“Bread and stew?” He laughed, then took a second look at me. Seeing that I was serious, he sank deeper into the water, submerging up to his chin. “All right, Alana. I see where you’re coming from, but let’s not stoop so low.”
“We could use thefeast as an opportunity to educate the public—teach them how to use food in ways that spread out their ingredients, or use items often overlooked. I’ve read that in Sala, they have a fermentation technique that can make vegetables last for several months. In the marshes, there are cattails; elsewhere, there are nuts and herbs that are highly nutritious—”
“A famine feast,” Nicolas grunted. He straightened. “Fine, Alana. We will take care to minimize our expenses, and we’ll feed the hungry, and we’ll teach people how to survive. Now, are you satisfied, or should we also sing in the streets and kiss lowborn babies?”
I splashed him, provoking a high-pitched laugh as he covered his eyes.
“I yield! But I am weary… Can we make it a rule that this room remain sacred from political discussions, going forward?”
“I say there’s no better place for politics than the bedroom,” I countered, sliding back to him. “I’m far more persuasive in the nude.”
“Yes, you’ve had your way. Now let me have mine.” Nicolas growled, pulling me close.
Chapter 35
The mass ofsolid gold atop my head weighed several pounds.
Receiving it almost felt like a joke. Standing around in the damned thing throughout the coronation constituted a rather unique form of torture. Combined with an extraordinary gown and robe, and a train that required all of my handmaidens to carry, it was like I’d been coated in layers of tar as I made my way to the newly reassigned Queen’s Chambers.
Winnie grunted with startled exertion as she pushed open the doors. For once, Florence assisted in the effort, and even with their forces combined, it was still a struggle. This was to be my first time in the monarch’sapartments, now mine as Adelaide relocated to a separate apartment.
The doors finally gave way to reveal a chamber that made everything else in Altaigne look restrained. I paused at the threshold, taking in the assault of gold and silk before me. Every surface that could be gilded had been. The ceiling writhed with reliefs of mythical beasts frozen in eternal battle. Twin crystal chandeliers sparkled hypnotically, casting hundreds of tiny rainbows over rose-patterned walls.
I tried not to giggle, to remain stoic for the sake of ceremonial importance, but by the time I made it to a mirror, I burst into a delirious fit of laughter.
“Would you look at me?” I held up the scepter for emphasis. It was the first time that day that I’d smiled. Beyond the stern nature of the coronation, I was troubled by the sudden shifts in attitude around the court. The ladies met me with revered silence, Quinn deliberately ignored my presence, and even Nicolas, whom I’d woken up with that very morning, kept himself miserably austere. “How positivelyabsurd!”
“Oh,Alana!” scolded Winnie, coming around and making mental portraits of the occasion. I thought she’d go on, but her lips quirked upwards in silent agreement. Without another word, she marched off to the armoire, grumbling beneath her breath.
A sharp knock echoed through the chamber, followed by the groan of the heavy doors. Nicolas appeared in the widening gap, still clad in his coronation regalia minus the crown, hair slightly mussed like he’d been running his hands through it. He slipped through, not bothering to open them fully.
“Your Majesty,” Winnie said, “the Queen’s Chamber requires an invitation.”
“Leave us,” Nicolas commanded, though his eyes never left me.
My attendants exchanged glances. They obeyed, but not without a lengthy moment of hesitation. I watched them go, waiting for the doors to shut.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” I said, though I was already moving toward him. “The whole court expects us to follow protocol. They’ll be watching us.”
“Let them watch.” He caught my hands and pulled them to his chest. “You were magnificent today. When the High Eunuch placed the crown upon your head…you made everyone forget you ever lived in the woods. Power befits you.”
His hands found my waist. When I tilted my head to kiss him, he met me halfway with surprising enthusiasm, as if he’d been waiting all day for this precise moment.
The kiss deepened quickly, Nicolas’ hands sliding up to cradle my face.
“Help me out of this stupid dress,” I whispered against his mouth. “It weighs more than I do.”
His fingers hooked into my laces eagerly, then hesitated. Nicolas blinked, some darkness crossing his features. He stepped back so abruptly I swayed.
“Fuck,” he groaned. The curse was almost spat out, as bitter as it sounded. “Forget it, my love. You should get ready for the tourney. I need to change, myself.”
Something else was wrong. He wore it in his shoulders. I reached for him, but he was already backing to the door. “What’s the matter, Nicolas?”
“Nothing.” The word came too quickly. “I’ll have your maidens return in short order. We’ll see each other later.” I felt strangely bereft, watching him go.
Fortunately, I wasn’t left alone with my thoughts for long, as my handmaidens quickly piled in. They prattled on as they changed my clothes, speculating on the king’s brief visit. The crown was set on a pillow atop a golden altar. It watched me, hundreds of years’ worth of royal souls embedded into those diamonds.
“Your Majesty, are you all right?” asked one of the handmaidens. “You have a distant look about you.”
