Sitting down for the meal is easy enough. I'm getting used to the toll the sword offers. Not like I was out of shape or anything. Some of the trainee look to be. "Knighthood is a way to escape a family tree you don't want."
"Not us." Jessica sits opposite. "I think we should've stopped by the library. Ryan may forget to eat."
I shrug. "Then he suffers for it. Are you his mother? Girlfriend?"
"No." Jessica glares at me. "But if he's not at his top-"
"He'll manage. That's how it is. They do give warnings when we go places if there are limited options available." I pause leaning back. "Or did you want to put someone between us." I think that over. "Yeah... People may think we're dating. Sorry."
"That's not going to be a problem. I would be in more trouble if they thought I was dating Ryan. At least they want me to date you." Jessica sighs poking her food. "I just want someone who'll complain about the options with me. This food is terrible."
"You get used to it." Callie sits down next to her. She pauses glancing between us. "I'm allowed to sit, right?"
I nod. "Yeah. We were practicing swords just before. Since we're going to test in the morning."
Callie scans Jessica. "Did you want me to leave you alone, jessica?"
"I will never date anyone. I'm not marrying. Ever. Look at Hydrangea? She's the only lady left here."
"Beyond thirty anyway." Callie looks to me. "What say you? Would you be so against calling women back into service if the need arises?"
"I don't care?" I stare back at her. "Actually... I think I'll ask Mom... I mean Her Majesty to come back for a few lessons. I think she'll do well training her talents. And... She may need a little space from my father for a time."
"They fell in love on a campaign. Fast marriage all in all and quite young." Callie knows my history. "I'm a little shocked events happened that lead to Xavier."
I look aside and mumble, "Magic and alcohol do not mix."
"Oh." Callie's eyes widen. "That isn't known."
"Yeah." I sink a little. My parents aren't... "I know why he thought things around Odin. We all know why. Being cursed with true love finding... It doesn't work on my line. I'll never know my true love. Why did everyone else get the chance then?"
"Oh... Yeah... I should be wary of that." Callie frowns looking to Jessica. "Get unlucky?" She shakes her head. "Some can take several weeks before the finding spell works. You'll know though."
"The tingles are specific." I frown staring at my plate. Jessica of all people would hate it. A true love won't give her a real chance at being a long term knight. "The curse will end on my 18th at least."
"Why not fifteen given everyone joins the knights?" Callie throws her hands up. "Now you'll be setting up other knights who we need working."
I didn't even think of that. "Because normally having your true love will improve your desires to work harder for a future they want."
"You don't believe that." Callie focuses on me.
I think of Odin and my mother. I'll never gain the benefits for the true love finding spells. Even one cast on me wouldn't work. Casting it on others... If only doesn't have a true love we know they are meant to be with a royal. And given the age gaps... We would know which royal. "The only real benefit I see if the fact our magic that's out of our control at times can be broken with a true love's kiss."
"Maybe it's not really a true love. Just because the magic suggests it doesn't mean things. Love is a lot more complicated than that." Callie leans on her elbow watching me. "You're calling it that because nothing else sounds plausible to break the spells you're capable of."
"Minus strong mages and the true love's kiss." I close my eyes thinking of that. It's good to have Odin around. He can break my spells with magic. And knowing my mother is his true love, means she can break my spells on him if needed. "I'll want to save Odin."
"Save? Are you sure he needs to be saved?" Callie smirks at me. I freeze. "We're talking Lord Odin Periwinkle, right?" I nod. "He shouldn't need saving. If he wanted to leave the tower, he'd leave. He must not have a reason to, yet. If things happen, assume he'll just show up for it. Do you really think the king can put that level of spell lock on such a mage? He'd be using all of his usable mana to manage it."
"That's true." I didn't even realize that. If Odin wanted to leave... if there was a way out... he'd leave. It's all whether he wants to or not. "Alright. I'll assume that he doesn't need saving." I pause to focus on Callie. "But, I need his support as mage trainer."
"That may be the case. But trust in Odin. He knows the best course."
Ingrid comes to mind. She came because Odin said to. I should be able to use Ingrid as my mage trainer for now. When the time comes, Odin should be open to teaching me. When though?
"It's questions for later." Jessica pokes at her plate. I can tell she ate, but it's been lacking. She doesn't like the offered food. It's basic. "Where are the others?"
"Daniel normally just grabs something to go. Made my dinner time much better. I'll even eat with a few of the other trainees. Or hit up a noble who's in."
"Who's here?" I ask.
"Just Hydrangea. June isn't a good time for nobles to be dallying here without a clear reason. I assume Hydrangea picks noble coverage for June trainees so she can definitely miss the June ball."
I never had a real chance to join the balls. I would sometimes get to sit on the throne out of reach of everyone. Can't imagine want it would be like to join. The castle's ball is in July though. The June balls are for debuting up and comers. "Is that why Daniel went back?"
"Doubtful. He likes to visit family. It's been every chance he had, he went back." Callie shrugs. "I don't. If my family wants to chat, they come to me. If I went back home, they'd accuse me of flaking my job as a knight."
"That will be the case for me, too. Although I'd be sent back without much trouble." Jessica sighs. "My two options are here."
"Oh." Callie flinches. "Um... Thanks?"
Jessica waves it off. "My family pressures me enough. I don't need you to."
"I don't mean it like that. Because you're getting marked the future queen, I don't need to fight for it."
Jessica glares at Callie. "I am not being marked anything. Thank you."
"Shouldn't I get a say in that, too?" I look at them. "I'm not interested in my future queen."
"You really don't have a choice, do you?" Callie eyes me. "Unless you 'find true love' before you turn twenty five that is."
"I'm still refusing." Jessica scoffs. "I'm picking knighthood. As long as I do that, they can't force me into marriage." She stands up. "I'm going to tell Ryan to eat. Then I'll write those letters. Maybe I can get some information about my," she grunts the word, "betrothed."
I make a face at her as she leaves. "I'm not interested in a relationship."
Callie scans me. "You should be begging Jessica to agree. She's really something special."
I eye her. "No, thanks."
Callie shrugs. "Your loss."
I stand up. I ate. That's enough. "There's a lot before me. I can't even think about such a thing like future queens. I'm even facing the situation where my father believes I'm not his. Talk about complete absurdity, but I can't ignore it. I need to prove myself as crown prince not look into getting a girlfriend. It doesn't matter how great Jessica is. I'm not interested."
Maybe a letter to my mother will make a difference. If I ask her to join... She's a quality knight. Who cares that mothers normally don't join? What will they do to the queen if she tried? I know she's not truly the royal, but I don't think my father has the right to deny her. I'm not asking for her to go off to war. I'm asking her to train. "I may need to petition him." As if that went somewhere the last time.