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She had a point there. Even giving half his lifespan to Essie, he would still likely live to five hundred or so, as long as he was not killed off first. A decade was not that long to work toward something that would aid in better wielding his magic the rest of his life.

He tugged Essie closer to him, though not too close, considering they were still in public. “Thank you for encouraging me in this. Is there anything you wish to pursue so that I can return the favor as a supportive spouse?”

“Well, if you’re going to be attending Hanford University, then maybe we should start a scholarship for any elves who want to follow in your footsteps and get a degree there. Or, maybe it would be better to start with setting up an exchange program for both elves and humans to study in the other kingdom. And, maybe scholarships for soldiers from both kingdoms who will be looking for a new career now that a more lasting peace has been established.” Essie paused long enough to take a breath, grin, and pat his chest. “After all, you’re going to be fabulously wealthy once you get your degree and you and Lance start selling your magical power devices and other inventions. We’ll have to do something with all that money since it is terribly gauche to earn loads of riches while still in the line of succession.”

Farrendel waited for several seconds to make sure her chatter had wound down before he responded. “I see. You wish for me to be dutifully supportive while you give away all my money.”

“Exactly. You’ve told me several times how little you care for your princely wealth. You’ll never miss it. Besides, it is my princessly wealth that will be paying your tuition, so you’ll owe me.” Essie’s grin widened, and she held up the canvas shopping bag she was carrying. “Now, do you want to see how I did my duty as a princess and supported the local economy today?”

Her smirk was the mischievous one that made him wary. He eyed the bag. “Yes.”

“I ordered ten pounds of your favorite hot chocolate. While we have given my family gifts, we haven’t given your family anything from Escarland yet. I’m thinking hot chocolate and mugs, though I might need your help picking out the mugs.” Essie leaned against the wall next to him, still gripping that shopping bag and grinning, a sense of anticipation coming through the heart bond.

He kept a wary gaze on her and that shopping bag. “If you are planning to give away my hot chocolate, then I do not believe ten pounds will be enough.”

“Ten pounds is a massive amount of hot chocolate. You can share.” Essie gave him one last smirk before she fished in the bag for a moment, pulled out a package wrapped in brown paper, and held it out to him. “I got a surprise for you.”

He took it and gingerly unwrapped the paper, revealing a white mug with blue, jagged lines veined through the ceramic. If that was all, it would have been acceptable. But a pair of tapered elf ears stuck out from either side. The mug was not even shaped like a face. It simply had ears jutting from each side.

Biting back his first response, he glanced from the mug to Essie. If she had been staring at him wide-eyed and anxious, as if hoping he would like it, then he would have done his best to find something truthful but tactful to say.

But she was biting her lip, her mouth twitching as she was fighting desperately to hide her smirk. She was teasing him. No reason to hold back any of his thoughts.

He held up the mug. “This is hideous.”

“I know, right? So horribly tacky. But in that quirky, in-your-face way that almost makes it adorable.” Essie reclaimed the mug, smiling down at it.

He studied the mug. Nope, it was definitely hideous. “I do not see anything adorable about this mug.”

“I knew you would hate it.” If anything, Essie’s grin widened. “That’s why I got it for me, not you.”

Farrendel shook his head, leaning more comfortably against the wall behind him. Only Essie would purposefully buy something he would hate just to tease him. Why did he have a feeling that mug would make an appearance whenever Essie was in a particularly teasing mood?

She re-wrapped the mug in the paper once again, returned it to the bag, and pulled out another, larger package. “This is your mug.”

After her last surprise, he was not sure what to expect as he warily peeled back the layer of paper. But instead of a tacky mockery of elf ears, this mug was large and heavy. The entire outside was covered in gears and levers underneath a protective layer of glass. As he turned the mug over in his hands to get a better look at the gears, a metal ball rolled along a maze, turning gears and pushing levers as it went.

Now this was more like it. He felt a smile tugging on his face as he turned the mug first one way, then the other, watching as the metal ball clinked along its pathways and the gears clicked as they turned.

“Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret giving you a mug that makes annoying sounds?” Essie’s grin was still in place, even as she shook her head.

“You really should have thought of that before giving it to me.” He met her gaze and tipped the mug again, just for good measure.

She rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh. “That’s it. That mug is banned from the late-night hours.”

“Very well, as long as your mug is also banned. If I am awake in the middle of the night, the last thing I want to do is see that monstrosity.” Farrendel tried to keep his expression blank, but it was difficult with her grinning at him like that.

“I guess that’s only fair.” Essie held out her hand. “Let’s put it back in the bag, then we can pick out mugs for your family before heading back to Buckmore Cottage. I wouldn’t mind a few hours to ourselves before we have to get all fancied up and head back here for the official royal duties tonight.”

He handed the mug back to Essie. Once his mug was safely stowed in her bag, he clasped her hand and strolled into the crowd, their guards fanning out to surround them.

As they strode down the stairs, he nearly came to a halt as a thought struck him. “Were there any more of those mugs? The ones with the elf ears? Was there one in green instead of blue?”

“No, this one was the last I saw, but I am sure the vendor would be willing to do a custom order.” Essie glanced up at him, eyes sparkling with the late morning sunlight streaming through the skylights overhead. “Why? Change your mind and want one of your own?”

“No.” His chest almost hurt with the grin he was trying to hold back. He leaned closer to her, lowering his voice even though no one was paying any attention to them. “I want to get one for Weylind.”

Essie snorted, then gripped his hand tighter. That smirk was back on her face. “Oh, yes. We definitely need to get one for him! The disgusted look on your face was hilarious, but his expression will be priceless.”