Thank you as always to the incomparable Emma Kendrick for sharing her thoughts on the chapter!
The princess stared, taken aback.
Lucien stared back at her, fidgeting in the chair. Her eyes focused on his facial scar.
I was expecting grotesque. He just looks...dashing, actually.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
A slight surprise crossed his face, and she realized her tone had been unintentionally terse.
"You should have written ahead to let me know you were coming," she said, making sure to keep her voice smooth and steady this time.
He nodded.
"I should have. I apologize for my inconsideration."
"So then...what brings you here?" she asked, wording her initial question more politely.
Why the fuck are you here? Why?
Victorin cleared his throat pointedly.
"I'll leave you two alone."
She bowed her head gratefully as he slipped from the room.
"We need to talk," Lucien spoke up the moment the door closed behind the king.
"About what?"
"About our marriage."
"What about it?"
He swallowed nervously.
"I...had thought my scars would spell the end of our impending marriage. But your father, gracious a king as he is, refused to consider that even before the bandages were off."
She fought back a laugh at his wording.
Gracious a king as he is?
"And so now we must still be married."
"But not for a little while yet."
He nodded.
"That was the plan, yes. I would spend time on the expedition, you would spend time here with the orcs, and then we would be wed after. But my time on the expedition is over."
"But my time with the orcs is not yet over."
He nodded again.
"But we will still be married soon."
She eyed him warily.
"Whatever you came all this way to say, say it."
He blinked in surprise at the directness, but then nodded a third time.
"I came here to try and convince you to come home with me so we could wed sooner rather than later."
She raised an eyebrow.
"We had a conversation not too long ago," she began, "where we both admitted to not wanting this marriage. So, why are you being so hasty now?"
There was a hint of surprise again in his reaction, this time better controlled but still noticeable.
"Because I would rather not wait."
"You would rather marry sooner...despite not wanting to be married at all?"
"Yes. To put it as bluntly as possible...and I mean absolutely no offense to you...I would rather be executed right away than have to wait for the axman."
Laughter burst from her before she could stop it.
"I...didn't intend that to be funny."
"I know," she replied, the giggles dissipating. "But it was. Darkly so, but so."
"I meant no offense."
"None was taken. I understand what you mean."
"Then you understand why I came here to talk to you."
"I do, yes. But unfortunately for you, my answer is no."
He winced.
"You would rather wait?"
"I would rather finish out my time here. I have enjoyed it, and do not want to hurry up the end."
"There's not much of that time left though."
I'm painfully aware of that.
She stifled a terser answer.
"True. But since there is so little left, that makes it more important for me to enjoy it. Besides, King Victorin has been such a wonderful host, I feel it would almost be an insult to leave too soon."
Lucien glanced away for a moment as if collecting his thoughts, and then looked back at her.
"I'm sure he would understand. It's marriage, after all. As a king, he can understand the importance, especially of ours."
"I'm sure he could understand. But that does not change my answer."
He glanced away again.
"If you want so badly for us to get married quickly, why did you not just reach out to my father and have him bring me home?"
"Because I didn't want to start our marriage with you despising me."
"That's thoughtful of you."
He shrugged.
"And I do appreciate the thoughtfulness. But it won't change my answer."
"And I suppose nothing short of bringing your father into this will?"
She nodded.
He sighed, and she felt the slightest, smallest twinge of guilt as a look of misery crossed his face for a second. But then it was gone, replaced by acceptance.
"I'll leave straight away then," he murmured. "Let you enjoy the rest of your time here."
He stood, and sighed again, the sigh this time smaller, somehow more pitiful.
A pesky voice spoke up in her mind with an immediately rejected idea.
Nope. Don't like that. Nope. No way. Not going to happen.
"See you soon, princess. But hopefully not too soon for you."
He smiled, but there was no amusement there
The pesky voice spoke up again as he trudged towards the door.
"Wait, Lucien."
He stopped, half-turning towards her, a slightly hopeful expression on his face.
Don't do it, you idiot. Don't you dare!
"Why not..."
No...no...no...no...
"...stay here for a little while?"
Fuck.
He raised an eyebrow.
Please say no.
"It might be good for you," she continued, shoving aside her self-interest. "I have certainly found plenty of good here. King Victorin has been a gracious host."
"And you wouldn't mind having me around a little longer?"
"Well, I didn't say we had to spend time together," she said, smiling slightly. "It just might be good for you to spend time away from home."
You idiot.
"We could even convince Father that you came here to spend time with me."
He hesitated.
"It's just a suggestion. You could at least stay today, maybe take a tour of the city, and then leave tomorrow if you decide not to stay."
What are you doing, you buffoon?
His hesitation lingered.
What if he decides to stay? First, it'd be an unwelcome reminder that you're marrying him soon, and second, there's the chance he finds you getting your brains screwed out.
She ignored the voice.
"It could maybe do you some good. It certainly has done me good."
"Alright," he allowed. "I'll stay for today."
Fuck this.
She forced a smile.
"Splendid. It really is a wonderful city. Plenty to see."
His misery did not seem fully allayed, but he matched her smile with one of his own, his obviously forced as well.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lucien trudged along the corridor.
Can't turn back after this. Can't take back the secret.
The tour of the city had been interesting. King Victorin had been busy and had sent one of his advisors in his stead. The advisor had been very knowledgeable, readily answering the questions Lucien had asked to offer a polite interest.
In the evening, he had dined with Gwennalyn. Their conversation had been awkward, but they had soldiered through it. His misery had only been made worse by that awkwardness, as he had been inundated with images of countless future meals marked by similarly awkward conversations.
It was now well into the night, and the castle was quiet. He, however, could not sleep, and was on his way to his future wife's chambers. It had taken a few hours of tossing, turning, and talking over the issue in his mind, for him to finally decide to tell her his secret.
She'll be my wife. I might as well confide in her.