Page 32 of I Ran Away to Evil
“There might still be a war,” I spoke softly.
“Then there is war.” Gerda nodded and finished off her last bite of cinnamon bun. She smiled a big toothy grin. “Though only anidiotwould declare war on the Dark Enchanted Forest.”
“Unluckily for us, I’m related to someone who resembles that remark.” I nursed my now cold cup of tea. “Hey, Gerda?”
“Yes, Henrietta?”
“Thank you for sharing. And thanks for the support.”
“Anytime.” She nodded, her brown eyes twinkled when she continued. “Now pull out the gingerbread while I make us more tea.”
CHAPTER 20
A Late-Night Potts’s Cast
Keith
Keith was oiling tiny gears for his new planned construct when something very unexpected happened.
“Keith!” Henrietta burst into his workroom. “I’ve changed my mind!”
The princess wore a long green tunic with silver decorative embroidery at the open neckline, silver tights, and knee-high boots. She clutched a rolled and sealed scroll in one hand.
Keith carefully put down his gear and used a clean towel to wipe grease off his hands. When he thought about the princess in front of him, Keith changed tactics.
[You have attempted to use the Perk:Cantrips (Cleanse). You have succeeded.]
Hereally neededto get himself an alarm to let him know when the princess and Tulith attempted to visit him in the afternoon. Or maybe he would install locks, then they could only interrupt him after he was ready?
“Good afternoon, Henrietta,” Keith replied. “It’s nice to see you too.”
“Oh, stop.” Henrietta was getting used to his teasing, but he liked that her ears still flushed a little red with embarrassment. “What I’m saying is that … I think I’m ready to cut off my parents. I don’t want to get any more letters from them.”
“I see.” Keith stared at the scroll. And he did see. “And this is?”
“My last letter. I’ve told my parents that I’m giving up the throne and disowning them.” Henriette offered it to him. “They can think of me as dead because I won’t be returning to Drendil … So could you please mediate any more mail I receive?”
Keith took the letter and gave her a very big smile. “It would be my pleasure, Princess.”
“Thank you.” Henrietta stuffed a lock of her brown hair behind her ear. Tension left her shoulders, and she visibly relaxed.
“Just one thing, Hat—Henrietta,” Keith slipped, almost using Hattie, one of the nicknames he’d been bandying about in his mind. He pushed forward when she just looked at him expectantly. “By mediate, do you mean that I’m allowed to read your mail?”
Keith felt that Hattie didn’t fit right, anyway.
Henrietta nodded. “Everything I get from outside the Dark Enchanted Forest. I’m happy to read any mail so long as it’s not from my parents. They might try to sneak in letters using intermediaries, so it would be best for you to check everything.”
“Would you like me to reply to the letters, and did you want to know if there is correspondence for you?” Keith asked. “Or should I just dispose of it?”
“Reply however you want, and I don’t care what happens to the mail. You can tell me if it’s really important, like if they declare war or something,” Henrietta explained. “But otherwise, I don’t want to know.”
“That reminds me.” Keith sidled up beside her and offered his arm. “Have you considered becoming one of my minio—subjects? The benefits far outweigh the demerits.”
“Really?” The soon-to-be-no-longer crown princess of Drendil took the Dark Lord’s arm and walked with him out of the inner sanctum. “Tell me more.”
“We have free revival, free health care, and a four-day work week,” Keith offered. “And it comes with the Nightshade Rooms and an excellent office job.” He waved her letter in his free hand. “You can file immigration forms while I arrange swift delivery of your letter.”
“I’d like that.” Henrietta sighed and looked up at him. “If only it were that simple.”
