“Yes, he’s… clever.”
“You are quite right, Princess Evelyn.”
The queen seemed pleased, and her eyes shone with some other emotion Evelyn couldn’t identify.
I shouldn’t be shocked that royals enjoy gossip as much as the rest of us.
If Leo has worked here for a long time and has favor with the queen, maybe he’s higher-ranking than I thought. One of them would’ve said if he was the Commander of the Royal Guard, but he could be close to that level.
Will I see him again? Does he even want to see me again? He was probably just being nice last night. Nicer than he should’ve been, considering I set a trellis on fire and insulted the royal family.
But I would really like to see him again.
4
The Library
“Dammit!”
Evelyn cursed at the scent of roses in her room again. She whipped a stream of fire toward the offending bouquet. The glass vase shattered while the roses burned.
I need out of here. I’ll explore a bit until that disgusting smell goes away. If I’m going to be in the palace for a while, I should know where things are.
Evelyn stormed into the hallway and slammed the door shut behind her. She walked down to the second floor but paused when she heard voices floating up from the first floor.
“Where the hell is he?” a voice demanded.
Is that King Gerard? Who shit in his soup?
“I’m sure he’s working,” a gentler voice soothed.
That’s Queen Camille. I can’t even imagine her getting angry.
“I’m sure he’s out drinking with the Fontaine boy!” the king countered.
“So what if he is?” The queen tried. “They’re young! They should be having fun.”
“Alexander is over two hundred years old. He’s not a child!”
“He’s also not a king yet. He’s adjusting to his new role as the heir.”
“What is there to adjust to? All he’s supposed to do is come homeon timeand talk to a girl!”
Is that what the king thinks of Hannah? That she’s just some girl for the prince to use? What an asshole!
“He’s met her twice already,” Queen Camille reminded her husband. “Alexander and Princess Hannah got along well at breakfast this morning, and then they toured the garden this afternoon.”
King Gerard scoffed. “If that’s all he needs to make a decision, then he should propose. Otherwise, Alexander needs to be at the palace and put in a little effort.”
“He only missed dinner.”
“Two nights in a row!”
“I’ll talk to him when?—”
“No,” the king interrupted. “I’ll do it. You have always been too soft with him.”
Evelyn heard heavy footsteps ascending the stairs. She ducked through the first doorway she came to. Oil lamps magically flickered to life.
