Page 80 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
I hadn’t.
I was a grown woman who could remain professional. No matter that the half elf had shoulder-length purple dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail and a face that I could get lost in. Seriously, why had they made him exactly my type?
I reminded myself that I’d seen plenty of muscled warrior men since my arrival; I could calm down. Especially if I was going to be spending a week or more in his company, traveling to the border.
I couldprobablymake it without the escort, but Julian and his team had spent years exploring the Ice Fields. They would know which monsters I was going to face and their average levels. I was sure I could get information from his teammates. Sir Tully was an open book in theotome—always willing to share helpful tips about surviving in the North.
But then, it sounded like Julian was going to slip away from the ball and head north early. While I wouldn’t usually mind … this might be the last time I saw Henrietta or Brownie or Amy and I wanted more time to say goodbye …
Then he hit me with something unexpected.
“Ah. Did you want to go to the tea party together?”
“Wait, what?” I asked, raising a hand between us.
He clarified for me. “Did you want me to escort you to the tea party or the ball? Or both?”
“Oh no.” It was like being hit by a bucket of cold and hot water at the same time.He’d thought I was asking him to escort me to the ball!
And he’d saidyes!
But he’d only said yes as a favor for saving his sister’s life. Which, if it were coming from anyone else, I would’ve found incredibly insulting.
With Julian, it was both flatteringandinsulting.
“No?” Julian asked.
“I didn’t meanno. I meantno,” I tried to explain and failed, and tried again. “I was asking you for an escort to the Northern Ice Fields.”
Julian’s complexion darkened in a blush—then his eyes narrowed with concern. “This isn’t because everyone found out that you’re Madame Potts, is it? The North might be isolated, but it’s not a safe place to live. I’m sure any number of countries would offer you protection—North Sumbria included.”
“No,” I said. Again. “I have a quest in the North. I’d already planned to go there after the festival.”
Julian asked, “So the favor was to leave with my party members and travel north together?”
“Yes,” I replied, and his face fell. Something goaded me and I teased, “Why? Did youwantto take me to the ball?”
The duke considered that.Actuallyconsidered it. “Yes. I think I do.”
I was shocked. In theotome, in order for Henrietta to win over Julian, she’d had to doa lotof cat-and-mouse tactics. One of the reasons I’d enjoyed his route so much was that I’d found the options so intuitive. The duke was aloof but lonely. He enjoyed conversation but felt awkward when he was enjoying himself. Short and meaningful interactions came naturally, and it was so satisfying when he’d finally come right out and said what he actually wanted.
But that was that and this was this. I narrowed my eyes at the half elf. “It’s because I’m Madame Potts, isn’t it?”
“I thought I already said it’s not that.” He shook his head. “I was thinking it would give us time to talk about logistics. For your trip.”
I couldn’t argue that, though I wanted to. As much as I was annoyed that my favorite invited me to the ball on a logistical whim, I would still get to go to the ball with Duke Julian von Slyke.
“Alright,” I said, resting a hand on my hip and looking him up and down. “You can take me to the afternoon tea partyandthe ball. And you can pick me up here thirty minutes before the tea party.”
He grinned, his white teeth flashing in a heart-stopping smile that made me rethink my decision to spend an entire day with him tomorrow. “It would be my pleasure, Miss Gerda.”
“Then, if that’s all, I have to leave,” I stated, deciding it was time for a tactical retreat. I gave a quick nod before marching off into the palace, leaving the duke behind in the western gardens.
I didn’t look back.
Against my better judgment, I returned to the luncheon. Henrietta and Keith were there, as was Lady Amy and Minstrel Bronwynn and everyone else. I didn’t go inside right away, standing by the door against the wall, enjoying a last moment of quiet.
It was amazing, really.
