ChApter
Forty-Four
By the time the musicians trade their lively reels for softer melodies, the night has settled into its steady rhythm. Servants sweep in and out with practiced grace, refilling goblets, exchanging empty platters for trays piled high with sugared fruit and delicate pastries. Dante and the king have made their rounds, exchanging pleasantries with nobles from every corner of the realms, while I’ve been passed from conversation to conversation like a particularly intriguing trinket.
The royals from the other courts have begun to loosen in their seats, the rigid formality of the evening giving way to easier smiles and low, comfortable chatter. Even those who eyed me with cool curiosity at the start now seem more inclined toward warmth, their nods carrying less scrutiny and more familiarity. I can only hope it means they’ve accepted the engagement—or at least decided it’s not worth challenging.
Out of curiosity, I glance at Princess Orida. She is holding Lady Marette’s baby, deep in conversation with her cousin. She doesn’t look upset anymore, and I can imagine that it isn’t in her manner to have an emotional reaction. Maybe she had envisioned a future where a prince like Dante would be her partner, but it isn’t as if she is in love with him.
When I find the spot where Princess Rosemary is, I find her speaking with one of the lords from the Messanyan court. I bite back a laugh, wondering if she chose him to talk to because she considers him a fertile man.
Across the room, I spot a cluster of all the kings gathered near the far hearth, laughing over something shared between them, their jeweled goblets catching the firelight. It’s the perfect moment to slip away and look for Nadya, who mysteriously disappeared after dessert.
I’m a little surprised to find her perched on a velvet settee in the corridor just outside the ballroom. I thought she might have snuck off with one of the courtiers. Instead, she sits alone with her half-finished wine in hand. She perks up when she sees me, eyes bright despite the late hour.
“I wondered where you disappeared to. Are you all right?” I ask, taking the seat beside her.
“Don’t worry about me, my friend. I’m a survivor. I learn to adapt.”
“That is true. You’re the most adaptable person I know.” I give her hand a squeeze. “Still, you’re my best friend, and I want to be sure you’re fine.”
She swirls her wine, gazing into the liquid. “Do you think we’ll stay here? In Hedera? Or…” She lets the word linger. “Do you think there’s a chance to go back to Delasurvia?”
I blink at her. “What do you mean?”
“Well, technically,” she says, leaning in, “you could be coronated. Queen of Delasurvia in your own right. Especially now that the union is sealed. Dante would be king regent there, and Hedera would be… someone else’s problem.”
I laugh at her blatancy. “I’ve thought about it, but we went through the entire tour to declare him legitimate forHedera, not to simply be a king consort. Plus, it’s a little complicated at the moment, with the whispers of war, and the carnoraxis attacks spreading.” My voice drops. “We need peace first. We need to make sure these other realms stand with us against the tsar. Then I’ll think about what comes next.”
Nadya studies me for a moment, her expression softening. “Peacefirst,” she repeats, as if storing the promise away. Then her gaze shifts to something behind me.
When I follow her gaze, I find Dante leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest as he watches me.
“I wondered why the ballroom grew dimmer,” he says.
Nadya gasps, holding a hand to her heart. “Oh, gods, normally, I would gag at such terms of endearment, but I have to admit that was unexpectedly sweet.”
“Don’t be so sure,” I joke. “I suspect he’s pretending to be nice because he wants something.”
“Oh, he definitely wants something,” Nadya says under her breath.
I give a small laugh as I stand. “How may I help you, my prince?”
“If I have to endure another minute of small talk,” he begins, pushing off from the frame and taking a step toward me, “I’ll willingly throw myself into a hoard of attacking carnoraxis, just to escape.”
I laugh and shake my head. “And they saywomenoverreact.”
He smiles, and I can’t help but notice how charming he looks.
“You want to get out of here?” His voice is low and husky, the timber making my stomach flutter.
“Won’t the king be upset to find you’ve disappeared?” I ask.
He takes my hand. “He’s probably on his twelfth helping of wine. He probably wouldn’t notice if I walked in there naked.”
I close the distance and interlock our fingers. “I highly doubt anyone could miss such a display. The other princesses, for example, would surely find it hard to look away.”
“Well, they’d be out of luck,” he says, running a thumb over the back of my hand, “since I reserve displays like that for one person alone.”
