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Eliza gave me a knowing grin. “I take it you slept well.”

Her tone made me blush, but still I felt relief at her teasing. “It’s not what you think.”

“Whatever are you implying about our innocent Lord Beric?” She smirked as she threw my blanket from my legs and positioned my slippers for me to get into them. “Why, he wouldn’t know the first thing to do with you.”

I chuckled, but the heat in my cheeks remained. “I don’t know. He knows how to kiss … very well.”

“Does he?” Eliza asked, raising her brows with sly interest. “What a development.”

“Princess,” Faline sighed in disappointment.

I grinned. “And, even if he didn’t, he takes direction well enough that he’d be an expert by the end of the night.”

“My lady!” Faline chastised, looking scandalized and directing that energy into furiously setting my breakfast tray onto the table.

Eliza and I laughed as Faline stormed off to set my bath. But I tried to recover quickly, taking the opportunity while she was distracted to tell Eliza, “I’m sorry.”

The princess sighed. “That you apologized to Beric is enough. Although, I was shocked to hear of what you said to him, Cali.”

“I know,” I said, shame sweeping over me all over again.

“Still, you might be a little more traumatized from being raised in your cousin’s house than you realize.”

“Traumatized?” I said, my brows lowered.

“You’re used to being betrayed by the ones who are supposed to love you, I think.”

I paused at her words. I had never considered my family’s behavior toward me as betrayal, but I suppose it was, in a way. Not nearly as dire as what my uncle had likely done to my father, but still a bit insidious. Picking here, nagging there. Until all that was left was empty disappointment.

“That doesn’t justify your reaction, mind you,” she said, with a warning raise of her brow. “But I’m used to taking care of children with baggage, so I understand, at least.”

She meant Beric, and that realization made me emotional. But I didn’t want to dwell on horrible things when Beric was outside, waiting for me.

When life was just about to get better.

With the help of my friends, I bathed and dressed quickly, rushing out to the hall as soon as I was ready. Beric stood opposite my door, leaning against the stone wall. I grinned. I was certain he hadn’t moved from that spot since Faline had thrown him out, and I wondered if he would collapse if the wall wasn’t there to support him.

Still, he gave me an adoring grin. “You’re beautiful.”

I felt so giddy when he said it. So content. “Thank you, Beric.”

“Shall we?”

“Actually—Faline,” I said, turning to her with a warm smile, “will you go on ahead and ask Albert about the shoes?”

Faline blinked at me. “Which shoes, my lady? If they are for you, it is I who would have ordered them.”

Good point.

“They’re for him,” I amended. “A gift. I was wondering if he might wear them tonight at court.”

Faline didn’t quite look convinced but gave a small nod anyway. “Very well.” She turned on her heel and headed down the hall.

Eliza raised a brow at me. “It baffles me how you are allowed to keep the king’s secrets when you so clearly lack the ability weave a convincing lie.”

“I’m used to having to lie to stupid people, to be honest,” I said, pulling my door closed. “But speaking of the king’s secrets…” I knew no one else had access to this hall, but I lowered my voice when I said, “I’m more than positive that when the king dies, The Dark dies with him.”

Beric and Eliza stared at me in silence, and my heart sank.