“So it’s a secret.” Celeste nodded, sighing softly. “I’ve been reading, looking for anything about that kind of…magic. But magic is already such a complex thing that people barely understand.” She said, frowning down at her notebook. Her face flickered as her chest twinged again, but she had plenty of practice hiding pain.
Mikhail nodded. "Yes…and i have misgivings about the fact that you know. I don't know you, but I suppose I must trust that you won't use this information to hurt him or this kingdom." He looked at her levelly. "I know i questioned you yesterday, and i remember what you said. That does not mean I trust you."
“I don’t blame you.” Celeste said, shaking her head. “I’m a stranger, and after last night…the best I can hope for is you knowing that any questions you have, I will be as honest in answering as I can.” She have him a tight smile, but the honesty in her statement was obvious. “But Mikhail, I don’t want to bring harm to Soren, or your kingdom. I swear that on my mother’s memory.”
Mikhail nodded. He sighed softly. "I know you don't. However, like I said, that does not mean I trust you." He looked at her. "I believe you, but i don't trust you. Do you understand what I'm saying?" He asked.
“I do. Belief is the closest thing I can hope for now, but I hope you might be able to trust me at some point.” Celeste nodded, tracing the mark on her neck. “Trust is hard earned, I know.”
Mikhail gave a sharp nod.
Soren came back in. "Sorry I took so long. Someone was talking to me." He said, sitting down.
"Soren, i swear to God, if you just spilled more secrets to a stranger, I'm going to wring your neck." Mikhail replied exasperatedly.
"No, i didn't." Soren said, sitting down.
Celeste huffed a laugh, returning to reading through her notebook and keeping an ear on them at the same time. “Try and avoid that. You might not get as lucky and end up with someone who knows too much and is willing to spill it. That’s how Emperor Hinto of Kitchai fell. Got drunk and talked to much about things he shouldn’t have to his brother in law.”
Mikhail waved a hand. "See?? This is why you need a wife! So that there's someone talking sense into your head that isn't me!"
Soren sighed loudly. "It's the medication, and you know it!" He replied. "And no, i do not need a wife!" He stuck his tongue out at Mikhail.
"No, you need a straightjacket." Mikhail deadpanned.
“Or,” Celeste said, her eyes still on her notebook. “An unbiased advisor. Preferably with a brain, but common sense is usually fine if you can’t get both.” Her cheeks puffed up and then deflated as she tried to blow her hair out of her face, giving up after a few attempts.
Mikhail shrugged. "Yes, but a wife would be better."
"I can't hit you, because you're injured." Soren said in a mutinous tone. "But be quiet."
Mikhail chuckled. "Mm. Yes, please don't hit your captain of the guard, who got hurt protecting you." He replied, smirking slightly.
Soren rolled his eyes.
“Why not someone who’s both then.” Celeste sounded kind of far off as she wrinkled her nose at her notebook. “Like, you find an advisor who’s female and decent, and then you know, get married. That’ll give you some time to see if you hit it off first, too.” She said, shrugging a shoulder.
"Can we not discuss my doom-i mean, marriage?" Soren said with a joking smile.
Mikhail rolled his eyes. "It won't kill you to get married, your majesty." He responded.
"You never know." Soren said with a shrug. "My wife might stab me in my sleep."
"Which is very unlikely." Mikhail said calmly.
“What’s the stance on divorce in your court?” Celeste asked, easily ignoring the bickering while half focused on other things. She dug around her pouch with one hand, pulling out a pencil and scribbling something down while once again attempting to blow her hair from her face.
Soren sighed. "Depends on who you are. Why?" He asked, looking over at her. "Like if you're an important noble or something, it's frowned upon. Also if you divorce, the children are no longer eligible to inherit." His eyes flickered to Mikhail for a moment, then back to Celeste.
Mikhail looked away, silent.
“Oh. Well, I was going to suggest finding someone you can stand and getting married, and then divorcing them at a later date. If it’s frowned upon, then never mind.” Celeste shook her head, scribbling furiously. She’d glanced up just long enough to catch Soren’s look to Mikhail, but didn’t question it much beyond ‘that means something more’.
