“We could review the reception of your speech,” he added.
“At the transfer rite? Or at the quorum?” I asked.
“At the transfer,” he said. “Do not give speeches at the quorum.”
“Right.”
He nodded. “Good. Oh. I changed your itinerary. You’ll head to Chalke first. On your way back, give your aunt my regards.”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
“I’ve not seen her in years. I’m sure she’s well. She has her ways of seeing to it,” he said.
“Yes, sir,” I said.
Elías half-bowed to acknowledge the wish. One of the King’s brows went up and the other down.
“Is that what you’re wearing?” he asked.
“I... ” My hands dropped. “I thought welikedthe color?”
“The color,” he said. “But the sleeves will be your death. You’ll pass out as soon as you arrive, if not before. Elías, tell her.” His attention went back to the papers on his desk as the other spoke.
“You’ll need a lighter wardrobe,” Elías told me.
“Even this is too much?” I asked. “Thisislight.”
“You’ll need late summer,” Father said. “Did you not warn her?”
Elías glanced at me.
“He may have, but I did not realize he meant it washot. Summer is still in storage,” I explained.
“Have the new girl dig them out; it isn’t difficult,” His Majesty said.
“Aye, sir,” I said. “Not difficult but rude if I do not intend to wear such things.”
“Svana.”
Elías chimed, “I’ll see to it, sir. Go focus on your names, Princess.”
There was a lull. I turned toward the door, but the King dropped his pen.
“A final thought,”he started.
“Yes?”
Father’s hand hovered over the journal. His fingers touched what I could only make out as the date from my angle, but then he closed it and cleared his throat.
“Not you,” he told me. “You’re dismissed.”
Elías and I shared another look.
“Actually,” I said, gearing myself with a deep breath. “I’ll stay to hear it.”
He paused, stroking his beard, but said, “...Our whispers have gotten louder, Elías.”
His knight zeroed in. “The same thoughts as before?”
