Chapter 39: Working Together

Al and I weren't meant to be. What would be the point of telling him the truth?

He wasn't nearly as perceptive as Mariela—I had let so many things slip in front of him, even telling him about doughnuts and hamburgers and he still didn't have a clue.

I was leaving soon anyway. I had no reason to tell Al who I really was. Having one person know was enough.

"No," I said honestly without divulging the plethora of reasons I had for keeping my silence.

Mariela raised a delicately shaped brow at me. "Why not? I thought the two of you were close."

"You already had your suspicions about me so it was easier to accept. I don't think he would believe me," I replied somewhat truthfully.

That reason was pretty low on my list of Why Not to Tell Al the Truth but it was still a reason. It counted.

"It is pretty farfetched," she admitted. "No matter. I want to know everything there is to know about this Arizona. What kind of place produces a person like you? Is everyone there so straightforward in their words and actions?"

"Uh, no, everybody has their own personalities…I'm just like this," I mumbled, a bit embarrassed.

Even for my world I had always been considered weird. But I couldn't deny that it would be nice talking to someone about home.

"Where should I start?"

Mariela thought about it a moment before a lightbulb practically appeared above her head.

"Oh, I know! Tell me about the political system. You are supposed to be quite the expert, are you not?"

"I wouldn't consider myself an expert…I studied politics at a university."

Her eyes practically glowed with excitement. "You mean women can study at universities there?"

"Yeah, most women do. My home is very different from here—women can be doctors, politicians, business owners…most don't get married until after the age of twenty-five and only then if they truly love their partner. I was single and had a job as a librarian at a school."

Mariela was enthralled by the concept of women's rights from my world so I spent the next thirty minutes talking solely about what women were able to do there.

She was particularly interested in the fact that women could wear pants. When she found that out, she was horrified at the fashion transition I had to go through.

"You went from being able to wear soft, loose pants to having to wear cages for the first time! How horrible that must have been! I have grown used to it since I first wore one when I was about ten years old…" she trailed off sympathetically.

"Of all the places you could have woken up in, you ended up in the worst one for you."

That just about summed it up. It was so nice having someone understand my struggles that I wanted to cry.

"You have no idea how much of a relief it is to even be able to talk about this," I said fervently.

"Talk about what?"

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Both of us whirled around when a male voice sounded at the door. Franz had come looking for his wife before noon? That was new.

"Ah, Franz, we were merely talking about women's things," Mariela lied smoothly with a sweet smile on her face. "What brings you here so early?"

"Am I not allowed to visit my beautiful wife?"

She flushed slightly at the compliment. He was actually flirting with her! Right in front of me!

"Of course you are. I simply was not expecting you. Please, join us."

"You are having hot chocolate?" he asked curiously once he sat down. "I had no idea you liked that, Mariela."

"I actually ordered it for Katie. She is not the biggest fan of tea."

"I see. You certainly take care of your friends."

Franz almost sounded jealous there. Was he in love with his wife or not? His actions were so conflicting.

"While you're here, Katie…I have thought over your proposal and I would be happy to accept your help."

Mariela looked between the two of us in confusion. "What sort of help?"

I glanced at the second prince, leaving it to him to explain. It wasn't my job to tell his wife that he was plotting a rebellion of sorts. Thankfully he caught my hint.

"She has offered me the use of her political expertise as I try to garner support against Sigmund."

She didn't seem surprised. So this was not the first she had heard of it? I suppose they were married.

He had to tell her at least some things about himself. Or at the very least, she was smart enough to guess that he chose her to further some agenda.

"I have recently heard much about her political mind," she said ironically. We had literally just finished talking about it.

"I could use your input as well," he said quietly, looking up at her with a hint of hopeful expectation in his eyes.

"Mine?" she asked, astonishment tinging her tone.

"You were trained in politics and diplomacy, were you not? Someone told me I ought to utilize my resources better and you are one of the best I have."

Not romantic words in the slightest but Mariela appeared rather moved. "I would be honored to assist you."

Feeling a bit smug that I had not only gotten the second prince to work with me but also possibly helped steer their marriage on the right track, I leaned back in my seat and sipped my mostly-cold cocoa with a slight smirk on my face. Things were finally starting to look up.

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