Postscript

'Hello? This is Machias Regnitz speaking.'

'Hello, Machias. This is Jusis.' Jusis leaned back in his chair, one hand on the ARCUS, the other flicking a pen against the surface of his desk. 'I'm just calling to wish you a happy solstice.'

'Jusis, I'm overjoyed to hear from you. Why, no one could be more worthy of receiving my warmest regards during this season of love and thanksgiving.'

Jusis grimaced at the sarcastic tone. He couldn't know, could he?

'Indeed, my dear friend, you couldn't have called at a finer moment,' Machias continued, his nasal intonation even more irritating than usual, 'for it just so happens that there's something I've been meaning to discuss with you. What better time than a day of cheer such as this?'

Jusis groaned. Out with it, you ridiculous little man.

'Machias, much as I'd love to allow your theatre to run on for its entire, doubtlessly excruciating length, there are more deserving people to whom I could be communicating my well-wishes at this moment. Please hurry up.'

'Have it your way,' said Machias breezily. 'I'll get right to the point: really, Jusis? Millium? Millium?'

Jusis massaged his brow. 'What is it that you think you know?'

Machias ignored the question and forged onward. 'Don't get me wrong, Jusis. I always took you for the kind of prideful aristo that wouldn't ever go near a real woman for fear she might challenge your antiquated assumptions, but I never thought you'd resort to cradle robbing.'

A girl's voice in the background tutted, 'Machias!'

'Machias,' said Jusis mildly. 'Please reconsider this line of inquiry.'

'All that time we were travelling together…' With act one apparently complete, Machias shifted into exaggerated wistfulness. 'All that time you showed nothing but contempt for Millium—it was naught but the visible sign of your secret, the agony of forbidden love that burned within your bosom. Against your family, against the hateful standards of an unthinking society, against even your own rational character, you wanted—no— needed her. Sweet release tempted you every time you refused her, and every time you could find solace only in the transient world of dreams or else retreat to black meditations upon your unsated soul. No! It would not do! Nightly you awoke in cold sweats, nightly you longed—'

'Machias,' repeated Jusis. 'How many times did you rehearse this?'

'The drama of your heart needs no rehearsals to perform,' replied Machias. 'You've opened it for all the world to see.'

'You don't know anything about my heart.'

'Ah, yes, I forgot,' said Machias. 'Far be it from a common townie like me to see into the penumbral chambers of a noble heart.'

'I would like to suggest a new way for you to use your shotgun.'

'Oh, now we see the violence inherent in the system!'

'Enjoy your solstice, Machias,' said Jusis. 'Pass on my regards to Emma.'

Machias squawked as Jusis disconnected the line.

'Oooo, that was catty,' Millium, in a navy hoodie and shorts, shifted from where she was leaning against the bookshelves and came up behind Jusis, rubbing a hand over his casual corduroy jacket. 'It sounded like he knew about us. Does he know about us? Does he, does he?'

'What's there to know,' grumbled Jusis. 'Everyone is determined to make such a fuss over nothing…'

Millium giggled as her fingers danced through his golden hair. 'Don't get grouchy. You've still got a bunch more people to call.'

'I'm quite alright,' said Jusis. 'I'm over the worst of them.'

'Aw, you love him, really.' Millium ambled towards the door. 'I'm gonna go get more candy.'

'Don't fill yourself up before dinner,' said Jusis absently as he dialled Rean's number, 'and don't make yourself sick.' Millium stuck out her tongue at him and dashed off down the hallway.

'Hello, Rean Schwarzer here.'

Jusis smiled at the familiar voice. 'Rean, it's Jusis. Happy solstice.'

'Jusis! Good to hear from you. Happy solstice to you too. How have you been enjoying the holidays?'

'Well enough. Rufus is here, as is—' Jusis stopped himself.

'Millium? Forgive the presumption, but I hear you two are…' Rean's suggestive tone elicited a groan from Jusis.

'Oh, dearest Aidios,' he said, rubbing his eyes. 'Please, relieve my suffering and tell me who is spreading this.'

'Is it true?' Rean asked innocently. 'I don't know about anyone else, but I work with Claire from time to time. I doubt she has any reason to lie.'

'No, no, she's not lying,' Jusis said, smacking his lips. 'I'm just a fool, is all. No matter.'

'As I understand it, I have some competition in the domain of stirring rhetoric.'

'Please, no,' moaned Jusis. 'What has she told you?'

'Stop me if you've heard this one before,' said Rean. 'Ahem. "Upon my honour, I shall never hurt Millium."'

'Don't do it.'

