Rominyresiststheurgeto pace Father’s study as he waits with Father for the elves to arrive. Mother has been rushing all over the castle since well before dawn doing who knows what while Arisanna trails in her wake, trying to keep Mother calm.
They should be here soon, though.
Rominy woke to banging around in the second bedchamber attached to his sitting room this morning.Servants preparing the space for Princess Elowyn—his future wife.
What even are elven customs surrounding sleeping arrangements among royalty? He’d ask Arisanna if he could corner her somewhere private, but Mother shows every sign of monopolizing Arisanna’s morning.
Would his sister even know the answer? It seems like an awkward topic to discuss with her tutors. Or with him.
He doesn’t want to offend Princess Elowyn, though.
To that end, he should probably apologize for running from her last night.
The door opens, and Rominy’s heart threatens to leap from his chest, but it’s only Arisanna and Mother.
“It will be fine,” Arisanna says, and Mother just looks at the ceiling and wrings her hands with an anxious sigh.
Father looks up from his desk. “What’s the matter, my dear?”
Mother waves her hand, but no words come out.
“The servants put Prince Tharios and his wife in the chamber reserved for him,” Arisanna says.
Father’s brow wrinkles. “And the problem?”
“He was assigned that chamber because he was supposed to be the bridegroom.”
Rominy scratches his head. “I still don’t see the problem. Does it matter who gets which chamber?”
Arisanna clears her throat as her cheeks turn pink. “Prince Cerian was given a smaller chamber. One with a single bedroom attached.”
Before anyone can respond, the door opens to reveal the elven delegation, and Rominy moves behind his father’s desk to make more room as Father stands.
“Welcome, Lorial. I trust your accommodations were satisfactory for the night?”
Mother barely swallows a wail in the far corner of the small room.
“Very much. My kin thank you for your hospitality.”
Rominy seeks out Princess Elowyn where she stands slightly behind her father. She wears a kind smile as she returns his gaze. Hopefully, that means she won’t hold his moment of panic last night against him.
As he watches her, she takes a deep breath through her nose and exhales through her mouth before lifting her brows at him. Does she want him to copy her?
He takes his own deep breath, but she shakes her head and demonstrates again.
This time, he copies her more closely, slowing his movements and matching her breaths. Her smile grows, and she nods.
He actually feels calmer now.
“Forgive me, but that is unacceptable,” King Lorial says, and Rominy turns his attention back to the conversation at hand.
What’s unacceptable?
“Of course the ceremony must occur in the assembly room,” Mother says from the corner. “We’ve invited a great many guests to witness this monumental event. No other gathering place will hold so many attendees.”
The elves whisper among themselves, and Rominy glances at Arisanna, who shrugs.
King Lorial turns back to Father as Rominy notes the absence of the elf queen. Perhaps she’s saving her strength for later.
