After Franz announced Mariela's pregnancy the entire palace was in an uproar for over a week. Suddenly the relatively forgotten second princess was the most talked about person in the capital. News spread like wildfire throughout the town.
Al and I found that out while escaping the palace one day for so peace and quiet. No matter how hard we tried, it seed that we couldn't escape our problems. Whispers about the line of succession followed us wherever we went.
Eventually we were so sick of listening to other people that we headed to the completely empty beach and sat on that rock where we t by chance the day he proposed to .
"How does Mariela stand it?" I asked.
The poor thing knew she was the subject of much gossip but she was still stuck in her room. Franz never left her side and had guards he trusted personally inspect all of her als for poison before she consud them.
Al stared out at the sea glumly. "She's a princess. She's used to this sort of thing."
I gathered from his tone that he, as the unwanted third prince, was used to this sort of thing too. Had anyone ever tried to kill Al? I didn't have the courage to ask.
I was technically a princess too but I would never be used to this sort of barbarism. I hadn't been born into the world of royalty and backstabbing though. This was still new to . Even so, this didn't seem like the sort of thing a person could get used to.
The ocean was a greenish gray today. It seed colder and more mysterious than usual, matching the dark mood that had befallen us. What would we find across that sea when the ti ca for us to escape?
The closer the ti ca the more worried I was about logistics. Would we really be able to get away with it? What would we do when we got there? It probably wouldn't be easy building a life from scratch in a new country.
"Do you really think we'll be able to afford enough books to start a library when we get to Shibatsu?"
Al turned toward , the ghost of a smile on his face. "In case you haven't forgotten, your husband is filthy rich. We could survive for years as commoners with a single month's worth of my allowance."
I hadn't, but Al didn't have access to that money personally most of the ti. He had to go through a steward in charge of his expenses if he wanted to purchase sothing outside of the palace.
Seeing my hesitation, he was quick to reassure . "I've been cutting corners by buying cheaper things for us the past few months and having the steward give the difference."
I frowned. Wouldn't that look highly suspicious if anyone talked to the steward?
"What if sobody notices you doing that? They'll get suspicious. The steward might talk; you never know who is on Sigmund's side in the palace."
He shrugged it off. "You really think soone is going to care enough about of all people to tell? No one has ever cared what I'm up to before. It is how we're able to get away with going out like this."
He had a point but I couldn't help but be paranoid. Who knew if we were being plotted against this very mont? If Sigmund suspected we (but mostly ) were on Franz's side on the issue of succession we would both beco targets.
He didn't like his little brother anyway. Looking for an excuse to get rid of him wouldn't take much prodding. Especially since Duke Orla was his right hand man and he particularly seed to hate Al.
"You need to be more careful," I scolded. I didn't want him to get in trouble and drag down with him.
Al brightened slightly as he leaned over to kiss the top of my head. "You worry too much and I don't worry enough. We complent each other perfectly."
I rolled my eyes. He was such a cheeseball.
Sotis I didn't know how to handle the things he said. Over ti he had gotten a lot better at making blush because I couldn't always dismiss such statents as ridiculous. It was part of his attempts to court .
I couldn't deny that sotis they got to and touched my heart. But not right now when I was a bit cross with him.
"Al, I'm serious. We need to be more cautious. I know you think we're safe because all eyes are on Mariela right now but that doesn't an we should get complacent. We still have to survive here a while longer."
He sighed and stretched out his legs in front of him on the rock. "I know we do. But there isn't another way I can get money for us to leave so I'm doing my best here."
I softened a little at his words. I really couldn't fault him for trying even though his thods weren't the wisest. All he wanted was for us to get out of here as quickly and efficiently as possible to live a better life.
Al wouldn't have to keep cheating the steward if there was another way for us to make money. What if I used my crocheting skills to set up a stall in town? The yarn's expenses would be coming from the royal treasury and wouldn't personally cost a cent.
I knew how to make beanies and scarves. If I offered a discount because the cold season was coming to a close people might be more likely to buy them. But I would also be taking away from the livelihoods of people who needed the money more.
Unlesswhat if I used our monthly budget to buy up all of the other hats and scarves so I had a monopoly? Everyone would get paid and I could potentially donate all the things I bought to the orphanage. This could work.
I stood up and offered Al a hand. "Co on. I have an idea."
"Where are we going?"
"To the yarn shop. We're going to place a huge order to be sent to the palace. I know what's going to keep us busy for the next month," I said mischievously.
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