'"To mistreat a woman, especially one for whom I care seriously, would invite my integrity…"'

Jusis grit his teeth. 'Rieveldt, you damnable woman. Very well, then. Is it all out of your system or would you like to review some more of my greatest hits?'

'I don't know why you're so bothered by it,' said Rean pleasantly. 'It's excellent. As hot-blooded as my finest moments, but that precision of language and deep-rooted pride of place gives it a characteristically Jusis finish.'

'You must all think me ridiculous.'

'Not at all. Well, maybe Machias does, but that's just him,' said Rean. 'I think it's sweet. It's good that you have someone you can count on. Anyway, are you in Bareahard?'

'No, I stayed at our cottage. Rufus, Millium and Claire are here.'

'And the senior Albarea…'

'Is in Bareahard. His house arrest continues until sentencing. He doesn't have any interest in seeing me, and I don't want him anywhere near Millium anyway.'

'I'm sorry, Jusis.'

'No need to apologise. He's never particularly cared about me, and even if he were to take an interest in my affairs now, I would not allow him to influence me. Those days have passed. His being around would probably cause more upset than anything else. He'd never accept Millium, certainly, I've half a mind to think she'd set Lammy on him if they ever talked for more than a minute.'

Rean snickered.

'What?'

'Lammy. You called Airgetlam Lammy.'

Jusis coughed. 'Yes, I'm quite aware that I'm a lost cause. Anyway, as you rightly point out, I can count on Millium, and with my father selges away, I find myself well-situated at Hallows. I'm not looking forward to the inevitable return to Bareahard, but nor am I dreading it, as my worst self might have. I have never asked for anyone's sympathy, but more than any other time in my life, I'm sure I have no need of it.

'That's good to hear,' said Rean, 'and well-said. But I can't imagine you're not a little concerned about Millium.'

Jusis shook his head in astonishment. 'Even over these devices, your uncanny powers persist.'

'No magic to it,' Rean said. 'I just speak my mind.'

'Well, it's effective. You're right, of course.' Jusis leaned back and considered his words before continuing. 'Naturally I worry about Millium. I worry about how she will be received. I worry to imagine the things they will say, the things they will write. And I worry that I will not have the stomach to fight it out. They will question her background. They will question my loyalties. I am a public figure, and they will hold a public inquiry; and, in the end, they will hold me responsible. Am I prepared to face that? I'm honestly not sure.'

'Well, you definitely have more than enough stomach for the two of us,' said Rean. 'I can't imagine Millium's origins—or even her allegiances—bother you. Do they?'

'Must you even ask?' replied Jusis. 'Not at all. They're the last thing on my mind.'

'Then you have nothing to worry about,' said Rean. 'Jusis, you've always been guided by your sense of higher duty. You'll persist through anything if you know that your path is right. If what you said to Claire is at all true, then I'm sure you'll show Millium that same persistence. That's who you are. Don't doubt your own dignity.'

Jusis laughed drily. 'Whatever it is, you still have it. I'll try not to forget myself. Thanks, Rean.'

'Any time.'

'You must come down and visit soon. It's been too long since we rode together, or crossed swords.'

'You'll hear no disagreement from me,' said Rean. 'I'm sure I'll find some time. Call it a new year's resolution.'

'I'll hold you to it. Wish Paula a happy solstice from me, would you?'

'Will do. Enjoy your time with Millium and Rufus.'

'Thank you. Keep yourself rested this holiday. I've said this to you before, but you have a tendency to take on the burdens of everyone around you, and I have a feeling you haven't changed. Give yourself a break.'

'Haha, I'll try. Have a good one, Jusis.'

'It's been a pleasure, as always.' Jusis turned off the ARCUS just as Millium came running back into the study with a candy cane.

'Jushiish! Did I missh Rean?' Millium adopted a commanding pose, frowning severely and slamming her palms into the desk as she spoke through her snack.

'I'm afraid so.'

'Nooooo,' moaned Millium. 'I wanted—' There was a crunch as part of the cane snapped off in her mouth, and she stopped talking to deal with the fragments of candy.

'You could always just call him yourself.'

'Yeah, yeah, I will. But I like listening to you do it.'

Jusis smiled placidly. 'Silly girl.'

Millium huffed. 'I bet you asked after Altina and Sammy while I was gone.'

'What?'

'Don't you deny it, mister!'

'For the umpteenth time, Millium, I haven't spoken to Altina since last December, and the only times I've thought about her since were prompted by you.'

'But you have thought about her, see?' Millium wagged her finger at him.

'Heavens, I've been caught. Your investigative powers are unparalleled, Inspector Orion. Another case closed.'

