Page 28 of Crown of Ellova: Vol 1

“I haven’t had a vegetable in years. This is amazing, Arra. Thank you.”

“Which one do you miss the most?”

“Peppers, especially the green ones.”

I want to ask more about his life, but he is having a private moment with his dinner, and who am I to stand between a man and his summer squash?

He chews slowly and thoughtfully for a while before looking up.

“I know they have vegetables in the castle. Were you not allowed to partake?”

His face hardens. “I tend not to partake in luxury while others starve.”

I shouldn’t be surprised but I am. “That’s honorable of you. Howdid you end up as the Royal Physician to King Jedrick, anyway? It’s a rare honor, so you must be very good at keeping kings alive.”

He takes another bite, chewing slowly before answering. “Clearly not.”

A moment of guilt passes through me. “What happened wasn’t your fault.”

“I know. I had a passion for medicine and saw it was needed, so I went to school. After I attended a small university, I left with excellent recommendations from my professors, and I was able to become an apprentice under a prominent healer at the Versairen Medical Palliation. I stayed there for a number of years before I opened my own medical practice. When Princess Erenia was unable to conceive, Grayden tasked my mentor with figuring out why. He implied it may be Grayden’s fault and was killed for it, unfortunately. That meant a spot opened up and I came highly recommended. I’ve been with Jedrick for two years, as you know.”

A sharp hurt twists in my chest for the lost healer, Princess Erenia, and Grayden’s casual cruelty. “He has been vocal about wanting an heir. She hasn’t conceived yet?”

“No, and she will not. Not with the number of conception-delaying elixirs she has me prepare for her instead of her morning tea.”

My mouth opens in surprise. “You have been aiding her to avoid pregnancy?”

“Of course. The first question I asked Erenia was if she wanted a child. She said no, so that was the end of that. Under Grayden’s orders, she comes to see me weekly for her…medication. Mostly we just play cards.” He gives me a sly smile as he sips his wine.

“What did you tell Grayden?”

“The truth as to why birth rates are low all over the kingdom. Fruits and vegetables have vitamins and minerals women desperately need to have healthy babies. The sickness we call faerie’s revenge ravages his people without aid, we’re plagued with drought, and the wealthy overwork the most vulnerable citizens of his kingdom. All of that will have lasting effects, a sickness not seen anywhere else. I believe it has something to do with the crown, thatsomehow it is draining the life out of Adreania. Grayden seems to think he can change that once he has the crown, bragging constantly that the land will stop being such a barren and desolate place when he is king. He is a fool to think he has any magic to effect change with the crown.”

“So he’s turning farmers into soldiers to steal what Kalvorn has?”

“That could be, but he implied he had a different plan, claiming he has a way to bring back the lost fae magic. He boasted that there would be so much bounty, it would rot in the streets while everyone went to bed with full bellies.”

Grayden’s ignorance brings out a hollow laugh from me. “Any idea how he would accomplish such a monumental achievement?”

“Unfortunately, no. I tried to get Jedrick to find out, but he was so tired and old, he couldn’t bring himself to care.”

Grayden’s claim that he can bring back magic while also being in the possession of navlue fruit proves he has access to someone from Ellova? What is he planning and why would he not tell his own father?

“Is Jedrick…? Was he different behind closed doors? He seemed all too happy to turn his back on his people so he could live a lavish life immune to their suffering.”

Leon shakes his head gravely. “He was a coward, which is why I will not mourn him. I’ve known him for years, even when I was an apprentice. He wasn’t as indifferent as he seemed in the end. Grayden—” He says his name like a curse. “—was a bully to everyone, even his own father. For the past few years, many laws and rules were placed on the people by Grayden forging the royal seal. Jedrick knew.”

I shrug. “Well, the whole reason I sold at the bazaar was to make money for those in Beggars’ Row. I only risked venturing into Adreania once a month to bring my cousin food, but I could help more by selling jewelry, so that’s how I funded my…assistance. The coins my jewelry earns are enough to provide for the families there ’til I can return.”

“So it was you.” His face softens. “For a while, there was aninvestigation as to why money flowed out from that corner. It was never solved. They were quite loyal to you.”

Warmth fills my chest.

“How did you become the Royal Jeweler? That has to be an interesting story. Every jewelry maker I’ve ever met was a burly, sweaty male. I know I say this every month, but you make such beautiful designs.”

“Thank you,” I say, looking down at my plate and cutting up the last few bites of the tender chicken, trying for the closest version of the truth I can offer. “I had a family member who served the court as a swordsmith, and my family still held on to the little shop. My last name was known for beautiful work many years ago, so I opened the shop since the reputation had survived. Only open one day per month. Sold out of everything each day with lines down the road. I claimed it was because it took a month to make all the items and everyone believed me. Sold that way for a few years until it caught Jedrick’s attention. I was invited to the bazaar years ago and made extra coins there.” I shrug.

“Well, now you are unable to return there and your focus should be keeping yourself safe. I can protect you. Ineedto protect you! Tomorrow we leave for?—”

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