Many thanks to the readers that have made it this far, most especially the 4 that have left reviews! My day was made, 100%.
In any case, this is one of the weirder scenarios, just because I didn't want anyone to get their hopes up for a logical/decent story. At least it's funny. That's about all you can expect from me.
Besides, this came up in the actual book WAY too much for me not to write it. I can't be the only one who thought about this.
Chapter Three
People were shouting. An alarm was wailing, making the whole building shake, but Aspen didn't care. He hardly even seemed to notice, actually, as he launched himself over the jewelry store counter to tackle Marid Illéa. The attractive young man gave a very unattractive shriek of panic as he hit the ground. Though he struggled, he wasn't nearly strong enough to knock back Aspen Leger, the greatest general Illéa had ever known.
Besides, Aspen wasn't wasting any time. He pinned Marid's arms behind his back and thumped his head against the wall, effectively knocking him unconscious. The store's manager screamed and popped the cash register open, holding a fistful of bills towards Aspen. "P-please don't hurt anybody, just take the money, take the jewels…"
Aspen scoffed, picking up Marid's limp body and slinging it over his shoulder. "You can keep the money. I'm just here for this traitor and wannabe king."
One of the customers spoke up timidly. "Marid Illéa is no traitor."
"That is a matter of opinion," Aspen contradicted. "This man has attempted to undermine Her Majesty's Selection. In my mind, that makes him a traitor. Have a nice day."
...
Lady Brice shut the TV off. Her mouth was a very serious, very flat line. "That was on TV. Live TV. VERY PUBLIC TV! Aspen, what on earth do you have to say for yourself?!"
Everyone in the room got very quiet. Aspen shifted uncomfortably in his seat, beginning to look just a little bit sheepish. "Well…ah…maybe I won't be recognized?"
Eadlyn doubted it. The security footage from the jewelry store had been bad, but not that bad. Aspen was also mildly famous, so there was only a very, very small chance he wouldn't be recognized at all.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" thundered Eadlyn's father, Former King Maxon, slamming a fist onto the table.
"Hey!" Aspen said defensively. "It was for the good of the country! No one messes with our Eady!"
"That's right!" Eadlyn agreed, high-fiving him enthusiastically.
"Aspen, you're going to be arrested," Lady Brice said flatly. "If you get away without punishment, how will that make the monarchy look?"
"AND WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH HIM?" demanded Maxon, pointing violently at Marid, tied up in the corner with a gag in his mouth.
Aspen shrugged. "Well, I mean, we've got a dungeon, right?"
"I thought the idea was to kill him," Eady reminded everyone.
"Don't encourage him!" Lady Brice exclaimed shrilly.
"Well, I mean, it would work…" Maxon trailed off. "Marid really was becoming a problem…"
From the corner, Marid started squeaking and struggling against his ropes. "It's useless, traitor!" Aspen called smugly. "You'll never get out of here alive!"
"Shut up, Aspen," Maxon and Lady Brice said in unison.
"Thank you, Aspen," Eadlyn told him solemnly. "If you hadn't done this, I would've been forced to end my Selection rashly and marry someone without taking the time to figure out what's really best for me. I owe you one."
"That's awfully convenient, isn't it," said Aspen.
Just a quick one this time, to prove writer's block doesn't own me. This one was not as easy to write as I kind of expected it to be, so I've got half of a first draft that's twice as long and only half as good, plus an idea for an alternate ending that I might eventually post as a "bonus" chapter eleven. Big plans, folks. –Liz