“I hear you spent the morning hunting with my father,” Evelyne remarked. “I hope the experience was… enlightening.”
Alaric’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Ah, yes. The king and I shared a rather enlightening expedition in pursuit of wild boar,” he began, his tone warm. “His Majesty was most generous in imparting his knowledge of tracking and crossbow technique.”
Evelyne arched a brow. “My father does not believe in wasting words. I imagine his instructions were succinct.”
“Oh, indeed,” he intoned. “If memory serves me right, His Majesty’s precise words were—how shall I phrase this delicately? — ‘If you miss, don’t bother coming back.’”
Evelyne huffed a laugh. “And yet, you returned. Which means you either did not miss… or you ignored his warning.”
His mouth tugged sideways. “A gentleman never boasts, Princess.”
“And my brother? I assume he did not leave your side.”
Alaric’s expression faltered for a heartbeat, but the flash of something like horror was unmistakable. Evelyne felt a rush of satisfaction, wild and immediate. Oh, she knew that look.
“Well…” Alaric began, clearing his throat, “His Highness was quite… involved. Very committed to ensuring I held the crossbow properly. At one point, he attempted to adjust my stance. With a stick.”
Evelyne didn’t bother hiding her smile. “A hands-on approach.”
Alaric gave a pained sigh and shook his head. “The heir is… spirited. A fierce advocate for battlefield etiquette and enthusiastic about boar-related commentary. I suspect he’ll be leading the next expedition. He is like salt in still water.”
Evelyne’s brow lifted. “Pardon?”
His eyes brightened. “Varantian saying. It means he’s sharper than he looks. Leaves a taste behind. Most people don’t expect it until they swallow.”
She blinked once, then let out the smallest huff of reluctant amusement.
“And,” he added with mock gravity, “I’m fairly certain he threatened me. So, I may be saying it out of strategic self-preservation.”
Evelyne angled her head, just enough to study him from the corner of her eye. “I know you have a sister. What is she like?”
Alaric’s mouth twitched. “Fierce,” he answered, the word landing with unexpected weight. “Untamed. She has opinions about everything, most of them shouted from a rooftop. She’s only a few years younger than me, but she makes me feel about eighty on a good day.”
“And on a bad day?”
“She reminds me that she could probably win my right to the throne on cards.” He shrugged, but the fondness was unmistakable. “She’s a pain. But a necessary one. I think we need those, in families. People who scrape against the shape we’re told to be.”
Evelyne’s fingers idly smothered the embroidery on her glove.
“I know that feeling well.”
Alaric met her gaze—steadier this time, less teasing. “I think she will like you. Or at the very least,” he added, smile returning, “she’d enjoy watching you make my life difficult.”
“Well,” Evelyne quipped with a smirk, “I’d hate to disappoint.”
They walked side by side along the winding paths. The gardens surrounded nearly the entire castle, filling the space between the main building and the nearest defensive wall. Only the entrance, stables, and barracks broke the ring of green. Everything else was order and beauty, with hedges trimmed to precision, gravel paths laid in mirrored patterns, and clusters ofvaried blooms arranged so carefully that even their diversity felt deliberate.
She caught the way Alaric’s gaze flicked to her. She pretended to study the roses instead.
“Forgive me for indulging my curiosity, but I find myself wondering,” he began, “beyond the reluctant obligation of guiding your soon-to-be husband through the castle grounds, what personal joys do you derive from these gardens?”
Evelyne cast him a sidelong glance. “I wasn’t aware you were keeping count of my reluctance, Your Highness.”
He grinned, unfazed. “I have a keen sense for these things.”
She sighed, but it was more habit than annoyance. “If you must know, I enjoy the quiet.”
Alaric hummed thoughtfully. “And yet,” he mused, “you have deemed me worthy of witnessing this cherished haven of yours.”
