𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter forty-eight; A Naval Spectacle
" I'll shout and snivel, with my head stuck out the side of the carriage my husband hauls me off in. "

  ELSPETH WAS TOO rattled to sleep, but it seemed to work in her favor. Sebastian met with her to explain what they had discovered about the Darkness, and informed her Kenna had left for the home they were to call their own.

  "Why are you still here?"

  "I have to go to Visegrad. To end the Darkness, once and for all--"

  "You sent your wife off so that you may slay a beast."

  Sebastian's shoulders sagged.

  "Ellie. . ."

  "Do you think you have to prove your worth?" She questioned honestly, "That you have to slay every beast and save every person to be worthy of. . . anything?"

  Sebastian's brows pinched in pain. 

  "I loved you as you were," Elspeth said after a long moment, "I believe Kenna has grown to love you, too. Remember that, Sebastian."

  He only stared at her. 

  Sebastian De Poitiers needed to hear it, no matter how much it hurt.

  "I can't join your hunt," She breathed out, her posture relaxing, "Demetre wants to keep a close eye on me with your father's madness growing. He's not yet scolded me for venturing into the Blood Wood but I have a sneaking suspicion that conversation will arise soon enough."

  "You? Scolded?"

  "Well, I never said it would stop me, only that it would happen."

  And Sebastian smiled, against all odds. He smiled because Elspeth stared up at him with her wild hair tucked into a braid, her eyes squinting in the morning sun, face fresh of any makeup, ears and neck free of jewelry.

  He smiled because sometimes it was so easy to forget Elspeth's upbringing was any different than his own.

  "Travel safely," She sighed, "I'm tired of sending you boys off, you know."

  "What will you do when you marry, and you're the one we have to send off?"

  "I'll shout and snivel, with my head stuck out the side of the carriage my husband hauls me off in," Elspeth grinned.

  "That is a sight I cannot wait to see."

  She only laughed, hugging Sebastian and bidding him farewell.

  And as she watched him walk away her joking nature dissipated. Right about now she wished she was travelling to Visegard with Sebastian to hunt the Darkness. It seemed less daunting than the day Demetre had planned.

  It was to maintain appearances, he'd told her. Necessary right now, to keep Henry at peace as much as they could.

  Firstly was attending Henry's great Naval Spectacle.

  Elspeth did not want to go. She did not want to get dressed or fix her hair or put rogue on her cheeks. She wanted to stay in her chambers. Or go to the art wing with Hugo and Alex. More than anything, Elspeth wanted a bloody second to speak with Demetre.

  Her nerves on the matter of expressing her feelings were quickly turning to frustration. Normally, they had an expanse of free time together, but the first time she needed time alone with Demetre, it was nowhere to be found.

  "Ready, Petal?"

  Demetre stood at her doorway as she exited her chambers. He looked handsome, with his hair in a mess of curls and his finest clothes on. He was looking the part today, she noted. 

  "Sure," She said with a sigh, "Could we speak for a moment before we go, perhaps?"

  "Can we speak on the way?" Demetre questioned, wincing as he did, "Normally I would agree, but we must arrive--"

  "Of course, just. . . later."

  Demetre pursed his lips as she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. He began walking, Hugo and Alex following without hesitation.

  The man himself had gotten quite good at reading Elspeth Liens. He knew all of her tells, and could guess what she was thinking a mile away.

  But suddenly everything was strange.

  She had always been an open book, her emotions written clearly across her face, but today, now, it was as if she was written in a language Demetre could not read.

  "Is everything okay?"

  "Yes. Everything is. . . fine."

  Demetre frowned but did not argue another word.

  They would discuss it later, surely.

  The House of Langlois arrived at the viewing area along with every other resident of the castle. Demetre guided Elspeth to their small seating area he'd had arranged; it held no candle to the King's, but this had been his intention.

  "Mock battle," Demetre sighed, leaning back in his seat, "A dreadful thing, really."

