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“I’ll be sending a guard of my own to watch you,” she hisses. “A woman, someone who won’t leap on you the second that carriage leaves our palace grounds.”

I smile gratefully. If this woman is who I think she is, then I’m not going to argue.

“Thank you,” I whisper back. “But I promise you I’ll be safe. I trust Lux.” I really do. Even just through letters, I can tell he has a kind heart. He’d never hurt me. I know that.

“Any problems you have. Even if someone merely looks at you in a way you do not like, you will leave that place immediately. I will deal with Father.” She squeezes my arm.

“Of course.” I pry her fingers off me. “But I’ll be fine. I promise you.”

She gives me a look that tells me she doesn’t believe me at all, but I’m turning away and practically skipping down the hallway before she can say anything else.

When it comes to me visiting Lux’s manor, there’s only one thing I need to worry about.

And it’s how I’m going to fit my entire fabric collection plus all my sewing things into one of Father’s golden carriages.

3

LUX

“Where the hell is my brother?” I ask the nearest servant while adjusting the lapels of my jacket.

He dips his head nervously. “I’m not sure, Your Highness. He wasn’t in his bedchamber or the gardens.”

Sighing, I scrub a hand over my jaw. Today, of all days, I cannot need to be dealing with this. “I told him that Eden’s carriage would be arriving at noon. I told him he needed to be ready to greet her outside. She’s a princess, she’ll be expecting a formal greeting.” I step back from the dresser, buttoning my cuffs.

Castor may be used to treating this manor like his own personal whorehouse, dragging anything with a pulse into one of his secret rooms – and that’s if he can make it there without tearing off her corset. But while Eden is here, I need him to do as I ask – be on his best behaviour.

Starting with greeting her formally outside the manor.

Heading out of my bedchamber, I make my way down the portrait-lined corridor. Their gold frames have been polished and the wooden floors have been waxed to perfection.

The servants know how important this day is for me. Last night, I paid them double their usual rate to make this place spotless.

As I reach the grand staircase, gardeners buzz around the entrance hall, making the finishing touches to the giant bouquets I’d had custom-made. I requested every yellow flower they could find. Sunflowers. Daisies. Roses as golden as the afternoon sun.

I can’t believe it’s been two months since the ball. Two months of her sugary scent haunting my dreams. Two months of picturing those plump kissable lips every time I wrap my hand around my co⁠—

“The princess’s carriage has arrived!” A servant’s voice dances off the high ceilings.

My chest tightens. This is it. I head down the huge staircase, towards the large wooden doors that lead outside.

“Your favourite princess is finally here then?”

Castor’s voice makes me pause. Brows lifting, I turn to face him. He’s dressed, thankfully, in a loose black shirt and breeches. His hair is a mess though. His deep brown waves look like a maiden only just finished burying her fingernails through it.

Judging by the red flush on his cheeks, I’m not wrong.

“She is.” I glance pointedly at a smear of rouge on his neck. “And I see you found the time this morning to clean up for her.”

Grinning, he wipes the stain away. “I was enjoying one of your old playthings. Now that you’re distracted, there are almost too many ravenous ladies here for me to handle.”

“How unfortunate for you.” Sarcasm drips from my tone. Castor can enjoy his ladies. These past few months, I’ve only cared about one.

“How much did she cost in the end?” He smirks as I push the door open. “I heard Prince Orion paid more than double the worth of his palace for Amaryllis. That was before he died, of course. You know, there are rumours that she killed him.”

Rolling my eyes, I step out into the sunlight. “You’ve been reading too many books. Princesses don’t kill their princes.” The thought of Eden with a blade is almost comical.

“I heard that she’s been spotted alive and well in Night Alley, working with an assassin of all people.”