Damage Control with a Teenager

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 6th November 2024

Characters: Corofel, Reven
Description: Reven confronts Corofel about what was written in Master Unknown's pamphlet
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 1, day 1 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Arippa, Faldrimme, Aleriand

Corofel

Reven

When Reven strode into Corofel's bedchamber, he was surprised to find
the room pitch black. The drapes were pulled over the windows to block
out the early morning light and no candles or lamps were lit.

Ripping the drapes aside, the room was suddenly flooded with the pale
blue morning light. He turned to see Corofel sprawled face down in his
bed.

"Lord Corofel," Reven said, leaning down close to Corofel's ear, "get
up. We need to talk."

Corofel gasped, the cursed, then nearly fell out of bed.

"What-- what happened? Did something happen to my siblings? You found
my father!?" He paused long enough to glance down and notice he was
nude. He tried to maintain his dignity while he pulled on a pair if
undershorts. He cursed again and then rubbed his temple.

Reven pulled the lever to ring the service bell down in the kitchens.
The Lord Holder would be needing fresh klah for this conversation.

"_You_ happened, milord. Here," he pulled out a chair at the table,
gestured for Corofel to sit, and slapped the pamphlet down in front of
him.

Corofel skimmed through the first two stories wondering what this
could possibly have to do with him.

And then his eyes nearly bugged right out of his head.

"Wh-wha... I--" He looked up at Reven, scandalized as he was insulted
and nearly as frightened. "I would _never_! You don't really think I
would-- oh..."

It clicked.

"Reven, it was Dreamy."

"It's cute that you think I'm worried about it actually being Arippa,"
Reven snorted. "And her name is Faldrimme, although, by the sounds of
this," he pointed at the pamphlet, "it sounds like the two of you
might be very familiar."

"I lived at Amber Hills for the last..." Corofel sighed, mostly with
relief that Reven did not believe he had canoodled with his wife. "Of
course we're familiar. I wouldn't have just... Shells, everyone is
going to think I actually did this! How could they just print this
without even _asking_ if it was true!?"

"How do you suspect Lord Zathris will react when he reads this? After
all the hard work he put into teaching you the etiquette of a Lord
Holder? You know what your enemies will say? That you're just like
your father - keeping plenty of women on the side." Reven knew it was
a little harsh, but this was the first time since they'd been working
together that Corofel had acted like the teenager he was rather than
the Lord Holder Emerald Falls needed him to be.

Coforel looked like someone had kicked him. He wanted to shout, he
wanted to be angry and anyone and everyone but himself. But this _was_
ultimately his fault. And he had become exactly what he never wanted
anyone to think he was.

"I..." Now was not the time to let Reven see him cry. "I love her," he
said. As if that should make a difference. "I asked her to stay with
me... I never meant... for something like this to force her to..."

"You _love_ her?" Reven exploded. "Yet you would risk _ruining_ her in
this way?"

Corofel closed his eyes. It was exactly the right response to what he
had said, but that did not meant it hurt any less. What was he
supposed to say? For a while, he said nothing. Well. Reven was his
minder. He could tell him what to do.

"What should I do now?"

"For now? Do nothing. As far as everyone knows, this pamphlet is just
gossip. If you act guilty, they'll assume you're guilty. I've got to
go head this off with Arippa and Faldrimme and see where her head is
at."

"Do... nothing." Corofel nodded, but it felt wrong. He wanted
Faldrimme to want to marry him. He wanted her to _want_ to marry him.
He had forgotten all about the expectation that he should marry that
other girl whose brother had given him the watch.

Perhaps, if he convinced Aleriand to print a retraction... He could do
that in private, of course. It would be _like_ he was doing nothing.
So he would not be going against Reven's advice.

It was Corofel's decision to make, anyway.

"If that's what you think is best."

"Do nothing _for now_. Got it? Let me talk to Arippa and Faldrimme
first. Don't do anything rash until I talk to you again." Reven made
for the door but then stopped and turned back. "Promise me, Corofel."

Of course, just _talking_ to Aleriand was not rash.

"Of course, I won't do anything rash."

Last updated on the November 18th 2024

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Damage Control with a Teenager