Page 95 of Gilded Lies

“Once the merchant canceled, I claimed the land to rent since it’s cheaper when there’s no finished home, and we completed the job. This is ours now.”

Aurelius froze on his horse.

“I told you I’d build you a house on the beach,” said Jari. “Maybe it’s not what you imagined or saw in that painting in the artist’s home, and I had help since I’ve never built a house on my own before...I wanted you to have something bigger than a cottage too. It's perfect for two people.”

Aurelius’s face grew so tight as he stared at it, Jari suddenly regretted it. Maybe he should have waited and asked Aurelius to draw some kind of plan so he’d have an idea of what the Prince had been imagining. Maybe he’d wanted something quite specific even though he hadn’t said so. Perhaps he hated the wraparound balcony and thought it was ugly, or he didn’t like the off-white color. Jari, the oaf, had fucked up what was supposed to be a wonderful surprise.

“I love it,” Aurelius said in a low voice.

“What-you do?”

“Yes. You really got his place for us?”

“I said I’d build you a house on the beach, and I meant it. Do you truly love it, or are you just saying that?”

“I do. I didn’t think we’d have that for quite a while because we wanted to save money and make sure we had a nice cushion just in case.”

“I will have to pay for the rest, and I can do it slowly out of my wages,” said Jari. “Some others have wanted houses built on the beach too since World’s Edge is growing. Whatever bonus and advances are paid, I’ll get a chunk, so it won’t take that long to pay it off. We won’t be starving in the meantime.”

Aurelius leaned over to kiss him. “Can we go in?”

“Of course.”

A stable to the side would be the horse’s home, and there was space so they could graze. Jari would have to build a fence once spring came.

He unlocked the front door. The house was mostly empty, and he’d have to build furniture. Aurelius could help since he was doing well with the basics so far. The windows were large, and in the kitchen toward the beach side, they had a huge window so they could see the ocean every morning when they ate breakfast. Since it faced west, they could watch the sunset too.

Jari was more excited to show him upstairs, and he let Aurelius go first. The Prince froze again when he entered the bedroom. The merchant hadn’t asked for the entire west wall to be made of ceiling-to-floor windows with double glass doors in the center. Jari had thought of it himself.

The vast beach spread out below, and the water seemed to go forever. The waves were gentle that day, and it was too cold for swimming, but he was pretty sure Aurelius would like seeing that every morning when he woke up.

“By Elira, that’s beautiful.” Aurelius approached the glass and put an arm around Jari who came to stand beside him.

Jari draped an arm around his shoulders. “I’d been hoping that you would like it.”

“I love it. If I sell some of my jewelry, we can pay off what we owe faster.”

“No,” Jari said hastily. “You’re not selling your Mother’s stuff, and we’re not about to starve. I’d work my fingers to the bone to take care of you anyway.”

“But I want to take care of you too, and not everything in my jewelry box is Mother’s.” Aurelius squeezed him. “I have a couple of things I bought, and there’s this tacky ring that’s worth a lot, but I hate it. I only have it because I beat a courtier at cards.”

Jari laughed. “You don’t even like it?”

“He had nothing left to bet, but he wanted another round. I’d get the ring, or he’d get the money he lost to me.” Aurelius shrugged. “He was an arse, and I didn’t feel bad about cleaning him out.”

“Did you cheat?”

Aurelius adjusted the strap of his eyepatch. “I’d never do that.”

“Mmm.”

Aurelius smirked and poked him. “Truly, I didn’t cheat, and luck wasn’t with him that day. If we sell that ring and a couple of other things I don’t care for, it’ll help us catch up, and I’d feel better.”

“All right. If you’re sure.” Jari still had the snake ring and the locket because Aurelius had insisted he keep it. “Are you sure you don’t want this back?” He fingered the locket.

“No. I want you to keep it because I’ll always love you.”

“I’ll always love you too.”