers.
But another part feels proud that someone recognizes his talents, sees potential in him.
I take Alicia and Maisie’s hands as we begin the walk back up to the castle, listening to their chatter about flowers and fountains and the secret passages in the Castle they say Dimi told them about, while my mind churns with questions.
Each member of my family seems to be finding a place in this strange new world—Adrian with his blossoming romance, Alicia discovering interests she never knew she had, Maisie simply blooming in the safety and abundance Eva provides.
And maybe I’m finding a place, too.
The thought of teaching again, of being useful in a way that feeds my soul instead of just paying bills, makes my heart sing with possibility. But it also terrifies me. Because choosing that path would mean choosing Eva’s world—and not just visiting.
It would mean staying.