Page 39 of The War and Deceit Series omnibus

Although the country is in the grips of winter, with the pale sun breaking through the clouds and a gentle breeze caressing my skin, it's pleasantly warm and I don’t need to worry about a cloak. The four fountains are working, the gentle sound of flowing water and the chirping of birds are the only sounds I can hear. Around each fountain is a circular border of exotic plants and flowers, with a stone bench built into each. As I stroll through the courtyard, I marvel at how peaceful it is even though it’s surrounded by the castle on all sides. I’ve never seen anyone in here, only ever the occasional person hurrying through to get to the chapel on the other side.

I reach out and brush my fingers against the plants, a gentle smile on my face as I amble around each fountain, admiring them. The plants are that of some of the southern cities in Arhaven, the land is very different there. Where we have long winters and mountains, the other side of our kingdom—where we originated from—is full of deserts, rainforests, and pounding heat. By all means, these plants shouldn’t survive here, but I can feel the faint, sticky feeling of magic coating them, and it makes me wonder who would waste magic keeping these plants alive when no one ever visits them.

Following the path of the fountain, I continue around until I reach one of the stone benches, taking a seat parallel to the other fountain. It’s going to be a busy day and I can already feel the tension building in my neck. These days, where I’m required to be Lady Clarissa, I find them harder than when I’m working down in the underground room. Even though I’m humiliated and beaten, I don’t feel like I have to pretend. Maybe some part of me still thinks I deserve it? Yet, if I follow the teachings of the priests, I have been deemed worthy of her blessing, and one step further than that, I’ve been given her mark. Instinctively, I reach across and touch the symbol, actually the words, in the language of the Goddess.

My beloved.A tingle runs through me, along with a sense of love, and I know that she’s with me. Then why is it so hard for me to be Lady Clarissa? This is my life now.

My thoughts turn to the elf. Will he wonder where I am? I’ve been working in the underground chamber for the last five days. Will he think it’s strange that I’m not there today? He mostly ignores me, but when the guards come to get me, he always stops his labour and watches them beat me. At first, I thought it was because he enjoyed it, enjoyed seeing a human being struck, but I’ve come to realise that the anger I see in his eyes is not aimed at me. When he observes and our eyes meet, and I getthe feeling he is urging me to be strong. Sometimes, when I feel like I’m going to pass out from the pain, I think I can hear him. That strange pull, the tug that I always feel when he’s around, it’s like it connects us, and my delirious brain thinks that he’s talking to me through it. Telling me I can get past it and not to let them win. I know it’s all a delusion, that I’m not actually hearing him, that some part of my brain is creating what I need in that moment, but it’s comforting nonetheless.

“Lady Clarissa?” The voice catches me so unaware that a shocked gasp escapes me as I twist on the bench to see who snuck up on me. Eyes widening, I quickly jump to my feet as I see Prince Jacob and, sketching an awkward, shaking curtsy, I try to calm my pounding heart. I never,neverwould have let someone get so close to me without my knowing before. What about me being “Lady Clarissa” turns the instinct off? Do I truly feel so safe that I drop all of my reflexes?

“Please, don’t worry about that.” His voice is closer now and his hand appears in my field of vision. Placing my hand in his, I straighten up and take in his slightly chagrined expression. “I’m sorry if I startled you.”

“Don’t apologise, Your Highness. My thoughts were miles away.”

“You looked like you had a lot on your mind. Is there anything I can do to help?” He sounds sincere, and there’s a slight crinkle between his brows as he gestures for me to sit back down. Perching on the bench, I shuffle over to make room for him next to me.

“That’s very kind, Your Highness—”

“Stop with the ‘Your Highness.’ I thought I told you to call me Jacob.” At first I think he’s angry, but his smile tells me otherwise as he angles himself closer to me.

Raising my eyebrows at him, I look around to check that no one can overhear us. He must know that if I was caught callinghim by his first name that I would be whipped, or worse. “I didn’t want anyone to overhear me calling you that and think I was overly familiar,” I reply in the politest way I can phrase it, as that’s the other risk. People might think that the prince and I are… being intimate, and then Grayson would find out. I don’t know why that is so important to me, it’s not like I don’t like the prince. He’s handsome and kind, and there isn’t anything going on between the high mage and me, but I can’t help but think back to last night when I sat in his lap.

