LOREN
Loren nodded at Remi, happy to help alleviate the other man’s confusion for once. ”Indeed. The ruler bestows a title for some great act of valor, service, or loyalty. As for the details, well, it’s not my fault you missed it. Should’ve done a better job managing your schedule.” Thankfully, the innuendo went completely over the Launceleyn’s head; sex was just about the last thing on his mind. Which meant that the apologetic look on the alchemist’s face was a bit confusing, but it spilled into laughter quickly enough that Loren didn’t comment on it. ”Excuses, excuses. As queen you are expected to be the paragon of society. So no missing ceremonies!” As Remi admitted that no one had consulted him about the whole situation, the Launceleyn gave the other man a sympathetic look. ”Well...are you?” It seemed odd that Loren would be the first to ask this, but it was important enough that it couldn't wait for someone more suitable. Then as the alchemist mentioned his ultimate job security, the corner of the summoner’s mouth twitched. ”That’s what all monarchs think. Then comes the revolution!”The explanation about the cloister, well, wasn’t much of an explanation. ”Huh. Weird.” It seemed that Remi didn’t know a whole lot about it, so Loren decided not to ask a follow up question, though he was dying to know more. Thankfully, they also dropped the conversation about Edy, so the librarian had a chance to get his emotions under control again. This time, the summoner caught the innuendo and Loren just rolled his eyes. ”Alright, gahhhh, whatever you say.” At least the blush on the other man’s cheeks just caused the Launceleyn to feel a slight amount of victory and not a deep and abiding sadness.
The alchemist blushed again. Apparently, Remi was as easy to make blush as ever: as soon as Loren thought that, he pushed it firmly out of his mind. Granted, he was curious what had flustered the other man this time, but before he could ask, the alchemist asked if they could go outside. Seeing as there was something Remi actually needed help with for once, the librarian immediately nodded. ”Of course.” He gestured for the other man to lead the way. As Loren followed the alchemist outside, he couldn’t resist getting in a small dig of his own. ”Seems that you’ve got size on your mind a lot these days. Compensating for something” Maybe the Launceleyn shouldn’t have said anything—they’d been lovers, so Loren knew the alchemist had nothing to compensate for—but he had to get past his discomfort thinking like that sooner or later. And the summoner had gotten past a similar awkwardness once before, with Ronin, so the librarian knew he knew how to do it. He just had to muster up the courage.
A beggar's book
outworths
a noble's blood
