“Seems like it,” Evelyn answered.
“I’ll walk you both downstairs,” Nicolas said sleepily.
Evelyn made it to her door and Daphne took the empty bedroom across from her.
“Good night, future queen.” Nicolas bowed before heading to his own room in the other wing.
Instead of going to bed, Evelyn went down the hall and knocked on Hannah’s door.
I have to at least try talking to her.
Hannah’s copper-red hair was in a long braid down her back. She pulled a robe over her nightgown.
“Can I come in?” Evelyn asked.
Hannah stepped aside to let her through. “Do you need help with wedding preparations?”
“No,” Evelyn said quickly. “I wanted to talk to you before tomorrow.”
Hannah shifted her weight. “About what?”
She isn’t going to make this easy for me.
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I didn’t know any of this was going to happen.”
“You didn’t know Alexander wanted to marry you instead of me?”
“I didn’t even know his name was Alexander!”
Hannah gawked at her like Evelyn had confessed to not knowing how to use a fork.
Evelyn launched into the story of meeting Leo, not finding out his real identity until after the ball, and how complicated it had been since then.
This was a lot more fun when I was talking to Daphne and Desirée.
“So that’s what happened,” Evelyn finished. “I was never trying to steal Alexander from you. I wanted to be with Leo.”
Why isn’t Hannah saying anything? Is she even blinking?
“I’m really sorry,” Evelyn continued. “I know you wanted to marry Alexander?—”
“I didn’t,” Hannah said quietly.
“What?”
Hannah sighed and sat on the couch. “It was never about Alexander. I wanted to marry a prince. Or a king, I guess.”
Evelyn took the seat beside her. “But…why?”
“I thought that’s what my future could be.” Hannah’s hands were trembling. “I thought maybe that was how I could actually accomplish something.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Rowan found his place in the army, and now he’s the heir to Carrowmore. You have your Fire magic?—”
“You have that, too,” Evelyn interrupted.
“My magic isn’t as strong as yours. Everyone knows that. Father loves to brag about your power, but he never says anything about me. Before we came here for the betrothal, I don’t think he talked about me at all. It’s always been about you and Rowan.”
