evie immediately slapped a hand over her mouth, like she could physically shove the words back inside.
elias, standing behind her with a sack of herbs slung over his shoulder, stared at her in open horror.
"you absolute dumbass," he hissed.
evie gave a strangled, panicked laugh and bent down to pick up her basket, pretending like she hadn't just cussed out the emperor in front of his eight-year-old daughter.
"your majesty," she squeaked out, trying to bow while juggling the spilled contents of the basket and whatever remained of her dignity. "uh, blessings and... uh... glory upon the-uh-sun of the empire."
there was a beat of silence.
then elias, the little traitor, elbowed her hard and muttered, "it's 'upon the sun AND star of the obelian empire,' genius."
athanasia blinked up at evie with wide, fascinated eyes like she was watching some kind of rare wildlife.
probably wasn't far off.
claude said nothing.
he didn't have to.
his presence alone was enough to press down on the whole street, heavy and suffocating. evie felt like she was a bug under a boot. a very stupid bug who was about to be squashed for saying 'fuck' in front of literal royalty.
"my lord," a sharp voice called from inside the shop.
maerin bustled out, wiping her hands on her apron. she spotted the imperial crest on the carriage and the very obvious emperor standing on her porch and, impressively, didn't flinch.
she just gave a quick, no-nonsense bow.
"welcome to hawthorne's apothecary. how can we help you, your majesty?"
evie desperately tried to shuffle backward and hide behind maerin. elias did the same, which resulted in them bumping into each other and almost toppling over.
claude's gaze flicked over the scene, unreadable.
finally, he spoke, voice cool and razor-sharp.
"i'm here regarding my daughter's education in medicine."
maerin straightened slightly.
"i see. you've come to the right place."
athanasia beamed up at maerin, hands clasped behind her back. "i really want to learn how to make healing potions and bandages. i want to learn for the sake of my people! perhaps explosions too!
evie snorted before she could stop herself, immediately turning it into a fake cough.
claude's eyes flicked to her, sharp as a blade.
evie wilted slightly but forced her best innocent smile.
"explosions will not be necessary," claude said flatly.
athanasia pouted a little but nodded. "yes, father."
maerin gave a small, professional smile.
"we'll start with the basics, then."
"good," claude said. "i expect a thorough education."
maerin inclined her head. "of course."
evie was doing her best to blend into the background, but somehow, claude's gaze found her again.
sharp. assessing.
she stiffened under the weight of it.
maybe if she stayed really, really still, he wouldn't remember she existed.
beside her, elias muttered, "you're sweating."
"shut up," evie hissed back through her teeth.
claude's voice cut through the air like a whip.
"you. evienne eldore."
YOU ARE READING
accidentally yours | claude de alger obelia
Fantasyone, she fell from the sky and into his arms-bloodied, burning, and already halfway gone. he's been chasing the smoke ever since. two, a monster hunter with too much magic. an emperor with too much power. they were never supposed to find each other...
