10
Greenwood Abbey hadnever felt more alive than it did in the next three weeks. Servants and palace staff bustled through the stone halls with luggage and letters, a stark contrast to the usual stillness and gloom. A sketch artist came to take my likeness for the city papers. I spotted a rendering of Crown Prince Bennett’s regal profile in his portfolio.
The next morning, the portraits were featured at the front of the morning papers on an article detailing my royal engagement with the crown prince. I couldn’t bring myself to read past the sensational headlines, so I busied myself with packing my gowns instead—which turned out to be unnecessary.
The king had hired many witches into the palace since the end of the Non-Magic Age, one of them a charmwitch who went by the name of Giselle Phula. The fashion publications lauded her as the luckiest royal seamstress yet, as she was to work on “the finest figures of Olderea”. I was told she would be making most of my clothing during the tour. A small trunk arrived from her the week before, filled with new gowns of the most fashionable styles. Tizzy fawned over them for the entire evening, but I was too preoccupied to do the same.
The royal steward, Ulysses, had informed me of the first stop of the tour: the city of Coriva which lay beyond a few hills outside of Delibera. It was there we were to reside for the next month in Lord Frederick’s Huntington Abbey. Our route crossed one of the busiest parts of the city—the Witch Market. There was a witch market in every region of Olderea now, Ulysses had said, but the biggest by far was on Deliberan soil.
I hardly knew how the witches would react. Rumors of last summer’s ordeal had spread far and wide. Whether they were in my favor or not was a mystery. And the public’s opinion, I was sure, would sway the crown prince’s.
***
THE DAY OF THE TOURarrived. That morning, our procession filled the palace courtyard, most dressed in Royal Guard purple. Three carriages awaited—one large and ornate, the other comparatively modest, and the last for cargo. There were horses in front for Lord Frederick, the crown prince, and our personal guards.
Father and Lady Vanessa came to see me and Maddox off.
“Best of luck to you, Cissa,” Father said, taking my gloved hands as Maddox and Lady Vanessa said their goodbyes.
“Thank you, Father.”
“I always knew you were meant for greater things, though I wish you didn’t have to leave. It felt like just yesterday you were returned to me,” he said with a sad smile, eyes crinkling.
My chest ached. This time I couldn’t attribute it to nerves.
I threw my arms around his neck like I used to as a little girl.
“I’ll miss you,” I whispered. It was unlike me to say such things out loud, but there was plenty of time to recover from any embarrassment I felt afterward.
Father tightened his hug, sharing none of my awkward hesitation. “I’ll miss you too, Cissa.” He pulled back, eyes glassy, and bent down to pick up the feline beside him. “Don’t forget Misty.”
I took her. Misty looked disgruntled, too used to sleeping in to appreciate being awake at this moment.
“Maddox, my boy,” Father said in a louder voice, “you look dashing in uniform.”
My half-brother merely grunted, more subdued than usual. Perhaps he accepted his fate. But the more likely reason was that he didn’t want to act impertinently in front of his new colleagues.
Lady Vanessa went to stand next to Father. “Take care, Narcissa,” she said earnestly.
“You as well,” I said.
She looked as if she wanted to say something more, but thought better of it.
Ulysses the steward glided up at that moment. “Milady,” he said as he adjusted his wire-framed spectacles, “His Highness has arrived. It is time to leave.”
Maddox and I nodded, and with one last goodbye to Father and Lady Vanessa, we headed across the tiled courtyard toward the group. Crown Prince Bennett was instantly recognizable, dressed in a double-breasted lavender coat with crisp lapels. His crown glinted in the watery sunlight as he stood next to an impressive white mount, conversing with a woman with a dark braid.
My skirt jerked back abruptly. I stumbled as Maddox let out a string of curses. Misty hissed in displeasure as I turned to him.
“You’re supposed to protect me from danger, not endanger me yourself,” I said coolly, surveying the damage he had done to my hem. The sage green was now stamped with a muddy footprint. Misty jumped to the ground.
“Don’t start with me you...you spoiled societybrat!” he said fiercely.
I pursed my lips. “How strange.You’realways the one to start withme.”
Maddox flushed. “Listen! I’m stuck here because of you and the last thing I need is your—”
