We made time to visit Edrin every few days. He was healing well, and was always happy to see us.

  Until I dropped by, and he wasn’t there. He’d checked himself out suddenly, without a word. He had every right to, of course; he was under the Watch’s protection, not in custody.

  That didn’t stop me from worrying about him. I spent that evening wafting through the manor, listless and distracted, and tossed and turned until I fell into an exhausted sleep.

  I woke up the next morning to my sheets being yanked out from under me, sending me rolling off the bed.

  “Damn it, Louise!” I hissed in pain, cradling my arm as I dragged myself off the floor. I’d hit my elbow when I fell, and the bastard stung all the way down to my pinky. “That was uncalled for, and I don’t care how upset you are about the—”

  A familiar, amused huff stopped me dead.

  “… Edrin?”

  I stared. My elf smirked back at me from across the stripped mattress, my blankets dangling from his hands.

  He looked good. Most of his bandages were gone, except for along the edges of his ears and wrapped around a couple of his fingers. His hair had been cut — longer in the front, but short in the back to hide where it had been shorn — and he stood tall and confident in a deep grey House uniform, brightened with a violet tie.

  He was here. He was safe.

  “…You absolute fucking bastard!” I grabbed a pillow off my bed and threw it directly in his smug, stupid face.

  He dodged it, eyes wide.

  “You couldn’t send word?! Leave a note?! Half the godsdamned city seems to know where to find me, and you couldn’t figure it out?!”

  I threw another pillow. Nowhere close this time.

  “Do you know what they told me at the hospital? ‘Checked out of his volition.’ Great! At least I knew you weren’t savaged by a pack of angry geese! Did you think I wouldn’t notice?! That I didn’t care?! And then you have the nerve to show up here like nothing’s wrong… Do you have any idea… I was worried! I didn’t know if you were safe or if you’d left or if you’d… you…”

  My lungs seized. I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t let it be made real.

  His face fell, and he slowly raised a single hand to one of his tattered ears.

  Something warm splashed onto my hand. A tear.

  It was a tear.

  I wiped at my cheek with my trembling fingers, only for them to come away wet. I was… when had I started to cry?

  Suddenly, Edrin was right there in front of me. He gently pulled my hand away and guided me to sit in the edge of my bed. Then he knelt in front of me and began to gently dry my tears with a handkerchief, his face a study of concern and regret.

  “I- I’m sorry,” I managed. “I…” had a still-developing seventeen-year old brain stuffed with forty-two years of memories, and it always surprised me just how easy it was to overload. “… Seem to be doing this a lot.”

  He nodded, gently tilting my chin to the side so he could dry my other cheek.

  When he was done, he sat down on the bed beside me, pulled a thin, leather notebook and a pen — silver, one of Tempest’s spares by the look of it — out of his breast pocket.

  I apologize. I did not intend to worry you. I had hoped to surprise you.

  “… You succeeded. Why — How are you here?”

  I am your valet.

  “My… What? Since when?”

  Lord Dusk hired me for the position yesterday afternoon.

  “You were his guest…”

  I’d returned home after my trip to the hospital intending to mope in Tempest’s office, only to be informed he was entertaining a visitor. I was forced to haunt the library instead. Not a total waste — I’d found Tempest’s old poetry stuffed into a shelf and spent the afternoon leafing through it. It was every bit as bad as Thea had promised.

  Edrin nodded.

  “And you asked him for a job? Not that I’m not happy to see you, but … Why? And why as my valet? You’ve got to have better things to do than clean up after me.”

  He smiled serenely.

  When I was lost, you found me. When my voice was taken, you still heard me. Even when I had given up hope, my Lady watched over me. She heard my pleas and sent me you.

  Oh. Shit.

  My Lady has given me a new path to follow. We are connected now, tied together by her will. You are entrusted to me as I was entrusted to you.

  “Edrin… I was just there. No mystic voice sent me.”

  It is her will. He tapped the page insistently.

  … Right. There was no way I was going to win this fight.

  “Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here.”

