I ran my fingers along the back of each pew, walking the aisle, slowly closing the distance between myself and my Sword,but then a single ray of light marked my path. It cut through the window he stood beneath, and it split the painted sky above the glass of God’s outstretched hands and then left crimson and blue squares upon the floor. The clouds outside must have moved, guiding the colors to dust Mr. Evergreen next. They were perfect upon his face, and hair, and arms as he stood patiently by the dais, forlorn.
I looked away but stole a second glance, taken by the sight, and, for once, be it bymagicor remorse, I saw the future of what my wedding would be, of Mr. Evergreen, solemn near where Sam would stand. He sent his eyes to the floor, even when I came and stood next to him.
“It’s...It’s not what I expected,”I said. There was a blockage in my throat. The room felt dry.
“You can say it’s pretty again,” he said. “It’s alright. I think so, too.”
“I do think it’s pretty,” I confessed. “I’m sure the room makes for decent portraits for the party painter, too.”
He nodded.
“What does the blessing claim?” I asked.
Before he could answer, Willoughby said, “That the couples who kiss in this room will know eternal love. How wondrous, don’t you agree? To begin your union on such luck?”
“Eternal love?” I repeated.
He beamed. “Is that not exciting?” he asked.
“It’s mad, is what it is,” I said. I scoffed. “Noroomdetermines love. How can it? It’s… It’s made of wood and stone, notmagic.Obviously.”
“You’re going to question decades upon decades of evidence?” he asked. “My, my cousin is quite the skeptic, is she?”
“Decades upon decades?” I shook my head. They looked at me. “Love is… Love is a complex sensation, Ser Wiloughby. It’s not just something that… that blossoms out of the dirt ofopportunity! Your legend implies that if I were to,” I gestured stupidly around the room. “I don’t know… Kiss Mr. Evergreen right now, we’d be locked into our fate, and nothing, not even the fact that I shall marry someone else, could argue that.”
“Then it’s a good thing you’re not kissing him,” he said.
I blushed atrociously.
Willoughby glanced between us, and I bristled, squaring my shoulders. “What if I kissed you? Would we fall in love?”
“I’d rather we not risk it,” he said.
Angry, I took a pointed step at him; he stepped back with his hand coming to bar him.
“Seriously?” I asked.
He furrowed his brow but moved further, inspecting something else. “I, for one, think it’s nice,” he said. “It really sets the tone for a cherished marriage. And you, you will be so radiant on your wedding day, cousin. Look. Even the sun agrees.” He motioned toward me; the variety of glass reflected across my dress like splattered wisps of color.
“Oh,” I said, softly touching each and watching the lines dance. Upon realization, I stopped. “I think… I think I’ve seen what I need to see.” I spun, clapping my hands together, tight. “Let us see something else!” I begged. “Please, Mr. Evergreen. We could go to the river, or the…” I tried foranything. “Or, Hell! Well, not. I mean, not like we should go to Hell, just. Oh, let us venture into town or something like that.”
Ser Willoughby paused in either the horror of my cursing on holy ground or the complete disregard for collectiveness. I covered my mouth, but Cyrus fought a hearty laugh and started for the door.
“Onward then,” he said, couriering us out. “Before Her Highness damns us all with that mouth of hers somehow.”
“It was an accident,” I said.
“Sure it was,” he said. “You accidentally desecrated a church.”
“I did not!” I cried.
Willoughby chuckled, but then he hurried out the door.
Chapter 5
We didn’t venture into the city, and I didn’t speak directly to either man the whole way back to the Palace. I did not know if it was because there was a lack of opportunity or if I was modified for my behavior, suggesting I kiss them, or then speaking of Hell, but in any instance, I was jarred from the affair.
As soon as we arrived, Miss Jocelyn came to collect me with the promise of a gift from the Prince inside my chamber. He’d brought gourmet truffles back from town, she explained. He was waiting for me in the parlor, for dinner, too. The idea clearly upset my Sword, but while my knightly keeper would have made the moment impossible to address, he saw Miss Jocelyn. Then his attention went to her, and seemingly, everything she did or had to say.
