“The braid stays.”
“Elías!”
“The braid stays,” he stressed. “It would be too strange for me to see you without it, at least before your vows.”
“Strange?” I asked, half-checking to see if he’d chosen the word on purpose. He didn’t react. “Yes. But I–”
“And,” he cut me off. “You must remember that you are an Oreian woman. Nay, an Oreian Queen. Just as you intend to know their empire, Chalke must know you and our lands. What better symbol than the braid?”
“I suppose,” I said defeatedly. “Can I at least wear it in different twists?”
“Why? The crown suits you well.”
“I don’t know?” I argued. “To show that I amopento change? To their styles, you know, without sacrificing my heritage or whatever?”
He exhaled.
Josie aided me. “...The ladies in North Áire wear their braids over their shoulders?”
I sighed happily. “Thank you,” I said, grinning. “Is that not afaircompromise?” I asked Elías. “Surely you cannot deny a style from my mother’s home? Can you? The Róses are my heritage, too.”
He agreed, though curtly. I sat again excitedly, and Josie fastened the new twine. It felt trendy and light but uncomfortable. As I stood up, Elías looked away.
“...Are youupsetwith me?” I asked. I touched my braid. “Look, I know today did not go exactly perfect-”
“You look like her, is all,” he said.
“Oh.”
“I’m not upset with you.”
“But you are upset?” I asked. I searched his face. “You are, aren’t you? To whom is your anger directed?Sameer?”
“Sameer,”he scoffed. “You’ve known himhours,and you’re already calling him by his given name.”
“I call Josie by hers,” I said. “And you by yours?”
“You call me Elías,” he said.
“Fine,Gregory,”I said. “Would you prefer that from henceforth?”
“I just think it’s rather intimate for such a new connection,” he said. “You barely know the man.”
“Yes, but I’m going to marry him,” I said. “What’s more intimate than marriage, Ser?”
“Miss,” Josie said. “I need to see to your other bags.”
“Yes, of course.” I waved her off. She left. After a long pause, I tried again. “Eli,” I said. “You are my dearest friend.”
“You humble me,” he replied, his Oreian response.
“Should I not be excited about my future here? Would you prefer that I went back to being miserably worried about his hobbies?” I asked.
“Of course not,” he said.
“You are the one who’s always told medutyabove all else.”
“Yes. Duty,” he said. “And honor andvirtue.”
