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“That’s your opinion,” I interjected. He frowned but nodded.

“Right, my opinion, but I believe it will be yours, too, when you marry me and move into our wing of the castle. My mother has been anxious for my father to step down so I can take over. We could be married in a fortnight. It’s a rush, but the wedding will still be elaborate, and the entire region will show up to the celebration.”

I sat forward. “You forget yourself, Prince Granier. I have not agreed to any match yet. The sorcerers insisted I visit Prince Fenrick, too, so I can decide.” It wasn’t exactly a big shot at freedom, but at least I had a choice between the two.

Granier chuckled, but this time it was slightly mean. “No, you’re right. I’m sure you’ll find Regnamoor and Fenrick very—uh, very interesting.” A smug grin followed that distorted his features just enough that he was momentarily not as exquisitely handsome. Meanness could make even the most handsome person ugly. “However, if you choose me, I’m sure we will do just fine as Prince and Princess of Solamere. You’ll have your own chambers and servants, and you’ll have a great deal of freedom. There will be official events, of course, but you’ll want for nothing.”

“What about love?” I asked.

His smooth brow arched. “Love? I’m sure we’ll have plenty of coupling time.”

“I wasn’t talking about that. Does it bother you at all that we’re not the least bit in love, but we’re expected to marry?”

“Oh, that,” Another smug grin. The man had too many of them. “I’m sure with time we’ll come to appreciate each other.”

“But you’ll have your mistresses?” I asked bluntly.

Granier stared at me, slightly stunned by the question. He had no idea that I’d already caught him with a staff member. I sat up and smiled back with confidence. The look I gave him could not be misinterpreted.

I had to hand it to him, his temperament was smooth and cool like everything else about him. “Right. What we both do in our spare time will not be scrutinized … too much. You will have a few more boundaries because you are not a pure Solamite. People might judge you harshly for your mixed blood.”

“That doesn’t sound ideal.”

“No? You’re overthinking it. You’ll be quite comfortable here, and our time together will be a priority. After all, it is important that we produce an heir⁠—”

I didn’t have anything in my mouth, but I still sputtered on a bit of spittle. I picked up the glass of pink liquid and drank a few sips. It was more bitter than I expected so I sputtered again. Ridiculously, I hadn’t even been thinking about the fact that I’d be expected to carry this man’s child. “Right, an heir. Well, let’s see how things go, eh? I don’t usually discuss having a man’s baby until at least the third date.” I laughed but Prince Granier did not appreciate or understand my human-world humor.

The sun was still shining, but it felt as if a cold shadow had just crossed the horizon. I shivered once and then realized it had nothing to do with the weather. Princess Jonier had arrived. She swept in like a glamorous glacial wind, an Ice Queen. Her lips were appropriately painted bright red, and she wore a matching red dress with flowing sleeves lined in floral pink. The flowers all seemed to turn their smiling faces the other direction as if she was a canister of pesticide moving through the plants.

Her perfume was heavy as she leaned down to kiss her son’s cheek. She turned to me with a plastered-on smile. “So good to see you’re feeling better, my dear. I hope you have everything you need, and I assume Cara has been doing her best to see to your comfort.” Her pleasantries and sweet tone were cringey. I preferred the Ice Queen.

“Cara is fantastic. She has seen to all my needs.”

“Wonderful.” She pushed the train of her dress aside as her son shot up and pulled out her chair. Servers rushed over with another place setting, but she waved them away. “Just a glass of water, please.”

They rushed off to get the water.

“Now, what have you two been discussing?” she asked with a new, less generous smile. “I hope you’re not making wedding plans. We’ll have that all taken care of. The two of you won’t have to do a thing.”

“You forget, Mother, there’s been no engagement yet.”

“Right. Well, that’s just a minor detail.” Her water was delivered. She took a feminine sip, dabbed at her painted lips and set the glass down. “I hear your chaperone is coming to pick you up this afternoon. We’re so sorry that the visit wasn’t longer, but I’m sure we can get better acquainted when you return for the wedding.” She was persistent, that was for damn sure. Her face snapped Granier’s direction. Her smile was still plastered on in a weird, mad clown kind of way. “Dearest, why don’t you give Raphael and me some private girl time. Your father wanted to see you. He wants to go over the accounts.”

Granier looked a little put out by his mother’s request. I silently pleaded with him not to leave me alone with her, but he didn’t read my cues. Revel would have known exactly what I was thinking.

“Very well.” He placed his napkin on the table, bowed politely to me and kissed his mother on the cheek. “Behave, Mother,” he mumbled quietly, but I heard every syllable.

Granier walked out of the garden. I held my breath waiting to be blasted through the flowers. “How was the food? Our cooks are the best in Troikana.”

“Yes, everything was delicious.” I placed my hands in my lap, so I wouldn’t fidget.

“I do hope you have a nice, safe trip to Regnamoor. Is there a way your chaperone can stay with you while you’re there?” It was an odd question.

“Uh, no, I don’t think that’s permitted.”

She pursed her mouth. “That is too bad. Regnamoor is not—well, it’s not Solamere.” She laughed dryly. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“I’m sure I will be,” I said with confidence I wasn’t exactly feeling. Then again, how much worse could it be than sitting down to breakfast with this woman? Her politeness or attempt at being congenial was making me nervous. I kept my guard up, but she continued with the niceties, telling me the names of the flowers and how some were grown just for her. The casual, friendly talk continued for a few minutes, and for a moment, I relaxed thinking maybe I’d just caught her on a bad day yesterday.