Chapter 76: Meeting Alaric
The kitchen stank of soap, steam, and regret. I was halfway through scrubbing the last greasy pot when it struck me like a dagger to the ribs.
"The fountain!"
The rag slipped from my hand and splashed into the suds. I froze, arms dripping, brain stuttering.
Nyx, stretched out across the counter like a loaf of midnight fur, cracked open one golden eye. "What is it now? Did you finally notice you’re not cut out for manual labor?"
"No," I said, gripping the pot like it had betrayed me. "Worse. I forgot."
"Forgot what?" His tail flicked lazily, amusement already sharpening in his voice.
"Alaric."
Nyx purred. "Ah. The boy with shoes shinier than his future. You left him?"
"Not left," I said quickly. "Delayed. Strategically."
The door swung open. Freya stepped in balancing a tray of cups. She stopped mid-step when she saw my face. "What did you do?"
"Nothing." My smile was instant, flawless, untrustworthy. "Everything is under control."
Nyx rolled onto his back, paws in the air. "He abandoned his loyal disciple at the fountain."
Freya set the tray down with a clatter. "You didn’t."
"I did not." I wagged the wet rag at her like a lawyer waving evidence. "This is training. Waiting builds patience. Patience builds character. Character builds..." I paused, then added, "Whatever it builds."
Her eyes narrowed. "He’s still standing there, isn’t he?"
I pictured Alaric—uniform crisp, hair combed, jaw clenched in noble determination—while nobles whispered and laughed behind their hands. The image bloomed in my mind so vividly that I doubled over, laughing so hard I nearly dropped the pot.
"You’re impossible!" Freya hissed, swatting me with a dish towel.
I gasped between wheezes. "Impossible? I’m inspirational. That’s different."
Nyx licked his paw, smug. "He’ll never recover from this. A boy abandoned at a fountain? That’s character-building trauma."
"Exactly," I said, straightening, soap still dripping down my sleeve. "See? Even the cat understands."
Freya groaned. "He deserves better."
"Don’t worry," I said, wringing out the rag. "I’ll spin it. I always spin it."
***
Across the courtyard, Alaric was indeed still standing at the fountain.
His back was ramrod straight, his chin tilted to the heavens, his hands clasped behind him with the grace of a noble statue. At least, that’s what he told himself.
The truth was his smile had been frozen in place so long it felt like his face had been carved from stone.
Twenty minutes had passed. Maybe thirty. Every pair of nobles that drifted by cut him with their whispers.
"Still waiting?" one murmured."How tragic," another sighed.
Alaric gritted his teeth and forced his lips to twitch upward again. He rehearsed excuses under his breath."My mentor is late on purpose, to test me.""He does this to build resilience.""Yes. This is a noble trial. A crucible of dignity."
The fountain burbled merrily behind him, each splash like laughter at his expense.
He wanted to die.
By the time I finally strolled into the courtyard, the moon had shifted to paint everything in white glow. Perfect entrance lighting.
I whistled. "Ah, there you are."
Alaric spun, eyes wide, hope and fury battling across his face. "Th-there you are?!"
"Yes." I nodded gravely. "Exactly where I told you to wait. Excellent discipline."
His voice cracked. "Discipline?"
"Of course." I clasped my hands behind my back, oozing sincerity. "This was a test."
"A... test?"
"Patience," I said smoothly. "Endurance. Grace under humiliation. All the virtues of nobility. And you, my dear Alaric..." I patted his shoulder like a benevolent saint. "You passed."
His jaw fell open. "I... passed?"
"With flying colors." I smiled, dazzling. "I was watching the whole time."
Nyx padded up behind me, tail flicking. "He was not."
I "accidentally" stepped on his paw. Nyx yowled; I coughed delicately. "Don’t mind him. He says things."
Alaric’s eyes were wide now, shining with restored faith. "You—you really were watching?"
"Always." I tilted my head just enough to catch the light like some sort of divine mentor descending from heaven.
Alaric straightened, pride blossoming on his face. "Then... I won’t let you down!"
"Good man," I said warmly. "Now, let’s dazzle some nobles."
Nyx muttered, "If lying was an art, you’d be crowned king."
I ignored him.
Together, we turned toward the polished doors of the Noble Etiquette Club.
Alaric’s shoulders squared with fresh purpose. My smile was as sharp as a dagger hidden in velvet. Nyx slunk beside us, muttering about sainthood for frauds.
And behind us, the fountain kept laughing.
***
The Noble Etiquette Club doors loomed ahead, towering slabs of polished wood carved with roses and vines so delicate they looked alive. Twin lanterns cast honeyed light across the marble steps, and every laugh drifting out through the cracks felt like it had been trained at birth to sound superior.
Alaric inhaled deeply. His chest swelled with nerves and hope in equal measure. "This is it. My chance. Our chance."
Our? I nearly corrected him, but then thought better of it. I liked the sound of that.
Two older boys guarded the doorway, tall and sleek in uniforms that looked like they’d been starched with pure arrogance. One twirled a cane he didn’t need; the other had the kind of jaw that made you want to throw bread rolls at it. Both looked me up and down as if I were a stray dog Alaric had dragged along.
"Invitation," Cane Boy said, extending his hand.
Alaric, eager, fumbled out a neatly folded letter sealed in blue wax. "Here." His voice wavered at the edges, but he handed it over like it was a sword.
Jaw Boy broke the seal, read, then gave a reluctant nod. "Alaric. You’re cleared."
His eyes slid to me. Paused. Sharpened. "And him?"
Alaric’s smile faltered. "Ah, this is—"
I stepped forward before he could ruin everything. "I am his aide."
The guards blinked.
"Aide?" Cane Boy said slowly, as though it were a foreign word.
"Yes." I bowed just enough to look humble without risking my spine. "A noble must arrive properly accompanied. To stand alone at the threshold of power would be... gauche. I exist only to ensure Lord Alaric’s brilliance is undimmed by trivialities. If he shines, I succeed. Nothing more."