Not much really happens at the booth. Austin does return before I leave. Lucas tells him about the idea to bring me around the capital with flyers.
"If you have free time for that..." Austin rubs his head. "Can I get your list of who you think should go?"
"Her Majesty." Lucas doesn't have a list. "She would enjoy such a mission."
Austin just glowers at Lucas. Lucas only grins back. Austin has a silver emblem. Lucas's is gold. Even with Austin's high stripes, the noble will get away with more. Our birth gave us a lot of benefits.
Lucas stops to focus on Austin's glower. "I'm serious, you know. That's why you sent me here."
"To find a list of knights who'll-"
"Her Majesty can pick five or six to go with her. She can handle the mission her own." Lucas's humor has disappeared. "Are you trying to suggest she doesn't have the qualifications? You only need white stripes for this. The real question was leader. So let her." Lucas motions to the halls. Can't say if my mother is still around. Guess it wasn't all red knights at the meeting if Mom wasn't there.
Would she wish to go? I can't say. It's not my place to make comment either. But I also know she'll be denied. Father wouldn't let her leave. She's the queen. She needs to be here to...
Do what? Father denies her pretty much everything important. They have a feud going. "I wish they divorced." I whisper the words.
But the red knights with me definitely heard. "Do you realize what you just said?" Austin asks. Lucas's eyes widen staring at me. He wouldn't joke about this at all.
"Tell me." I focus on Austin. "What is my mother doing as queen? She's not even in charge of the July Ball. How can she find three hours a day to come here if she was fully acting as queen? Instead of my father giving her more work to do, he's removed work from her shoulders." I sigh. "Because she isn't taking that work seriously in his eyes." My parents are a pain.
Austin doesn't really have an answer for me.
Lucas stares at his work instead of me. "We're trying to hide from the population that the king and queen are... Having difficulties."
"Telligence is having a ball soon. Send her there as if she's going to the ball. Then give her allowance for the mission. Let her decide." I pause eyeing both. "What mission?"
"Goblin encampment. It's too close to the castle for the ball participants to be safe. We need to sent a group to cover the ball as well as a group to clear out the encampment." Austin sighs.
That would be easy enough for any good knight to handle. "Mom may pick guard for the ball, you know. She should be allowed to join any of the balls." She's gone before.
Austin sighs. "I wish I could just... Ignore your comments. But it's wasn't just Lucas saying them." He probably wasn't allowed to kick out the others. Lucas is only one red. Austin is three. "Lucas..." Austin shakes his head. "Can you let Hydrangea cover Callie and Daniel for you?"
"Sure. I can join the mission. I don't mind. I said that before." Lucas stands up. "I'll go check on Her Majesty." He salutes to Austin before disappearing into the halls.
Austin looks stressed out. "We're not supposed to send Her Majesty on missions."
I shrug. "If she just happens to be in the right area at the right time..." Mom will be fine. It's only goblins. "And a ball may suit her. You won't see her here if she's going on the ball circuit."
Austin blinks letting that knowledge in. "Yes. You're right. I'll ask her to guard each of the balls. It offers boost on both sides."
And she'll get away from Father for a while. She needs that. "Happy to help."
"Your shift is over, Thomas. Go find your friends." Austin waves me out of the booth.
If I'm off... Where's Daniel? "Sir?"
Austin takes my place. He moves things around to suit him. "Yes?"
"Do you mean Daniel?"
Austin eyes me for a long moment. "No. Ignore him if you can even track yet. Ryan is in the library. That will be a safe place for you."
Safe... Place... I ignore the comment before heading for the library. I just take the route that has me passing through many of the courtyards. Jessica and Callie aren't in those I pass through. Wouldn't be shocking if it was the arena. But I was told the library. To be safe. I'll trust Austin's comment.
Ryan waves me down when I enter. "How's life?"
I roll my shoulders. "Telligence is having a ball this year?"
"Yeah." Ryan's head tilts. "What about it?"
"Think the engagement will happen there?"
Ryan sticks his tongue out at me. It has me laughing. "It would suck if my sister got engaged while I am trapped here for training. Why send me now if that was the plan?"
"The assumption then is no."
"No. I would've at least got word. My sister isn't planning an engagement yet. She said maybe in three years. She needs a proper vacation to Swifting first. That's minimum." Ryan shrugs. "But they will probably be flirting at the ball."
Balls are a safe place to flirt for nobles. I would say the next safest is here at the knight halls. We have more freedoms even if it's expected we train. "Lucas will be going to the July Ball. He said he'll try to get me to go as a chore."
Ryan laughs. "Lucas has a crush on you, I swear."
I rub the back of my neck. "I.. I can't say otherwise."
Ryan pushes a paper my way. It's just notes about goblins. He's studying them again. "I'd be worried if he was going to be lord or if it made you pull back from titles, but it's just some flirtations."
"He's like... Thirty two." I stare at Ryan. He shrugs going back to his notes. "I'd be worried if he was truly flirting with someone so much younger."
"I wish he was flirting with Hydrangea, but those two have zero feelings for each other."
"Almost hostile friends." I nod.
"Contracted probably." Ryan holds up a finger. He pulls a letter out of his vest. "I asked about a contract like you. Seems Callie is on my list. I should be wary myself."
I grin at him. "You'll be like Lucas and Hydrangea though. Same with Jessica. Stay here forever. You'll train my kids even."
Ryan offers me a smile. "Thanks for the boost. I would hope I have a proper tower somewhere instead."
"So... Lord's Aide?"
"Yeah. Either with my sister or brother." Ryan weighs things. "I'll give them a list of requirements. Then I'll lead guard or teaching or something. Be support. I don't mind."
"You can join me." I thumb behind me. I'll be in the castle.
"Thanks. I'll think about that. Becoming friends with the crown prince wasn't really my first thought." His siblings will be lord and lady somewhere. He can just be Lord Ryan forever. Act as whatever his siblings need.
I stare at the wall of books while thinking over what I always thought my future would be like. I was aware I was going to become the king. That was just a given. But... I had no idea what that even meant. If I have proper support, though, I could be little more than a figurehead. It'll be fine. I'm needed as I am with whatever qualifications I have. That was made clear to me by several. They'll always hope for more, so they'll always push. But the key is my existence before the crowd. Whatever type of king I'll be is good enough.