Chapter Twenty-Five – Kalon
A Necessary Lie
“I always wanted a daughter,” Father said, resting his chin on his hand and gazing lovingly at Alicia. “Alas, God only granted me two sons. Quite unfair, if you ask me.”
Ah.
The daughter conversation.
This was how I knew he was drunk.
Then again, Alicia wasn’t exactly holding up much better.
For someone who’d been so nervous about dining with the Emperor little more than ninety minutes ago, she’d quickly relaxed in his presence, and the two of them had been drinking wine like it was the last thing that would ever pass their lips.
My father had even sent out the servants after our meal so we could speak freely.
I was the one who’d claimed to have fallen in love at first sight to obtain his permission to marry her, but I was beginning to think my father was the one who’d fallen head over heels for her in mere minutes.
“I know!” Father declared, holding up a finger. “You should call me Father! Or at least Father-In-Law.”
Alicia gently shook her head. “I couldn’t dare to, Your Majesty.”
“How about just in private?”
“I don’t know if we’re that close.”
“We should be!” Father clapped his hands together. “Oh, to have a daughter as beautiful and brilliant as you is beyond my wildest dreams, and you’re so modest. Tell me, when is your wedding? It should be the best wedding this empire has ever seen!”
I smiled when Alicia looked at me with slightly glassy eyes that begged for my help. Usually, I would leave her to get herself out of this mess, but she was so pitiful that I couldn’t be that cruel.
“Father, I’m sure you’re aware of the aid policy Allie is working on,” I said, drawing his attention to me. “We’ve agreed to make that our priority for now.”
His eyes sparkled. “You use a nickname! How delightful! Is that all you call her? How about ‘my love’ or ‘sweetheart?’”
Yes.
He was quite drunk.
And her nickname was ‘darling.’
She felt like a darling to me, even if I couldn’t begin to explain why. Perhaps it was her hatred of the word that made me want to tease her, or perhaps it was simply because that pet name suited her best.
“Please focus.”
My father coughed into his hand. “Of course, I’m listening. Many nobles are fascinated by her swift assimilation into Stein’s politics. There are some unsavoury rumours, but I don’t believe them in the slightest. I’m quite familiar with her intelligence.”
Unsavoury rumours? About my Alicia?
Clearly, there were those in the empire who didn’t value their life.
How careless of them.
“What kind of rumours?” I asked, my tone hardening.
Father waved his hand. “Nonsense about you being the one to create it and handing her credit to legitimise her position as your fiancée.”
The anger that trickled through my veins was unlike anything I’d felt before. It burned white hot, furiously and without discrimination, and my fingers twitched with the urge to silence such bullshit. “It seems those who speak of such things wish to lose their tongues.”
Alicia reached over and laid her hand on top of my fist, one that had clenched instinctively. “I don’t think tongues would make a pleasant castle decoration.”
Ha.
She always knew what to say.
I met her bemused, tipsy gaze. “On the contrary, a garland of them would be perfect outside the Imperial Palace.”
Father coughed into his fist. “While I don’t disagree with your sentiment, son, perhaps we should refrain from such outright violence. They are only rumours.”
“Then see to it that they’re corrected,” I said, moving my hand so I could link my fingers through Alicia’s. “I won’t have anyone speak ill of my fiancée, no matter who they are.”
He waved his hand. “It’s all a matter of politics, Kalon. Alicia’s achievements will speak for themselves in time. You’re much like your mother in your desire to protect those close to you, but reacting impulsively to these rumours will only serve to make them burn more fervently.”
Not if those talking about her were dead.
The only thing burning would be their bodies.
Alicia reached over and laid her other hand on top of our clasped ones, smiling lopsidedly. “Do you think me so weak that I cannot withstand such rumours?”
Oh.
That wasn’t what I meant.
“No, I—” I clenched my jaw.
“Just as you told me you don’t need me to behead your enemies, I don’t need you to de-tongue mine.” Fire sparked in her eyes, as drunk as she was, and she almost looked excited. “On the other hand, tearing those pompous bastards to shreds with my own hands will be quite fun.”
Oh.
I was right.
She was excited.
She really was a fascinating woman. Was it any wonder why I was enthralled by every single thing she did?
Father laughed, leaning back in his seat and placing his hand on his stomach as he guffawed at her declaration. “That’s the spirit, daughter. Put those idiots who oppose you in their place.”
Alicia blushed. “Y-Your Majesty, please be mindful of your words.”
“I see why Kalon is so enamoured with you, Allie. Oh, may I call you Allie?”
“Of course.”
