Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Victor set down his fountain pen and stared at Hugo like he’d lost his mind. “You want me to guide you to the library?”
Hugo smirked and placed a hand on the edge of Victor’s enormous oak desk, leaning forward. “Well, it wasn’t that long ago that you were arguing for me to be your husband. As someone who almost had the status of fiancé, I would think that I could take a few liberties with His Majesty that others couldn’t.”
“Says the man who is also my prisoner,” Victor countered, though his voice had lost some of its angry growl.
Hugo’s face broke into a wide grin. “Yes, isn’t it amazing? I live in a unique state. There will be historians who devote entire books to my unorthodox style of diplomacy.”
“Ryze put you up to this.”
Hugo lurched away and made a show of exhibiting shock. “What? You’re not serious, are you?”
“It’s the only way you could have gotten past the guards outside your room and the guards outside my study.”
“I think you’re underestimating how sneaky I can be.”
Victor sat back in his chair, arms folded over his chest. His expression wasn’t hostile any longer, but he’d yet to crack a smile. “Try again.”
So Hugo did.
“Dinner. They were all at dinner.”
The king’s lips moved as if he were fighting to keep from smiling.
“Eaten,” Hugo announced, taking a third stab in the dark in the hopes of somewhat protecting Captain Ryze from the king’s ire. “Alpacas ate all your guards.”
Victor blinked and cleared his throat before repeating. “Alpacas?”
“Yes, you know…alpacas. I read Wulia has them in the mountains. A pack of wild, ferocious alpacas stormed the castle and ate all your guards. It’s a bloody mess out there.”
“Have you ever seen an alpaca?”
“No, but I saw a drawing once. They’re enormous furry horses, right?”
The dam broke, and great belly laughs rolled out of Victor, forcing him up to his feet. “Not even close.” He strolled around his desk and motioned for Hugo to accompany him. “Come. Now I must show you to the library so you can learn what an alpaca is. Obviously, Branem’s education system could use some work.”
Hugo lifted his chin, not yet willing to give up the farce or acknowledge the king’s dig at his home country. “Are you going to protect me from them?”
Victor marched over to the west wall and pulled down an old sword that hung there. He gave a few practice swipes, cutting swiftly and cleanly through the air with practiced ease. “Would you like one too?”
He was tempted. Hugo felt more comfortable with a sword in his hand than a rifle, but this didn’t seem like a wise choice. With a smirk, Hugo called on his magic and made a glass short sword with a few waves of his hand, but this time he made sure not to give it a sharp point or break the edge. It was a weapon only in appearance. Not something he could threaten a king with.
“Exquisite.” Victor breathed.
“Not at all. This is nonsense. You should see my glass flowers. But first,” Hugo paused and thrust his glass sword above his head, “to the library!”
They burst out of the king’s study, shocking the guards who were still standing at their posts. After they recovered from seeing King Victor wielding a sword and the prisoner holding a glass one, they jumped to assist.
“Stand back!” the king barked. “We’re going to the library!”
He charged forward. Hugo remained close on his heels, giggling like a lunatic. He glimpsed Captain Ryze standing in a nearby hallway with his hands open and held out in silent question, as if demanding to know what nonsense Hugo had wrought. Hugo laughed and shrugged his shoulders. If this broke the dour king out of his dark mood, so be it. Who else did he have to give him some relief?
After more hallways and one set of stairs, they arrived at the royal library, which was as grand as Hugo had expected it to be. It was an elegant two-story room filled with bookshelves. There was of course the perquisite rolling ladder to help reach the highest shelves. But the best part might have been the cozy furniture set up in front of a gigantic fireplace—the perfect spot to spend a snowy winter day.
“You know…” Hugo drawled as he took in the deep-blue walls that peeked out past the bookshelves and the thin hints of silver that made the room feel more magical. “If you’re serious about getting married, I have two very single brothers.”
Victor dropped his sword on the long table with a loud, metallic clatter and stared at Hugo, his lips parted but no words came out for a couple of heartbeats. Hugo smiled at him.
“You’re serious,” Victor said, a hint of surprise lilting through those two words.
“Very. Dorian would marry you for this library alone. He’s not a prince or a noble’s son, but I swear he’d be loyal. Plus, you’d always know where to find him. Augustine…” Hugo sighed. “Augustine would probably marry you for sword collection.” Hugo hurried closer and set his glass sword next to the king’s. “But if you choose him, don’t let him talk you into giving him his own squad of soldiers. His ideas are rarely good.”