'You can't "Hardy har, Millium's too dumb for my sarcasm!" your way out of this one!' Millium rapped on the desk for emphasis. 'Besides, this investigation's only just ramping up! I heard you telling Rean to wish Paula a happy solstice. How about that?'

Jusis snapped his fingers. 'Of course. Paula, you remember. From the Riding Club.'

'You won't even deny it!' gasped Millium. 'The nerve!' She pushed the rest of the candy cane into her mouth and crunched down in a most decisive manner.

Jusis rose, facing Millium from the opposite side of the desk. 'Then let's get right down to it. What exactly am I being accused of, Inspector?'

Millium spluttered through her treat for a moment before swallowing the whole thing. 'Wishing a girl not named Millium Orion a happy solstice!'

'And my sentence, should the jury hand down a guilty verdict?'

'No hugs for a Millium years!'

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Jusis burst out laughing. It was a rare thing from him, a genuine belly laugh, and Millium loved to hear it.

'Don't—you—laugh—you—' Millium kept up the façade for all of a second before being swiftly overwhelmed by laughter herself. Bending over, she took several heaving breaths to stem the tide, wiping tears from her eyes, and when she had recovered, Jusis was smiling enigmatically at her.

'If I may argue on my behalf,' he said, 'I believe I can marshal a convincing appeal for clemency.'

Millium grinned. 'I'm listening.'

Jusis pulled out his little desk drawer. 'I was going to give you this when we exchanged gifts with Rufus and Claire, but that was a stupid idea.' He handed a navy-coloured velvet box to Millium. 'Here.'

'Jusis…' Millium opened the gift. 'Oh…' It was a simple, elegant silver necklace with an amber stone set in the pendant.

'It was my mother's,' said Jusis. 'She didn't have much, but she gave it all to me. Including that. It's an heirloom. I know it isn't much, but I noticed that the stone and your eyes—it was a happy coincidence, and trite as it sounds—'

'Jusis,' said Millium, 'it's perfect. Thank you.'

'May I…?' Jusis asked. Millium nodded, and he stepped round the desk to face her. Carefully, he removed the pendant from the box and hung it against Millium's chest. Millium's face grew warm as his hands brushed her skin, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up as he fiddled with the clasp.

'There,' he said, and he was close enough that Millium felt his breath on her forehead. She looked up glowingly.

'Well?'

'You wear it as well as I imagined,' Jusis said stiffly. 'You're very pretty, Millium.' It was about as much as she'd get from Jusis, the prince of awkward understatement; and so, knowing well enough the effort he was making, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him into a hug.

'You're forgiven,' she breathed. Still, she couldn't resist. 'I gotta say, I'm a little surprised. All this time you only loved me for my body, huh?'

'You incorrigible little…'

'Shh.' She placed a finger to his lips as she slipped something to Jusis with her other hand. 'Happy solstice.'

'Millium?' He looked at the object. 'What's this?'

Millium looked sheepish. 'It's a stuffed bear. I guess I had the same idea as you about my present, so I fetched it when I was out of the room. I wanted to give you something personal but I really don't have much of anything. I'm sorry I couldn't find anything like a pretty necklace, but that was the first thing I ever owned myself.'

'The first thing…' Jusis examined it. It was an unremarkable little fellow, albeit cute enough: chocolate brown and smiling pleasantly, with a red 'R' embroidered on its belly.

'Gramps gave it to me after I came to him from the Black Workshop,' Millium continued. 'I always wondered what the "R" meant, but I guess we know now.'

Jusis frowned and cocked his head; then his features relaxed into comprehension. 'I see. That's a peculiar hand-me-down, if there ever was one.'

'I know it isn't all impressive, but it's from the real me,' she said. 'And since I'm away a lot, I thought it'd be nice if you had something real personal. Does that make sense?'

Jusis stroked the bear affectionately, horrifying several of his past iterations, and moved to embrace a startled Millium again. 'Yes, it makes complete sense,' he murmured. 'Thank you. It's a very thoughtful gift. Happy solstice, Millium.'

Millium laughed, trying to conceal her blush. 'You're just my big softie on the inside, aren'cha?' she said sunnily. 'It's a good thing I'm here, because otherwise you'd be mean Jusis all the time! What would you do without me, huh?'

'I don't know,' mused Jusis, 'but you better not tell anyone about the silly things you make me do and say.'

'Y'know, I used to wanna tell people about what a different person you are in private,' said Millium, and Jusis scowled, 'but lately I just wanna keep you to myself. I don't want you to be nice to anyone else, y'hear?'

'Your audacity continues to amaze,' said Jusis. Millium drew back, giving him one of her impish looks, and he responded by kissing her forehead. 'Oddly enough, I can bear it very happily.'

