Francis had reached the bridge three hours after Jacques' funeral.
According to the guards, he'd been furious that there hadn't been a horse waiting for him.
"Never mind that he can't even ride well enough for that to help." Eirian had snarled when she'd heard.
He hadn't even come to the palace when he had made it across the bridge. He'd gone straight to the estate, instead of paying his respects to his brother or his new king, and simply sent out an announcement, without warning anyone else in the family, congratulating Eric and somehow managing to add that his son was now Eirian's heir and third in line for the throne.
Eric had sent a summons as soon as he'd seen it, but a day later, he still hadn't shown himself. They'd all finally gotten some sleep a few hours after Eric's coronation.
His conversation with Helena had been enlightening and heartening. She'd made him think of his mother, not that it took much these days, and what she might have been like if she'd lived long enough to advise Chenzhou.
She probably wouldn't have been as refined as Helena, given that she'd grown up among boisterous, rough-and-ready soldiers. For that exact reason, she probably would have loved Eirian.
And Eric.
Now that he'd had a chance to see them together, it was clear how close the cousins were.
And how close Chenzhou had come to a war on his doorstep when Eirian had first arrived at the Camelia.
They even had the same mannerisms, sitting back in their chairs in a way that almost looked lazy, tilting their head to the side in thought, staring straight into someone's eyes when they were talking to them.
They even held their cups the same way. Which was kind of hilarious.
He was sitting with them in Eric's parlor a day after the coronation. Waiting for Eirian's father to respond or show up to Eric's summons, and for the last few minutes, he'd been watching them grow increasingly angry.
Which was something else they did the exact same way. Deepening frowns and twitching eyes.
Chenzhou glanced at Will, a silent presence off to the side. He'd already been there when Eirian and Chenzhou had arrived, and Chenzhou wasn't sure what his actual position was, but Eirian seemed to expect him to be around.
Something about him reminded Chenzhou of Yuze. The way he watched everything from the shadows and seemed permanently exhausted by anyone he had to interact with.
He was clearly trusted by Eric and Eirian, even Helena.
"There's no chance the message wasn't delivered?" Eric checked again, glancing at Will, who gave him a flat look in return.
Eirian glanced at the clock. "If he doesn't come soon, you're going to have to send a second notice."
"Any second notice I send will be delivered by the Imperial Army," Eric growled and started to pace.
"I'll take it," Will offered, clearly trying to head off the brewing fight. Eric shot him a glare in response, but Will didn't seem all that worried.
"Why did you agree to the child being your heir, anyway?" Eric turned to Eirian, who looked at Chenzhou.
Chenzhou shifted, embarrassed and remorseful. "I was trying to buy time."
For a moment, Eric looked thoughtful, then he gave a short nod. "That would have made sense with anyone else."
"I'm learning that," Chenzhou admitted.
"It's only for five years. You need to get married now anyway." Eirian pointed out.
Eric winced. "I need to get things under control first. I'll start looking in six months or so."
"They're not going to let you wait," Eirian warned.
Eric stiffened, and a haunted look came over his face. He almost looked like a cornered animal. Which Chenzhou supposed was fair. He'd seen some of the husband hunting that happened at the court of the Camelia and couldn't imagine how much worse it was in the capital.
Let alone for someone of Eric's stature.
"He's throwing a childish tantrum." Eric snapped. "He's the only member of high society who hasn't shown his face."
"He's just waiting until his planned moment." Eirian scoffed. "He'll make a big show of it. Probably bring the child."
"He hasn't even named it yet," Eric muttered.
"It's not old enough." Eirian snorted.
"The child deserves a name if he's already being paraded about," Chenzhou said sympathetically. "It's hardly the child's choice."
Eric and Eirian both looked a bit guilty at the reminder.
"Are the two of you planning to have children then?" Eric looked curious, Will terribly amused.
Eirian and Chenzhou shared an awkward look.
"We've discussed…the situation." Chenzhou offered.
Eirian tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling as Eric gave her a questioning look. "I didn't think you could have children?"
"I still don't think I can," Eirian admitted. "Chenzhou has a lover."
"Ah, right." Eric didn't look surprised. Or even upset. "Hopefully, you produce a child sooner rather than later."
Cheznhou shifted awkwardly, but only Will seemed to notice. He looked curious as he studied Chenzhou, but he didn't say anything.
He definitely reminded Chenzhou of Yuze.
And he knew what Yuze would say about having a child with Anna. While Eirian was okay with it, Yuze hadn't been as accepting. It had nothing to do with the complicated romantic situation Chenzhou, Anna, and Eirian were in and everything to do with bringing a child into what could easily become a less-than-loving situation.
While Chenzhou was certain he could always love his child, he had always wanted one; Eirian's reticence was concerning.
And Anna…
Anna didn't even want to marry Chenzhou. Even after all this time. She loved children, and when they were young, they'd even talked about kids. Before Chenzhou's illness had grown too bad to ignore.
The Camelia had extensive plans in place to care for orphans, and there were plenty given that it was a military estate.
Seeing how little Lord Soliel seemed to care about his son made his heart twist painfully in his chest. And Lady Soliel wasn't any better, more concerned with her social standing than her babe.
Chenzhou's parents had loved him, even if they hadn't lived to tell him that themselves.
It was criminal to leave a child in that situation. Especially one too young to defend itself.
….
Oh, that was an idea.
Chenzhou stood so suddenly it made Erin and Eirian jump.
"What's wrong?" Eirian set her coffee down.
Chenzhou faultered. He should really discuss this with Eirian before he mentioned it to anyone else, but he wasn't sure how to say that without insulting Eric. "I, uh, had an idea." He glanced between the cousins. "Perhaps we could speak of it later." He sat back down awkwardly.
Eirian rolled her eyes. "Just spit it out."
"Something you don't trust me with?" Eric challenged.
"No, not at all," Chenzhou said quickly. "I merely thought it better to discuss with Eirian first since it concerns her. Her and I. The two of us." He forced himself to stop talking as Erik's eyebrow crawled up.
"For Rock's sake," Eirian groaned. "Just say it."
Well, if they insisted. Chenzhou took a deep breath. "What if we raised your brother?"
~ tbc