Page 128 of Blood of the Fairest

Then again, Wulf really does take his pledge seriously.

"You're the best," I tell Merrick, turning back to him with a smile. "For the record, I would hide a body for you too—and by that, I mean I would have Wulf do it, because ew. Anyway, about this masquerade ball…why are the Isenmerian nobles only allowed to go if I attend? Is that normal?"

Merrick's expression turns sober. "No. It is rather abnormal, actually."

He withdraws several envelopes from under his velvet doublet. Several days ago, I told him I forgot how to read and asked him to please just give me a summary of whatever comes in the mail for the queen.

So instead of handing them to me, he unfolds a previously opened letter marked with a gold royal crest.

"This invitation from Aurefeld is brief and gracious, but in it, the king of Hamelnmark is mentioned. He will be at their festival as well, and it seems he is the one who requested that they extend an invitation to you this year. They have not invited Isenmere since you insulted the royal family of Aurefeld years ago—before losing your memories," he adds. "It seems Hamelnmark is playing peacemaker."

"This may have something to do with those irritating summonings you've been receiving from that kingdom," Eris huffs from the window. "Disrespectful ingrates. Again, I suggest you ignore them and⁠—"

"This invitation also says," Merrick goes on, unaware that he's interrupting my beautiful mirror confidante. "That their king and queen are eager for you to bring the young princess, since she is of age to meet their son as a potential bride."

"I'm all for Snow White having a fun time at the festival, but over my dead fucking body will she get saddled with some prince and his raging foot fetish."

Merrick coughs. "His what?"

"Nothing. What do the other letters say?"

Merrick breezes through more envelopes, giving me summaries of several basic queen duties. Some are letters from nobles about property or northerners requesting permission to settle in the kingdom.

Two envelopes have the same golden seal as the letters I received before—the ones Eris told me came from an anonymous nobleman in Aurefeld who was apparently helping the evil queen plot to seduce a prince.

I tell Merrick not to bother reading those.

The very last envelope contains a small note. When Merrick opens it, a sprig of rosemary falls out.

I pick it up, studying the fragrant buds as he reads.

"The endless river of cruel moments keeping us apart will soon run dry. Find me in Aurefeld. Ever your love, Fiete." He hums, looking at me curiously. "Who is writing to you so amorously?"

Whoever Fiete is, he's writing to Queen Rhinestone, not me.

Still, this reminds me…

All it takes is one request, and Merrick follows me to my chambers, with Wulf once again following. Eris sees me grab the old letter off the desk and hand it over to the chamberlain.

He sighs. "I hoped you'd forgotten about that one."

Subtly flipping him off, I smile at Merrick.

"What does it say?"

He holds the note up to read better in the afternoon light pouring through the cathedral-like windows nearby.

"Your lost songbird will not keep me from you much longer. I ache for you, always. Your love eternal, Fiete."

This guy seriously has it bad for the evil queen.

Was Eris so hesitant to read it to me just because it's a love letter? Was he borderline jealous just thinking of someone writing those words to me?

Aww.

If I could reach through the glass, which I've fantasized about more than I care to admit, I would flick his forehead…and then probably try to kiss him.

Actually, it's a good thing that glass is clamjamming me. Otherwise, I might have just as difficult a time keeping my hands off of him as I do with Wulf.