5

Andre

I decided to address the elephant in the room before too many issues arose. The tension in the station and with my officers was ridiculous, so before the next shift started, I had a meeting with as many as I could and would keep having the meeting until I directly addressed all of the officers in the capital.

And I might record it for all officers to see in the kingdom. That would be costly, but I could ask Ian to help me with that. It was needed.

I looked around at everyone and sighed, scrubbing my hand over my hair. "I know a lot of you feel betrayed and upset. Please, hear me, that this was a difficult situation. The countess—Mabel did not set out to lie to any of you." I met the gazes of several who worked on her detail. "You know she is one of the sweetest people ever."

"I think that's why it hurts most, Commander," one admitted. "She asked us to keep her safe and did not trust us with why."

"I know, and I might feel the same if I did not know more," I admitted. "She does not believe she's a saint most days. Others are running with that, but she asked the king and queen—I have never heard her say it." I nodded when others looked at each other with disbelief. "She's admitted to smelling violets when none were around.

"She's admitted that the goddess sends her dreams, but she thought she was crazy. She worried that her abuse or the way she was raised made her… Unwell. Or it was a child's fancy. A made-up dream when she was lonely. She tried to speak with the temple priest, but he dismissed her and asked her parents for donations.

"So as officers, I ask you to remember that what you are hearing is not going to be the truth or the real story. We know that better than any." I was glad when people accepted that. "And she felt guilty for keeping it quiet, but the world is harsh. Immediately, the pope wanted to force her to marry, and the high priest wanted her dead because he could not be pope then.

"That part is true no matter how the temple is trying to cover it up. I was there and heard the confessions. That is what Mabel immediately faced when people found out, and it's just the start of things." I swallowed loudly and let out a slow breath. "I know one country has threatened war if she's not ‘handed over' like she's a mare or land to be argued over."

I felt worlds better when people looked horrified. We got lost in our own thoughts, but my people were good people, and the moment they snapped out of their own feelings, they would see Mabel's side.

"So please understand. It's no secret how she was abused and all she saw with the possibility of being the saint could be how people would abuse her again. She just wanted to help. The first thing she did was invent that ink. She asked the goddess how to help us." I nodded when people were shocked. "She did my knee as well." I sniffled as I said it.

"She is a good soul like that," one of my captains said. "She was so relieved when she learned that our lives were easier." He cleared his throat and glanced around. "She saved that boy at the hospital, did she not?"

"Yes." I nodded when people gasped. "She—I was the one she gave the medicine to and asked to take it to the hospital and speak to the doctor. The goddess made her—it was horrible. She suffered so much to understand what the goddess wanted and to save that boy. And she never considered herself. Mabel just wants a peaceful life after what she's been through."

"It's a shame she cannot have it," the captain said, giving me a sad look because he knew my feelings for her. "I hope they do not hurt her too bad."

"Me too. So please, I know this is a lot to take in, and everyone will say lies and things to make their claims—we know her. I know her. Trust what you saw. Trust yourselves and your training to not listen to lies and the next whim. All Mabel wants to do is help people and not let anyone hurt each other."

"Is that—someone at the hospital said she will not give certain drugs over," a different officer said. "They did not know it was her, but the ‘mage' helping the doctor was too hesitant and the staff was upset."

I nodded. "Yes, it's Mabel, and yes, she's worried about sleeping medicine being used to drug people." I kept nodding when people winced. "We especially know how people abuse too much. She's scared to do harm. Even the vitality tonics. Once employers started buying them for employees, she had to threaten them to not give more than one and hurt people.

"Life is a shit show and complicated. We see the dark side of it all of the time. She wanted to do a pain medicine, but people would steal that and use it as a drug. How could she distribute that on her own? And would her workers be in danger of having it be robbed. The temple could never be trusted with that. We know how corrupt they are."

"Yeah, being the saint sounds horrible," someone mumbled. "I was just…"

"Go ahead," I pushed.

He gave me a sheepish look. "She knew my daughter was really sick, and I was upset she did not come heal her."

And that was exactly what I wanted to address with people. "Look, I do not want to pick on you because I know she's been sick for a while and it's taxing on you. But you are smarter than you are acting, and it's hard for me not to get pissy."

That captain jumped in when people bristled. "Why the hell would the countess have suffered as much as she did if she could heal people? She would have healed herself."

People looked gobsmacked, absolutely shocked and like their heads exploded.

I nodded. "Healers need to be taught. There is training for priests for their holy power. There are not even books on that because the temples and Holy Empire do not allow it." I swallowed loudly. "Mabel almost did not survive this attack because of how many times she's been injured. I wish she knew how to heal. She does not. No one has trained her."

"So she only knows what she does through dreams from the goddess?" the captain asked, swearing under his breath when I nodded. "People probably shouldn't know that, but by the goddess, that makes no sense."

"It's not the goddess's fault that the people of this world are so horrible," someone else muttered.

That was true, but I was glad people understood better what the truth was.

