Page 125 of Blood of the Fairest

"I am also a Bellavyr."

The middle-aged knight guffaws. "You act so proud of that fact, yet even though you're the eldest Bellavyr, you've never honored or extended your family line by taking a wife to bear an heir!"

Merrick looks away, picking up his quill again. "I swore my life to building up this kingdom and this castle. A chamberlain's work is enough to honor my family. Now, let us move on with⁠—"

"You weren't chamberlain of this castle for ten years, though," Kranz cuts in with a strange smugness, lifting his chin. "I must say, I never saw you with a woman in that entire time—though I did see you with that goldsmith an awful lot these last few years. In fact, I saw that same goldsmith trying to discreetly slip out of the castle as I was arriving ahead of everyone else this morning. Does anyone here have any idea what business he might've had at Isenmere Castle? Visiting someone, perhaps?"

I saw Anika strap a knife to her thigh like the badass she is before she put on that dress—but now it looks like she's resisting the urge to pull it out and throw it right at Sir Kranz's face.

Meanwhile, many speculating eyes turn toward Merrick.

Though he remains composed, I clock his subtle distress and immediately declare, "The goldsmith was visiting me."

Kranz blinks. "What?"

"I asked Merrick to bring the goldsmith here. I wanted him to create some lovely jewelry to complement more fine gowns I'll be crafting for my close friends. In fact, I love that goldsmith's work so much, I may ask him to stay at the castle for a long time as he works on many more exceptional pieces."

In my peripheral vision, I see a slight bit of tension leave Merrick's shoulders.

"Arnold is already crafting a necklace that suits this dress perfectly," Anika adds in such a matter-of-fact tone that even I believe her. "He's using stardust and amethysts."

That sells the others at once. The white-haired noblewoman gushes about how excellent the necklace will look. Other council members begin asking about the necklace's exact style and whether Anika might consider asking my seamstress to put in a good word for them.

They seriously are obsessed with pretty things.

It's like looking at a room full of me's.

Kranz is dubious, though, frowning over at me.

"But Your Majesty, why not use the goldsmith who has worked for the castle for seven years? Schultz chose him for a good⁠—"

"Anyone who kissed Schultz's ass has no place in my court, including you."

That shuts him up for a while as the Privy Council meeting commences.

30

Verena

The Privy Council has been talking for a long time about trade with other kingdoms, constructing another shrine for Ayna near the border of Isenmere, something about taxes—yada, yada, yada.

It's all a blur that I can't focus on, thanks to the lingering apricot scent behind me.

But that is nothing compared to the urge I have to sniff Wulf's mouthwatering blood again.

That tart blackberry and cool mint could soothe my throat while his hands slide over my bare skin, teasing and pinching and⁠—

"Repeat that," Beowulf says behind me.

I startle and realize he's talking to one of the noblemen.

The man also seems surprised that the taciturn warrior addressed him. "P-pardon? I only said that the White Mask was sighted in Grellheim two days ago, healing at an almshouse."

"Ridiculous. The White Mask doesn't exist, if he ever did," Lady Dorn yawns. "I say he is nothing but an old myth."

"He's as real as the unsightly wart on your husband's chin," the man insists vehemently. Ignoring the elderly woman's insulted gasp, he goes on with, "We ought to officially invite him into our kingdom. He could heal our sick and elderly—and he'd be a good fellow to know if that plague in Hamelnmark starts to spread!"

That gets everyone talking over each other.