Chapter Twenty-Three

Nieve hadn't forgiven her friend, not entirely, but the fact that Layla had told her to sleep in because it had been a long night, was a big step in the right direction. She wasn't expected until after lunch. So she was still curled up in her bed when she heard the door across the hall open and close. She ignored the knock he gave on her door, the way he softly said her name and how that made her spine tingle, and just turned onto her other side. She pulled her covers over her head and hoped she'd dreamed about the Lord and Lady announcing that the wedding had been moved up. The guests that were supposed to leave today, were staying until the wedding, which meant that Christophe was staying too. She'd been able to avoid him during the engagement ball, but she wouldn't be able to avoid him until the wedding. Not when she was supposed to be Layla's shadow.

She groaned, reminding herself she still had half a day before she had to worry about that.

While Nieve was trying to get used to the idea of having Christophe in the castle, Layla was having a hard time settling into the new situation she was in. She'd enjoyed the past week, even the tough lessons, but that punishment the night before their engagement had shifted her entire mood. Though she had enjoyed the engagement party, mostly when she was dancing with Ryan and no one could talk to her. The conversations she'd liked less. She couldn't handle the lying, it felt like she had to pretend to be another person. So, the moment she woke up, she decided to talk to her fiancé, hoping he could help her change things. She started talking about the punishment, thinking he'd been just as shocked as she was, so when he spoke, she could feel her jaw drop.

"It's just the way things are, Layla. The law's been there for ages, and it's there for a reason," he started, stroking his thumb over her hand. She pulled her hand away from him, still lost for words. "I get that it's shocking to see it the first time, but you'll understand once you've been in court a little longer," he then tried to convince her.

"But… you were fine with us breaking the law," she stammered, trying to understand him as much as anything now.

He gave her a smile as he nodded. "Well, yes, but that's because you're special," he said, probably thinking she'd like to hear him say that. Which, of course, she normally did. Yet right now, it just felt belittling.

"You mean to say for a common? Don't you think primes and commons should be able to get married if they want to?"

He mistook her surprise for light teasing and laughed. "I honestly don't think commons could handle the power they'd gain. I mean, you saw what happened when my mother announced…" he trailed off when he realised that he'd been about to mention Evangeline, and that she seemed at least a little angry.

"Just because I can't read yet and grew up poor, doesn't mean I'm stupid," Layla started, getting really upset that what had been such a wonderful day for them yesterday was being ruined by his stubbornness.

"I never said you were," Ryan said confused, wondering where this was coming from. He would never say that she was.

"You implied it," his fiancée pointed out. "Can you honestly not see that that poor guard and server were punished for the same thing that we went through? That if you hadn't been Ryan Simia that we would've faced the same fate?" she asked him. In that moment, she felt like, for all his education and experience, she was the smarter or wiser one out of the two of them, more compassionate. And she'd never expected to feel that way.

Ryan shook his head at the thoughts crashing through his mind, unwilling to believe that his father could be so wrong in his judgment. The law was there for a good reason; guards with attachments were a liability to the family, as they could be manipulated by the enemy. His betrothed however thought he was shaking his head at her question.

"I can't believe you don't see it," Layla said, and he hated how disappointed in him she sounded. But he also knew she was still learning the ropes of being a royal, she would soon learn why things were the way they were. "I think I need to be alone," she dismissed him now as she turned away from him and headed towards the garden.

"Layla," he called after her feebly, slamming his fist on the table when she didn't stop. He contemplated throwing a fireball, but he knew his parents would not be happy if he caused that kind of damage. This was a great start to their life together.

Layla found herself thinking she couldn't believe how badly she'd misjudged her future husband, that he could really stand behind the decision made by his father, until she realised that was epically unfair of her. She'd known he was a loyal person who followed the rules and protocols, that there was a little snobbishness in him from years of living a privileged life, but she'd chosen to ignore that because of all the good, sweet and caring things she'd seen him do. She'd fallen in love with him as a person, which meant the good and the bad. It didn't mean she had to like those particular views and it also didn't mean she couldn't keep trying to change his mind. "I suppose I'd better apologise for walking out on him," she muttered to herself. Just because she knew she had to, didn't mean she liked it. And it didn't mean she couldn't let him stew over it for a bit.

She stopped just inside the entrance of the big hall. Ryan was lounging on his 'throne', looking bored and forlorn. She smiled to herself as she took a few steps closer.

