Someone New
"Watch out. Mom is on the warpath." Silena swept into the room.
Piper looked up from the note she was writing, deftly keeping the ink from dripping off the glass pen and resting it back in the inkwell.
"I'm doing well, how are you doing?" Piper said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, don't start with me." Silena sat down, her dress swirling around her dramatically in a tornado of pink organza. "You're lucky I'm such a good sister, it's not me who needs to be worried."
"A good sister? I seem to recall the many times that-"
"Bap, bap, bap, bap, bap!" Silena interrupted, "You're going to want to hear this. You're getting married."
Piper's eyebrow crept up. "No I'm not. Percy is, whether or not he knows it. I've got at least until the Festival of Night, if not until next year's Festival of Light."
"Not from what I've heard. Mom is determined to put together a lovely little story for you."
"And she insists on calling it that." Piper wiped the ink from the pen and capped the inkwell. "Who's been circulating this?"
Silena bit her lip.
Piper sighed. "If it's Drew I don't-"
"Okay, so it's mostly Drew." Silena began, fidgeting with a piece of her sleeve. "But I promise, when Charlie and I met with Mom this morning, she absolutely seemed like she had a plan in the works."
"I believe you. But not for this year, that's way too soon. Besides, Percy needs me here." Piper gestured towards the letter she was writing, "Too keep an eye out for him."
Silena rolled her eyes. "Percy's a grown man."
"And he's a man of the people." Piper closed her book, "But when's the last time you saw him participating in the rumor mill? When's the last time he's worried about the strength of his reputation?" She shoved the leather bound journal onto a shelf between a romance novel her mother had gifted her and a trinket Charlie had made for her. "He's rumored to have a new bastard every week, and who stops the stories from getting out of hand?"
Silena pursed her lips. "You."
"Me. There's no way Mom or Dad are going to make him get married and not keep me around to make sure someone else can do that." Piper closed the desk drawer she had put the inkwell back into with more force than necessary.
"I never said it was logical." Silena pointed out, "Mom always did value a good love story over politics."
"But Dad doesn't, there's no way he wouldn't put a stop to it."
"And risk upsetting Mom?" Silena encountered.
"Point taken." Piper conceded.
"All I'm saying is, you need to watch out. Mom might want you to find the love of your life, but if she's already getting her way by setting up a marriage…"
"Dad's compromise might be choosing the alliance." Piper finished.
"Poseidon is a good king." Silena said, "And he's a better king than he is a husband, and he's a better husband than he is a father. He cares for you. But not as much as he cares for Mom, and definitely not more than he cares for Cyprus. Just consider it seriously."
"I always do. Did you get any insight on who might be my future spouse?"
"No, but like I said, it was mostly the vibe I got from Mom. Drew said that it was certainly going to be Prince Malcolm of Athens, but that's probably her own invention. Everyone knows he's dreadfully boring."
The two ceased gossiping at a knock.
"Come in." Piper called, and a young maid entered, nervously curtseying to the princesses and handing a folded note to Piper.
As soon as the girl had left, Piper swore.
"What?" Silena tried to grab the note, but Piper snatched it away.
"Percy just got back from another one of his escapades. And he got caught sneaking in."
Silena stood up with Piper. "You know, he's not actually your responsibility."
Piper sighed heavily. "How I wish that were true." She tossed the note into the first on her way out.
…
It had been easy to get out. That was true every time. Percy knew the right people to make sure were in place before he left the damn castle, but he never knew how long he would be out, and so he never knew where exactly things would be when he got in. As long as he could make it into the kitchen, he could usually make it to the rest of the nag undetected. It was just the initial approach to the castle that fucked him over.
Today was one of those days. The visit to his mother's was lovely. Seeing how well Grover's apothecary was running was always nice. Even Frank's brief lecture on sneaking out before the bear hug was a welcome treat if only he could learn to time his returns so that he didn't keep getting caught.
Which was why he was sitting awkwarding across from his dad and step-mom, (Second step-mom, he might add) having been marched from where the gardener had found him all the way to his father's office. Along the way, he had slipped a note to a passing maid, and he could only hope it had been delivered to his sister.
"Perseus." His father's voice was both annoyed and disappointed. "We've talked about this."
Percy was not looking at his father. He was looking at the shelf behind him, the knick knacks on the desk, Aphrodite's left ear, the door that led to the rest of his father's rooms, but not at the man himself.
"No we haven't." Percy stated. "You've talked about this. And you've refused to listen when I try to talk, over and over again."
Poseidon glowered. "I am not against you visiting her, but it can be done through the proper channels! Organized days out where you are both in attendance, charitable campaigns as the Crown Prince, why must you always attempt to sneak out? It's unbecoming, and frankly, childish of you."
"It's only ever about how you look, is it?" Percy accused. "You just want the family to remain holier-than-thou in the eyes of the kingdom."