“You don’t need to worry. No one really comes here,” Jacob informs me, interrupting my musings, although I blush slightly at being caught out. “Do you know why?”

Shaking my head, a grin spreads across his face. “They say it’s haunted.” I bark out a chuckle before covering my hand with my mouth. Ladies don’t laugh like that, but then Jacob starts laughing too, his infectious amusement encouraging my humour. Once we’ve settled down again, he picks up his story.

“This courtyard was created by my father for my mother. I’m not sure what was here before, there are no records in the library—I checked.” Of course he did. That is exactly what I would expect of the scholar who was born as a prince. Smiling at his comment, I nod for him to continue his story.

“My mother was married before she married my father. She was the daughter of an important lord, and very young at the time—just turned eighteen. She was married off to one of the men from the mountain tribes.” I can’t hide my surprise at this piece of information. I had heard the queen had lost a lover and this was her place of mourning, but I didn’t know the other details.

Nodding, the prince continues, “Her and her new husband lived in Morrowmer, but he had to travel back to his people a lot. It’s said that they loved each other very much, despite her young age, and that the match was made for them. She and my fathermet at some of the court gatherings. I know that he had designs on her, but since she was married, she was untouchable. He was older than her and had just inherited the throne when his father, my grandfather, abdicated.” I hum in acknowledgement, leaning back against the bench as I listen.

“One day, when her husband was on his way back from visiting his tribe, he was attacked by the elves and killed.” My heart aches for the queen. I knew this story wasn’t going to end well, but I can’t imagine how much pain she must have been in, losing a husband so young. “My mother was not only a widow at eighteen after losing the love of her life, but her father had also just died—she was distraught. She knew she would have to marry again if she was to survive. My father was there when she needed him, and eventually they were married and the rest is history.” He smiles, gesturing to the space we’re sitting in. “This courtyard was built for her as a place of reflection, for her to visit when she needed to escape, a place of mourning.”

We are silent for a couple of minutes as I mull over everything he just told me, but it’s not a strained quiet, it’s comfortable, companionable. “That’s a sad story,” I finally reply, before raising my eyebrows with a small, teasing smile. “It doesn’t explain the rumour of it being haunted though.”

“Ah, the rumour is that his ghost lingers here, trying to find his way back to his lost love.” Shuddering at the thought of being stuck here after death, I can’t help but shake my head.

“That’s funny, I’ve never found this place anything but calming.” Looking around the space, I let a small, peaceful smile tug at my lips as I listen to the soft trickling of the running water, enjoying the silent presence of the prince next to me.

“Are you attending today's meal?”

The question comes out of nowhere and I frown as I sit forward to look at him. “Why do people keep asking me that? I thought it was mandatory?”

“It is.” He shrugs, not answering my query before tilting his head to one side as he contemplates something. “You’ve become a bit of a mystery, Lady Clarissa.”

“I see, you get to call me by my title, but I can’t call you by yours.”

“Oh hush, I’m teasing,” he says with a grin, and I can’t help but return it. “You see, you appeared out of nowhere on the day of the choosing ceremony on the arm of one of the most eligible men in the kingdom, and a high mage at that. You are then blessed in a way no one has ever witnessed before, only to disappear. You don’t attend court, or any of the other social things noble ladies seem to enjoy. You’re a mystery, one that I, and many other noblemen, would like to get to know better.”

My heart jumps into overdrive, pounding in my chest as I jump to my feet. I can’t afford for people to think I’m different, I’m supposed to be blending in. But if the prince has heard I’m not acting how the other ladies do, then I’m not doing a very good job of it. Jacob’s eyes widen at my panic and he stands, reaching out as if to stop me from leaving, but I back away. “I better go, Grayson will be looking for me.”

“Are the two of you together?” His voice sounds calm, like he’s asking about the weather, but his fists are clenched until I shake my head.

“No.”

“Then I’m going to keep pursuing you until you tell me to leave you alone.”

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