As they drew nearer, Evelyn noticed the coffin on display. The bottom half was gold, but the top half was clear glass.
She stopped abruptly, nearly tripping Damien. “I didn’t know we would be able to see the king!”
“Of course,” Damien said. “Monarchs are always put under glass.”
“But… his eyes! And his chest!”
“You won’t be able to tell anything is wrong. I promise.”
“I still don’t like it.”
“How do funerals work in your kingdom?”
“The body is covered in a shroud and placed on the pyre,” Evelyn explained. “It’s the same for everyone in Carrowmore, royal or not.”
“I don’t like the idea of being burned any more than you like our tradition.” Damien urged her forward. “It’ll be all right.”
They made their way to the seating area. Evelyn could view the king properly now.
He looks like he’s sleeping. Damien was right about not being able to see his injuries. But I’m not comfortable with this,and the smell of all the roses around the coffin is making it worse.
Queen Camille was openly weeping. She sat in the first seat on the right with Leo beside her. Next should have been King Tristan, but he had traded spots with Hannah so she could sit with her future husband. Evelyn clenched her fists and sat on her father’s other side.
She caught Damien’s wrist when he started to walk away. “You’re leaving?”
“I can’t sit in the front row, Princess. I’m not part of a royal family.”
“But I need you!”
Damien heard the panic in her voice. He leapt over the chair beside her and took the seat directly behind Evelyn in the second row. The action earned him a glare from General Savatier.
Leaning forward, Damien put a hand on Evelyn’s shoulder. “I’m right here. I won’t go anywhere.”
It took about ten minutes for everyone to be seated. Then a man with short white hair faced the crowd. He looked old, which was very rare among the fae.
“That’s Henri Caron,” Damien whispered. “He’s the High Chaplain for the Royal Army.”
The chaplain lifted his hands. “May the gods bless us all on this day of mourning.”
Instead of listening, Evelyn fidgeted with her skirt to make the material sparkle in the sunlight.
I hate funerals. I didn’t even like King Gerard and I can’t lift my head without seeing his body. I should’ve stayed in the carriage. I’m going to set the roses on fire if I have to smell them much longer.
When Evelyn glanced at Leo, he was holding Hannah’s hand.
Of course he fucking is. He’s going to marry her. If only he had the decency to tell me that instead of kissing me.
Eventually, movement caught her eye and she jolted back to the present. The front row was standing up. Evelyn copied them, unsure if everyone had been given directions or they just knew what to do.
Queen Camille and Leo approached the coffin. The queen put her hands on the glass and wailed, while Leo stared up at the sky. Once his mother quieted, Leo led her off to the right side of the assembly.
King Tristan and Hannah stepped forward next, but the king paused when he realized Evelyn wasn’t moving.
“It’s our turn,” he whispered.
Evelyn shook her head. “I can’t.”
“It’s expected.”