  As am I. I had feared drastic action might be necessary.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Drasti—? Edrin, did you… threaten my brother?”

  He rolled his eyes.

  I chuckled. “No, I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?”

  It was unnecessary. He was wise not to test me — I may not be a warrior, but I am well trained.

  I stared at him incredulously.

  He stared back at me, looking unimpressed.

  He was equally wise to employ me as your valet. You appear to need one. I have seen better groomed scarecrows.

  I harrumphed. “I was sleeping. And then some asshole of an elf rolled me out of my bed like a log.”

  He huffed, a small grin twitching at the corner of his mouth. Tucking away his pen and notebook, he took my hand and led me gently but insistently towards my bathroom.

  I couldn’t hide my own tiny grin.

  ——————

  It took trouble just over a day to find us.

  “Honestly, Violet.” Duchess Sylvia sighed over her teacup. “You look positively frightful. I realize you have a new servant you’re training, but you could at least try. You haven’t visited me in ages, and you couldn’t put in a little effort for my sake?”

  “You ordered me to never show my face to you again,” I reminded her stiffly. I hadn’t touched my own tea.

  My mother had ignored me for months, ever since my eventful first visit alongside Tempest. It had been a surprise to find a missive summoning me after I returned from my riding lessons. I’d been tempted to ignore it, but an old instinct made me pause.

  She wouldn’t have called for me if she didn’t have something to gain. I needed to know what.

  Mother’s cup clinked as she put it back down, the sound loud in the stifling quiet. The entire affair — tea, couches, even the pattern on the tea set — felt like a repeat of our first meeting, adding to the uncanny atmosphere.

  “That’s a touch unfair, dear. I was flustered; you caused such a scene. I felt faint for a week. And then I hear nothing from you…” She sighed again, deeper this time. “You know how much these little visits mean to me.”

  “Of course, Mother.” I picked up my cup and pretended to take a sip, watching her over the rim.

  A tiny smile flitted across her lips. “I don’t blame you, of course. I know very well where the blame lands.”

  “I’m certain you’re right.” I mimed another sip. Encourage, but don’t engage. “Your message said there was something you wanted to discuss?”

  “So impatient.” She tutted. “Manners, dear.”

  I waited, hiding my impatience behind my teacup as she picked a tartlet off the tray and took a tiny bite.

  Not one of Marlene’s creations, of course — too lowbrow for her tastes. It was from a far more expensive, and in my opinion, inferior, bakery.

  “I’d heard that you’ve finally been appointed a valet. I’m … concerned about him.” She took a sip, washing down the cloyingly sweet pastry. “He’s obviously unskilled. To think he would let you leave your rooms looking like that.”

  Considering it was only Edrin’s second day, he’d done an amazingly good job helping me get ready. Louise had done more supervision than actual preparation.

  “Not your choice, I’m sure. A cripple is hardly an appropriate attendant for a refined young man. Your father would weep if he could see how low our House has fallen.”

  I gritted my teeth. Do not engage.

  “Training a servant like that… I’m worried it might be challenging for you. I’m sure we can find someone more suitable. Lady Marguerite has a second nephew who would be ideal for the position. Don’t worry, I’ll handle all the arrangements.”

  Bingo.

  The timing made sense now — she was moving before we could get comfortable. She wanted Edrin under her thumb. I wasn’t going to give her that opening.

  But it felt off. The way she was watching me… Edrin was a goal, but not the goal. I wished I had a better grasp of the duchess’s and Past-Violet’s dynamics. I had a rough idea from Tempest, but not enough of one.

  “I’m confident I can handle it, Mother. You’ve set me an excellent example.”

  “It’s your choice, of course; I only want to help. But if you’re going to insist, then just let me know when you need me to step in.” She finished off the tart, then poured herself a fresh cup. Taking a sip, she remarked, “You were always so stubborn over the silliest things.”

  “If you say.” I fought not to fidget. The damned couch might look pretty, but it felt like sitting on a sack of pointy rocks.

