**Janus**
It took an entire hour of coaxing and pleasantries until Gertrude finally seceded and let go of my arm. I have told her many times about how I feel, but she just won’t listen. She doesn’t care about the nine-year age difference between us, and even worse, sometimes I feel like she even likes it.
But now I’m finally free… for now.
I made my way up to Joel’s room, who had already discussed what had happened to Titus’ group during their part of the escort mission. And knocked on his door.
An annoyed “What?” came through the door.
“I’d like to have a strategy meeting with everyone in an hour.” The door opened, and Joel’s tired face peeked out of the door.
“What? It hasn’t even been a day, can’t we do that tomorrow?”
“No”
“Eughh!”
As I turned to leave to inform the others, I heard him whisper under his breath. “God Damm honor student.”
In total, seven people took part in the meeting. Titus, Joel, the priest, Baron Morenberg, Aldmoor’s Guard captain, and I were present. The seventh spot was, for some reason, occupied by Gertrude. Who had found out about the meeting and insisted on attending.
Titus was in a way better mood than when we left his room. He had seemingly made peace with the turn of events. Joel was still grumpy. The priest, Seymore Cowell, was behaving skittish with a shifty look in his eyes. Bron Morenberg was all smiles and appeared much calmer. However, the old Guard captain, whom he introduced as just Henry, seemed to be disgruntled by something. And… everyone I included just did their best to ignore the out-of-place bundle of pink silk and ribbons sitting right next to me on the meeting table.
The meeting went reasonably well. Henry was quite upset about the fact that everyone was apparently “Useless” and that “some young noble brats” were telling him what to do, and that all of this would have never happened during his youth, and…
At the end, it was decided that Titus’ group and ours would take on the Bandits in two days, aiming to wipe them out completely one-sided. Sadly, Titus can’t attend. But his men were so eager for revenge that they would more than easily make up for it. In the meantime, the Guard would man the walls and make sure that no one sneaks in during the commotion.
As for Gertrude, she spent the whole meeting just sipping on her tea, playing with her long black hair, constantly staring at me, all without even saying a single word. Her goal for attending the meeting was obvious, but I really had no time or energy to deal with her.
So, when everyone had left the two of us alone again out of fear of Gertrude, I asked her.
“Trudy, why are you even here?” Gertrude, of course, knew why I was asking, but still playfully remarked,
“What do you mean, Janus<3 I’m only here to meet my Ehm… Cousin. Yes, I’m only here to meet my beloved, uh, second-degree cousin Count…”
“Baron”
“Right, Baron Morenberg.” While it is true that he is her second-degree cousin, I’m sure that Gertrude had no idea that she had family in Aldmoor before undertaking this trip. It was obvious that she got merely stuck in Aldmoor on her way to Rosedorn. I’m not even sure if her father would ever approve of her even being here.
“Look, Trudy, I…” Gertrude, visibly happy about me using her nickname, replied joyfully,
“Yes, Janus<3, my love?”
I feel like I might regret being honest about this.
“I love someone else.”
…
…
“Great joke but a bit cruel, don’t you think Janus<3.”
“It’s not a joke, Gertrude. I’m serious. Don’t try to make this work. I’m nine years older than you. You are just sixteen. This obsession of yours has been going on for far too long. So, please give up Gertr…”
I was halfway through with my rant when I heard a whimper from below.
“I…You…, sniff, Wahaaaa.” Gertrude had sunk to her knees, crying like a five-year-old who was having a tantrum. I, however, was already quite familiar with her behavior, so I just declared.
“That won’t work, Gertrude.” Gertrude shot me an angry glare and got back on her feet before running out of the meeting room. She gave me a final look, while leaning onto the door frame, crocodile tears falling down her cheeks.
“That won’t work either.” Gertrude raised her chin defiantly and slammed the door shut behind her.