Heavens. She sounded like someone who read a few too many romance novels. I would know.
“What makes you think he’s not happy?”
“He never smiles around you,” Isabelle said triumphantly.
I wanted to scoff. The crown princeneversmiled.
“Olderea is and always will be at the forefront of his mind. His Highness needs someone who can solve the unrest and put the kingdom first,” I said, pulling on a regal expression. “Are you able to do that, Isabelle?”
She sniffed. “At least he doesn’t findmeso repulsive that he would rather endure a five hour horseback ride in the blistering cold.”
I stiffened. The daughter was just as poisonous as the mother.
“Well it’s true, isn’t it?” Isabelle said, jutting out her chin when I didn’t reply. “And I am sure he hasn’t even kissed you.”
At this phrase, I threw all caution to the wind. “Oh! Are you very familiar with his kissing habits? I’ll be much obliged if you would share. I am quite mystified by them myself.”
Isabelle flushed red. “H-His Highness hasn’t spent a willing minute with you is all I meant! There are plenty of respectable candidates out there. If I were a witch, I’d—”
“Make him fall in love with you and cut me out of the picture?”
Isabelle stamped her foot. “You have no right to be so self-righteous after all you’ve done.” She ripped the pansy from her hair, pale cheeks flushed. “I’m going to find Mama. You can go back to your...wicked potions and magic!”
She stormed off, knocking into Maddox’s shoulder as she passed. I exhaled. The battle was hardly won, but itwasover.
Maddox looked at her incredulously and hiked up to me, knee deep in pansies. “What are you doing standing there?” he demanded. “Did you not hear anything she said?”
I gave my half-brother a dry smile. “Can’t handle ladies’ talk?”
“Her words were treasonous!”
“I recall you said some of the same things to me,” I said flatly.
Maddox sputtered. “Well, it’s treasonous now that you’re the crown princess.”
“Not yet. Besides, she’s not wrong,” I said as we waded through the flowers. My mood was irrevocably soured now that I had roused the ire of both Huntington women. I took pleasure in smashing as many pansies in my path as possible. So much for behaving like a proper princess. “His Highnessdoesfind me despicable, as does half the kingdom. So despicable, in fact, that it seems to have addled his brain and caused him to kiss his cat.”
“What? Truly?” Maddox said.
I shook off my skirts as the ground leveled, raining petals on the courtyard. I whirled around to face him. “What are you still doing here? Don’t you have a gate to protect?”
His face, which had previously worn an expression of befuddled curiosity, twisted back into a scowl. “W-well. In fact, I do!” he said, and stormed off.
I raised my eyebrows. He didn’t call me any names. Perhaps joining the Royal Guard was changing him for the better after all.
