“That’s not helpful either,” I said. “Do you think it’ll go terribly?”
“Nah. I have it on good authority that the Princess is a force to be reckoned with, so if His Highness does not like her? I pity him. He must learn to hide it or suffer her mother’s razor wit.”
“You think I’m as smart as my mother?” I grinned.
“Sharper sometimes,” he said.
“Now I know you’re lying.” I struck his arm playfully.“Whosays I’m a force?”
“The future Queen herself, at least twenty dozen times since she was old enough to speak.”
“Oof. She sounds awful,” I said. “Blink once if you’re being held here against your will.”
He didn’t. “Only a man who fears his better would think you were awful. We will be fine in Chalke. Come, let’s find your father, Princess.”
“You think I should voice my concerns after all?” I asked. “You said he’d appoint you to them.”
“I think you should speak to His Majesty if you wish. We’ll be leaving soon, and two weeks is a long time to be away from your parent,” he said.
“Oh,” I groaned. “You think I’llmisshim.”
“Won’t you?” he asked.
“He won’t miss me,” I said.
We hurried up the winding cobblestone to the large iron gate and ivory stone horses that guarded the door just as it began to sleet.
“Remember, Your Highness. The Crown is yourrightby birth. We’ve always known God handpicked the lineage, and he chose the Eisson House to reign, to wage and to win the War. He has chosen you to lead Oreia into her future.”
The doorman closed us in the darkening foyer, and I dropped my cloak off to him.
“I hope I do not disappoint the Lord, then,” I said. “Though I must admit, your reminder is barely encouraging. The weight of being part of such a grand scheme might actuallyadda certain heft to it now that you’ve said it aloud like that.”
“Heavy is the Crown.” He chuckled.
“Why are youlaughing, old man?”
Eli sighed. “Never mind. Better were the days when you were not soresistantto my optimism.”
“I don’t remember those days,” I argued. “I’ve always strived to be very pessimistic, a trait I inherited from your example; I thank you. It’s truly an art lost upon the everyday man, and I have to work very hard at maintaining it, you know?”
“That is because Oreian folk are of sound mind. They would fail to see the benefit of such negativity,” he said.
“And what of Chalke folk? Of Chalke men? Are they optimistic, too? I’m nervous to meet mine,” I confessed. “I was not jesting when I listed his reception of me as a worry, and I don’t think I’m being irrationalbefore you accuse me of it.The peace between our empiresliterallyrests upon my shoulders. Upon my ring hand, really. Oreia’s future relies strictly upon how positive my union is. So. Pray, I ask. What if he doesn’tlikeme?”
“Svana. Relax. You don’t have tolikesomeone for a marriage to work. You have to understand and respect them. Besides, I’veheard no rumors of insanity. And the few times I’ve met him, he seemed…”
I noted his wandering gaze. “He seemedwhat?”
“Fine,” he said.
“Fine?”I scoffed. “Your mercy, what doesfineentail?”
“I imagine you’ll see for yourself in a few days,” he said.
“In six and a half months, I am meant to pledge myself to this man for all eternity, and fine,fineis what you say? Am I to what? To twiddle my fingers diligently and pray to God thatfineat the least means he’skind?Or attractive? I would take that, too.”
Eli ignored it. “I have heard no rumors of a temper.” He shook his head and, with it, his amusement. He followed me deeper into the castle as I complained. “I would say he is quite liked.”