With his hands resting on the small of Millium's back, he indeed bore her happily for a few more seconds, at least, before stepping back abruptly. Millium frowned, but as she opened her mouth—

'Ahem,' came the voice of Claire Rieveldt from behind her.

'Claire,' said Jusis crisply. 'I was just attending to my friends, making a few calls, you see…'

'You're attending to someone, alright,' Claire said testily, 'but I'm not sure I'd call it a gesture of friendship, given where your hands were headed.'

Several responses to Claire's accusation converged in Jusis' mouth and he started to say all of them at once. Unfortunately, the tactic failed, and after he had stopped his lips from moving soundlessly, he settled on, 'There has been a terrible misunderstanding.' Millium, ever the helpful one in these circumstances, narrowed her eyes and smiled suggestively.

Luckily, by the time Jusis had collected himself, Claire was grinning. 'Relax, Jusis, I'm just teasing. It's nearly noon and Rufus and I thought we should exchange gifts soon, so if you want to take a break from your, uh, calls, then come join us whenever you're ready.'

Jusis' heart rate had not yet recovered, but he managed to nod. 'We'll be there in a bit.'

Millium saluted. 'Roger!'

'Great. See you guys in the lounge.' Claire exited, laughing to herself.

Jusis muttered several unspeakable things under his breath as he placed Millium's bear in his desk. Millium, for her part, sat in the chair opposite him, her eyes suddenly absent.

'Hey, Jusis?'

'Yes?' Jusis looked up. 'You look troubled.'

'I guess,' Millium replied, fingering her pendant. 'Is it really okay for me to have your mother's necklace?'

'Of course,' said Jusis. 'Why wouldn't it be okay?'

'Because it's really important to you, and I don't know if someone like me should have it.'

'Put it this way,' said Jusis. ''Is it okay for me to have your bear?'

'That's different.' Millium slumped in the chair.

'I don't think so.'

'It is though. Yours is a family heirloom and mine's just—a dumb trinket my boss gave me after he took me from the lab where they grew me.'

'You're not still on about that, are you?' Jusis crouched in front of her so their eyes were level. 'Haven't you proven to yourself that you're just as capable of deep feeling as a normal person?'

'Yeah, yeah,' said Millium. 'I just wish I had some of those things you had.'

Jusis touched the amber stone on her chest. 'You have one right here.'

Millium placed her hand on his and interweaved their fingers, enjoying its largeness compared to her own as it trailed down her body, brushing her stomach and coming to rest on her lap. 'Yeah, I guess so.' Her voice was tender. 'You really are a softie.'

'To you, maybe. Don't go abusing your powers.'

Millium giggled. 'Anyway, it just bothers me that you have all of this to offer me'—she waved her free hand around in an encompassing fashion—'and I can't really return it.'

'You don't have to. You return it in your own way.'

'Oh, yeah? Like how? What did I do that measures up? And don't say the bear.'

Jusis appeared to consider his answer as Millium examined their joined hands. Then, his fingers were under her chin and his thumb at her mouth as he guided her face back up so she could see the clarity in his pale eyes.

'You made me fall in love with you.'

For some reason, Millium suddenly looked like she'd eaten a whole tray of her chili cakes.

'Millium, what are you doing? You have cranberry sauce all over your face. Here, let me.'

With one hand on her slim shoulder, Jusis dabbed at Millium's mouth with the napkin, painfully aware of Claire's amusement. Rufus, as always, appeared to take no interest as he polished off his roast potatoes. 'There you go,' Jusis said quietly.

'Thanks.' Millium's smile was warm. Jusis turned back to his plate, avoiding Claire's gaze.

'Claire,' said Millium. 'Can I make babies?'

Such a question might have elicited a dramatic response from Jusis once upon a time, but on this evening he only lost control of his fork momentarily, the metal clinking against porcelain.

'Pardon me, Millium?' Claire, already tickled, was holding back laughter at this point.

'Babies! Can I make 'em! Did they make me to be able to have babies in the Black Workshop?'

'I'm sure they did,' said Claire. 'Or rather, I doubt they'd remove that, uh, function. It's how humans are built, artificial or not. Given that you can eat, sleep and feel just the same as anyone, I've no doubt you could do that too. I can't imagine why you're asking, but I wouldn't worry about it. What do you think, Jusis?'

Jusis swallowed the slice of turkey breast he was chewing and carefully put down his cutlery. 'I think that was a very edifying response to a question that probably ought to have been saved at least until after dinner.'

'What?' asked Millium. 'I'm asking for your benefit too, y'know!'