  Elspeth quirked an eyebrow.

  "The ships will set off fireworks," He explained, "Henry believes it to be a show of. . . French warfare. It's a celebration for the soldiers that fought at Calais."

  "Why are you not partaking?"

  "Because playing pretend for subjects isn't one of my duties," Demetre answered easily.

  Elspeth hummed, looking out across the water.

  Two large ships drifted on the crystalline sea. Briefly, Elspeth wondered what it would be like to sail. 

  She'd heard stories about soldiers spending months on ships. And Douglas had told her about lawless men who lived on them; pirates, he named them. Elspeth wasn't sure how much he had said was true about these pirates, but she wondered how their lives were. Drifting from place to place, with no ties to bind them down.

  "Have you ever met a pirate?"

  Demetre had been beginning to sip a goblet of wine, but nearly spit it out at Elspeth's sudden question.

  "Sorry," She snickered, watching the man wipe his chin, "Douglas told me about these men that live on ships and go from port to port. I was just wondering if you know about them."

  "If you never cross one, it would be too soon," Demetre said, setting his cup down, "How does Douglas know about them?"

  "He knows about all sorts of strange things," Elspeth sighed, leaning back in her seat.

  She glanced around briefly and felt her heart rise when she realized the only people lingering close by were Hugo and Alex.

  It wasn't ideal, of course, to tell Demetre about her feelings right now. But it was a chance. And it would take her mind off of the King sitting feet away from them, so she figured this was only a bonus.

  "Can we speak for a moment?" She blurted, looking to Demetre, "I just. . . I'd rather us speak as soon as we can. We haven't really had a moment since you returned."

  "Of course," Demetre said, brows furrowed, "Alex, Hugo; enjoy the spectacle, but don't wander too far."

  The men nodded, understanding the message and departing from the group.

  "What's wrong, Petal?"

  All she had to do was tell him. He was sitting right there, leaning over to her, his elbows resting on his thighs, brows knitted together in worry. All she had to do was speak.

  God, what if he reacted poorly? She had been so sure days prior, but now with him staring at her in the daylight, her confidence faltered.

  "Ellie? What's going on up there?"

  He tapped a gentle finger to her forehead, and something flipped.

  "I love you."

  BOOM!

  There was a millisecond that Elspeth saw his expression melt into one of shock, but as an explosion sounded, he was standing.

  The crowd was gasping, and people screamed. Hugo and Alex rushed to Demetre, and they exchanged words quietly.

  Elspeth's heart was racing, she was still staring at the chair Demetre occupied previously.

  She had said it. And he had heard it. No matter how brief it was, she knew he had heard it.

  A hand rested on her shoulder, and Elspeth could hear Demetre speaking. That she needed to return to her chambers and remain there until he spoke with Catherine, that Hugo and Alex would escort her.

  That they would speak later.

  But all she could think about was that Demetre Langlois did not say he loved her, too.

  "My lady?"

  Her head turned slowly, before meeting Hugo's soft expression.

  "It's time to go," He said quietly, holding out a hand.

  Elspeth swallowed, lifting a shaky hand and placing it in his.

  "Demetre is. . . ?"

  "Already with Queen Catherine."

  "Hm."

  Elspeth blinked, allowing Hugo to help her stand. She felt as though she was moving through water the entire walk back to her chambers.

  Hugo tried to speak to her, to reassure her that things would be okay, but she couldn't quite hear him.

  Not through her rushing thoughts.

  "We'll be right outside, my lady."

  Elspeth nodded slowly, before shutting the door to her chambers and shutting out Hugo and Alex.

  She turned, resting her spine against the wood.

  Had she been a fool? Had everyone? Everyone who told her Demetre had feelings for her, everyone who dared to say he loved her. . . had he fooled them all?

  Elspeth slid down the door until she was sitting on the floor, pulling her knees to her chest.

  Why did love have to be so confusing?

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
I don't even have a note
today just keep reading