The king has issues.
I laughed. “My mother has that effect on people.”
Mother always fancied the king—that I knew even as a child. Whether she genuinely loved him or only cared about his title was unclear to me, but from the way King Maximus controlled Bennett regarding matters of the heart, I figured it was the former. Whatever Mother did, she never skimped on effort. Her love must have been a strong one. So strong it made the king not want the same for his son.
I want you to be happy, Misty meowed. I pet her ears fondly. Father said the same thing earlier this winter. I wasn’t sure if I had fulfilled his wishes.
“I am happy,” I said to Misty softly. “I have you.”
She tilted her head.I’m having kittens, she mewed.
My eyes widened. “What?”
Misty nodded, rolling onto her back to show me. I touched her belly, which had certainly expanded in the past few weeks. That explained the extra weight. “Pippin, you rascal,” I whispered to the sleeping tabby cat.
By the time I have my litter I expect you to have everything sorted out with the king. Pippin wants to be with Bennett. I can’t have us separated.
I hugged her close, feeling tears prick my eyes again. My kitten was having kittens.
Misty squirmed upright, narrowing her green eyes.Promise me. If you won’t do it for yourself, at least do it for me.
My throat grew tight. Would King Maximus listen to sense? Would Bennett attempt to persuade him? I squeezed my eyes shut. Did Bennett even want to see me again?
Don’t talk nonsense, Misty thought to me.Of course he does.
Hearing her voice in my head again was so comforting I didn’t care if I believed her words or not.
“Alright,” I said. “I promise.”
***
THE NEXT FEW WEEKSpassed by in a blur. Celeste and Dominic were thankfully well-behaved prisoners, despite the occasional cursing and insults that erupted from their carriage. We passed through Vandil and stayed at Lady Mariana’s again. The witch market reparations were coming along nicely and the inhabitants welcomed me with open arms.
I was showered with gifts from fine, shimmering fabrics to glossy-leafed plants to magical charms and knick-knacks. An elderly witch woman stuffed a packet of herbs into my hands.
“For plenty of children between you and the crown prince.” She walked off with a wink, the beaded ornaments on her belt jangling. I kept my composure until I was back in the carriage, where I shoved it into the trunk of gifts, hoping it would magically get lost.
That evening Giselle showed me a copy of the morning post. Sister Scarlett’s article was plastered on the front page.
Madly In Love: An Exclusive Interview with Lady Narcissa Greenwood
On a rainy Friday evening, Lady Narcissa Greenwood was spotted before the Grand Alevine Opera, personally welcoming witch guests as they streamed into the auditorium. Though I was not invited to that night’s show, I jumped at the opportunity to interview the future princess herself.
When asked about the previous night’s rebel arrest, Lady Narcissa claimed ignorance of the incident and declined to comment further on the political side of things. She did, however, eagerly turn the discussion to her relationship with Crown Prince Bennett.
“We are head over heels in love with each other,” Lady Narcissa had said, lovely eyes shining, “and we plan on having five children once we’re married.”
She laments being separated from her fiancé on such short notice, admitting that it has been especially difficult. Her mood seemed to improve when she discussed King Maximus’s efforts in scouring Olderea for the best nannies.
I can only suspect that Lady Narcissa is already with child after so many months alone with Crown Prince Bennett. Why else would the king be looking for caretakers before the wedding? Could it be that she is already Princess Narcissa?
I balled the paper up and threw it at Giselle who was guffawing uncontrollably. “Stop it!” My face heated as she dodged and continued cackling. “I said what I had to to get rid of the woman.”
Maddox made a series of unpleasant kissing noises. “Whatever you say,Princess Narcissa.”
I endured another three days of relentless teasing from both of them.
On our last night on the road, we spotted the gates of Delibera in the distance, silhouetted by the dimming sky. Lord Frederick ordered the men to set up camp in the forest clearing. The prisoners were being tied to trees as I took a turn around the grounds to stretch my legs.