'What a lively addition you are to our household this solstice, Millium,' remarked Rufus.

Jusis took Millium's hand gently, forcing a smile. 'Millium, please try not to kill me in the holiday season.'

'Kill you? Gee, Jusis, I know I'm pretty smokin', but I hope it goes better than that!'

'Oh, Millium,' chuckled Claire, 'I'm not sure to be proud of you or in despair.'

'That reminds me!' Millium snapped her fingers. 'Jusis, I want to feed you! It'll be cute! Eat something from my fork!'

Jusis, quite unable to speak, smiled distantly as his insatiable beloved prodded his face with a parsnip, smearing gravy over his pink cheeks.

'Whoa mama! What's in this chocolate?' Millium asked, chewing furiously.

'Kirsch.'

'Church?'

'Kirsch.'

'What's kirch?'

'Kirsch, Millium, kirsch. It's a kind of alcoholic spirit.' Jusis and Millium were sitting on the sofa in the drawing room with a box of chocolates given to Millium by Rufus.

'Huh? And they let kids eat this? Score! Awesome present, Rufus!'

'Millium, I don't think anyone gets drunk off kirsch chocolates.'

But she had already dived into the box, eager hands tearing open the helpless sweets and quickly forming an efficient chocolate-mouth link. Her cheeks swelled.

'Mmmmhrrmrmph,' Millium said thoughtfully. She swallowed. 'Mmmm. I knew there'd be a loophole somewhere in this alcohol business.'

Jusis frowned. 'I'm not sure that's what I'd call it.'

'Hey, hey, you're gonna be legal soon, right? Get me a beer when you can, okay? I wanna try!'

'You better not,' said Claire from the opposite sofa.

'Don't worry,' said Jusis. 'I'm not quite masochistic enough to let myself alone with a drunk Millium.'

'What do you mean by that?' Millium grumbled. 'How could you say something like that about your sweet little angel?'

'We have been over this, Millium,' said Jusis. 'I have never referred to you as an angel.'

'Yeah, yeah.' Millium plopped herself down on Jusis' lap. 'I don't know why you can't see it. I'm pure as the driven snow.'

Jusis wrapped his arms around Millium's waist and spoke. 'Millium, when I think of an angel, I think of words like gentleness, reserve, prudence, wisdom. None of this could accurately describe you.'

'Okay, smartypants, what am I then?'

'Obviously,' said Jusis, 'you're rough, loud, imprudent and naïve.'

'Oh, you're on, mister—'

'But! You're also brilliant, fierce, bright and courageous. I can't say you're my angel, Millium, but you could be my sunshine.'

Millium's crimson face told him all he needed to know: after her outburst at dinner, vengeance was his.

'Oh, Goddess deliver me from this sickly sweet display!' cried Claire. 'This is some truly hackneyed stuff. To think, Millium, I could've prevented all this by telling you not to visit Jusis.'

Millium returned to her senses and looked affectionately at her claim. 'I wouldn't want that.'

The room lapsed into a rare moment of silence, which was appreciated by three of the room's occupants. Alas, it was not to last: Millium's attention span shorted out and her gaze snapped back to the unfinished present.

'Alright! It's time for Millium vs. church chocolates round two!'

Rufus rose. 'I shall fetch myself a glass of brandy.'

'Well,' said Rufus, shortly after Millium began to snore, 'I heard you were close with Millium, but I didn't quite expect this kind of relationship.'

'Not. A. Word.' Jusis fixed his brother with an icy stare. 'Do you hear me?'

'Don't worry, I shan't tease,' said Rufus. 'I only hope you know what you're doing. Father will—well, I suppose it doesn't matter what he thinks. Anyway, sometimes it pays to be—'

'A bastard?' completed Jusis.

'I was about to say a cadet,' chuckled Rufus. 'I must say, Jusis, you've found a capital way to spit on Father's most cherished values. A decent middle class girl from a respectable family—let's say the Reinford heiress—might've been accepted, albeit with no small degree of consternation, but you've jumped directly into the realm of the unknown. I don't know if it's cause for relief or concern that I can't look into the girl's family. I suppose the poor thing doesn't have one, after all.'

Jusis looked at the sleeping Millium as Rufus sipped his brandy. Her chocolate-stained mouth was open and drooling on the cushion, one socked foot pulled up on the chair while the other stuck out over the carpet. A dirty hand, covered with an accumulation of food and tinsel, rubbed against the armrest, and her clothes were covered in crumbs and stains. Her pendant, though, was tucked carefully into her hoodie, hidden but for the silver chain around her collar.

'She does now,' said Jusis.

POSTSCRIPT END