  “Don’t be like that, sweetie — you know very well what I mean.” She huffed impatiently. “I gave in when you demanded to marry Prince Victor. The favours your father had to call in… but you insisted.”

  I mentally rolled my eyes. “Of course, Mother.”

  “I only ever want what’s best for you, my darling. And now I never see you,” She sighed loudly. “It breaks my heart.”

  No wonder Past-Violet had ended up as a Villainess.

  —————

  I threw myself onto my sofa in Tempest’s office, nearly bouncing Cael off the other end, and buried my face in my pillow nest.

  “Tea went well, did it?” Tempest asked from the armchair across from Cael, not looking up from the chessboard set up between them.

  “Great,” I groaned. “She refused to acknowledge you exist, is trying to steal my valet and replace him with… a spy, possibly, and spent the whole time trying to manipulate me into thinking it was ‘for my own good.’ … And my ass is numb. I think she chooses furniture based on discomfort.”

  He looked over at me and grinned. “Excellent.”

  Cael spluttered. “What?! How the fuck’s that ‘excellent?’”

  “I’ve asked Edrin to fetch coffee and sandwiches,” Tempest told me, ignoring Cael’s outburst. “I assumed you haven’t eaten yet. Put that back, please.”

  Cael grudgingly returned a rook to the board.

  Tempest raised a brow. “Two forward. Where I left it.”

  He scowled, but moved the piece again.

  “Thank you. Mate in three, by the way.”

  “… How?!”

  “Not the point, remember? Your move.”

  At Thea’s request, they had started playing chess regularly. It was fascinating to watch. Because Truesense relied on experience, it was almost impossible to train. She’d suggested chess as a way to at least sharpen Cael’s awareness of it.

  Cael lost every time — he played like an absolute novice — but every once in a while, he’d pull off a brilliant save.

  Or he’d just cheat.

  “It’s excellent,” Tempest explained as Cael moved one of his pieces down the board, “because she’s trying to reclaim Violet. It’s the same old moves she’s always played, which means she hasn’t realized the game has changed, and the pawns she’s trying to capture are anything but. Her play for Edrin is clever, though.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Mate in two.”

  Cael groaned.

  Tempest smirked, moving another piece. “In one move, she aims to claim control over Violet’s household, press his obedience, and gain an Elven servant. Quite a coup if it had worked.”

  The door opened with a soft click and Edrin glided inside, balancing a tray on one arm. My stomach growled as he laid out a small coffee service and a plate of bite-sized sandwiches. I waited just long enough for him to pour me a cup before I dug in.

  Tempest had guessed right. I hadn’t eaten a thing, and I was ravenous.

  “Shems—mgpf.” I swallowed my first sandwich in one gulp, already reaching for a second one. “Why is she after Edrin?”

  Tempest’s brows shot up in surprise. “Violet, are you… do you not realize how remarkable his presence is? Elves do not serve. I can guarantee he’s the only elven valet in the capital, and likely the only one in the kingdom. To have him in her service in any way would be… an earth-shattering statement.”

  Edrin sneered.

  “Well said.”

  “Edrin’s … not some trophy!” I declared, aghast.

  “In her circles, he most certainly would be.”

  “… Damn. Every time I think I’ve got you crazy noble bastards figured.” Cael shook his head and moved one of his pieces. From my angle, I could see him carefully palming one of Tempest’s in the process.

  I sighed, washing down a third sandwich with a mouthful of coffee. Our chef raised the humble sandwich to a work of art. “I wish I could disagree.”

  Tempest hummed as he examined the board. “When are you going to visit her again?”

  “Next week. One of her friends is throwing a party of some kind.”

  Cael stared at me incredulously. “And you’re going?”

  “Yes.” Not that I wanted to. “It gives me an excuse to keep an eye on her.”

  He blinked. “Shit. That’s—”

  Tempest smirked. “Checkmate.”

  Cael’s head snapped back and he examined the board, squinting furiously. “What? Fuck no. Where’s ‘mate in one?’”

  “You should have left that knight alone. Another round?”

  Cael’s head thunked into the middle of the chessboard.