"I will not be-"
"Dear." Aphrodite put a hand on her husband's arm
"I'm sorry, darling." Poseidon took a deep breath. "You're correct, Perseus, I do care about the way the family looks. But more importantly, I care about you. You are so much more than you know, you are the future of Cyprus, and it's important that the people have confidence in you, as your future leader. I am only thinking about the people."
"I don't see how creating an image of me that I am not helps that cause."
"Don't start this again."
"My entire existence is a due to a breaking of rules so why should I-"
"Perseus, please." Aphrodite pleaded. "Let's not rehash this again."
"If you make me parade around as your perfectly legitimate son-"
"You are as legitimate as necessary to carry on the line!" Poseidon said, his voice low in warning.
"Piper would make a better queen, and there are no questions as to her parentage!"
As if summoned, Piper entered, not bothering to knock.
"Mother, father." She made a hasty curtsy. "I apologize for what has been said here today."
"Do not apologize for what are not your words." Poseidon said, sighing again. "It is your brother who should apologize."
"And I'm certain he will." Piper said, side-eyeing him.
There was a long silence.
I haven't said anything I didn't mean. Percy said with eyes, staring at Piper. It would be a disgrace to both me and my mother to apologize
If you want to be able to still see her, you're going to have to. Let me take care of this for you. Piper stared back harder.
Percy broke first. "I am sorry. For what I said. About the rules. And about my qualifications to be king."
Everyone in the room relaxed slightly.
"Now, dear, what did you say to the gardener about where you'd been?" Aphrodite prodded.
"That I had been in town to see a girl." Percy said, staring at the ground.
Poseidon seemed resigned at that. Piper only seemed to relax more.
"I can assure you, Father, that this will not be a rumor you will have to worry about." Piper said, "I will make sure enough conflicting reports are circulated that it will not stay in the minds of the court long enough to matter."
"Thank you, Piper." Poseidon said, "As for you, Perseus, you will remain in your suite until dinner tomorrow, which you will take with the full court, and you will be on your best behavior for. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Father." Percy muttered.
He and Piper each offered the slightest of inclinations, barely a bow, if only to keep the peace with their parents. The two proceeded together out of their parent's suite of rooms and toward the Percy's, silent all the way until they found privacy.
"Well," Piper said, as soon as the door closed, "That could have gone better."
"It also could have gone worse." Percy said, flopping onto a chair.
"If you're going to sneak out, you really need to master the sneaking back in part."
"I know!" Percy threw his hands in the air. "I'm more annoyed at this fact than you are."
"Maybe," Piper said with a grin. "How is Sally?"
"She's fine. Sends her best to you, wanted me to thank you for the gifts."
"Grover?"
"Business is booming."
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
Percy smiled ruefully. "Fine." He produced a sachet from his pocket and tossed it to Piper. "The contraband as promised."
"Perfect." She tucked it away. "I'm saving that for the next headache you cause me."
"You love me."
"Unfortunately." Piper finally sat down. "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"
"Bad news."
"You're getting married."
Percy gasped in mock surprise. "Really? The playboy prince is going to settle down? His poor wife, she'll never have his heart! And what will become of the kingdom with all the illegitimates running around?" He shook his head.
"You knew it was coming one day, no matter how hard you tried to delay it. You're welcome, by the way, for keeping those rumors alive for you. I could use a little thanks for all the work I do convincing Dad that I'm actually dispersing that talk."
"You're holding your thanks." Percy said, gesturing toward the weed. "What about the good news?"
"It's actually the same news, just depending on how you feel about the whole thing."
"Fucking hell, Piper. Married? Who am I supposed to ask?"
"You either pick someone from our royal court, or you start looking among the other five kingdoms."
"Maybe I should just take after Dad and go for a commoner."
"He never married your mom, Percy, he couldn't."
"I just want to marry someone for…I don't know, not for a dumb political alliance."
"That's called love, Percy."
Percy rolled his eyes at her. "But I've never felt that before. Sure, I've seen people who are pretty, but what is that supposed to lead to?"
"Heirs."
"And the rest of my life married to someone that I don't care about."
Piper pinched the bridge of her nose. "Look. You just need to find a suitably noble girl to marry who can produce legitimate heirs for Cyprus. Then, when you find someone you do really love, you keep them around."
Percy grimaced. "But it's so….disloyal."
"It's practical."
"It's different for you." Percy griped, "You know you'll never be married to any man you could really love. I maybe could, so the idea of having someone else on the side when I've promised a wife that I'd love them it's just...I don't know."
"It's no different at all. We both just have to be adults about it." Piper stood up and yawned. "I have to go deal with this mess. Just think about who you could rule Cyprus with. That and love don't have to go together you know."
She flicked him on the head, and left the prince's suite, heading toward her own rooms. It was going to be a long night.
…
"I've been thinking." Percy walked into Piper's room without knocking.
