Page 9 of Of Snow and Sapphire

They had snuck out of the castle together. He had his hands in hers as he guided her outside somewhere, but he refused to tell her where, which deeply annoyed her.

She should have been entertaining Lord Mitah who had visited with his mother. Ludelle found him to be boring. He lost a game of cards with her, and instead of being impressed and congratulating her, he threw a fit. His pride was wounded, Ludelle supposed. She mentally crossed him off the list of potential future husbands for when that time came. Not for many years, she reminded herself.

“Are we almost there?” Ludelle whined. Her feet were starting to tire.

“Almost,” Zimyn reassured her. His hand touched the small of her back and guided her in front of him.

Father’s Undertaking had just been completed a few days ago, and she could smell the oncoming blizzard. She couldn’t wait to see the lands covered in snow, especially the village right by the castle. She would need to go down there. The village—the whole court actually—came alive during the first snowfall after the Undertaking. She thought fondly about her favorite tree syrup treat created with the first snowfall; the villagers would pour the golden liquid onto the cold snow, creating a delicious delicacy.

“Open your eyes.”

Ludelle did, and her vision needed a moment to adjust. At first, she didn’t know what she should be looking at. They were in the middle of the forest, but there was nothing special. Then, she heard a tiny mew echo up from her feet.

A baby snow leopard inched towards her. It looked hesitant and scared.

“Wh-what is this?”

Zimyn chuckled at her shock. “A snow leopard, Ludelle. I found her a few days ago.”

“Where’s her mother?”

Zimyn's face became solemn as he crouched down and allowed the small animal to come to him. The cat sniffed his hand. “We don’t know. I’ve been feeding her everyday and she’s been alone each time.”

Ludelle bent down, her midnight blue cloak getting caught in the twigs and bramble, but she didn’t care. The tiny kitten came to inspect her wearily. Ludelle created a small icicle from her fingers, and the kitten licked at it with its prickly pink tongue.

“She’s so sweet. Does she have a name?”

Zimyn was breaking up a twig into small pieces. “I’ve been calling her Kotyn.”

“Kotyn?” Ludelle asked. “You named it after Moroza's cat?” As Zimyn nodded sheepishly, Ludelle added. “I like it.”

“I thought she could be yours.”

Ludelle lost her balance slightly, causing the animal to back away. “Mine? My parents would hate her. I couldn’t subject her to that.”

“Well, I think she needs a home. At least until she's older,” he added. “I also think she needs companionship. Someone who will be by her side. Just like you have me.”

Ludelle looked at Zimyn, then—really looked at him. His sky blue hair blew in the breeze, and his eyes shone brightly, like two moons calling to her.

“You’ll always have me,” he rasped.

Ludelle’s gut tightened. Because yes, he would always be there as her Captain, but she wanted something more. He did, too. They always did.

Ludelle picked Kotyn up and pulled her into her lap as she sat down on the cold dirt.

“Would you be by my side as a husband?”

“No,” he shook his head. It hurt for her to hear it, even if she knew that would be the answer. “I don’t want that pressure and all those eyes on me.”

“I want to change this court,” Ludelle said quietly.

Zimyn nodded. He understood her desires more than anyone. Whenever they found themselves alone, she would whisper of all the changes she would make as Queen. How she wanted to start a council of representatives from each region of the court, how she wanted ladies in waiting to have more freedoms to make choices for themselves, how she wanted her own children to be able to choose a consort of love. No more pressure of choosing a powerful noble who would be advantageous to the court.

“But I still want you.”

Zimyn gulped, “Me too.”

But what they wanted were so at odds with what the court expected.

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