Gasps filled the hall. My palms buried themselves back into the fabric of my skirt, desperate for something to fidget with.
“False again,” Lukas replied as my lower lip began to tremble.
With a scowl, Queen Cora rose out of her throne. “Is there a point to these accusations?”
“Of course,” Marigold sneered. “I merely wish to assess whether or not she is competent enough to lead an entire kingdom. She grew up in a forest, after all. Why give her a crown when she could be using it to build an army of savages?”
“That’s absurd,” Lukas growled. “Corlixir is her birthright.”
I opened my mouth to agree, but then my mind caught on something Marigold had said.Why give me the crown?
“Her parents may have been rulers but she’s certainly not,” she carried on, despite me barely listening. “Look at her. Shaking like a little mouse.”
She was right. I was shaking. But by that point it was more from excitement than fear.How had I never thought of this before…
“Speak ill of my future wife again and you’ll learn what true fear feels like,” Lukas snarled.
The two leaders continued their argument, drowning out any protests made by Queen Cora. I would’ve joined in. I really probably should have. But then three words forced every ruler, along with the squabbling crowd of advisors below them, to slam their mouths shut.
“Marigold is right.”
It took me a moment to realise the words had come from my own lips.
“Naria, don’t you dare agree with her,” Lukas called down to me while Queen Marigold erupted into a fit of laughter.
“That’s probably the first clever thing you’ve said all day, girl,” she cackled. “Give your kingdom’s land to Drothmore. I’m sure Lukas can find you a nice cottage in the woods to sell herbs from. You’ll never have to—”
“I don’t need the crown.” For once I cut her off, my voice strong. “But I can help elect a board of Corlixins who do. And together, they can manage the kingdom and vote on policies my people care about.”
“Naria…” Nerves weaved through Lukas’s voice. “Thinkabout this.”
“I have.” I swallowed. “Anyone can see I’m not fit to rule a kingdom. I don’t even know what half the words you say during meetings mean.” More gasps rippled through the audience as I continued, “But I’m sure I can find people who do understand all this. And perhaps my people can even help to elect them. We’ll hold an anonymous vote! It’s the only fair way.”
Silence dropped over the hall. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. As I glanced up, horror washed over Queen Cora’s face, while Queen Marigold seemed to be biting down on a grin.
One of the two Dalking Queens who’d been silent during our whole exchange rose suddenly from her throne. Her long brown hair, decorated with petals, hung in waves around her paling shoulders. Panic took root in her voice as she spoke, moments before the hall descended into chaos.
“You’re suggesting a democracy.”
CHAPTER 6
“So you’re telling me, in less than a day here, you’ve been kicked out of an official ruler’s meeting, insulted both the King and Queen of Ryntook, and angered your fiancé enough for him to practically confine you to your bedchamber?” Raena blinked, trying her best to understand exactly how I’d ruined my chances of ever helping my kingdom.
“At least it’s a very pretty bedchamber,” Ivy added from beside her. With a tight smile, she patted my wrist.
Another tear rolled down my cheek. Of course, I’d already ruined everything. After the meeting, Lukas had to rescue me from hordes of furious advisors and their rulers. I’d never seen him look so disappointed. And the worst part was,I still couldn’t see how it was such a bad idea. So what if my mother and father were of royal blood? How would that make me fit enough to take their place? How would it make anyone?
“There must be something we can do to fix this,” Ivy offered.
Raena exhaled and flopped down onto my blue bedsheets. The three of us were seated on a grand, shell-shaped bed in the centre of my new room. A few metres away, white gauzy curtains fluttered in the breeze, suspended above the arched open doorway that led to a huge balcony overlooking the ocean. The rest of the room was decorated with ocean themes. Shells were carved into the columns that held up the arched ceilings, while deep blue and gold paintings adorned the sand-coloured walls.
Ivy was right. It was a very beautiful bedchamber. Lovely in all ways except for the guard stationed outside. He’d already stopped me once when I tried to leave in search of dinner.
A beautiful prison, indeed.
“We’ll figure something out,” I decided. “Or at least maybe Lukas will.” I laughed humorlessly. “It’s not like he’s already had to figure everything else out for me.”
Ivy squeezed my hand. “That’s not your fault. You’re still learning.”
