‘Oh… thanks. I appreciate it.’
‘Can I help you with anything?’ I asked when he didn’t move.
‘Well, we’re both single, aren’t we—’ he began with a suggestive glint, but a shout from the corridorcut him off.
‘I’ll be back later,’ he promised, flashing another smile before disappearing through the mahogany doors.
But I wouldn’t be. It was unprofessional for staff to mingle with castle residents, wasn’t it? I ate as quickly as I could, aiming to retreat to my room undetected.
Two more men smiled at me, lingeringly enough to make me genuinely worried about my actions.
Did I throw myself at the king? Had they seen it and decided I was a tease? Surely, that wasn’t why he was gone today. No, he needed to take care of the banquet; it couldn’t be that.
As I passed my cleaning lady, who winced at me, I nearly passed out from the sudden onslaught of undivided and very mixed attention.
With only an hour to spare before I had to leave, I tried not to overthink and instead forged a plan: I would ask him directly at the banquet.
The gown fit like a glove, its rich hue lending me a quiet confidence, and I paired it with white-gold jewellery, diamond stud earrings and a plain necklace that dipped low. I rarely wore much makeup, usually going for mascara and lipstick, but the occasion called for a composed look. A cherry shade of blush and deep burgundy lipstick gave my face a poised intensity, and I completed the ensemble with a crystal-encrusted bag.
Making my way downstairs, I prayed not to run into anyone; nevertheless, fate had already thrown several sultry looks in my direction.
The man I presumed to be my driver stood beside a car I knew all too well, deliberately avoiding my gaze, a reaction I much preferred.
Taking the seat in the back, I focused on watching the trees to calm myself down. After a long period of silence and too much contemplation,I asked, ‘How far are we going?’
‘About twenty minutes north.’ The driver kept shooting me glances through the rearview mirror, which I tried hard to class as curiosity rather than yet another outcome of my poor life decisions.
He opened a window and took a long breath, then sighed as if frustrated. ‘I really couldn’t. My King wouldn’t be pleased.’
Oh, no. Another one. ‘Sorry, what are you talking about?’
The man smirked. ‘Right.’
What. The. Fuck.
‘I really don’t understand,’ I tried to explain, which only pleased my driver more.
‘I usually enjoy the clueless act, but not when my balls and job are on the line. And they would be, with the king. So it’s not going to work.’
‘Okay?’ Did everyone suddenly assume I found them suitable candidates? It was becoming more preposterous by the minute.
We drove in uncomfortable silence for several more minutes as I begged the Gods to let us finally reach the godforsaken place so I could demand some clarity from River.
The driver opened my door, hovering slightly too close for my liking, his gaze idling on my décolletage.
I hurried toward the giant sailcloth tent, its deep-green fabric blending into the woods like camouflage. What I wouldn’t do to blend in that well.
I knew this place; the spot we hiked to wasn’t far from here. My mind already started forming escape plans as I spotted Michael. ‘Finally! I haven’t seen you in ages.’
He turned, slightly startled, eyebrows and nose twitching with a life of their own. ‘Um… are you this happy to see me, princess?’
I slapped his arm. ‘Of course I am. Celebrations like this freak me out. I can’t just walk in and face all those strangers alone.’
Michael’s expression shifted to disbelief, tinged with concern. ‘Ava, honey… is your nose blocked?’
‘What?’ Dragging a strand of my hair forward, I sniffed it. It smelt of roses. ‘Are you saying I stink?’
Laughter escaped him as I held a lock of my brown waves in front of his nose to prove him wrong.
