"The ham," Jael repeated. "What about it?"
Mauve turned to face him at his question. She was still mortified by what she had just done, but it was certainly easier to look at Jael than anyone else. Everyone seed to be waiting for an explanation to her outburst. She could tell from the silence, not even the sound of cutlery hitting the plates could be heard.
Mauve cleared her throat as she tried to gather herself to explain. "Rember when I said the food was off?" she mumbled slowly.
"Yeah," Jael said with a piercing stare that was filled more with confusion than annoyance.
"It's the ham," she said with a nod.
Jael frowned and looked at the piece on his plate. "The ham?" he asked. He lifted his gaze back to her. "I just ate it, I am sure there is nothing wrong with it."
Mauve grimaced. "What do you an?" she asked with a judgntal look on her face. "It slls awful."
"No, it doesn't. Since when do you have issues with ham?" he asked.
"I don't, but I am sure there is sothing wrong with this one."
"There is not—" Jael suddenly stopped mid-sentence and his eyes darted to Louis before returning to her. "Okay," he said. "Do you think you can eat it without the ham? Or would you prefer to eat sothing completely different? I will be sure to let the cook know not to add ham or any pork at."
"I think so," Mauve said and stared back at her plate. "The ham was prepared differently. The al from last night was just awful. The broth had slled like pork and it was hard to figure out what the problem was since it was cooked with other ingredients."
Mauve went on to explain. She knew she was rambling, but that was the only way she would be able to ease the embarrassnt she felt from her outburst. She had been so happy to figure out what the issue was that she didn't think about it.
"Well, that's good to hear. You can put your pieces of ham on my plate since the sight disgusts you so much."
"It's not the sight," she said but was already placing the strips of at onto his plate. "It's the sll. I don't mind it as long as I don't have to eat it."
"Okay," Jael said. "More at for ."
"Don't sound so excited," she laughed. He grinned at her and dug his fork into the at she had placed on his plate and munched on them while making a show of it. Mauve tried her best not to show a disgusted expression, but she knew she would fail, so she turned away from him imdiately and returned to eating.
This ti around, she was able to eat to her satisfaction and if it weren't for the fact that Jael would mock her, she would have asked for more, but she figured she could just snack on sothing or eat more during the second al.
Mauve found herself in the library after she was done eating. Jael had seed preoccupied after leading her out of the dining room and had dropped her off in her room. She didn't know where he was headed next and she didn't get a chance to ask before he left.
After a few minutes of just sitting still in her room, she decided to go to the library. She hadn't been able to do any proper lessons with Louis since Jael was attacked and several things seed to happen after then.
Mauve ran her fingers through the books as she recalled how long it had taken to find them and she couldn't believe Louis had been that careless. She chuckled to herself and pulled out a spell book. She flipped the page open and was just about to go through the spell when she heard the door open.
Mauve was so shocked the book fell out of her hand. She scrambled to pick it up and failed miserably. She finally managed to get it in her hands again and she slipped it into the section just as Louis appeared.
"Louis," she said with a voice that was a little too loud.
He eyed her and his eyes moved to the shelf where she had just dropped the book. "What are you doing?"
"I thought it might be soone else," she said and let out a loud breath.
"That doesn't answer the question. I said, "What are you doing?" He stepped closer.
Mauve glared at him. "Don't make it sound as though I can't even look at them."
"You don't look like you were just looking," he said and walked closer to the shelf. He picked up the book. "If I didn't interrupt, you would have read it."
"That's not true," she said.
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "You suck at lying," he laughed and returned the book.
"What are you doing?" She asked and tried to take the book off the shelf again.
"Don't even think about it," Louis said and smacked her hand away. It wasn't enough to hurt but Mauve pulled it to her chest as she scread dramatically.
"It didn't hurt," he said.
"How would you know?" She glared at him still holding on to her hand. "I haven't done anything in weeks, at this rate, I would forget everything I have learned."
"No, you won't and it has just been a few days and it was because you were indisposed."
"Few days? Liar. You refused to let do more than a few spells because you thought I didn't have any energy after Jael's attack."
"I like to be careful," he said.
"That's not true. You don't even care about the consequences most of the ti. You make try spells you don't know a thing about."
"Spells are different from your health."
"Good to know you prioritize so things over others."
"I thought that was obvious. Speaking of your health, how do you feel?" He peered at her.
Mauve smiled and looked up at him. "Just right."
"That's good. I could barely hold in my laugh when you yelled out about the ham," the words were barely out of his lips when he chuckled.
"Don't laugh at ," she said.
"I am not laughing at you," he said and his voice turned serious. "I am laughing at the situation. That aside, I am guessing Jael told you."
"Jael?" She frowned. "Oh yes, he did."
He peered at her. "I see you don't have any complaints," he said and turned away from her.
Mauve shuffled on her feet. "I was going to talk to you about it," she said.
"What about?"
She frowned at his nonchalance. She knew he wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't have anything to say about it, but she could tell he wanted to hear what she wanted to talk about.
She sighed and twisted her wrist. "You don't sound worried," she said.
He turned. "Worried? What do you an?"
"You told Jael would have to pick a mate."
"And he told you he wouldn't. Did you forget the big fight that happened because he found out I told you?"
"I wouldn't call it a big fight."
Louis shook his head and started walking away. "If you say so."
"Louis," she called and he stopped walking.
"What do you want to hear?"
"Jael doesn't seem to think there is anything to worry about."
"He is not wrong," Louis said and turned away.
"But there is sothing off either, right?" She rushed after him.
Louis stopped abruptly and she almost bumped into him. He turned around and faced her. "There is nothing to be worried about. This has already been done, nothing can change it. The only problem would be how long it would take the Lords to accept it." He looked like he wanted to say more but held it in.
"Surely, it can't be that easy," she said.
"He is still the Primus which ans he can do whatever he wants. However, if the Lords remain adamant in their refusal to accept you, which is pretty stupid in my opinion, knowing Jael, he would offer to step down."
Mauve gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "He can't do that."
"Don't underestimate him. At this point, you should know him better than anyone else—" Louis paused and turned around to face the doors of the library while Mauve looked ahead.
She knew why Louis had stopped talking. The doors had suddenly opened and right now Jael was walking towards them. Mauve pulled her hand away from her mouth and rushed towards him.
"Jael," she cried and hugged him. "I thought you were busy."
He didn't reply, didn't look down at her, his gaze was glued on Louis and for a second Mauve feared for his life. "Jael," she called again, trying to get his attention.
"What's going on here?" he asked darkly.
"Lose the accusatory tone. Whatever you think this is, it's not it."
"Like I can't trust you. Don't go telling Mauve about our personal matters. Leave that to !"
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