Mikhail nodded. "My parents…were higher up in the nobility, and got a divorce. I was nine. I lost… pretty much everything." He said slowly.
Soren nodded. "Yeah." He sighed softly. "But no, any marriage I get into, I'm trapped in for life."
"Then time and searching is what you need. I just wish there was something I could do to help you get that." Celeste's eyes flickered up to Soren, and then Mikhail, as she tilted her head. "Oh. That…that sounds horrible." She said, frowning slightly. Oddly, she got that. Losing all you had because of your parent's decisions.
Soren nodded. "I know. My court, on the other hand, does not."
Mikhail shrugged. "Only reason I have anything is because of him." He gestured to Soren.
Soren grinned. "Mhm. I pretty much forced my parents to take him in. He doesn't have a legal claim on anything related to the throne, but i made him captain of the guard, so…" He shrugged.
Mikhail rolled his eyes. "Mhm. I had to sleep in your room for the first year and a half. That was miserable." He teased.
Celeste huffed a laugh, shaking her head and returning to writing. So they pretty much were brothers, then. Having someone that close to you must be nice. She had friends and plenty of acquaintances, but she never stayed anywhere long enough to really make any stronger relationships. That was entirely her fault though.
Just as she was thinking to herself that she hadn’t felt any pain in a bit, a sharp flash struck her, surprising and painful enough to make her drop her notebook with a grimace.
Soren looked up, and stood, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" He asked, eyes searching her face anxiously. "Is something wrong?"
Mikhail sat up straight, looking worried.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m fine.” It was like she didn’t know the meaning of those words, as the way she squeezed her eyes shut tightly, breathing through the pain best she could, made it obvious she wasn’t. “Just…just a moment, please.” Why is it hurting so much now?
"Celeste, you really don't look okay." Soren said. "Do you need to see a healer? If it's a problem with your magic or something, I can take you to Lena." He looked at her worriedly, keeping the hand gently on her shoulder. Is she okay? Oh god i hope this isn't because of yesterday. That would be…upsetting.
Mikhail watched worriedly.
“It’ll pass in a moment.” Celeste assured, though her words came out in a hiss of air. Breathe and count. Breathe and count. One, two, three… When all else fails, count to ten. That’s what her mother used to say, and it had come in handy with the pains as well, allowing her to focus on other things.
"Is it…girl problems?" Soren asked slowly, making a face.
Mikhail facepalmed. "Your majesty, you don't go around asking girls that." He said.
Soren waved him off, looking at Celeste worriedly.
Celeste choked on a laugh, her grimace deepening a bit, though she didn’t answer. It took a bit longer than a moment, maybe a minute or three, before she could speak again. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. Just-the pains from last night haven’t left. Sorry for worrying the both of you.” Apologies, she was good at. Like she believed most things were her fault.
Soren bit his lip. "Oh. I'm sorry." he said, looking down at the floor. "If I hadn't rushed in there, you wouldn't be having…problems." he said slowly. "I'm sorry."
Mikhail looked away, taking a deep breath.
“Soren.” Celeste reached up, placing her hand on top of his on her shoulder with a slight wince. “Whether you had rushed in there or not, it would have happened. I can’t control the surge, and situations like that seem to-bring it out.”
Soren blinked, and sighed. "It's still my fault though, for not removing you from the situation as soon as possible. You are a guest and a visitor, and something like that should not have happened on the first day you were here." His eyes flicked to Mikhail for a moment, then back to Celeste. God, this is… He sighed softly. You're being too familiar, Soren. You hardly know her. He reminded himself.
“You couldn’t have gotten me out of that room if your entire guard had tried.” Celeste said, her voice oddly quiet. Small flickers of pain had returned, thankfully not as bad as before. “Besides, if it hadn’t happened on the first day, it would on the second. Maybe the third, but it would have.” Trouble followed her like a magnet, apparently.
Soren shook his head. "The fact that it would have happened doesn't negate the fact that it did, and it is my fault." He sighed softly. "How can I make it up to you?" He asked, looking at her. Stay polite, stay distant. That's what you do. You have been far too familiar recently.