A good candidate

I march out of my room with Ignis as an escort. He keeps walking two steps behind me, and he doesn't talk at all.

We're in the open, under people's eyes, so we have to pretend we don't know each other.

I want to show him the path in the garden. He will explore it later for me since I can't get too far without raising suspicions.

When the door is closed behind my back, I notice two guards standing by. With the corner of my eye, I spot one taking a step forward to follow me. Yet, he must have seen Ignis and returns to his place.

Bringing a guard with me to explore is troublesome. I can't actually focus on looking for secret passages or ways to get out.

I walk in the garden for a while, waiting for the perfect moment to disappear.

«I found a passage in the walls, come,» I say when the trees and bushes cover us enough. «I don't know where this brings, and I can't check.»

«I will look into it,» Ignis affirms. He reaches me, and he observes the small door. «It's locked, but I can break it or make sure it's open the day we el... escape.»

«When will that day come?»

I will ask the maids to prepare me simpler clothes and choose those for the days I don't get out of the room. Like that, they won't suspect me when I wear something less challenging.

«Soon, Veronica. Just give me some more time.»

«Oh, I didn't want to hurry you.»

He walks back to me and holds my hand.

«Do you trust me enough to wait a few days more?» he says.

I nod, surprised. He's looking for skin contact so often. Did my shy Ignis disappear? Or is it because he feels like we're close?

Years have passed, indeed. But I don't feel like I'm in front of a stranger.

«This is a token of my intentions, Veronica. A sign of my promise to you. I'll get you out of this place.»

He locks a small bracelet around my wrist.

Several stones are nestled in it, and a little plaque with a rose drawn on it hangs at the end. It's made of white gold and precious gems, even though small.

I can tell it's pricey.

«Thank you,» I say. «You didn't have to, though. I believe in you.»

«Please, accept it,» he continues.

How insistent. Yet, he already put it on my hand. What can I do now? I won't take it off, so I just can accept it.

«It's beautiful.» Not very heavy. On the contrary, it's so discreet that it's delightful. The stones shine when hit by light, and the colours are all so vivid.

«Which one do you like more?» Ignis asks. «Red? Blue?»

«The emeralds,» I say. Rubies and sapphires are pretty, but emeralds have their own charm.

Also, they remind me of Ignis's eyes.

«So, green?» he murmurs.

«Yes, green,» I chuckle. «How did you even find something this pretty without knowing the name of the stones?»

«I just saw it while passing by...»

Passing by? Where?

How can someone pass by a jewellery store and be attracted by a piece? Those places are as guarded as the royal dungeons, for goodness.

«This is a sign of our link,» I say. «I won't take it off, all right?»

Ignis nods, satisfied. His ears are red again, but I pretend not to have noticed. I also feel a bit hot.

We both fell prey to embarrassment. But why?

It's not like we did anything behind the bushes. We just exchanged a few words. And a bracelet.

«There's something I have to say,» I whisper.

I shouldn't keep it hidden any longer. After all, Ignis is helping me. It would only be a problem if my rash actions cause trouble and he doesn't have a clue about it.

«Yes?»

«I sent a message to the King. I told him I was already married. I'm sorry, but I lost my cool. He replied to me with only a few words. After spending so much time writing my letter, he just... Oh, I'm sorry, Ignis.»

«Spend time writing letters?» he murmurs. «What kind of letters?»

«Mainly complaints. I asked the King to reduce security... Well, to let me get out of the room.»

«And?»

«We are out of the room. I think the King changed his orders for some reason. The guards' behaviour changed a hundred and eighty degrees. They became friendly overnight.»

«Hmm... Do you think he suspects something?»

I nod and show him the short message. Do not try to escape.

«There are no Gs in this,» I whisper, distracted by this elegant calligraphy. Oh, if only it didn't belong to a tyrant.

«If the King is suspecting, we should move on with our plans. Get ready to depart at any moment,» he says.

Again with that solemn expression. Really, he's so handsome when he's focused.

Hmm? What am I thinking about? Oh, for goodness, it's Ignis. I shouldn't be like this. Not about him.

He sacrificed his bachelor days for me. I shouldn't make him think I was after his body or something similar...

I promised I would let him go when this is all over. I can't start getting too attached now.

«I will visit you at night, and we'll take advantage of the darkness to flee,» he adds, making me realise he's talking about serious matters. While I fantasise about his well-built physique.

«Yes!» I exclaim, getting back on track with the discussion.

«Be ready with clothes for a couple of days. We'll buy everything on the way as soon as we get out of Mavale. The capital is dangerous: we might get recognised.»

«All right, Ignis. I'm sure it will be all right.»

«And... Don't use your talents. Please, be careful.»

I lift my brows, surprised. Oh, Ignis remembers about my powers. He knows very well why I'm so unwilling to stay.

«I will be careful, indeed.»

I haven't done anything weird for my whole stay, knowing many eyes are on me. I won't jeopardise my position now that things are starting to move.

«You saved my life once. I will protect you, Veronica. Even if it means giving my whole life to you.»

Oh, that's a bit too much. My poor heart.

Doesn't he know how his words sound?

I'm just a woman, after all.

«Don't make anyone notice our intentions.»

«I won't, Ignis. I'll be just the same I was till now. I won't even stop snooping around so that the King doesn't suspect I'm changing strategy.»

«Aren't you afraid now that he knows?»

«He knows?» I snicker. «If he knew, he wouldn't let me freely walk in the garden. He just wanted to sound threatening. It's as if he was talking to a little child, trying to make me stay put with a few words on a paper. But I am no child.»

«Writing just a few words...»

«Oh, I think he's trying to avoid the Gs.»

«To avoid what?» he asks, blinking a couple of times.

«His Gs are weird, so he's trying not to write any.»

«Weird?»

«Yes, Ignis. I'll show you when we get back. His first letter had a few.»

«Does it make sense?»

«Why reply with a few words only? He wrote a whole letter, you know? And it was rather polite. Why change all of a sudden?»

Ignis chuckles, amused.

«You're overestimating him.»

«As far as I know, he's a psycho.»

«Don't talk like this about your King.»

«My King?»

«Well, our King.»

I sigh, displeased. Still, his loyalty is commendable.

Even if we're going to run away and leave the King behind, Ignis didn't say a single bad word about him. He also does his job as a guard and protects the Palace with his skills.

Such a good candidate for marriage, isn't he?