章節 328: Sudden Departure
The following day, Mairwen waited impatiently for a question that never came. Walking along in the garden with Eira as her shadow, the princess held tightly to the hand of the scientist. She was pleased to find he was squeezing her hand with equal fervor.
"It is a lovely evening," the young woman commented as she ran her free hand through her hair.
"Is it?" Renat looked around at the Spring Garden. It had been cleared of snow and was back to resembling its name. "Hm, I suppose it is, though it does not compare to you."
They walked along arm in arm for quite some time. Mairwen laid her head on the man's shoulder. If she could stay like this forever, the princess realized that she would be happy. That is why Renat's words startled her.
"I will miss you when I leave tomorrow." He spoke gently into her hair as he pulled her close.
"You are leaving?" Mairwen jerked her head off of the scientist's shoulder and stared at him with a confused expression.
"Does that surprise you?" Renat tilted his head and asked his question far too innocently. Mairwen saw the trick for what it was.
"It shouldn't," she answered. "You have made your home there for the past year…" Although her lip was stiff, there was clear disappointment in her blue eyes.
Seeing his teasing had saddened the princess, Renat lifted her chin and kissed her softly. "My home is with you, and I will always return to it. I need to bring the Council's decisions back to the University, and make sure everything is settled. I can be back just after the New Year celebration if all goes well."
She laid her head back against his shoulder and they continued their aimless wanderings. "I wish you did not have to go at all."
"Me too," he answered without hesitation. "I never want to leave you."
"Then don't," she said petulantly. "Send someone else."
Renat gave her a tolerant smile. Her desire was truly touching. "Your mother asked me to go, and I cannot deny her, but I will see if I can make a more permanent arrangement to be near you very soon."
"You mean?" Mairwen paused.
The young man nodded slowly as he seemed deep in thought. "I can speak to the Doctor. Maybe I can take up my old room and work with him again. Then we would be close once more."
"Splendid," Mairwen said in a voice that was less than ecstatic. Her nose wrinkled as if she had smelled rancid meat, and she blew the hair away from her face with a puff of her cheeks.
"What?" Renat asked with concern.
"It's nothing…just…I think you are doing it on purpose."
"What?" He asked again.
The princess hesitated and then decided to speak her mind. "I think you are saying stuff just to tease me. Just to get me to think you are going to do something when you actually aren't…"
Raising one eyebrow, Renat pursed his lips. "Would it surprise you if I were?" He did not deny her claim.
"Are you so determined to prove me wrong?" Mairwen furrowed her brow and prepared for an argument.
"The only thing I am determined to do is to surprise you in a way that makes you smile. If that proves you wrong, so be it."
It was the first real time she has seen him stand up to her coming anger. However, rather than fuel her anger, he had responded with an answer that was something she could not refute.
"You are lucky that you are cute and brilliant," the princess said, allowing her anger to dissipate. She stopped their walk and relaxed fully into his arms as she leaned on his chest.
"I love you," he said, kissing her forehead.
"I love you too," she leaned up and caught his lips with hers.
Trying to be discreet, Eira backed away to let the couple be—mostly—alone.
———————
The next morning Renat was packed and ready to go. He had only been back a couple of days, and Mairwen was reluctant to part with him again so soon. However she knew that his duty needed to be honored.
"I wish you did not need to go," she gave her final plea.
Renat hugged her tightly. "You will see me again before you know it," he promised.
The Emperor and Empress stood nearby. While Aurora was drying happy tears with a handkerchief supplied by Anna, Devrim wore his usual fatherly scowl as he viewed the pair.
Renat came over and bowed before the rulers. "Thank you for seeing me off, Your Majesty," he said to Aurora.
She beamed a smile on him. "May the Fates be with you. I wish you well, dear boy!" She offered her hand and the young man took it and pressed it against his bent forehead.
"I am honored you came too, Sire. After our last discussion, I was not sure that you would come." Renat's stiffness was obvious.
"Do not flatter yourself. I came out because my advisor, Junayd, is supposed to be returning with a report from Okan and the Imperial scouts. They are securing the royal forest. It seems someone nearly woke a bear yesterday and was then attacked by the New Year Stag." The Emperor gave the two a meaningful look.
The princess and scientist feigned ignorance. Reluctantly, Devrim offered his arm and the two men shook. With one more curt bow to Their Majesties and a kiss and longing smile to Mairwen, Renat prepared to mount his horse. He had insisted it would be faster than a carriage. The scientist was very motivated to hurry on his journey.
