“I’m not mad. We’ve both had shit going on in our life, and I can see why you started thinking the worst.”
“Zacharie’s words…” The statement had beyond shaken Aleric. To hear his future husband was Gautier’s son…He’d already thought Jaime didn’t seem quite right for a common man, and he’d almost thought Gautier had worked out an elaborate plan with a bastard child no one local knew of.
“It’s not your fault. Your brother must have said that to hurt you, and maybe he thinks a couple of idiots will believe it because we both happen to have orange eyes. I promise I won’t lie again. You can ask me anything about my past. I wanted a couple of days to tell you because I wasn’t sure how to break it, and I didn’t want to marry you with that secret.”
Aleric took a deep breath and folded his arms. “I see your reasoning.”
“I’m not looking to get a new lord position to replace what I would have had,” Jaime added hastily.
“I know.” Jaime couldn’t have planned for Aleric to get heat fever or to be picked up that night. His insistence on staying and making things work with Aleric seemed to come from protectiveness. He’d watched his Mother and unborn sibling die as a helpless child. Two others had died shortly afterward, and he’d lost the rest of his family. In the back of his head, Aleric and their child dying probably scared him more than he’d want to admit considering Aleric was in danger.
He also clearly wanted a family.
“Zacharie must be pissed you’re getting married before him again,” said Jaime. “You’ll be giving Lord Monet a grandchild too. Lucky you, getting to do everything first since you’re the heir.”
“Yeah.” Aleric closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. This morning had been full of revelations, and he was tired already.
Someone knocked on the door. “Aleric?”
He sighed. “Can you let Father in?”
He’d probably be blamed somehow. Or told to go make up with Zacharie. He was sure they’d never get along now. The rift was too deep, and while that was mostly Aleric’s fault since he wasn’t the best brother at all, he didn’t care to fix it at that point. Zacharie had gouged it a little deeper.
Lord Monet looked deeply wounded when he came in. “I’m sorry, son. I don’t know what happened downstairs. Zacharie’s being unbearable, and he’s in his room now. I said he needed to apologize, but he’s refusing. Jaime, I’m sorry you had to hear that too. Zacharie’s just-”
“Jealous?” spat Aleric. “I’m getting married first again. And he guessed right. I’m also pregnant with the next heir. He’s a brat.”
Lord Monet tapped his cane on the floor as he stopped by his son’s armchair. “This is unlike him-”
“He’s an immature brat.”
“He’s never spoken or acted quite like this before,” said Lord Monet. “He flipped. Gautier’s shocked by his behavior, and Zacharie’s saying you’re so desperate to be with Gautier, you picked his son.”
Zacharie had dragged up bullshit to shame his brother, and Aleric didn’t want to bring the old argument back. “He’s not Gautier’s son.”
“I know who my Father is, and if you saw him, you’d see I look like him,” Jaime said firmly.
Lord Monet waved a hand at him. “I don’t doubt that. Everyone knows Alex has no children, so nobody believes it. It’s ridiculous.”
Aleric knew it was pointless to say he’d also never intended to steal his brother’s lover. He’d tried to protect Zacharie.
“They need to go,” Jaime said suddenly. “In fact, the whole court should leave before Aleric gets married, if he’s fine with that.”
“I am,” said Aleric.
“You don’t want them to see you get married?” asked Lord Monet.
“They’re leeches and more interested in feasting afterward,” said Aleric.
“Zacharie and his lover should also go,” added Jaime.
“Excuse me? You can’t kick out my other son-”
“You have the village-”
“You better watch your tongue. Just because you’re about to marry Aleric doesn’t mean you can demand I boot out my other child.”
“My future husband is pregnant, and he doesn’t need this kind of shit stressing him out,” Jaime snapped. “Considering the way the court was talking, a small, quiet wedding is better, and Aleric would like to return to a quiet home. He won’t get that with Zacharie running his mouth. If you think he was bad this morning, I bet he’ll be worse later. What if he starts more shit in the Temple to humiliate Aleric? A good deal of the citizens will be standing outside to watch.”