"Ryan," Layla started, amused to see his head snap up.

"Oh, finally!" Ryan exclaimed relieved as he jumped up and pulled her in for a hug. She chuckled at this display, daring to hope he might apologise, and she wouldn't have to. "I've been feeling so bad about the things you said," he started as they pulled back.

She started nodding along with him until she realised what he'd actually said. "The things I said?"

"I get it, you're still so new at this. And it's already better than when people used to get flogged or sometimes hanged, now Riven can alter their memories. But I knew you'd understand," the Simia heir said, rambling a little, still sounding relieved and it made it sound to her that he was relieved to no longer have to question his upbringing and values.

"I'm sorry?" his fiancée asked to clarify.

"It's okay," he told her lovingly, leaning in for a kiss and making it clear he thought she was apologising.

"No, it's not," Layla set him straight as she pulled away before he could. She was feeling even angrier with him than she did before.

"But…" he looked at her confused, genuinely not understanding what was happening.

"Just because I'm new to this, doesn't mean I don't understand or that I'm wrong. And just because it's been that way for years, doesn't make it right, even if it is 'a little better'," she started as she used air quotations, building up some steam as she pulled out of his arms completely.

"Honey…" he started.

"No, don't patronise me Ryan," she cut him off and started walking away.

"Layla, please… stop," he tried now as he caught her arm.

She quickly yanked her arm back. "No, you stop," Layla set him straight and stalked out.

"Layla, what are you doing here?" Nieve jumped up surprised when the blonde stormed into her room in an angry huff. "Am I late? I thought you said-"

"What? No!" The brown-eyed girl stopped to look at her friend; she hated that Nieve actually sounded nervous like she'd done something wrong, and the new Lady was about to punish her. It made her feel even angrier at her fiancé. "Nieve, please don't start to treat me differently," she nearly begged. "You're the only one I can still be myself with," she added, surprising herself when tears started to roll down her cheeks. She sniffled when she felt her friend's surprisingly strong arms around her instantly, her brown skin a stark contrast to the soft pink dress she was wearing today.

"What happened? Who do I need to punch?" the brunette asked, her grey eyes narrowing at the door as if she could storm out any moment.

"No one. I mean, maybe you could punch him, but I don't want you to get in trouble," the blonde replied, unable to hide a small smile. "So, you've forgiven me, huh?" she explained when her friend looked at her questioningly.

"It appears so," Nieve chuckled now too.

Kaitlyn hadn't seen Layla all day and she was surprised to find that she wasn't with her brother, who was looking very grumpy. Though if he'd been in this mood around his fiancée, it might explain why she wasn't there.

"Everything alright?" she asked her brother carefully as she sat down next to him. She hadn't seen him like this in a while.

"No," Ryan said almost accusingly. He still had no idea what had happened between him and his fiancée, and he hated that they hadn't even made it through a day since their engagement without arguing.

"Okay, so what happened?" his sister prompted him.

"I don't know," he said exasperated. "She's upset about what happened to that guard and maid and is badgering me about changing the law forbidding attachments for the guards," he paraphrased her words. The younger royal sat next to him silently as she mulled it over. "It's already better now we have Riven. And I mean, she even said something about how it wasn't fair that my position saved us, or something," he said almost muttering. "She's still getting used to royal protocol so I can't blame her for not understanding," he continued. It suddenly dawned on his sister what had probably happened.

"Or maybe she's got it exactly right," Kaitlyn digested, seeing him frown confused.

"How do you figure that?"

You're such an idiot, she told him silently. "Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but you weren't supposed to fall in love with a common. And mother was anything but happy about that, right?" she started breaking it down, seeing him nod as he wondered where she was going with this. "So, effectively, you and Layla did the same thing as that guard and server. But instead of having Riven erase your memories and feelings, our parents came up with a believable story to tell people why you could break off the engagement with Evangeline to be with the woman you do love," Kaitlyn really tried to be as simple as she could be.

"Right…"

"So that's a direct result of your position."

"Maybe," Ryan conceded. "But I agree that it should still be an exception. Not every common would be able to cope with gaining a new power and she already had least had a latent ability," he pointed out.

"Maybe," it was her turn to concede, though she didn't think that it was that part that Layla was upset about.

"And she's still learning, while this has been a law for generations," he continued.

"You should've stopped while you were ahead," his sister told him now. "Stop saying she's still learning, stop treating her like she can't understand."