The officer stood and dipped his head to me. "I am sorry, Commander. You are right, and I should have put that together. I apologize, and I apologize to the countess for not thinking better of her when she was so nice to us. I will tell my wife and make sure she understands as well. We will pray to the goddess that the countess receives the help she needs."

I opened my mouth but then closed it, studying him. "Yeah, maybe that is the answer. I do not know what else to do but yes, maybe people need to start asking for her to receive help too."

It sounded like a damn good idea to me.

Towards the end of my shift, James showed up and dipped his head to me. "I apologize, Commander, but the grand duke asks if you can join him for dinner and go over some issues."

I waved off the officers around me when they groaned and made some disgusted noises, deciding to handle this issue as well. I winked at the front desk. "Hold on, you guys did not get the full story on this."

One of the senior captains who was coming on shift to take over for me hesitated. "I thought your relationship with the grand duke had recovered, but then he's constantly summoning you, and we all thought…"

I nodded. "There is a lot going on with the transfer and splitting of duties. It's a mess. It is, and he has his territory—it's a lot. But yes, our relationship has recovered, and we are actually back to being friends like years ago."

That shocked people.

James took the hint and nodded. "As such, the grand duke made sure the lamb dish you like was prepared for dinner." He chuckled when I groaned. "The maids prepared your uniforms for the rest of the week, and a guest room prepared to your specifications and designated for your use as Count Follan has."

"And breakfast?" I purred.

James nodded. "The chefs will make the cinnamon rolls with the strawberries you wanted and your lunch to bring to work with you."

I smiled widely at all of the officers. "In other words, I am being spoiled rotten finally. It's fantastic. I have not done laundry or cooking in two weeks. And the grand duke has way better alcohol and cigars than I could ever afford, and he does not care if I have them."

People glanced at each other and burst out laughing. The captain laughed so hard that he slapped the counter and looked like he was about to fall over.

James waited until they settled and cleared his throat. "The grand duke actually ordered another box of those cigars and said they are for your ranked officers in case you are ‘insufferable' with all the extra hours you are putting him helping him."

They laughed all over again.

I clapped James on the back and headed for the door with him. "I was going to ask what was in that bath I took the other night. It was some sort of oil the maids prepared?"

"You would have to ask the butler, Commander. He handles all of that with the count. The grand duke lets them run the town house and estate."

"So get in good with the butler. Got it." I shot a wink over my shoulder at my people, and they all seemed amused again.

Good, that was handled and would spread like wildfire to all the officers in the capital that I was being spoiled instead of abused.

I waited until we were outside and alone in the carriage, James always opting to ride with me to protect me even if I did not need it. "Thank you for that."

"Of course. It protects the grand duke and his reputation as well."

"You are very accepting of it."

James chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "I knew when we were all at war, Andre." He nodded when I could not hide my shock. "Oh, kid, you both were so in love with each other that even in the worst situation imaginable all you had were hearts around each other." He reached over and patted my bad knee. "And you knew the grand duke was special when you took this wound for him."

I swallowed loudly, understanding that he knew more than most. "I loved him even if he broke my heart."

"He never stopped loving you. For all of his faults, know he was loyal to you." James sighed when I frowned. "He has never let anyone speak badly of you in his presence. Not ever. I saw him once punch another minister for saying you were a bit big for your britches and self-righteous. That's how I mean to say the grand duke was always loyal to you."

"I wish I could say the same," I said sadly.

"I love the grand duke like a nephew, but the dolt deserved it. He was not raised with love and did not know how to be in a healthy relationship. He did not know… Hopefully, he does better in the future. Hopefully, you both do now that you are not kids." He gave me a sad smile. "Many of us are rooting for the three of you and will protect you as best we can."

And that was better than most could ever hope for.

"Just be good to him too. His life has been… The abuse he suffered from the former grand duke—not all scars and abuse are so easily seen as the countess suffered."

"I know and—"

"No, you do not know," James said quietly. "That's what I am telling you. The grand duke does not even understand how badly abused he was. He tried to block most of it out, but some of that venom always gets through, Andre. He needs your patience and understanding even when it seems too much to understand. He will never heal otherwise."

"I am in this for real, and as long as he never does it intentionally, I will not leave," I said after a moment. "Either of them."

"Good, good," he accepted. "Then we'll keep coming up with ways to make this work. I vote he has you stay at the residence while people think he's at the territory, but he sneaks back so he can be with you."

"I will bring that up to him so he does not worry others," I muttered.

"Good, good," James said, giving me a relieved look. "And no, others do not know. They know he has magic, but that's it. I do not really know what I know, but I know too much. It will die with me. Even my lover does not know."

I simply blinked at him, shock hitting me as I realized James was gay.

Wow, that man really played it close to the chest.

My reaction amused him, and I was glad I could… And I was glad for the talk. It meant a lot because I did know how much James meant to Ian too.

Everyone was friendly to me when I arrived, taking the change in my status in stride and treating me just as they did Colin. Which I found surprising because the count had been Ian's right hand for over a decade and a staple in the house. But Ian seemed to truly surround himself with good people and it showed.

