The Aldean Chronicles: Spotlight (Part 2)

After twenty minutes of struggling to pay attention, I pull out my phone. I pretend to be taking notes but I'm really texting Tristan.

"I am so bored."

He texts back. "You can think about our date tomorrow, we get to watch the games by ourselves."

I wince. "I forgot to tell you. Aunt Freya won't let us go by ourselves. She said it would be perceived badly."

He responds with. "It's a shame. I was looking forward to watching grown men and women get beaten to a pulp with you."

I shudder. "We can still go. But I'm bringing Gray."

"I'll bring Jamie."

"Cool. It would be like a public secret date."

"And my parents are at a dinner tomorrow night. We can go back to my place later. They won't be back till midnight."

My stomach does a little somersault.

"Your Highness." Quinton clears his throat softly.

I put my phone away and focus back on the meeting.

The smile on my face is soon wiped when I realize they're only on page 6 of the 32-page folder.

"May I Speak, Infante?" A woman with dark skin, and a stern face asks. "I feel this meeting is incomplete without the delegate from Galfana. We wouldn't want them crying that they're being cheated." Even I know that was a jab.

The man beside her nods. "I agree."

Seb looks around the table. "What are you suggesting? We toss out months of preparations, and put ourselves weeks behind, all because the Minister for Galfana isn't here?"

The woman nods. "That is exactly what I'm saying."

The room is silent as Seb thinks. "The next time we do this, it's over video chat."

Everyone laughs. I think it was supposed to be an inside joke.

"We'll reconvene next Wednesday. If Galfana doesn't send a representative, I'll speak on their behalf. And I may not be feeling favorable that day. Meeting adjourned."

The members stand up, courtesy, and take their leave.

Seb leans back in his chair. His eyes are concentrated on the portrait directly opposite him.

I'm in awe of him. How does he do this every day? The meeting only went on for forty-five minutes and I wanted to fake a tummy ache so I could go home. Seb on the other hand was ready to go for hours.

I think some people are just born with a knack for this stuff. I may be Seb's blood, but I didn't inherit his skill for this job.

"So." I walk up to Seb's chair at the head of the table. "What's next?"

"Next is a late breakfast with the Treasurer. It was supposed to be lunch, but I have time now. You'll love her."

"Will I?"

"Yes, she's the warmest, kindest person you'll ever meet."

I smile. "That sounds nice." Quinton shakes his head at me and I lose my smile. "Funny."

Seb chuckles and leads us back to his office.

Quinton sets up the seating area and runs to get the food.

"Cassandra, you can sit next to her on the sofa?" Seb sits on the armchair to the left.

"Okay. I see you are also weirdly obsessed with seating arrangements."

"You don't think they're a big deal?" He sets the cutlery.

"Does it matter where a person sits? It's the same table?" I shrug.

He stares at me for a second. "Do you know anything about the battle at Wordsworth?"

I rack my brain for any information I have on it. "Killed 15 thousand people in the 14th century. Was fought by two opposing Lieges in Kinsley state." I smile. "Did I get that right?"

"How did the war start?"

I squeeze my forehead and think harder. "One Liege slept with another Liege's daughter, I think."

"His sister. And he found out at a banquet hosted by the King at the time. The Consort fumbled the seating arrangement and sat them close to each other. Add some wine, some pride, and some unnecessary confessions. We ended up with an inconsequential war and 17 thousand deaths." He emphasizes 17. "What did we learn from the story?"

"Don't go around blabbing your secret?" I try to be cheeky.

"As a Harrington, it is your job to keep the peace. You're supposed to know everything and think of ways to stop it from creating conflict."

"What about what's going on with Galfana? How are you keeping the peace there?"

"Galfana is different." His face is darker now. "Things are more complicated with their Rypper attacks and your Aunt and I are handling it."

I think I made him angry so I don't say anything till the Treasurer arrives.

She courtesies when she walks in.

"Infante, your highness. I appreciate the invitation." She sits beside me.

"The pleasure is ours." Seb gestures at the sofa.

The woman sits beside me and smiles. "Lovely to finally meet you. I've heard so much. Please, tell me about yourself. School, favorites, the whole lot."

Seb gives me a pointed look and I do exactly as she asks.

Quinton returns soon after with the food. I don't eat much. I just watch the Treasurer's interaction with Seb closely.

I soon get bored and excuse myself to go to the bathroom.

I stay there for fifteen minutes. When I get back, she's gone.

Seb is pissed. "You can't leave in the middle of a meal you're hosting." He scolds me as soon as I walk into his office.

"I'm sorry, but it was boring." That wasn't my strongest answer.

He scowls. "Cassandra, you'll have to do better than this." He gets off his armchair and sits at his desk. "I had Quinton arrange a tutor for you. Someone clearly needs to teach you these things."

I scoff. "A tutor. How original?" I walk past his desk and slump on the sofa in the corner.

He ignores me and continues his work.

***

Grey won't stop laughing when I tell him.

"Oh, Cassie. You truly do not understand our father."

I roll my eyes. "He is so infuriating sometimes."

"He is the actual King of getting people tutors." Grey scans the arena. "Do you know how many I've had over the years? Etiquette tutors, countless fire tutors, history tutors, and language tutors. I swear the man would let Aldean burn before teaching you something himself."

"I don't know," Tristan says from my right. "The first tutor he got you, that fire guy. I hear he's pretty great."

I smile. "I think he's a bit overrated actually."

Jamie hisses from Tristan's other side. "That was a good one."

"Shut up," Tristan says. I feel his hand brush against mine and I place it on my lap.

"There are cameras everywhere." I gently lower my sunglasses and say.

"Hand holding. Oh, the scandal." Grey mocks.

