“One week. Okay. One week, then I’m the queen. Then three months after that, I’m marrying someone I’ve yet to meet,” I say, repeating the facts as I try to come to terms with them. “When do I meet the princes?”
He smiles at me, but it looks forced. “We will host a formal coronation dinner. They will be the only attendees. However, you should know that after that, they will remain on the grounds until you’ve selected one to be the High King.”
Instead of asking the millions of questions that are racing through my brain, I just nod.
He continues, “Over the next week, you’ll receive lessons from one of our most trusted court members. She will teach you everything you need to know about the royal kingdom, royal etiquette, the different courts, and of course, the different princes.”
He takes a deep breath before continuing. “I need to warn you, Mae, the kingdom will be watching you closely. There is no precedent for this. No member of the reigning family has been murdered in our history. There has never been a king or queen that has come to rule in this way, let alone one who wasn’t raised within the court. Then, you’re adding a courting process to the marriage.”
My stomach drops. Being the center of attention was never my strong suit.
“It’s my recommendation that you stay on the grounds until further notice,” Ivan says. “We’re not sure who murdered the royal family, and we don’t know if they’ll try to harm you once we announce you as the next queen.”
The blood drains from my face at his words. I hadn’t even considered that. I table that line of thinking for now before asking, “How much does everyone know? About me?”
“Virtually nothing. It’s a bit chaotic right now. The kingdom knows the royal family was murdered and that there’s no acting king or queen right now. This makes our court incredibly vulnerable, so we must make an announcement as soon as possible.”
“And when will that be?” I ask.
“With your permission, I’d like to make the announcement by the end of the day.”
I nod in consent. I’m not sure what other choice I have.
The entire kingdom will know I’m the High Princess in a matter of hours.
Chapter 4
Thoughts of the futureand of the past spin like a vortex. As I stare out the window in Ivan’s office, I try to hold onto a single thought, but each one slips from my grasp. Mostly, I can’t stop thinking about my mother.
Orla. A High Fae Princess…which makes Willa a High Fae Princess, too. A High Fae Princess who knew who my father was this whole time and chose not to tell me.
The urge to update Cally and Willa is pressing, especially Willa. I want to share all of this with Cally, but I need to ask Willa about my father and why she kept this from me.
I stand, hoping to track Ivan down. When he said he was going to find the Herd, all I felt was relief at the idea of having a few moments to myself. I open the door to the hallway and walk straight into a wall. Stumbling back, I note the same forest green and gold uniform from the guards stationed by the front staircase.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t expecting you to be standing there,” I say awkwardly. The guard turns and bows with a straight face. “Oh, please, that’s quite all right. There’s no need for that,” I say, my cheeks instantly warming.
He straightens and gives me a curt nod before stepping aside. I start to walk down the hallway before realizing I have no idea where I’m going. I turn back to ask for help and almost run into the guard again.
“Oh. Sorry. I thought my hearing was good, but you’re so quiet. Do you know where Ivan is?” I ask.
“No, the fault is mine, Your Highness,” he says sincerely. “Ivan is waiting for you in the library. He sent me to stand guard outside the door and bring you to him and the Herd once you were ready.”
I offer him a smile and ask, “Would you mind taking me there?”
“Absolutely, Your Highness. This way, please,” he says before turning in the opposite direction.
I hurry after him, my long legs struggling to keep up with him. “Please, enough with the ‘Your Highness.’ What’s your name? And what’s the Herd?”
“My name is William. The Herd is the formal name for the royal family’s trusted advisors.”
We come to a stop in front of a set of glass double doors. Through the glass, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the walls, stuffed with hardcover and leatherbound books. Ladders stretch to the tops of the shelves. The library itself is two stories tall and scattered with comfortable reading chairs.
Cally will be so jealous when she sees this.
A large wooden table sits in the center of the library, perfect for spreading out books and researching throughout the night. I’m already envisioning late nights at that table while I familiarize myself with the histories of each court.
I open the library doors. The wooden floors creak as I walk toward the back of the library, where an entire wall is missing. The view of the forest is breathtaking, offering a sloping view down the mountain. Plants are scattered throughout, making it feel like the library itself is an extension of the forest. I feel like I could pluck a book from any of the bookshelves and just step out into the forest.
