But then his hands tugged hers closer and he leaned down. She was blinded by the light, but his lips brushed her cheek before he let it dim.
She shifted back, blinking furiously to clear her vision so she could glare at him. What had that been for?
He gave her a small smile and squeezed her hands as the crowd politely applauded before he started to lead her back down the aisle.
Hellebore looked back over her shoulder.
That was when it hit her.
Everything looked beautiful and full of life, but there was something in the air. She took a deep breath, finding the faintest foul hint, nearly buried beneath the overwhelming floral scents flooding the air. She knew it well enough from behind a mask that she would be able to recognize it anywhere.
Something was rotting.
Chapter 9
Hellebore sat beside her new husband in the middle of a long table, facing the rest of the ballroom where the guests sat eating.
There were quite a few exotic foods on her plate that would normally interest her simply for the fact that of discovering if there could be an alchemic use for them, but she was preoccupied.
Taiyo was silent, eating quietly while his sister sat on his other side. Haruko was thankfully too busy helping her husband entertain the nobles and keeping their son from growing fussy to keep up her glare at Hellebore.
There wasn't much opportunity for Hellebore to speak to Taiyo anyway as every few minutes another noble was let through to pay their respects to their king and his new queen consort.
Hellebore didn't miss the strain in their smiles or slight pauses before addressing her or acknowledging her.
Queen Hellebore.
Ugh. She hated the sound of it.
“King Nyrunn and Queen Idonea of the Star Elves,” the herald announced, and this was one visit Hellebore did want to pay attention to.
King Nyrunn and Queen Idonea approached and Hellebore set down her glass of wine, sitting up a little straighter at their approach. King Nyrunn inclined his head respectfully. “Congratulations, Your Majesty, on your wedding, and I hope your new alliance with Chymes is prosperous.”
Taiyo nodded his acceptance and started talking, but Hellebore was focused on the only creature somewhat close to her kind.
“Queen Idonea, it is an honor to have you at my wedding,” Hellebore said, catching the half-elf slightly off guard. She wasn't nearly as good at masking her emotions as her husband beside her.
Idonea gave her a soft smile, but her eyes were somehow both curious and old. “This is a historic occasion. Despite the short notice, my husband and I had to come witness it. I have somewhat of an interest in history, and for a formal marriage alliance between the Sun Elves and the alchemists? I know of little else that matches that.”
“Ah, so you came to make sure the big bad alchemist princess didn't steal his blood and magic during the ceremony?” Hellebore gave a light laugh.
Next to her, Taiyo stuttered over his words, but otherwise was immersed in his conversation with King Nyrunn.
Idonea didn't seem to find the joke as amusing, as she eyed the knife on Hellebore's plate and said, “Something like that.”
Not even the half-human was sympathetic.
Then again, historically the Star Elves had always aligned with the witches against the alchemists, so they weren't her allies either.
No one was.
“I'm honored everyone thinks so highly of my intelligence and skill in alchemy that I could be capable of such a feat as killing my husband at the altar.” Hellebore laughed, clinging to the cold numbness. At least the elves thought she was skilled enough to be feared. “Really, I don't know what I've done to earn such respect.”
A hand landed on her knee, squeezing it even as the owner was still intently listening to King Nyrunn.
A warning.
Her heel slamming into his ankle caused him to startle and wince, drawing Idonea's attention and cutting Nyrunn off mid-sentence. Hellebore smirked as she lifted her glass to her lips while Taiyo made an excuse about banging his knee into the leg of the table.
