Page 54 of A Broken Throne of Bronze

By dinnertime, I feel much better. Surprisingly, my headache is nearly gone, with only faint traces of pain left. The thought of food is appealing now, and my stomach grumbles like it should at this time of day.

I arrive at the great hall, and as per usual, Viridian waits for me alone.

“Why doesn’t His Majesty dine with us?” I ask, peering at him.

Viridian’s movements slow. “He prefers to dine alone, in his chamber.”

Raising a hand to my mouth, I think back to what I saw in the East Tower. How could High King Vorr dine in such filth every night? The thought alone is enough to have my stomach threatening to empty itself.

“Has he always done that?” I force myself to banish the image from my mind and continue eating.

“Ever since my mother’s death.”

His words hang between us.

His Majesty started dining alone after the High Queen’s death. That must also be when he stopped attending balls.

If that’s true, then both must share a common cause. Perhaps the High Queen’s death is to blame. Before I saw the East Tower, that would have been enough to explain the High King’s withdrawal from society. But now, something tells me more than just the High Queen’s death alone is at the heart of it. What turned the High King into a recluse? And what role does the decayed condition of the East Tower play in all this?

“I’m sorry,” I tell Viridian at last. “That sounds lonely.”

“It was.” He looks at me, meeting my eyes. The corners of his mouth perk up. “Though, I’m not so lonely now.”

The way he looks at me rustles the butterflies in my stomach.

My gaze drops to my food, and I move it around with my fork.

Neither one of us speaks for a moment. I feel as though I should say something, but no words come to mind.

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” Viridian finally says.

I push away my finished plate. My voice constricts, taut with accusation. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

He leans back in his chair, dark brows knitted together. Though, something tells me he expected this.

“Not here. Walk with me.” Viridian rises to his feet, motioning his head to the door.

I stand, falling in step at his side.

We walk out of the great hall and down the corridor until we reach one of High Keep’s smaller libraries. When we arrive, a human servant dusts the shelves.

She averts her gaze when I look at her. Like she would with one of the noble fae.

I’m not married to Viridian, yet the servants still treat me as if I were. I’m not fae, but to them, it seems like I’m not fully human either.

The thought leaves a sour taste on my tongue.

Viridian’s voice is reserved. “Leave us.”

The maid retracts her feather duster from the bookshelves and bows before making her exit.

“You told me you’d answer my questions.” I cross my arms, staring Viridian down once we’re alone. “Now answer them.”

“What is it you’d like to have answered?”

“Why am I here, Viridian?”

“You are here to marry me. On that, I was forthcoming.” He pauses, touching the tips of his fingers to his chin. “What I still cannot seem to understand is why my father is so intent on this marriage, seeing as you’re not fae of noble blood.”

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