"Lady Siv," Colby calls her again.
Gene doesn't understand why Ylva didn't tell her that she can use magic. She is supposed to teach her everything she needs to know about this world and being queen.
'This is just a reminder that I can only count on myself. I need to figure out a way to protect myself.'
"Colby, is there any way I can learn how to use magic before I marry the prince?"
"No my lady, you are granted the Blue Fire after the marriage. There is an exception but it does not apply to you."
"Hmm, how about you protecting me?"
"That also starts after the marriage."
"But we've already met and you have saved me twice already. Three times if you count my attempt earlier." Colby grimaces. "Surely, there can be an exception, since someone is trying to kill me."
He thinks about it for a moment. "I will have to ask the Grand Mage about that," he says. "But don't get your hopes up, he is very strict."
Gene feels her shoulders fall in surrender. "So, when I start training–whether the Grand Mage accepts or we start after the marriage–How long will it take for me to learn basic magic?"
"I would say a few months for basic magic."
'I would be dead by then if these attacks continue.'
She sighs.
"Lady Siv, would you like to know how a sorcerer comes to be the queen's personal protector?" Colby asks with a soft smile on his face.
"Yes, I would love to know."
"I was five when I was chosen. I wasn't exceptional or anything, my fire was pretty weak too. But the Grand Mage received a prophecy, and thus I was named Future Queen Siv's Sorcerer," he explains. "It is the utmost privilege for an apprentice. It is not something that happens by chance, but we are linked by fate, my lady."
'Should I really trust in this stuff about fate and destiny again?'
"My training was under the Grand Mage himself and believe me when I say that since I was five, all I have ever thought about was the day I would become your protector." Colby takes her hand in his. "So I promise you, I won't let anything happen to you, my lady. I will be there when you need me, even if I have to go against the Grand Mage's orders." He reassures her with a firm tone that brings peace to her heart.
"Thank you," she mumbles, touched by his words.
Colby shares a few more memories from his childhood and training at Bluevale before he bids Gene farewell and vanishes away. Meeting him was a good call, even though she didn't learn much about how to use magic, she found out about some other important information.
After she spends some time aimlessly staring out of her window, she walks to her bed and crawls under the covers.
'Three days.'
She remembers a few years ago, back when she was still working at Morrison Architecture, some co-workers decided to play a prank and lock her in the broom closet. The boss had put Gene in charge of a very important project and her seniors didn't like that a newbie like her surpassed them.
'You would think that men in their late twenties and early thirties would be more mature than locking someone in the closet for the night, but they weren't. They were just asshats trying to prove an unnecessary point.'
After that, she had to take a few days off work and drop from the project. She is certain that was the beginning of the end of her career at that place. She is not comparing that tasteless prank to her current life-threatening situation. She just remembered it for some reason, maybe because she is still frustrated with herself that she didn't fight back, then.
'I should have pushed more. I should have fought for my dream. I should have stood my ground.'
She can't let that happen again. She wonders if she got this second chance so that she can do things differently. The stakes are even higher this time so she will not just cower away and wait for someone to kill her. She doesn't want to die, so she will fight back this time.
'I will fight with all that I've got.'
A knock brings her back from the turmoil in her head, she sits up.
"Come in." Brandt enters, wearing a gentle expression.
"Good evening, dear."
Gene smiles. "Good evening."
"How are you feeling?" he asks as he plants a kiss on her forehead, then sits on the edge of the bed.
"I'm good, how about you? Busy day today?" He usually visits her during the day.
"Yes, more trouble in the East, but let's not talk about that. Veda told me you haven't left your room again today," he reproaches her. "You promised me yesterday that you would at least visit Bodil or my mother."
"Sorry, I just couldn't do it today." Brandt brings her hand to his lips and kisses it gently.
"Then, tomorrow I will personally come to escort you out. We can't have my fiancée wither in this room. You need some sun."
She chuckled. "Sure. Where are you taking me?"
"It's a surprise, so please look forward to it." He wiggles his eyebrows.
"Then I shall look forward to it."
"Alright, I will let you rest now." Brandt pushes to his feet but Gene grabs his hand.
She wants to ask him not to go, but after he rejected her at the picnic, she is not sure how to ask.
"Could you, could you stay with me until I fall asleep?"
His hazel eyes gaze at her gently for a moment. "Sure."
She scoots over to the other side of the bed, leaving enough room for him to lie next to her. Her action makes him laugh as he shakes his head. He doesn't say anything, though. He takes off his shoes and lies on his side, over the blanket.
Gene relaxes back on her pillow, facing Brandt. The covers form a barrier between them, but she will take that over sleeping alone any time. He wraps his arm around her and brings her closer to his warmth.
She falls asleep straight away.
*********
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