Page 69 of Heart of Winter
Oliver pictured Leif’s broad shoulders squeezed into a fitted, brocade jacket, skintight breeches and polished boots, and couldn’t hold back a laugh. “You might even have to cut your hair.”
The prince hissed in dismay.
“Now, now, lad,” Birger soothed. “You wouldn’t have to live there on a permanent basis.”
Erik hummed thoughtfully.
Oliver lifted his head to glance at the king and found him stroking his beard in an absent way, gaze thoughtful. “No, but it would require a very trusted regent to act in your stead while you were away.”
Leif sighed.
“You’re being too reasonable,” Oliver told the king. “It’s lowering the mood of the entire room.”
Birger and Leif chuckled.
Erik shot him a slanted, quietly amused look.
The Yuletide Festival was the day after tomorrow, and Oliver had spent most of this day, and the ones before it, in this study, educating Leif about Drakewell and explaining all the duchy’s governmental workings to king, prince, and advisor alike. His back was sore from occupying this chair for so long, but he was feeling stronger and more energetic, and planned to take a walk later, wrapped up in yet more hemmed hand-me-down clothes that still smelled entirely too much like the spiced oil that Erik brushed into his hair.
There had been no more loaded moments between them; no caught-in-the-balance, precipice moments brimming with the potential formore.
But Oliver wished there had been, and that was a problem.
A light tap sounded at the door, and Revna poked her head in and surveyed them all. “This is some party, boys.”
Erik chucked a crumpled piece of parchment at her in a charming display of childishness. It missed by a wide margin, bouncing harmlessly across the ground toward her feet.
She grinned at her brother and then turned her gaze on Oliver. She crooked a finger. “I need to borrow our Southerner for a bit.”
Oliver was already halfway to his feet when Erik said, “What for?” His tone, low and authoritative, was a surprise.
To Revna as well, if the way her brows shot up was any indication.
Leif glanced between his mother and uncle in question.
Birger pressed his lips together into a very thin line, a spark of amusement glinting in his gaze.
Revna sniffed and said, “That’s for me to know, and you to find out. Oliver, will you come?”
“Um…sure.” He followed her out with a shrug of confusion for the boys.
“Is everything all right?” Oliver asked as they started down the hall together.
“Aside from you being stuck in that stuffy study all day with my dictatorial brother, everything’s quite all right.”
“Oh, well, I don’t mind. The room, that is. Or, um, your brother.”
She chuckled. “That’s good to hear.”
“Is it?”
“Mmhm.” She linked her arm through his as they turned the corner to the stairwell.
“Where are we going, if I may ask?”
“To see about getting you properly outfitted for the feast.”
“Oh, that’s – really not necessary.”