"See you soon." Renat laid a hand on the saddle, but Mairwen stopped him.
"You…you really aren't going to ask, are you? I mean I heard you talking the other night." The princess stammered, hoping he understood her broken words.
Renat gave a sad smile. "You must not have listened long enough, my love. Your father did not approve. I am working on it, though. Please be patient."
Mairwen shot a glance to her father and saw his scowl. "Oh, I see…Then hurry back!" She entreated him. "Father cannot hold out forever."
"Indeed." Renat placed his fingers gently under the woman's chin. "I love you." Moving back, he threw his leg over the horse and exited the gate.
"I love you too," she whispered after his retreating form.
Once he could no longer be seen, most of the people who had been watching, including many servants, went back to their daily routine. Only Aurora, Devrim and Mairwen remained unmoved.
Aurora wrapped her arms around the princess and hugged her tightly. "Don't worry. I promise it will be fine. Why don't you get all dressed up and we will have ourselves a lovely tea party this afternoon. We can invite everyone or no one at all. Your choice."
Mairwen smiled. She did like getting dressed up for no reason. It was far more enjoyable than doing it for some royal function or other. "That sounds nice, but maybe just the two of us."
"Anna?" Aurora looked over her shoulder to her lady-in-waiting who was standing just a short way off. "Could you prepare a tea party for lunch? And let Bella and Candela know I will be changing into one of my best dresses so they can prepare it."
Anna curtsied and went to work.
"And I will organize a grand feast for tonight. After all, we should celebrate!" Devrim said, garnering a harsh look from both of the ladies he loved. He quickly mended his words. "Of course I mean mourn our deep loss of our treasured guest. We should eat our feelings."
"Renat told me what you said…" Mairwen looked at him with a hurt expression that wounded his heart.
"And you are mad at me, I see," he said as he stroked his chin. "We can talk this over at dinner, yes?"
Not wanting to have a public argument with her Father, the princess nodded. "I suppose…"
Devrim kissed her forehead and smiled warmly. "I only want the best for you."
"I know," the princess agreed as her anger was quelled slightly.
The Emperor waved over a servant and gave him instructions to prepare an extravagant evening meal. Then he asked the guards at the front gate to let him know when Junayd returned. With a slight spring in his step, Devrim nodded to the ladies and returned to the palace. Aurora rolled her eyes.
"Men," she said without finishing the thought.
Mairwen could only nod. "I will get ready for our tea. Meet you in a little while?"
"Take as long as you need. I will visit Colvyr and then get changed. Send a servant when you would like to meet." Aurora also kissed her daughter and excused herself.
The princess sighed and headed to her room. She knew others had it much worse, but right now she felt completely overwhelmed. As she entered her room, somehow Lady Allyson had already received the news of the tea party. The blonde lady presented her with a royal purple gown with sleeves just off the shoulder and pink winterberries embroidered all over the chiffon overlay. It was one of the loveliest dresses Mairwen had ever seen.
"Why did you not bring this to me last night to wear to dinner?" she asked Allyson. "Renat would have loved it."
Allyson blushed slightly. "My apologies, Your Highness. It was only delivered this morning."
Getting dressed, the princess was praised by her ladies in waiting for how she looked, her hair and her make-up. The attention, though perhaps a tad too enthusiastic, did a good job lifting the princess's mood. The week would pass quickly, Renat would return, and they could revisit what her father had said. All would be well eventually.
With renewed energy, Mairwen sent word to her mother and headed to one of the small sitting rooms near the main foyer of the palace. Walking through the halls, the princess could see the servant's smiling happily and whispering as she passed. 'It seems they like the outfit as well,' Mairwen realized.
As the young woman entered the tea room, Lady Anna was waiting for her. The attendant curtsied. "Her Majesty begs your patience just a moment."
The princess sat down at the table and straightened her skirt. "You look lovely, Anna." Mairwen always thought that Anna was secretly their cousin or some long lost relative. She looked so much like Aurora.
"Thank you, Your Highness! You look quite well yourself." Anna answered genuinely. She had come to know that the royals valued honesty over flattery. "If I may--"
The ladies were interrupted as a distraught Junayd burst into the room. His fine clothes were disheveled and there was sweat on his brow. "Your Highness!" he cried breathlessly. "I found Renat in the woods. Something has happened. You must come at once!"
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