Chapter 67 The Little Plan A Certain Me Is Concocting
He shook his head immediately, turning his attention back to Lucien who was staring at Maeve like she was the only thing he could see in all of the earth.
In truth, he didn’t care much for Lucien’s behavior towards him personally, but he was also well aware that compared to the other men who were vying for Isabella’s affection, Lucien was a better choice.
And after her new decree of keeping the man away, he had to make it happen.
“So,” Maeve started with a sigh as she crouched down to each of their levels. “It seems like all of you have been doing well since my travels. Makes me wonder why I came back,”
Finn spoke, shaking his head. “We have missed you. The other women come around sometimes… but they refuse to touch us.”
“Yeah,” Briar said with a nod as his twin said almost immediately after. “They treat us like garbage,”
“You know what? Fairs. I agree some of those women can be really mean and fake,” Maeve let a smile come to her face. “It is why I have no other choice but to come and ask for the help of my closest friends,”
At the term ‘closest friends’, each child beamed up. They all felt proud that the most beautiful person they had ever seen saw them in that manner, especially an adult but Finn had no plans on giving in so easily, “You call us that but… but you are a throwing a big party and you didn’t tell us,”
Of course they had heard. Perhaps through mass or on the streets. Calista was working overtime. “You are right, my dear tyrants. Forgive me,”
Briar gasped. “I heard it in the refectory but I thought they were fibbing! Adults tend to that many times!”
“I don’t really understand what it means that the party is,” Sorrel stated. “But from my research, it means the prince is gonna be your permanent Vessel. Or something like that.”
Research. What did the child know about research?
“Permanent? Did that mean she has no plans on taking more?!”
“Wait? The prince. That means she is now royalty! Our best friend is a princess!”
“But what about Sir Lucien?!”
Lucien blushed though he tried his hardest to hide it by looking up at the ceiling while Maeve responded, “Oh, he will be alright. By the way, see that man with the pointy ears and pretty eyes? That’s my darling husband— which makes him the permanent Vessel, for simpler purposes. Now, say hello,”
“YOU CAN HAVE TWO PERMANENT VESSELS?”
Maeve heard herself laugh. “No. But I tend to get away with things I want. Now, say hello,”
They all turned to look at Amir, fear in their eyes at first due to the cold look in his eyes, but that was until he leaned down and let a soft smile spread on his lips as he waved, “Hello, little ones,”
Instantly, awe spread through their faces as they all said in unison, “Wow, he’s so pretty!” “His voice is very feathery!” “I like how he looks!”
Lucien cleared his throat. “He is not that pretty,”
“Little rats!” Maeve said, grabbing their attentions instantly as they all turned back to her. She rose up from the floor, her hands behind her back. “At attention! As I thought you!”
They did as they were told.
Lucien looked like he was holding back a laugh. Amir was sure one of the twins were holding their breath far longer than they should as Maeve continued, “I came here because I need all of your help. They are some people who look like my dear partner you seem to like who would like to find a place here but as you know, adults tend to be very judgy when someone does not look the way they want to,”
Sorrel and Briar, the twins, echoed both at the same time, "Yeah, they’re very mean!”
“I know,” Maeve said with a nod then smiled. “I also heard someone dropped a large donation and added a new building for more little rats to stay in. Only problem is there’s not a lot of nuns who can keep up with you little tyrants. Would you be kind enough to make them feel more comfortable when they come here to help around? They need to feel welcomed… and safe,”
“But we are just… kids,” Lara’s voice caught her attention, causing Maeve to turn so she could look at the little girl who looked a little bit worried. “What can we… what can we really do?”
Maeve let a small smile play on her lips before she let her hand rest on Lara’s head gently and stroked it, “You, out of everyone here, have been the most brave person I know. You’ve stayed smiling, kind, and happy. That is all I need to keep being, and no matter what happens, I am so proud of you,”
Then she looked at the rest of them. “Of all of you. It’s why I know I can depend on you. The elves… they have also seen something that has made them sad, and they have lost many people. I know you will cheer them up as you always did for me. Plus, they’re some children you can teach the new games I showed you, what do you think?”
The other four appeared behind Lara while Finn, the ringleader, bearing a wide grin on his face as he gave her large thumbs up and said, “Don’t worry! We got this! We shall prepare for them right now!”
They all echoed a cheer, excitedly rambling about the things they can do as they dragged Lara away.
The moment they were all gone, Maeve folded her arms. “Well, that went well. Not exactly sure what I was expecting. These children really are well behaved. Can’t even imagine how the kids in the capital will be. Probably future satans.”
Amir’s quiet voice came next. “Are you really sending them here?”
On the day she had met Cassian and sent Amir to investigate, he had come back and told her the temple’s infrastructure was being taken down and redeveloped… with extra lands being accorded to them.
All done by the nobles personally.
Apparently, Isabella Montague’s entire kind cause had grown her reputation far, and the commoners adored her. They all wanted to see her, or meet her… and they all believed she was a saint.
Every story about her being evil— poof. Gone.
So the nobles wanted to be loved as well… which was expected. Unlike other regimes, these nobles really had nothing going for them. The world was… peaceful but lacked entertainment… except Cassian’s little parties of course.
This was naturally all a game to them but it was fine… Maeve planned on taking advantage of their kindness.
“The new lands they have gotten have trees. A lot of trees. I know many elf women like them,” Maeve said, her eyes falling on him, “And this… this will be a good distraction.”
Amir decides to press the topic on further. “You still have not met—”
“Lucien!” Maeve’s voice went an octave higher as she finally turned her attention back to the quiet brooding male behind her as she clasped her arm around his . “Let’s go for a walk! Maybe we will discover something you like there!”
And without waiting for a response, began dragging him away, leaving behind Amir who stared at her, his expression empty before he slowly let a smile come to his face.
He had expected that.
But it was fine.
He knew the only way around her was patience and time, and as an elf, he had a lot of both.