Confide, Aftermath

I return to my office and slump into my chair. I sigh and relax enjoying the peace and solitude. Demetrius was polite enough. Its clear he wants my sole focus to be on him. I suspect his ego can't take being second. He doesn't care about this war. It doesn't even intrigue him.

I have his interest though, unfortunately even if I would give my life for them he could care less about the rest of the court. Well I suppose he liked Garrett well enough, but that was more of a curiosity and intrigue vs true empathy. Empathy is what I need him to feel and impossible endeavor since he appears to be a sociopath. 
 
I sigh, Demetrius, you are going to be a real headache. I look at my desk and groan. I have all these things to do. Juggling them and making sure you don't get truly annoyed is going to be difficult. Juggling them and getting you to agree to protect the court is going to be impossible.

I turn to the work in front of me, time to get something done that I can manage. I spend the afternoon sorting through files, replying to letters, and approving actions. I also try to figure out the best way to slip the peonies into the dark courts food or water supply. I haven’t made up my mind which would be more efficient.

I should head to the library see if we have any books on Rotheren architecture and engineering I might be able to learn more about how water supply works and make a more educated decision.

I massage my temples. I’ll do that later on this evening. In the mean time I have a banquet to attend to. I head to my room and inspect my dress. I choose it this morning because of its conservative nature. The dress itself is rather plan and hardly appropriate for a banquet. I slip into something fitting the occasion.

I then focus on my hair, it’s fallen into disarray. I really need to stop running my fingers through it when I’m stressed. I pin part of it up and leave the rest to fall down on my shoulders. I inspect myself in the mirror, I’m ready. I leave my room and grab a handful of letters of my desk. I deliver them to the messenger’s headquarters on my way to the banquet hall.

The Banquet is being held in the honor of some knight who died. There are so many celebrations in the kingdom it’s impossible to remember half of them. Luckily I don’t have to.

I take my seat at the a banquet table. At these events everyone is seated by rank so I rarely sit next to someone I enjoy conversing with. Demetrius and Ace are seated as guests of honor at the head table. Demetrius smiles at me and I roll my eyes. Ignoring his fake charms.

I pick at the seven course meal my appetite severally lacking. I sigh and excuse myself before the final course. People will talk but I have work to do and no time to care about rumors.

I walk into the library and search for the book I thought of earlier. I find a promising candidate and settle onto the floor to read it. After a half an hour I shut the book. I can't concentrate on this I have too much running through my head. My past, all the secrets I'm keeping, Demetrius, I can't keep it all to myself.

I shake my head and pull myself together and turn back to the book. After and Hour or two Omara stumbles across me. She simles gestures to the book in my hands “Late night research?” I nod and she gestures to the books in her hands “Same”
I smile and joke “What else is a girl to do?” She chuckles and takes a seat beside me.

She asks “Are you eventually going to tell me how you managed to get Demetrius to help us?”
I laugh and reply “The minute I manage that I’ll tell you.”

She looks at me confused and I explain “He’s visiting for the week. He doesn’t want to help us. He just wants answers. To be honest I'm glad. I don't know if we want his help.”
The mans morals are a mess, he took in a unwanted kid but doesn't care if hundreds die? It makes no sense and I don't have time to figure him out. Especially considering he is trying to figure what makes me tick. 

Omara asks confused “So he came here of his own accord to get answers?”
I clarify “No I asked him to come. Figured the Empress would think twice before striking is she heard Demetrius had taken interest.”
She smiles and asks “Well what did you do to get him here?”

I sigh, I want to tell her. I really do. I am so tired of hiding and with Demetrius here it will be a wonder if he doesn’t expose me. I’m already walking on eggshells. It’s been a miracle that Ari and Raina don’t recognize me.

I look at Omara she has been a great friend. I could use somebody to confide in especially with all the craziness going on. I take a deep breath and ask “Can you keep a secret?”

She nods and asks worried “What is it Lace?”
I blurt “I used to be a Fairy godmother.” It feels so good to get that off my chest to talk to someone that genuinely cares. She looks at me in utter shock.

I give her a moment to process what I said. She asks “Your wings were cut?”
I nod and tell her everything. I tell her about my childhood, Porterco, and Lucas. I tear up as I start to talk about Jade. I tell her about the letter I wrote and explain how Demetrius is here because he wants to learn more about the only other of his kind.

She hugs me and says  “Thanks for telling me.”
I smile and joke “Thanks for being trustworthy.”
She pulls back and asks with a smile "What are friends for? "

I grin and nod. I turn back to my book there's still work to be done. She follows my suit and we spend a long night searching for solutions.

I drowsily wake to find Albert standing over us. He smiles sadly at me “I wish you two had fallen asleep reading because you enjoyed the book you were reading. Not because you’re trying to save the country.”

I smile and carefully jostle Omara awake. She swats my hand away instinctively. Then she snaps awake, looking around the room for signs of a threat. She relaxes once she sees it’s just us.

I get to my feet and help her up. I ask “Did you find anything useful?”
She shakes her head and asks “You?” I sigh and shake my head no. I gather our books and try to ignoring my backs screams of pain.

I wince, why did my scars have to leave my back so sensitive? Omara helps me out and Albert laughs “If you girls want to live to my age I suggest sleeping on actually beds.” I shake my head and grin.

Omara looks at me and laughs. She remarks “Some how I don’t think Lady Lace here has to worry about living to your age.” I chuckle she’s right I’m at least twice Albert’s age.

We put our books back and I head to my room. I am exhausted. I couldn’t have been sleeping in the library for long a few hours at the most. Considering the night before I also got the same amount of sleep I think its time for a nap. I crawl into my loving bed and drift off to blissful nothingness.