Bolin
Stella caught on to Astralini vocabulary with surprising speed. Even with her constant headaches, she pushed herself to learn more. She began to resist my Celestia studies in her eagerness to communicate in the new language. A translator wasn’t enough for her. Hiding my frustration became more difficult the more she asserted her will against me. She didn’t realize how much she needed me to buffer the king’s demands.
I cared for her, but her refusal to help my work strained my affection to the point of breaking. Every passing day, she slipped further from me, and figuring out a way to regain her seemed unachievable. Did she not see everything I did for her?
No family came forward for her. That gave me time, at least. For now.
About ten days after our arrival at the king’s estate, a familiar tapping cadence met my ear while I roamed the halls, taking a short hiatus from Astralini verbs. Patrick? My heart thumped in my chest and I followed the sound. Hope rose in my soul, even though I knew it wasn’t my husband.
I turned the corner, and there he stood, surrounded by three royal escorts. Restraining myself from launching at him and wrapping him in a bear hug took all my strength.
“Patrick?” I gasped.
His broad back turned with another tap of his cane. “Bolin,” he responded with a wide smile.
I held myself back, my spine aching from the tension. “How are you here?” I asked. The king forbade Stella to leave the estate, and until she spoke Astralini with some functional ability, I wasn’t allowed to leave either. Translating enabled my continued access to her while denying me my spouse.
“Prince Fernando didn’t tell you? He requested my presence here three times a week for Celestia instruction.”
I meant it when I said to ask Patrick for help as I had no availability away from my ward, but I didn’t expect for him to actually do it. For a split moment, speech eluded me. My jaw hung open.
The corners of his eyes wrinkled as he smiled. “I missed you, too.”
I couldn’t be affectionate here, not with witnesses. But he knew I loved him with all my heart, even when I stood gaping like a fool.
“Can you stop by me when you finish? Stella would love to see you, too.”
He nodded. “I’ll request it.”
I approached, though I slowed when the escorts eyed me with suspicion.
Patrick stepped closer and gripped my elbow. Switching to a Northumbrian dialect, he whispered, “if you make the room empty, I’ll show you how much I missed you.”
My eyelids fluttered and my heartbeat surged as I grasped his meaning.
“If it can be done, I’ll arrange it,” I muttered.
He patted my arm and allowed the escorts to lead him away.
Time constraints and lack of privacy made intimacy unlikely, but even talking alone with my husband soothed the ache between my shoulder blades. Divine, I loved that man.
Prince Fernando
My first lesson in Celestia was a disaster. As the crown prince of Astralind, I spoke my native language, and three others: Lisairean, Trestainian, and Keruleni. I was most comfortable with Lisairean, as the tongue was similar to mine. Keruleni had been very difficult, but Celestia was worse. The odd vocabulary and bizarre grammar were nothing like the four I already understood.
After just two hours with Mr. Patrick Cowan, I worried this endeavor was doomed to failure.
“Celestia is incredibly difficult,” my teacher said with an understanding smile. “You must give it time.”
I pressed on my temples and puffed out a sigh. This poorly thought out idea did nothing for my princely duties. “I’m not sure I’ll continue,” I murmured.
Mr Cowan’s face flickered with emotion before his face became expressionless. “This is worth doing. Some of the greatest ancient texts are in Celestia, and reading the original text adds depth that translations cannot show. I believe a certain healer will be relieved if her future master understands her, too.”
My gut clenched. Future master?
I supposed I would be when I ruled Astralini. She’d be under my control for the rest of her life once my father passed. Why did that thought disgust me?
“Should I plan to come midweek and endweek?”
I rubbed my chin and nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
Mr. Cowan cleared his throat. “Would it please Your Highness if I stop and talk to Mr. Guo before I leave?”
I glanced up, meeting hopeful green eyes. “Of course. Go visit him.”
His expression lit. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“You’re welcome.”
I dismissed him, and a guard escorted him to the guest study. Despite the king’s refusal to allow “unnecessary” guests, I let my instructor chat with his spouse.
I needed fresh air to untangle my thoughts, and made my way to the garden, only to find Stella wandering about the hanging vines.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, forgetting she wouldn’t understand me.
Her ocean-gray eyes widened.
“Bolin … um, need … break,” she answered in broken Astralini.
My breath caught. Hearing her soft, pleasant voice speak my language did something it shouldn’t.
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