Page 10 of Six Types of Apology

“I know my recent actions might suggest I would do that, and I’m sorry I gave you that impression. Did you see what I did there? I apologized again and I never apologize. With you, I’ve done it at least twice already.” Vincent seriously looked as though Orion had given him a present. “But no, you’re not afraid of talking back to me or sharing your opinion. You don’t just stare at me like I’ve hung the moon and treat everything I say as though it’s a prophecy.”

“People seriously treat you that way?”Or do you have an overactive imagination?

But Vincent was nodding. “You’ll see for yourself when we stop for the night. Doesn’t matter who the people are, they all do it. There was this one time, when I was so bored with everything people were talking about around me. I think I was in Monce at the time. So I just randomly stated that I thought the gremlins who lived in the border mountains were starting a clothing line exclusively for society and royal family members.”

Orion frowned. “There’s no such thing as a gremlin and nobody lives in the border mountains. The lands are frozen up there year round causing any magical crystals to break before they can be used. Unless a person wanted to subsist on goat meat cooked over open fires, there’s nothing up there worth having.”

“I know.” Vincent almost doubled over in laughter. “But when I said it, you know with my serious face on, one person said that they’d heard something similar, nodding with that self-important air of a person in the know. Then someone else piped up and asked me how they could get in touch with the gremlins. A third person then asked me if the jacket I was wearing was part of the gremlin’s collection. I’m not joking. The company I was keeping was so keen on seeking my approval they bent over backward trying to show support for mythical gremlins and their new clothing line.”

“That genuinely happened?” Orion started to laugh. “You promise you’re not joking with me?”

“The story is true, and that’s not the first time it’s happened. I’ve had people agreeing with me that it’s a pleasant day when our noses are so red they’re about to fall off. You’re not going to be that way with me, are you?”

“Not in private, no. I will share my opinions with you, whether you agree with them or not. But I won’t disrespect you in public. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Don’t be a yes man.” Suddenly both Orion’s hands were being held, and he was aware again of Vincent’s charisma. “I made you my equal from the moment our vows were said. Stand by me and speak your truth, no matter who is talking to us. I wanted to marry you because in you I saw someone who could look past who I was or how I looked and just treat me like another person. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

It would be so easy to scoff, make a joke, or even mention yet again, that Vincent really didn’t know Orion at all. But Orion hadn’t lived Vincent’s life. For all he knew everyone around the man had always wanted to agree with him no matter what ridiculous things the prince might say. He did know society family members in Tyrion fawned over the crown prince – there was plenty of gossip around about that - so there was an element of truth to what Vincent was saying.

“I promise I won’t look at you as though you’ve hung the moon,” he said with another chuckle. “Unless you have done, in which case, I’ll pat you on the back and say, ‘well done.’ Will that work?”

“Brilliant.” Vincent flashed those perfect teeth. “Now tell me, seeing as we’ve got a way to go this afternoon, have you ever read anything by Jonas Moore? I was reading his book on the formation of policies within the World Council the other day…”

Orion had read the book, and while he hadn’t imagined spending his first day married discussing politics with his husband, it was an unusually pleasurable way to spend an afternoon.

Chapter Ten

Three days’ worth of traveling later and Vincent was confident his decision to marry the quiet, but handsome, Prince Orion of Tyrion was the right one. Orion was intelligent, which Vincent had guessed, and yet he had a quiet sense of humor as well that made their afternoon chats in the carriage interesting, and often left them both laughing with each other.

Mornings Orion said, he’d prefer to ride a horse for part of the way, and as Vincent wasn’t a fan of sitting in the carriage with just Morgan for company, he rode as well. Vincent usually rode on his many trips, but it wasn’t as easy to talk to Orion when they were on the backs of separate horses, but Vincent saw what Orion was doing for what it was. A compromise. And that was a gift all by itself.

If Vincent was going to make one complaint, and it was only a tiny one, it was because at the end of the day, including their wedding day, Orion would excuse himself and go to hisown room, leaving Vincent to sleep alone. The first night, when he’d grumbled to Morgan about it, Morgan reminded him that Vincent had said himself, that if his marriage to Orion remained platonic, he would still be happy and remain faithful to him.

