Page 204 of I Ran Away to Evil
“Rufus, I think you should just ask her out.” Keith was standing beside Rufusas they drank from glasses full of bimbleberry cider. “Or better yet, ask her to marry you.”
I came into the conversation at a most interesting moment. “Ask who?”
“My commander general is lusting after a certainbard.” Keith wrapped his arms around me, and I leaned into his embrace.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Rufus crossed his arms defensively. “AndIthink you need a session in the dungeon if you think I’m doinganyof that.”
“Oh,really?” I took the opportunity to tease the beastman. “How long has this been going on?”
Rufus was following Minstrel Bronwynn around with his eyes and ears. As much as he might have wanted to defend his case, he was doing a bad job.
“Probably since the first time he saw her play.” Keith laughed. He told Rufus, “I’ve known you since you were apup. You can’t tell me you don’t like the bard.”
Rufus gave Keith an exasperated sigh. “She’sMinstrel Bronwynn. OfcourseI like her.”
“Isthiswhy you are still single?” Keith mused. “Because it sounds like this is why you are still single.”
“My king.” Rufus grabbed a glass for himself and downed the entire thing in a single gulp. “My queen. Congratulations on your wedding. I will excuse myself so you can continue to receive your other subjects’ blessings.”
“You can run away now,” Keith told his friend, “but you better tell her before your quest, or it’ll be too late.”
Rufus waved off Keith’s advice and walked off toward the seats closest to Minstrel Bronwynn.
“When is he going on the quest?” I askedmy husband.
“He’s already on it,” Keith let me know. “He’s just taking time off for today. As with every important quest, he’s been tackling the paperwork first. After that, he’ll be away for a while.”
Someone from Nilheim needed to go investigate the merchants from Servalt who were operating in the Dark Enchanted Forest, and Chloe was planning her wedding. Keith also mentioned something about getting justice on the beastman for a silly prank … but he wasn’t forthcoming with the details.
So I was in charge of keeping Keith alive and well while Rufus went on his own adventure. Luckily, it was easy to watch someone when you shared a room with them … and Keith had thought ahead and reinforced all the furniture in his suite …
Though my lounge had needed to be replaced last week, since he hadn’t finished enchanting all ofmyfurniture yet.
“I’ve been sent to let you know that it’s time to cut the cake.” I lifted Jacqueline, still sheathed, in my hands. Keith’s eyes softened.
“I don’t understand,” he said, “what that has to do with Jacqueline.”
My cheeks burned as I asked what I’d been thinking. “Well, she’s feeling a little left out.” Keith looked at where a huge, five-level round cake tower covered in frosted flowers and fresh bimbleberries sat on a table, surrounded by hungry guests. “And I was wondering … do you think we could use Jacqueline to cut the cake?”
He eyed the blade dubiously. “Will she [Void Damage] the cake?”
“Of course not.” I vigorously shook my head, poofy hair falling loose. “That would berude.”
“Then, by all means.” Keith reached out and pushed a bang behind my ear. “Let’s go cut the cake with your kingdom-destroying, Void-artifact sword. Will there be tea with the cake?”
“Of course!” I assured him. “I picked out the brew myself,andI baked the cake. They were practically the only thing Chloe let me do.”
The necromancer in question called to us from across the field. She was waving us over. It seemed I’d taken too long to summon Keith, and we were needed.
I smiled up at my husband. “Keith. I love you.”
“I love you too, Ria.”
The Heroine of Justice held the Dark Lord’s hand, and they went off to drink tea and eat cake and live Happily Ever After.
The End.
EPILOGUE
