Addison had never married—he had never had time to court a girl—not that there were many his age available even if he had—but it didn't take an experienced eye to notice that Prince Astir was desperately in love with the girl working as the Archivist's assistant. And it didn't take a genius to realize that she was not nearly as interested in him as he was in her. But love apparently took away all commonsense, because even though the prince was reckoned to be quite intelligent, he apparently was unable to see that Ysabel's response to him didn't go beyond friendship.
Addison wasn't sure what to do about the problem, though. He didn't want to be the one to crush his young ward's dreams and ruin his first love, but at the same time, Astir couldn't spend forever mooning over the girl. The kingdom was slowly but surely rebuilding itself from its devastating population loss, and the prince had to do his part, too. He had to marry and have children.
He had only had one party and he had spent almost all of it with Ysabel or sitting on his throne, alone. Perhaps it was time to have another party. Maybe seeing other girls—girls who were very interested in him—would make him change his mind about Ysabel. There were plenty of fish in the sea, as the saying went; there was no need for him to have his heart set so quickly and firmly on one he couldn't seem to reel in.
Addison hung back while the rest of the Council was exiting from their morning meeting. Prince Astir was still in his chair, signing some of the documents and petitions that they had given him.
"Yes?" Astir asked, looking up when Addison didn't make a move to leave.
"Sire, I was wondering if you might like to have another party."
"So soon? It's only been a couple of months since my birthday. People don't have parties that often . . . do they?"
Addison shrugged a little. "You can have them as often as you want . . . provided you don't break the treasury in the process."
"Why not mention this during the meeting?"
Addison began to wish that his prince was oblivious all the time, not just when Ysabel was concerned.
He sighed. "Sire, I think . . . I think it would be a good idea for you to socialize with the young ladies of the kingdom more."
"Oh, is that what this is about?" Astir returned to signing the documents. "I already have my eye on someone, so that's not necessary."
"I know, Sire."
Astir looked up at him again. "Then why do you want me to have another party?"
Addison bowed his head, unable to meet his prince's innocent eyes. "Because . . . maybe that young lady is not going to work out. So I thought you might consider other options."
"What makes you think that Ysabel won't work out?" Astir suddenly threw his quill to the table. "Does this have to do with the fact that she's not noble?" he accused.
"Not at all, Sire. You are free to marry whomever you want."
"Then what are you getting at? Speak plainly!"
"I fear that . . . that the young lady may not feel for you what you feel for her," Addison said as gently as he could.
"I am aware of that."
Addison looked up at him in surprise. "What?"
Astir crossed his arms. "I'd have to be very dense to not notice that she is not as enthusiastic about me as I am her. After all, I proposed and she has still not accepted."
Addison was even more surprised. "You proposed, Sire? Have you told anyone?"
"No. I was under the impression that my business was still my own," he hinted.
"Well . . . yes, but proposing marriage is a big deal. It becomes everyone's business."
"Only if she accepts. Until then, it's between me and her."
Addison drummed his fingers nervously on the table. He had thought he knew everything that was going on with Astir—he had always been an open, forthright boy—but it seemed the prince had taken to having private plans—even private marriage proposals! He was, of course, allowed to do so, but it left Addison wondering what was happening. He was unaccustomed to not being in control of everything.
"And if she doesn't accept?" Addison asked quietly.
"I think she will. I believe that she's my destiny. I am convinced of it," he added firmly. "I just have to give her time to find that out for herself."
Many generations before, people had commissioned astrologers to chart their destiny in life, but it had gradually become less and less fashionable to do so. Then, when the plague came, it wiped out the few remaining astrologers; now no one could get their destiny charted.
Addison wished that Astir's parents had gotten a star chart made for him before the opportunity had been lost. It would make this decision much easier if they knew who he was supposed to marry.
"What if she doesn't come to the same conclusion as you?" Addison asked.
"Gods, Addison, I thought I was in a hurry to get married!" Astir laughed with disbelief. "I just turned eighteen two months ago and have already proposed, but that's not fast enough for you? What, are you anxious for me to move out of the house?" he asked with a sly grin.
"No, my prince. I didn't mean that. I just . . . I just thought you shouldn't pin your hopes too firmly on one girl just yet—especially one that's undecided."
"Well, you're too late; my hopes are already pinned to her. And I think she has a right to be undecided; I've only been courting her for a couple of months."
He picked up his quill and began reviewing documents again. But after a minute, when Addison didn't move, he looked up again. "More?" he asked.
"No, sire," Addison said reluctantly.
Astir laughed at him. "I don't think a girl could look more disappointed if her coming out party was cancelled. Do you want this party that much?"
"I don't want it for myself, Sire."
"Yes, yes, I know, it's all about seeing me married," Astir said, waving his hand dismissively. "Very well, I will humor you . . . if you humor me and invite Ysabel."
"Very good, Sire."
"See to it, then," Astir said, before returning to his papers.
Addison rose, bowed his head, then left. It wasn't what he hoped for, but maybe something would come of it yet. At the very least, they weren't likely to be any worse off than they were before.
Addison supposed that Astir was right: there wasn't any great hurry for him to marry. He had only just come of age and there was no reason to expect that another plague would come through before he could get an heir. But Addison couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to hurry and see his prince crowned and with an heir in the cradle. He hoped that he wasn't getting a foretelling of some ill befalling Astir.
Perhaps it was just because he had lived his entire adult life paranoid that something would happen to Astir on his watch. Now the prince was old enough to take care of himself, but maybe the older man was having a hard time letting go of the worry.
That's what he told himself, anyway. That still didn't feel right, though. For the second time that morning, he wished there were still astrologers available. If something untoward was going to happen to Astir, it would surely appear in his star chart. If they knew what was coming, they could make proper arrangements. But, instead, they were groping blindly in the dark. Addison could only hope that they would all take the right course of action.