"I…"

"Just because she's new to this, doesn't mean that she's wrong. And just because it's been a law for generations, doesn't mean that it's right."

"That's almost exactly what she said," the Simia heir noticed.

"They do say great minds think alike," Kaitlyn said with a cocky smile.

Ryan rolled his eyes at her before he nudged her with his shoulder. "Okay, well, say I agree or understand… I mean, what can I do? Father's still Lord," he thought out loud.

"For now, Father is, but you're due to take over. And it doesn't mean you can't start laying the groundwork," his sister advised him. "That's all she wants, for you to try," she added, nudging him back now. Kaitlyn silently thought it was hilarious that her charming big brother needed her advice on his relationship with his fiancée. She was sure he'd never want it mentioned to anyone, in any case.

"Nieve," both girls jumped when there was a bang on the door.

Layla made sure not to say anything when she noticed the uncomfortable look on her friend's face. She also tried not think anything, but it was highly likely that Riven would already know they were both in there.

"Miss Layla, please open the door," he confirmed her thoughts. "Your fiancé's looking for you," Riven added and it made it that much harder for Layla to ignore him; chances were Ryan had actually asked his friend to find her.

"Go," Nieve told her in a near whisper. "Just close the door quickly behind you, so I can lock it," she added in the same tone.

"Why is what he did affecting you so personally? What happened?" Layla asked, trying to mimic her friend's tone, even if Riven could hear her every thought.

"I'll tell you some other time," the brunette promised.

The blonde gave her friend a big hug. "Thank you," she breathed; she didn't know what she'd do without her here. She headed towards the door and slipped out, pulling the door closed behind her before the bodyguard in front of her could push his way in. "Thank you, Riven. Can you please escort me to my Lord's room?" Layla said firmly, appealing to his sense of loyalty to keep him from her friend. She could tell his frustration with her ploy; she didn't need to be able to read minds to know he was cursing her in his. "Well?" she asked in her best impatient voice when he didn't immediately placate her.

"Of course, my lady," Riven nodded now and started leading the way away from the servants' quarters.

"I'm sorry, Riven. You know why I had to?" the blonde apologised after a few minutes, when they were far enough away from her friend.

"You don't even know…" he started.

"I don't need to know. If she doesn't want to see you right now, I won't force her to. Not yet," Layla corrected him, and he was once again taken aback by the loyalty between these two friends.

The bodyguard stewed for a few seconds before he conceded. "You're going to make a fine Lady Simia one day," he told her with a small smile, knowing how worried she was about that. Riven took her the shortest way he could, making her jump when he suddenly thumped his fist on a hidden side door.

"Layla," she heard her fiancé's relieved voice before she could settle herself and found herself in his arms. She could feel the bodyguard slink away, but Ryan didn't give her much time to think about it. "I'm so sorry, about everything," he told her as he hugged her and led her into his room so they could talk.

Riven could hear Ryan tell Layla he'd try his best to change things if it meant so much to her. The mindreader knew he didn't understand why yet, but at least he was willing to do his best. Feeling like it wasn't his place to listen in, he decided to go back to his room; or well, to be precise, the door across from his room. He walked even faster than he usually did, though he had no idea what he wanted to do when he'd get there.

Nieve had just walked out of the shower with a fluffy towel wrapped around her, her hair dripping softly on the carpet, when she heard a knock on the door.

"Nieve," she heard Riven's voice softly. She walked over to the door, placed her hand on the doorknob, but hesitated to open it, afraid of what he was going to say or what she would do if he looked at her with his stormy blue eyes full of regret. "I don't know if you're there, or if you can hear me," he continued, clearly still finding that frustrating. He sighed and then stayed so quiet that she wondered if he'd left.

"I know you're still angry at me," Riven said, his eyes searching the door as if he could see through it. He hated that she wouldn't speak with him, barely looked at him, when all he wanted to do was be with her and talk with her and share all his thoughts like he wanted to know all of hers. He wanted to live up to all her expectations, he wanted her to know he'd do better, but he couldn't promise something he didn't know for sure. There was only one thing he now realised he did know, one thought, one feeling that he needed to share. He couldn't believe how scared he felt, not just because he'd be breaking the law, but mostly because he didn't know how she'd respond. But he needed to tell her.

"I love you."

His voice was so low she almost thought she'd imagined it. Her heart raced as tears spilled over her cheeks. By the time she'd turned the doorknob, she heard his door close.