I thanked everyone that I saw, stopping when it was clear one of the staff was nervous around me. The head butler gave him a look, but I stepped in the way. "Please, if there's an issue, I'd rather have a direct conversation and address it."

The head butler sighed. "I appreciate that, Marquis, truly, and you are as wonderful of a guest as the count or countess. But you are here as a guest, and that does not mean people are to abuse their positions to have access to you."

"I appreciate that, but anyone of this house could come see me at the station, and I would give them the respect of a meeting." I turned to the younger man who had been nervous. "Did something happen with the police? Is that what's wrong?"

"My brother has a temper," he admitted. "But he's not violent. I have only ever seen him defend himself, and he does not hurt people, My Lord. There was a huge scuffle, and the dolt went in to break it up. I did not see it, but when the chips landed, the wrong people pointed fingers at him and now he's in jail taking all the blame."

I nodded, that happened a lot in the confusion. "Are there others that are not family who can attest that your brother is the type who wades into a fight to break it up?"

He immediately nodded. "Yes, the bar around the corner from my parents. All the time, the dolt does it. They slide him a beer and some food now and again because they cannot afford another guard. He's a good guy like that but—he's just a loud dolt who yells to cut it out. I swear he's not trouble, My Lord."

I patted his shoulder. "Okay, then we can handle this as long as you are telling me the truth and some people vouch for him. I am sorry my officers got it wrong. It's hard when it's a mess, and they do the best they can."

He sighed. "I cannot even blame them. My brother's always around when there are issues, and they see him a lot. It's not hard to jump to the conclusion that he's a problem then."

"No, it's not, but we make sure to fix the mistakes when we get it wrong. Any ranking officer would have talked to you and asked you the same questions that I did." I frowned when he seemed nervous again. "You tried?"

"Yes, My Lord. I was told they were too busy."

"Now that is a problem for me to fix," I told him and glanced at the head butler. "He went through the right steps and did not skip. If people ran to me with every little thing, I would understand the hesitation. If my officers are not doing what they should, I want everyone to bring me those problems even if you know someone off the street."

"Yes, My Lord," the head butler said, dipping his head to me. "I did not understand that part."

"I was embarrassed to say they ignored me like my brother was a lost cause," the other man admitted.

"Okay," I accepted, wanting to move past it. "What I need from you is your brother's name and any witnesses that would vouch for him being someone to break up fights, definitely the owner of the pub. I also need the station and officers who gave you the brush-off. I will handle it first thing in the morning with the people I know best."

"Yes, of course, thank you, My Lord."

"You are a good brother," I complimented. I went to walk past them and saw Ian and Mabel down the hall both watching what happened. I felt myself flush a bit at the pride in their eyes.

"You are such a good man," Mabel praised as she gave me a kiss in greeting.

"Thank you for helping my people," Ian added. "I will speak with the head butler. He shields me from too much. I would have helped the lad too."

"People cannot run to you for everything," I agreed. "You need a Colin when Colin is at the estate."

"Colin needs a Colin," Mabel drawled. "And you will need a Colin soon, Minister of Internal Security."

Good point, and we both agreed.

We had a quiet dinner, and I listened as they both talked about the Canter bellflower and how relieved Mabel was that they found dozens more plants. A huge greenhouse was being built at Ian's estate for whatever was going on and some were being planted there. He'd also gotten seeds, and those were being planted and grown by mages at a rapid pace.

Apparently, they were quick growing on their own, so they should have a good amount of flowers in a few weeks for Mabel to start to learn whatever the goddess wanted her to… Whatever that was. She seemed on edge about that and tired of being run around.

I could not even blame her.

But the progress was good, and everything was expanding for her business. People were mostly back under control when the business did not immediately shut down, but they were trying to buy in bulk, so everything was still tense.

And would be for a while.

Which was why Mabel needed fun. Lots and lots of fun.

Once we were done with dinner, I swooped her off of her feet and kissed her. "I need naked Mabel, and Ian has a very large bath."

"Behave yourself," she chastised.

"The staff all know I am your lover as well," I reminded her. "It's the rest they do not know, and they never will."

The staff had been surprisingly accepting but seemed to understand when it was revealed that Mabel was a saint. They assumed she needed the extra love and the grand duke would not always be in the capital. Basically, they accepted it as long as the grand duke was not hurt and Mabel was loving to him.

Fair enough.

And she was and always would be.

We had fun in the bath, and naked, wet Mabel was maybe my favorite way to have Mabel be around me. Her voice echoed after the tiles and empty room as we took turns having her. We wore her out and ended up having to finish washing her hair.

"This is so much better than I ever hoped my life could be," I admitted when we were finished and Ian was carrying her to his room.

"Yes, but the storms are coming," he grumbled. "Just because the other nations were fast to condemn the Holy Empire and the pope accepted that the high priest was his enemy does not mean that this is over. Not even remotely."

No, not even remotely, but I had to believe that everything would be fine in the end.

The other option was not an option for me.