“Tell me, Allie, dearest daughter, how do you deal with his tantrums?” Father’s eyes practically glittered as he asked. “Did you know that he once cried because I chose to ride his favourite horse? I even gave it to him instead, but he was inconsolable!”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Father, please. I was nine.”
“You cried?” Alicia gaped at me, then quickly burst into giggles. “Heeheehee! I can’t imagine you crying!”
Father shuffled his chair around the table to be closer to her and grabbed the wine bottle. “Want to see it? I can make him cry.”
Good grief.
“I think you’ve both had enough wine,” I said, standing and taking hold of the neck of the bottle. “We have to leave for the hunting grounds in the morning.”
“One more glass,” Father said. “That’s an Imperial Order.”
“Milton!” I shouted. “The Emperor is abusing his authority again!”
My father gasped. “How dare you tattle on me to Milton?”
The door to the room burst open and Milton appeared, touching one fingertip to his monocle. “Please explain, Your Highness.”
I looked over at him, refusing to relent my grip on the wine bottle. “He issued an Imperial Order so he could continue drinking with my fiancée, but it’s my humble opinion that they should both retire for the evening.”
Milton surveyed the scene—including the two empty bottles of wine on the table in front of us. “Your Highness is quite wise. It appears His Majesty has overindulged himself in his excitement and should retire to his quarters before news of his frivolity escapes the palace.”
Father froze, looking from the wine bottle to Milton. “Perhaps you have a point, Milton.” He released the bottle and stood, clearing his throat even as he wobbled on his feet. “We will depart for the hunting grounds at eight a.m. promptly tomorrow morning.”
I nodded.
“Your Majesty, Sir Chester will escort you to your room.” Milton handed my father over to one of the knights.
“Yes, yes, thank you.” Father stopped and turned, grinning widely at Alicia. “Goodnight, dear daughter!”
Alicia blushed. “Goodnight, Your Majesty.”
“Say it! Call me Father!”
She pressed her hands to her red cheeks and closed her eyes. “Goodnight, Father-in-Law.”
“Aha! I accept! Did you hear that, Chester? I finally have a daughter!”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Sir Chester said flatly, taking his arm. “I’m very happy for you.”
“Isn’t she lovely?”
“Quite so, sire. Prince Kalon is very lucky.”
“She called me father-in-law!”
I buried my face in my hands as his chattering petered out the further away from us that he got. “I have no words.”
Milton sniffed. “You know better than to allow him to drink so much, Your Highness.”
“He’s the Emperor. You’re the only one who can stop him, Milton,” I replied, sitting up straight and looking across at Alicia.
Her hands were flat against her red cheeks, but she was giggling. “I can’t believe I just called the Emperor that!”
“I daresay you’ve made his day, darling,” I said, getting up. “But we should follow my father’s lead and return to Rose Palace. You’ve had quite a lot of wine.”
She gripped my arm and gazed up at me with pleading eyes. “Can we take the rest of that wine? It would be a shame to waste it.”
“Are you proposing we drink together?”
“I will share it with Bella!”
I stared flatly at her. “Absolutely not.”
“Fine, we can share.” She pouted. “You can’t say not to that can you, honey?”
Honey.
She called me honey.
Fuck.
I coughed into my hand as my cheeks heated up. “Very well.”
“I will arrange to have it sent over to Rose Palace,” Milton said, clearing his throat. “My lady, please allow His Highness to escort you back to your quarters.”
“You’re so nice, Milton. Just like Caldwell and Ark.” Alicia sighed as she got up. “And you’re so handsome for an older man, too.”
“That’s enough of that.” I bent my knees and swept her into my arms. “Put your arms around my neck.”
“Teehee. Princess carry! I thought this only happened in books.” She touched her fingers to my mouth. “Oh! I forgot this is a book!”
How drunk was she?
“Arms. My neck,” I said against her fingertips.
She dutifully wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder. “You’re so strong. Like a fairytale prince.”
Good grief.
I had to get her back to her bedroom before anyone else saw this.
I was liable to have a heart attack if many more people witnessed this cute side of her.
“I will have a hangover potion delivered to Rose Palace for Her Ladyship,” Milton said, bowing his head as I passed.
“Make it two, Milton.” I cradled Alicia closer to me and left the room.
She was so small—both in height and weight. It barely felt as though I was carrying a real person, but somehow, her presence in my arms was the greatest weight of all.
How could it be that she was so precious?
“Heehee,” Alicia mumbled, pressing her face into my neck in a move that made me clench my jaw. “I feel like a princess.”