Chapter 22: CHAPTER 19.0: Family Issues

I wasn’t looking forward to my second class of the day since it was just Konn teaching me how to do his job. “I do a lot more than just advise. While the king and queen run the kingdom, I help them out by running the castle so that everything else is easier for them. The guards report to me if they see or deal with anything out of the ordinary. I deal with it then I report what’s important to the king and queen. I also filter a lot of their work out from most important to least important and take care of whatever other tasks they give me.” He was making their job a lot easier on them.

Lexus called me this morning and made sure I took my medication, so I was able to concentrate well.

The reason I wasn’t looking forward to this was because of yesterday and how I got upset about not being included in his family. “Noted.” I said without physically taking notes.

“You’re not interested?” Konn asked so I guess I wasn’t doing the best job hiding my emotions.

I refused to look him in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter since I don’t have a choice in being here. I left my family to do this, and I can’t turn back.” Maybe I spoke with a little passive aggressive, but it felt necessary.

“You’ll realize that we have a huge honor by being able to serve our kingdom in the way we do.” He completely missed my point. “You’ll be able to do even more I do with your abilities.”

“Serving your kingdom.” I muttered.

Konn sighed without saying anything in response to my comment. He continued going on about the details of his tasks. I pulled out my phone to see Sadia had texted me some words of encouragement.

It only made me feel more terrible because of what I was doing with her fiancé. If I wanted to stop things now, I’m not even sure if I could. “Do you have any questions so far?”

I put my phone away. “None.” Then I paused. “Actually one, how was your day yesterday? Do anything exciting?” I couldn’t help myself; it was the only way I could cope.

I stared at his back when he turned back around, and I followed him. “I was thinking more about the job Aqua.” I still thought he missed my point.

“Sorry, I guess I mistook you for my father.” That one I did regret after I said it.

Konn stopped walking and I couldn’t see his face, so I wasn’t sure what he was feeling. “Is that what this is about Aqua?” He turned to me with his eyebrows scrunched up. “If you want to spend time with me outside of work, we can do that.” It felt more like he was trying to get me to shut up, so I didn’t say anything. I wanted to spend time with him but only if he wanted too. Now I just felt bad about wanting it.

I couldn’t force him to mean it, so I stopped with the passive aggressive comments. I wasn’t going to get what I wanted that way. He might have noticed how I felt because his expression softened. “Aqua I know things are hard right now but we’re all trying to adjust.”

I couldn’t stop thinking that I wanted my mother, but I only wanted her because I didn’t know her. Lexus was right, she could have been the same as Konn. “Take your time,” I said genuinely. I didn’t feel that much better, but I got all my petty behavior out of my system.

We went on with the rest of the lesson and it was mostly me just following him around as he worked.

He might not have talked much because of everything I said. I felt freed when he dismissed me, and I went to find Lexus for our last class. The piano lesson helped take my mind off my emotions perfectly.

After our last class we went back to his room. This was only the second time I was in here. Usually, we did things in empty rooms and worked in other areas in the castle. “Why are we here?”

“Cade’s joining us.” He sat down on his bed.

“Is there that much work?” I asked.

Lexus nodded. “Yeah, we could use his help. “He’s been hanging out with Sadia a lot for me for the last week since I’ve been hooking up with you so it’s a good thing, he’ll have a break.”

I looked to the door as Cade walked in. “Hey.” He closed the door behind him. “So, what are we doing?”

Lexus sat down at his desk and we both pulled a chair up. He split the paperwork into three piles, but it only seemed like the normal amount of work we were given. “Are you going to the festival tonight Cade?”

Cade looked through his pile of work. “Yeah, I’m going with my mother, father and Gray like usual. Vella might come with us but she’s been kind of distant lately so she might not. I’m not sure if I even care if she does.” Another family thing I wasn’t invited to. “What about you guys?”

“I’m going with Sadia and Aqua is going with Calvin.”

Cade laughed. “Calvin? I wouldn’t have guessed that. He’s kind of a weird guy.”

“I don’t trust him.” Lexus added.

I sighed. “It’s not like I had any other options.” I guess the pettiness was coming back.

“I’d invite you to come with me and Sadia, but I doubt you’d want to be a third wheel,” Lexus said, and I definitely didn’t want to be a third wheel.

I shrugged. “Calvin’s been nice to me, so I had no reason to turn him down.”

“Be careful, Calvin is the type of wolf who doesn’t really think for himself,” Cade warned. “How was your first day with Father as your teacher? I remember mine feeling like one big father-son lecture.”

“I remember mine feeling intimidating,” Lexus said. “But I was seven and Konn was teaching self-

defense so it’s not exactly the same.” It was a nice thing to try to picture. I wondered how their relationship was like then and now.