“Oskar, please, we’re in public,” she replied, but the smile on her lips said she was pleased.
“I don’t care. I’d tell the world of my love for you,” he continued. I took another step back. This was a nightmare. I needed to wake up. I needed to run away from this.
“You would?” she asked softly. Other students had stopped to watch, not merely glancing or trying to look inconspicuously but outright staring.
If she said it back, if she said she loved him, it would truly be too much. I couldn’t handle that. I couldn’t withstand the pain.
“I will,” he replied, leaning down to kiss her. Some fool clapped, and soon the whole corridor was applauding while they kissed.
It was entirely weird for strangers to be so interested in two people kissing. Looking was one thing but cheering them on, what was wrong with people? I turned away, so I didn’t have to see.
“Will you accompany me to lunch, my Princess?” I heard him ask her.
“Of course,” she replied. “Pet.” I turned when she called me to see her standing with her hand in his, fingers laced. “Come now,” she commanded, and it took me a great effort to look away from their joined hands.
I followed slowly behind them as they walked. I should have gone shopping with Heidi, sure she was a little strange, but who wasn’t? No matter how rude she was or how awkward it would be to shop with a stranger, it would have been infinitely better than this, watching my soul match fawn over someone who wasn’t me.
The Princess ordered a meal for me, some sort of salad. I pushed the food around on my plate, unable to eat, and tried to ignore how she spoke animatedly with Lord Halvorsen and the other nobles at the table about the summer ball.
“Percy, right?” I looked up to the face of a yellow-eyed shifter. He was very similar to Lord Halvorsen in accent and looks. “I’m Orion Halvorsen, his brother,” he introduced himself, nodding his head in Lord Halvorsen’s direction.
“I’m confused as to why you’re speaking to me,” I answered him, and I sounded much ruder and annoyed than I had intended. “Sorry, that sounded bad; I just meant people like you don’t often speak to me,” I apologised. He smiled a little and waved his hand dismissively, picking up his glass of what looked like beer and taking a drink.
“Don’t worry about it, small witch,” he said, and by the way his voice slurred ever so slightly, I thought he might have drunk more than one glass. “I was just wondering if it bothers you?” he asked.
“If what bothers me?” I asked him in return.
He lifted his glass again and pointed it toward the Princess and Lord Halvorsen. I looked at them and saw the Princess glance in my direction. It did bother me. It bothered me more than I’d ever been bothered before. But I wouldn’t ever say it publicly.
“Why are you asking?” I asked him instead of answering.
“You look far too… What’s the word?” he waved his arms about, “Worse than sad… ah - depressed! You look depressed. Pretty girls like you shouldn’t look depressed,” he slurred, and I was sure he was intoxicated. I hadn’t been around many people overly intoxicated. Back home, it was considered shameful and immature for a man to overdrink. Father explained there was a line between being merry and incapacitated, unable to care for your family.
“It doesn’t bother me,” I lied and went back to moving salad around my plate.
“I thought you were the Princess’s, ah, her whore?” he asked, lowering his voice to a whisper.
I decided to ignore him. Was everyone aware of my relationship with the Princess, or was it just speculation? The rumours were right, of course, but that didn’t mean those who spoke them knew they were right.
“I didn’t mean to offend you.” He hiccupped. “You remind me of his heartbroken stableboys!” He laughed loudly.
“Orion!” Lord Halvorsen’s voice boomed. It seemed like the whole café went quiet.
“Sorry, brother, sorry, sorry, I’ve had too much to drink,” he apologised, bowing his head and arms in a mockingly placating manner.
“Brother or not, hold your tongue, or I’ll remove it,” Lord Halvorsen hissed. The way his face contorted, and Orion seemed to sober, made me shrink back in my seat. I believed his threat.
“Dear Oskar, I think it’s time I left for my next class. Until tomorrow… Hopefully your younger brother will be well by then,” the Princess said pointedly; standing elegantly from her seat, she bent to press her lips to his before straightening.
“Pet,” she called, holding her hand out in my direction. I gave her my hand and allowed her to pull me from my seat and lead me from the café.
We walked quietly until the Princess turned to me when we entered the empty auditorium for her next lecture. We were early.
She pulled me by my hips to her, her arms circling my waste. “Percy, you’re such a good girl and a terrible liar,” she told me. “Well done, my little pet, for your handling of that drunk fool,” she dipped her head pressing her nose to my hair.
“It does bother me,” I whispered against her collar. “There’s nothing worse. Please don’t love him. Please don’t ever let me hear you say it.” I took a shaky breath, trying to stop myself from crying. I wrapped my arms around her tightly.
“I do not love him,” she spoke against my head, and I felt her press her lips to my crown. “Orion may be a jealous idiot, unable to handle his brother’s higher station, but he was correct; my pretty little pet should never look so sad,” she told me, her tone playful.