***
The tour of the castle had taken the entire morning. Ingrid ledme through endless hallways and corridors to the great hall. Afterwards, we headed outside to the busy courtyard where servants bustled and guards conducted training exercises. My favorite, however, had been the gardens and the maze crafted from towering boxwood hedges. From my window, I’d underestimated how vast and impressive it was. It extended all the way to the fortification wall that hit the edge of the cliff upon which the castle was built. Beneath the wall, the ocean lay hidden from view. But I didn’t need to see it to hear its summons. It seemed the ocean was not prepared to let me go.
***
I was midway through lunch in the small guest dining room when there was a knock at the door. I had barely swallowed my mouthful of bread when Princess Amalie came bounding into the room.
“Your Highness,” I said, almost forgetting I was supposed to stand and bow.
“Hello,” she said cheerfully.
I eyed her as she took a seat at the table. What could this child possibly want with me? “How are you feeling?” I asked cautiously as I sunk back into my chair.
“Oh, much better now, although people do like to fuss,” she said with an exaggerated eye roll, just as Ingrid entered the room, looking most put out.
“Your Highness, as I explained before, Miss Alara might like to finish her meal in solitude before receiving any guests,” said Ingrid in a voice I assumed was her attempt to sound pleasant and patient.
For once, we were in agreement. I had been enjoying the peace and quiet, and I most certainly wasn’t one for entertainingchildren. That’s what nannies were for.
Although… shewasTarben’s sister. Saving her life had been extremely beneficial to my plans. Perhaps I should keep her close. Become like a big sister. It could only win me more favor with the royals. Besides, she was bound to know all kinds of things about Tarben.
Yes, this visit from Amalie could work to my advantage.
I plastered on my most welcoming smile. “It’s alright, I’d love some company.”
The girl grinned back at me while Ingrid left the room, muttering about fetching some tea.
“Ingrid said she showed you around the castle. Did you see the kennels? Or the stables?” Without waiting for my response, she went on. “The horses are my absolute favorite. My mare is the chocolate one with the white star on her nose. She’s called Hazel and she’s my best friend, although Father says I need to spend less time with the horses and more time focusing on my studies.”
I nodded along as the princess chatted away. There was no sign of the tired, timid little creature from the day before.
“Do you not enjoy your studies, Princess?” I asked, knowing this would be an easy topic of conversation. A safe one.
“No, I find them terribly boring. I’m hopeless at sitting still and learning for hours on end. Not like Hugo,” she grumbled. “I detest doing my numbers, and don’t even get me started on history! I keep telling Father that I don’t see what use it is to memorize who belonged to what house, which King married whom, and which lands warred against each other. It’s all so mundane.” Another dramatic eye roll.
It seemed she said exactly what was on her mind.Perfect.“I’d imagine that some of it might be of use to you if you become queen of your own land someday.”
A look of revulsion painted her face. I bit back a laugh.
“I’ll never marry. I wish to travel the world, and, in between my fantastic adventures, I shall live at the castle and care for the horses.”
“That does sound appealing,” I said truthfully. Who would have thought we’d have something in common?
“Have you traveled much, Alara?”
“Not until recently. But, when I was your age, I wanted nothing more than to ride a dragon to the peak of the Nyonos Mountains. That’s why I have such a love for books—they can transport you to any land at any time.” A truth I had never admitted out loud. My grandmother believed in reading books of fact rather than fiction. She said my time would be better spent filling my head withpractical informationrather than fanciful tales. Unfortunately for her, I, like Amalie, found those kinds of texts to be the perfect antidote to enjoying myself. For that reason, reading storybooks was my own little act of secret rebellion.
But I wasn’t in Vantillios anymore. Here, I could read as many epic adventures and saucy romances as my heart desired and no one would bat an eyelid.
“I suppose so,” she reluctantly agreed.
I was struck with an idea. “In fact, Ingrid was going to show me the library after lunch. Perhaps you could do the honors instead, if it’s not too much trouble?”
Her face lit up. “Yes, I know it very well,” she said proudly. Almost instantaneously, a grim expression crossed her features. “Although the librarians can be terribly prickly about their collection. ‘These volumes are the cornerstone of our civilization and should be revered as such, Your Highness’,” she said, adopting a deep, serious voice. I snickered. “Aside from that, you will adore it—it’s filled from floor to ceiling with old tomes. I’ll take you there now!”
Grabbing my hand, she steered me out of the room at the same time Ingrid entered with a tray of tea.
“We’re going to visit the library,” Amalie announced.
