Page 75 of By Mistake
The servant bowed."Your private receiving room, Your Highness."
When the servant had gone, Andrus said mockingly, "Your private receiving room, Your Royal Brattiness."
Smirking, Oresti said, "Don't worry, you get one too."
"I don't need one!"
"You will once you're royalty and charged with all manner of new duties," Oresti replied.
Andrus stilled, everything going muffled and distant as the shock rippled through him.Finally he managed, "That had better not mean what I think it means.You've known me a matter ofweeks."
"His mind was made up the moment he met you, or are you the only one who hasn't noticed?"Shimari asked."Enough of this.You two can be theatrical later.Right now you have to behave."
"I'm going to kill you," Andrus hissed.
There was no way on earth Oresti had just baldly stated they were going to be married one day.It was far too soon to be speaking of such things.Whatever his silly thoughts on the matter, he hadn't actually believed…
"My father proposed to my mother just three months after they met, you know," Oresti said, not looking at him, just speaking between nods and polite greetings to people they passed in the hallway."But he bought the engagement ring a week after they met."
Andrus just shook his head."What about Shimari?"
Shimari scoffed."I don't need your ridiculous human performances."
"We'll do something just the three of us, and all three wear rings," Oresti replied easily."I've thought of everything, don't worry about it."
Andrus cast him a scathing look, but before he could voice his equally scathing opinions, they'd reached the private receiving room where Riman and Lymont waited.
They stood speaking by a beautiful bay of windows, the top portions stained glass in the shape of flowers and leaves and even some bees and butterflies.Shock filled Lymont's face."You really are—" He stopped, shook his head."My apologies, Your Highness."
Oresti scoffed."You've called me Oresti for years, there's no reason to stop doing that now."He crossed the room to hug Lymont tightly."I'm sorry, I wanted to tell you countless times.I disliked keeping secrets from you."
"Don't be ridiculous, safety comes before all else, and it was safest for all of us that as few as possible knew," Lymont said, then smiled, soft and wry."You're the reason I still have my job, aren't you?All these years I wondered why someone in the royal family cared enough to send a stern warning I wasn't to be fired or otherwise punished for the deeds of my late ex-wife.It was you."
"Guilty as charged," Oresti said with a grin.
Lymont looked like he might cry for a single moment, but then it was gone."Thank you, Oresti.Your Highness.You saved my life, more than you will ever fully know."
"All I did was see you were treated fairly, the same way you've treated so many.I am sorry I must retire from investigating.I enjoyed the job, truly."
Lymont grinned."Rumor has it Prince Oresti is far too busy with other matters these days, especially courting his lover.The city is abuzz with the news that the most elusive royal has finally been caught."
"Surely people have better things to do with their time," Oresti said, rolling his eyes as he tugged Andrus forward."This is my intended, Lord Andrus Bothwell."
"The only thing I'm intending is to ignore your insufferable, overbearing, overmanaging—" He broke off as Lymont and Riman laughed.
Lymont clapped him on the shoulder."He's perfect for you, Oresti.The city guard won't be the same without you.Should we spin a story about why our best investigator abruptly quit?"
"Spin a story, tell the truth, I care not.I'll no longer be doing such work, with rare exception, so it little matters now what people know.I will miss it, but…" He shrugged, and kissed the back of Andrus's hand."I have other priorities now."
"We should all be so lucky," Lymont said wistfully."We'll let you get on with your day.We only wanted to bid you a proper farewell.What should I do with your severance pay?"
Oresti waved a hand dismissively."Donate it like all the rest of my pay."
"Of course that's what you do with it," Shimari said in amusement.
"Who is this?"
"Master Marin Wheatley, Andrus's personal assistant and a dear friend."
