Chapter 45
“Ah, was my guess wrong?” the Princess mused, making a show of looking contrite. “I apologize for my inconsiderate words.” Amusement.
A blatant lie, of course. Arne forced down his irritation and desperately fished for a diplomatic reply.
“No harm done,” he graciously allowed. “Given my recent association with her, I can see how that unfortunate misconception came to be.”
Charlotte nodded sagely. “Indeed. The rumor mill is ever-hungry, and there are few targets as interesting as the private affairs of a highborn young lord. I will take greater care to verify such things from now on.”
“I would appreciate that,” Arne sighed, knowing full-well that she knew that he knew that she was playing with him. ‘Christ, please grant me the homely daughter of some minor noble and the strength to oppose Mother…’
“Still, I am afraid the… persistent rumors may negatively impact a small ruse I have come up with over the last few days,” she smiled innocently.
Arne humored her, not that he had much choice in the matter.
“Please, do elaborate.”
The waning remnants of her aura spiked with delight. “I believe both of us have something we desperately need right now, and I also believe there might be a mutually beneficial solution to that problem.”