I pretended to be interested in something in front of me, but could not help but peer out the window. Prince Sameer and Cyrus took strikes at one another, parrying around the yard. It was quite remarkable. Quiteaggressive.
Jocelyn followed my line of sight. She sweetly brushed my hair. “I see the Princeis outside,” she said.
“Yes. On Wednesdays, he has lessons with his instructor.”
“Hisinstructor,”she said.
“Yes.”
“Yes,” she said.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Josie adapted a brighter pitch. “Just that his instructor happens to be your riding instructor, too. It’s weird you forgot his name, though.”
“Mr. Evergreen?”I asked. “I didn’t forget it. I just said it.”
“You’re being awkward about it.”
“Awkward?” We met in the mirror, and I was sure she’d caught the full force of my agony as it appeared, flooding my face a vapid red. “Not me.”
“Then why call him an instructor?” she asked. “Call him Mr. Evergreen.”
“Mr. Evergreen is Sameer’s instructor.”
“And yours, apparently,” she said.
“Yes. And?”
“Nothing.”
“Josie.”
“I mean, I do think it’s strange that the Eisson Princess would need lessons. I heard you all were born with the ability to ride.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “Besides. I…It’s never too late to learn something, right? And, fine. Fine, okay? I didn’t know what to call him in front of the tailor, Josie. I didn’t want her to get the wrong idea, so I just…I called him that. It’s not like she knows I know how to ride.”
“I find that less is more,” she said.
I paused, and then I rolled my eyes exhaustively.“Whatever that means,”I said, but I snuck a glance outside.
“I’m sure I don’t know,” she replied. Her tone suggested that she did.
My brow began its descent as a quiet unsettling burred in my chest. Then Sam struck Mr. Evergreen in the shoulder, and the swordsman stumbled, and I rose anxiously from my seat to follow his course.
“They’re using practice swords,” Josie all but sang. She pressed me back down. “I’m sure His Highness is fine.”
“His Highness hit Mr. Evergreen,” I said.
“Aye. I saw the exchange.” She gestured toward the pins left on the desk, and I handed her one. “I thought you wished for me to join you in pretending to root for the Prince?” she asked.
“I-!Oh.” I squirmed.“Josie. What?”
Her smirk was clear.
“…Is it so obvious?”
“That you dislike His Highness? Or that you like his instructor, Mr. Evergreen?” she asked.