Tristan whispers in my ear. "I definitely want to do more than hand-holding."

I bite my lip to stop smiling. "We really shouldn't." My eyes are on the game.

"I know. But you look really good right now."

I'm wearing a white dress with red cherries all over. It's sleeveless and stops just below my knees. My hair is in a loose bun and white sunglasses are covering half of my face. "Do I?"

"Yes. I really love that dress on you."

"Okay." Grey clamps his hand. "Let's not talk about my sister when I'm so close."

Tristan smiles. "The game is over in half an hour. You can leave us and go do whatever you do in your spare time."

"Party till midnight," I say.

Grey frowns. "I'm not partying till midnight."

"No, you always get in after that. Seb and Lilian will murder you soon."

"What are you doing out till midnight? Aren't you scared you'll get caught at a bar?" Jamie asks with concern.

"I'm fine. I'm Greyson Harrington remember, I don't get caught. And when I do..."

"Mummy and daddy will be there to bail you out?" I ask with a smile.

Grey isn't amused. "Thanks for that, Cass." He stands up and walks away with a frown.

"Come on, Grey," I call after him.

"Cass," Tristan whispers. "Cameras."

I focus back on the game and don't look back.

"I'll check on him." Jamie gets up. "You two better not go all the way here."

"Piss off, Jamison." Tristan taunts.

As soon as the games are over, I bring out my phone to call Grey.

Before I can, I notice the multiple texts from Seb and Lilian. They want to know why articles are saying Grey and I got into a heated argument.

I go online and check the headlines. People are saying we've always hated each other. I'm the sister he never wanted, and he's been trying to get rid of me for a year.

"It will pass." Tristan reads over my shoulder. "The press has been saying Kat and Grey hate each other for years."

"They kind of do." I remind him.

"True." He whispers. "On the bright side, there's nothing on the two of us."

I get another text from Seb. "Family dinner tonight. Be there at 6."

I groan. "I have to go to a stupid family dinner in less than two hours. We won't be able to go back to your place."

He winces. "You live two minutes away from me. We can make it work."

I gently hit his shoulder. "No way."

He smiles. "At least let me drive you home?"

I shake my head and we walk to his car. When we get back to my house, I cave and invite him in.

We go to the smallest drawing room and lie next to each other for an hour.

Ten minutes to six pm, the front door opens. Tristan scrambles to put on his shoes. The door opens and he's standing next to the sofa I'm seating on.

"Tristan, I saw your car out front." Is all Lilian says. "Cassandra, dinner." She walks out.

Tristan steals one final long kiss and we walk out together.

"Should I sneak up your window later?" He asks at the front door.

"Seb would murder you. Like actually, burn you from the inside out." He laughs. I think he thinks I'm joking. "I'll sneak out and come to your place," I promise.

"See you then." He kisses me again. A minute later, I laugh and push him away. "I have to go." And shut the door in his face.

I run my fingers through my hair, down my dress, and rub my face.

I then go to the dining table. "Hello, everyone." I sit beside Grey at Seb's left.

"Cass." Grey takes a long sip of red wine.

I try to pour myself a glass but Seb stops me. "How come Grey can but I can't?"

"Because the legal drinking age where you're from is 21 and your mother doesn't want you having a drop till then." Is Seb's answer. Lilian smiles.

I pour myself a glass of apple cider.

"So," this is Grey. "Did you and Tristan give us a reason to change our sofas?"

Seb scowls at him. He then points at me and Grey. "What is going on with the two of you? Solve it here, we don't need this kind of bad press."

"Yes, dad. Because that's the biggest problem with siblings fighting. How it's perceived by the public." He snorts. "You are father of the year."

"Greyson, do not be mean to your father." Lilian's voice is sharp and full of reprove.

"Whatever." Grey downs his glass in another gulp. "Can I be excused now?"

"No, you may not. We haven't eaten yet."

"I'll eat in my room." He gets up.

"Don't you dare walk out that door?" Seb threatens. Grey ignores him and walks out anyway. "Greyson!"

Grey leaves the dining hall and a heavy silence hangs in the air.

After two minutes, Seb gets up.

He comes back a few minutes later, looking the angriest I've ever seen him. "His car's gone." He announces. "Lilian, call Vincent, tell him Grey's being difficult again."

"Of course," Lilian calls a number on her phone. "Hello, Vince. It's Lady Harrington. Greyson is on another tirade. You know what to do."

Seb shakes his head. "No. I want Vincent to bring him back now."

"Oh." I've never seen Lilian look this worried before. "Infante Matteo wants him back now. Yes, call us if you need help. Goodbye." She drops her phone gently on the table. "He'll be back soon." She says to reassure herself.

"I'm so sorry." I stare at my untouched plate. "I shouldn't have said anything during the competition. This is my fault."

"It doesn't matter what you said. It's not your fault." Lilian surprises me by saying. "He gets like this sometimes. He hasn't in a while. It might be the time of year or..."

Seb stops her. "Lilian, you shouldn't blame yourself." He exhales deeply. "We could have done something sooner. The signs were clear, why do we always leave this to the last minute..."

"Will he be okay?" I interrupt. "Do you want me to do something?"

"No," Seb says. "You should go away tonight. Maybe stay over at Tristan's."

I'm even more worried now. "You're asking me to spend the night at my boyfriend's house?"

"None of your other friends have the level of security his house has. You shouldn't stay up all night worrying about your brother."

I stand up. "Okay, I guess I'll go off to Tristan's now. My boyfriend. Who I will be spending the night with? With your permission."

They're both not looking at me. Just typing on and scrolling through their phones.

I take a deep breath and go up to my room to have a shower. I change into old shorts and a shirt, then walk over to Tristan's.