What I didn’t expect was the level of scrutiny I would garner without Mina at my side. Everyone wanted to know who I was and how I knew the princess. I discovered quickly that looking past people and answering their questions with indistinct sounds that could have meant anything was surprisingly effective.
“You’re very good at that,” Prince Noel told me in the brief lull after one pair left and before more could come around.
“I told you he didn’t need saving.” The man with Noel was a stranger. He was dressed simply in the type of outfit I’d have been comfortable in.
“So he didn’t. But Mina would be mad if we left him to face the crowd on his own. Alan, this is Jacob. Jacob, Alan.”
I shook the man’s hand, unsurprised to feel his callouses. Though almost all the men in the room were commoners, plenty were still the type who had led the spoiled lives of the rich. Jacob looked like the type who relished getting his hands dirty.
“Prince Noel here is too much the gentleman to ask, but we’re both dying to know: why did you leave Princess Mina waiting for so long?”
I looked just to the side of Jacob’s ear, shrugged my shoulder the slightest amount, and made a noncommittal noise.
He laughed. “You are good. Fine, save your explanations for the princess.”
“I think he already gave his explanation. They looked very cozy together when I hunted them down earlier.”
A hand slipped into mine, and I smiled.
“Noel and Jacob,” Mina chided. “Did you come over here to tease Alan?”
Noel grinned. “Believe it or not, we actually came to help him with the swarms who are determined to figure out why you are spending so much time with him. But he didn’t need our help. He has the inscrutable courtier act down perfectly. Much better than you, in fact.”
“Sorry.” Mina squeezed my hand. “I should have realized what would happen. I saw Gemma and Cole during my last dance. Perhaps we can go find them?”
“It was fine. Like your brother said, I handled it. I’d love to talk with Cole and Gemma, though.”
Mina led the way to where she had seen them last, Prince Noel and Jacob deciding to come, too. The next few hours passed in a blur. It was much like the Midsummer Festival, though the setting wasfar more ornate. We ended up going out to the second terrace, where we could talk more easily. A few people who had come to Haiwella for the ball and a handful of men Mina had befriended over the years all drifted in and out of the group over the course of the evening, as well as her brother.
Throughout it all, Mina stayed by my side. Every now and then, I’d catch her gazing over at me, a small smile on her lips. When I caught her looking, she’d blush, then turn back to the conversation.
Gemma yawned, then turned to whisper something to Cole. He nodded and turned to Mina. “I think we are done for the night. It has been a long day.”
“Thank you for inviting us to the ball,” Gemma said, hugging Mina. “And please do come visit Skorsa every once in a while.”
“Of course.”
When they left, I realized that our group had shrunk to just Mina, Sam, and me.
“Well, I’m not tired yet,” Sam announced. “Shall we head back in and discover what mischief Noel has gotten up to on the dance floor?”
Mina glanced up at me, then shook her head. “I’m all danced out.”
“Me too,” I agreed. “I think I’m ready to retire.”
“I’ll show you where your room is.”
Sam snorted. “That is my cue to leave.”
Mina smiled. “Tell Noel goodnight for me.”
Sam moved back toward the ballroom, and Mina guided me down the terraces and around the side of the palace. Before we made it to the door, a clock chimed the hour.
“Midnight,” I whispered, setting my hands on Mina’s waist. “A new day.”
She leaned in and kissed me. “I want to start every new day with you.”
“That sounds perfect.”
