Page 63 of Gilded Lies

“But perhaps this is the thing that will keep him at bay for good. And-” Jari struggled to find a way to explain the gold. “Maybe the pigment is just something that will stay.”

Aurelius scratched his arm. “You said Father’s eyes turned blue before he died. He was entirely free in those few seconds. I’m just saying it’s better to be cautious.”

The Prince had spent years being cautious and leery of everything and everyone. Jari shouldn’t expect that to vanish in a few seconds. He set his pack in a corner and placed his boots by it. This was the cure, and he would be fine. Anything else was unthinkable no matter how cautious the Prince was.

Aurelius sat on the bed. “I’m fine now, and I want to enjoy it if I can. These past few weeks-” He closed his eye.

Jari moved to sit next to him. “Can I still touch you?”

“Yes, unless I say otherwise.”

Jari hugged him, and Aurelius leaned against him. Months ago, such an action would have been unthinkable between them, and he treasured every touch he got to have. Sure, he enjoyed it when they got each other off, but nothing would top the way Aurelius relaxed against him and trusted him to touch.

“I know it’s been shit on top of more shit,” said Jari. “It’ll get better. We found something that works.”

He wanted to say something else, but he didn’t know what. The saying about time healing all wounds was bullshit in some ways. If Aurelius had some time to process everything, maybe stuff in his head would get better. The past scars weren’t ever going to vanish, but he could live. They’d never go far from the ocean, and Jari would show him every day that he was worth it.

Someone knocked on the door. “It’s me.”

“Come in.”

Este entered. “Don’t mind Tenth. Sometimes, he doesn’t think before he speaks, but he’s a decent man, and he owes me, so he’ll take us, and he won’t bug us on the why. His sailors are good too.”

Aurelius straightened up. “You picked Jerry and Morian for our fake names?”

“It popped into my head.”

“Thanks. I hate it.”

“Jerry’s not that different from mine either,” added Jari.

Este leaned against the door and rolled her eyes. “It’s not like you have to keep it. I’ve got a cabin down below, and the pack is hidden.”

“We’ll need that later tonight once it’s dark, “ said Aurelius.

“No, we don’t. You’re-” Jari turned to him, and the Prince cut him off.

“It’s not for what you think. We’re going to lower the pack in the water and see if that does anything. Este can have it back afterward if nothing happens.”

Este tilted her head. “Why would you put it in the water? Is salt a thing that breaks this Golden Touch curse you got?”

“It’s best if you don’t know everything,” said Jari. “Being curious isn’t a good idea.”

“I’d also rather certain things be forgotten over time,” said Aurelius. “Let’s keep it that way. The less is known now, the less knowledge that can be passed on.”

“Fine.”

“If you want to keep it private, you can, but I’m kind of curious as to how you're pals with a guy in this line of work who pretty much lives on a ship,” said Jari.

She sighed. “He’s a distant cousin. Mother doesn’t like him because he got in with a bad crowd several years ago, and I can see that. Father couldn’t stand him either. Tenth did try tochange and get out of the bad crowd, as we’ll call it. That’s not always so easy.”

“They wouldn’t let him leave?” asked Jari.

“No, and they kept asking him to do worse and worse stuff. He came to me after I’d been made Duchess and moved into my new home. I had a few folks taken care of if you know what I mean.”

“Oh.”

“He made some bad choices in his youth, but he’s not a bad man, and he’s put in real effort to change,” she continued. “He doesn’t do drugs, and if anybody works on his ship, they’re not allowed either. He’s helped a couple of others to kick habits too.”

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