“Your Majesty,” she greets me, not even deigning to look at Cally or Elle. “My husband and I didn’t get the chance to extend our condolences for your loss yesterday. We were so sorry to hear about your father.” She glances at my crown and continues, “On a happier note, we wanted to congratulate you on your coronation and wish you a happy reign.”
“Oh, well, thank you so much,” I say, still not sure who they are.
“I believe you met our children yesterday, Koa and Cassia,” the male’s deep voice interjects. “We’re the King and Queen of House Panthera. My name is Katze, and this is my wife, Issa,” he says, gesturing toward the stunning female at his side. “I think I speak for the entire kingdom when we say we’re looking forward to getting to know you since you’ve been…” he pauses, searching for the right word, before continuing, “absent.”
I bristle at his choice of words. As if I had a choice in my absenteeism.
“Yes, unfortunately, I was unaware who my father was. But I am happy to be here now,” I say, feeling like I might break my face with the false smile I’ve forced onto it.
He surveys me cooly. “Happy is an interesting choice of words, given your path to the throne, wouldn’t you say?”
I freeze, feeling like prey caught in the trap that he laid out for me.
Issa looks like she’s holding back a smirk. Holly did not prepare me for this.
If there were an Ice Court, they would be its rulers.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know Prince Koa,” I say lamely, unsure of how to navigate myself out of this trap.
“I’m glad,” Issa says, even though she looks anything but. “It was lovely to meet you.” She and Katze turn on their heels and walk away.
When they’re well out of earshot, I turn to Elle and hiss, “What was that?”
“Some of the kings and queens of the courts are…” she hesitates for a moment, seeming to search for the right word. “Well, they’re not exactly happy about you being the High Queen.”
“Well, neither am I, but why not?” I whisper as someone passes our table.
“For one, they don’t know you, and they’re not exactly confident in your ability to lead the kingdom,” she says with a grimace. “Plus, they’re a bit unsettled with the way the next High King is going to be chosen. The future of the kingdom is undetermined right now, and nobody knows what to expect.”
“House Canis was fine,” I counter.
“They’ve always been strong supporters and allies of the Deer Court. House Panthera, on the other hand…There was some tension there.”
“Why? What do you mean?”
A waitress walks past us with a tray of champagne floating above her hand. “We don’t have the time to get into it, and this isn’t the space to discuss it,” she says, glancing around pointedly.
“Panthera,” Cally mutters with disgust before downing her glass of champagne and setting it on the table.
The waitress, a deer hybrid, lazily floats another glass of champagne over to Cally.
“Thank you,” Cally says.
“My pleasure. Anything for you, Your Highness?” the waitress asks.
I shake my head. “No, thank you.”
She walks away, scanning the room for any other empty champagne glasses.
“See? Not the place,” Elle says, eyes still on the waitress. “There are listening ears everywhere.”
“Fine,” I mutter. “Tell me later.”
“Already starting with the orders,” Cally mutters.
Elle snorts as she takes her leave, saying something about checking in with Ivan. The moment she steps away, guests begin approaching me with congratulations. Their names and faces start to blur together after a while. Thankfully, Cally stays with me the whole time and fills in the awkward silences when I run out of things to say.
After another hour of small talk with the guests, Elle returns. “You have a guest who wants to see you in the throne room.”
