Page 83 of The Pacifist
“You might.” My mom reached out to hug me. “Sweetheart, it’s normal to be insecure about big decisions.”
I kissed her cheek. “Mom, I love you, but my decision is final.”
When my parents left the gym, I sat back with mixed feelings. I felt both elated that I’d told them and sad that I’d caused them distress.
Maybe there’s a way to have the tournament anyway, without me as the grand prize. Maybe the money would be enough for these men to want to participate.
As I walked up the stairs in my own thoughts, I heard a girl’s voice call out my name.
“Hi, Mila.”
I had reached the large entrance area of the Manor and didn’t see anyone except two guards.
“In here.”
Moving toward the voice, I entered the dining room and bent down to find my cousin, Freya, lying at full length under the dining table.
“What are you doing down there?”
“My mom says I can’t lie on the table, so I’m lying under it.”
Getting to my knees, I crawled closer. Freya was the same age as my younger siblings, Mason and Aubri, and I missed them. “What are you doing?”
“I’m making an important list.”
“Of what?”
“I heard my dad say that if he doesn’t win this election, he’ll be a joke to everyone.”
“He said that?”
Freya nodded, her lips turned downward. “My mom was hugging him and telling him not to be scared. I’ve never seen my dad scared.”
I caressed her hair. “I’m sorry.”
Her green eyes were serious when she tapped her finger at her list. “I’m going to help my dad win this election, and here’s my list of ideas.”
“Can I see it?”
Biting down on her lip, she handed it over. “My mom always says that leaders serve the people and not the other way around, so I’ve been asking the guards and staff here at the Manor what they want the most from my dad.”
“Interesting approach, and what did they say?”
“Well, I’ve asked seventeen of them so far and five of the guards said they wanted more comfortable uniforms.” Freya frowned. “Apparently leather can get very hot in the spring and summer. I wouldn’t know, since my mom refuses to let me wear it.”
“Okay, and what did the others say?”
“Well, Jimmy and Sheriff in the kitchen are worried about what happens when they can’t work anymore. They are both old and live with the rest of the staff for now, but they have no real savings and Jimmy complained that his leg is giving him trouble.”
“Oh, they shouldn’t worry.” I loved our two chefs. “I’ll tell them they can stay as long as they want.”
Freya shook her head at me. “Are you going to tell the same thing to every staff member who is too old to work?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but she had a point. “I don’t know.”
“Anyway, I’ve categorized the wishes of the people I interviewed into four main desires. Number one is a wife, but that didn’t surprise me because men fight for women all the time.
“The second one is comfort, and then there’s a pay raise, which I’ve categorized into wealth, and the fourth one is adventure. I’m not sure what to do about that one.”