"Do sit down, I wouldn't want you to strain yourself." Piper said without looking up.
"Ha ha. I've been thinking, and I think that Dad and Aphrodite are going to make me propose on the Day of Trust."
"I could have told you that."
"But it's so soon!"
"Percy, I can almost assure you that you'll be married in the next two weeks whether you like it or not."
His eyes shot up, staring her right in the face.
"What?"
"You got halfway there." Piper said. "The delegates get here, and the first day of the Festival begins. The third day, the Day of Trust, is when you'll be expected to enter an engagement. And by the Solstice on the sixth day, you'll be wed."
Percy dropped into his chair, numb. "I need to pick someone to marry in the next week."
"Yes."
"The next seven days."
"Hop to it."
"Moon and Stars above, Piper."
"You know, Drew was just telling me how much she longs to be a princess-"
"I'm leaving!" Percy said, and left like a shot.
…
The evening brought the shifting words of court, and it also brought Percy, on his best behavior as prescribed. And as the delicate balance of half-truths and lies began to spin around her, Piper never felt more in her element. The food was good, the company was middling, and the gossip and rumors were always disgustingly terrific, a perfect storm of complete slander to news far flung across the map, to cold hard truth if one could find it. Piper loved it.
And with the Festival of Light approaching so rapidly, every lord and lady was at the Crystal Castle to capitalize on the opportunity. The Festival was only held so conveniently in Cyprus every five years, afterall.
"Are there any delegates you're keeping an eye on at this Festival?" Piper asked.
"I shouldn't say." Mitchell said, taking a long sip from his glass.
"Surely someone has caught your eye. Afterall, it can't be hard when so many in our court are so boring and dull."
Mitchell's eyes sparkled vindictively. "I'm sure I don't know who you're talking about. But I do see your point."
"Hard not to when there's so little else of worth to be heard."
"If I'm being honest, I have been keeping an ear open as to who from each of the five kingdoms will be in attendance."
"Old sods again?"
"Hardly. A lot of the younger crowd. Of course, there are still the stuffy ones that the older lords and ladies appreciate, but it seems many people are hoping to….how shall we say, reap the benefits of the Solstice?"
Piper smiled easily. "Obviously, it would be an affront to waste such an auspicious opportunity. But as to particulars-"
"I'm not one to say things that aren't true-"
"Naturally."
"But from what I've heard, the most eligible person in attendance will be the Crown Prince of Olympia."
"Crown Prince? Isn't the heir to Olympia the Crown Princess?"
Mitchell leaned closer, confidentially. "Was. I'm not sure what happened to her. Olympia said she died of a sudden disease. But I've heard that she ran away."
"Why would she do that?"
Mitchell shrugged his shoulders and sipped at his wine slowly before answering. "Who's to say?"
Piper nodded, acting as if it were the most profound thing he had said. "And you have your eye on the new Crown Prince?"
"Not me. I know that some in our court do." His eyes glanced quick as a flash over to Drew, but Piper caught the action. "But I have other sights."
"I wish you the best of luck in achieving them." Mitchell offered her a polite bow, and she left to circulate the room until dinner was had.
By the time the evening had adjourned, Piper had a mental list she needed to run by Percy, full of potential candidates for his all but impending nuptials.
"Percy, your father and I would like to speak with you." Aphrodite said.
"Meet with me afterwards, I have some ideas to run by you." Piper said, about to leave.
"Actually, dear, we'd like you to be there as well." Aphrodite added.
Just consider it. Silena's voice replayed in her mind.
Percy shot her a nervous glance. Every other lord and lady in the banquet hall had left. It was just her parents and her brother.
"We've decided that it's time that you started taking your role as Crown Prince a bit more seriously." Poseidon said. His tone was completely no-nonsense. Percy wasn't going to be able to argue out of this one. "You will marry. On the Solstice."
Piper saw Percy's heart sink. It didn't matter how prepared he was for the news. It was the last thing he wanted. "The Solstice…next year?"
Aphrodite shook her head. "No dear. This Solstice."
"How do you expect me to find a partner in such a short time?" Percy asked.
"You won't have too." Poseidon said. "We've already taken care of it. You will be wed to Princess Annabeth of Athens."
"I have no choice?" Percy asked. "How do you expect me to marry someone I've never met? How do you expect me to lead our kingdom when you will not even let me make a decision on such a personal-"
"It is decided, Perseus. You made the decision for yourself when you proved you have not yet learned what it means to be an heir. Annabeth is a most accomplished young lady, and is very studied, a trait that will be most useful to you in a match, given you will not have your sister to constantly clean up your messes for you."
Piper's dread solidified. "I won't be here?"
Aphrodite had the tact to hesitate before delivering the news. "Yes, dear. We've also arranged a truly stunning match for you. You are to marry the heir of Olympia, Crown Prince Jason."