“First of all, don’t call me ma’am; I feel as though you’ve aged me twenty years,” I said. “Second, that was incredibly rude. I do think you speak too freely with me, sir.”
“You’re upset because it’s true,” he moaned.
“I’m upset because it’s rude,” I said. “But sure, I suppose I could adapt a different approach. Let’s see. Perhaps I’ll make people I knownothingabout feel bad for how strangers perceive them, highlight their alreadyknownflaws, and then give them unsolicited advice about such things. Yes. That feels morenaturalin attracting friendship, I believe.” I looked pointedly at him as he raised a brow.
“Was that off the top of your head?” He laughed. “Brava.”
“It’s not funny,” I told him. “You lured me out here just to ignore me, and now you’re taking jabs at me. It’s quite horrible, in case you wondered, but gone are the days you’ll accuse me of being nice, at least.”
“Are they?” he asked. “I’m not convinced. Though, I’ll admit, I’m still figuring you out, Your Highness.”
We made it to the top of the hill and paused so that he could tell me which way the Palace was to our location. We’d ridden far enough to lose sight of it with all the variations of land and forest, and though I’d never admit it to his face, I was happy to have Cyrus’s sure sense. It was too easy to feel lost in the rolling hillside without it— without him.
I sighed. “...I imagine Sameer andAggyare having fun wherever they are. That’s whom his appointments are with, are they not?”
He didn’t take the bait and continued to guide me. The chapel I would be married in was to the east. I committed it to memory by associating it as the closest marker to home— after my vows were said, that’s where I would go—public approval, whispers or not.
There was an old farmstead north, though no one lived there, and a little past that was an iron smith. I cringed internally at the latter, leaping to another subject to take my mind off of fiery steel as Cyrus discussed the tradesmith’s mark.
“They’re intimate then?” I asked. “Is itjusther, or are there other women I should be warned about?”
He barely looked at me as he led Ice carefully down the other side. He shushed her another time, stroking her hair.
“Easy, love,”he said.
“You don’t have to shield my feelings, Mr. Evergreen. If my husband is a social man, I’m very sure that I want to know,” I explained. When he remained silent, I went on. “Why did I agree to this? Youbarelyspeak to me unless it’s to insult me and-”
He said, “I have yet to insult you, despite how certain you are of that.”
“You told me I wasunpleasant.”
“Did I?” he asked.
“Yes.”I followed him, holding the reins a little tighter. “Andnaturallyso. You declared it my default presentation.”
“That does sound like something I’d say,” he said. “And it does appear to be true.”
“I am not unpleasant!” I said. “I am being judged unfairly due to my position, and I am only asking you to spare me from a life of uncertainty. Are you not kind enough a man to do that?”
“I’m really not,” he said. “I’m unpleasant, too.”
“That’s not what I hear! But fine! That works for me just as well. If you’re so mean, tell me the truth. Go on, hurt my feelings with the harsh reality of my future, sir!”
“Princess.”
“In Oreia, we have a saying. If you–”
“I’m sure I’ve heard it!” he snapped.
I shifted on Tails, and Cyrus let out an irritated breath and stroked the back of his horse's head. He motioned for me to continue.
“Fine; what is it?” he asked.
“Well, I’m not going to tell younow,”I said.
He heaved a heavy sigh. “Oh, pray, why ever not?”
“I wouldn’t want to beunpleasant,”I said.