Muttering something about how a rider should at least try riding the horse before condemning him to a solitary stable, Vincent slept alone that night, and the next, and the next. Orion turning up to join him for breakfast each morning, looking refreshed and rested, didn’t help with Vincent’s issues.

But Vincent was confident that things might change in Carntan. Orion had already spoken fondly about seeing his sister, Olivia, again. Apparently they hadn’t seen each other since Olivia traveled to Carntan to get married. Vincent was friendly with her too, since she’d married Crown Prince Jaxon. Jaxon and he hadbeen friends since well before Jaxon got married, and initially Vincent didn’t understand why his friend had gone that route.

But if anything, Jaxon seemed extremely happy with his choice of bride, even confiding to Vincent one night over a few whiskeys too many, that he adored his wife with his entire body, heart, and soul. Vincent was hopeful if Orion saw the affectionate closeness Jaxon and Olivia enjoyed together, he might get some ideas of his own – at least, that’s what he confided to Morgan, who just smiled and nodded before going back to pressing Vincent’s shirt.

It never failed to fascinate Vincent how a traveler could always tell what country they were in by the scenery around them. Tyrion was land of hills, with a range of mountains over the back border that formed a formidable physical barrier to countries to the north of them. In contrast, Carntan was a land of rolling grasslands. Most of their industry revolved around farming and food production and as they rode through, Vincent could see nothing but greenery and yellow flowers for the most part.

Carntan castle was set into the side of a hill, the sandy yellow stones glowing in the sunlight. Like many castles in the north, Carntan had high walls that surrounded the living quarters and the court area as well as the large courtyard. Jaxon and Olivia were already waiting for them on the steps as their horses and carriages rolled up.

“It’s unusual to see the crown prince and his wife waiting for my arrival,” Vincent noted to Orion, who’d been quiet the closer they’d gotten to the castle. “Usually I don’t see them until dinner.”

“I think you’ll find they’re not waiting for you, for a change.” Orion smirked as he opened his own door, hopping out of the carriage as soon as it came to a stop. Vincent had barely gottenout of the carriage before Orion had sprinted up the steps and grabbed his sister in a huge hug.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Olivia was laughing and crying all in the one go. “I can’t believe you married Vincent. Congratulations, Vincent,” she called over Orion’s shoulder. “Come with me. Quick. Quick. I’ve heard so many stories. You have to tell me what’s been going on. How’re Onyx and Evangaline? We’ll see you two later, bye.”

Before Vincent had a chance to say a word, Olivia and Orion disappeared. “I wasn’t expecting that,” he said to Jaxon, who was watching his wife disappear into the shadows of the castle entranceway. He took Jaxon’s hand, air kissing on either side of the man’s face as was customary among equal ranks, and then Jaxon shoulder bumped him, which was the more common way Jaxon greeted his friends. “Should I be concerned that your wife has run off with my husband?”

“Idiot.” Jaxon took his arm as they went inside, leaving orders for his footmen to assist Morgan and John take care of their things and get Vincent’s drivers and guards settled. “Olivia’s been worried sick about what’s been going on at Tyrion. Is it as bad as we’ve heard?”

“Depends on what you’ve heard. King Oscar banished me from the Tyrion Court on our wedding day.” Vincent followed Jaxon into a small sitting room, glad there was some coffee already on the table along with some small sandwiches. Lunch had been a few hours before.

“Olivia didn’t hear that, but she did hear that you won my brother-in-law in a card game. Vincent, what were you thinking? Couldn’t you have married any one of a hundred people who’d say yes the moment you asked?”

Orion was right in saying that’s all anyone is going to talk about.Sipping a large mug of coffee, Vincent explained to Jaxon about King Oscar’s gambling and drinking and how the marriage contract between him and Orion had been written up. “I’d been considering marrying Orion for months – following your excellent example - but it wasn’t like I could ever have a serious conversation with King Oscar about it.”

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