Page 47 of Cold Heir

“Fan mail,” Elle beamed. “And also a couple more official mailings, but mostly fan mail.”

I frowned. “But why? I’m pretty sure every Ianite from, literally, every Quadrant hates my guts.” To me, that didn’t sound like an exaggeration.

Elle moved about my room, tidying up. “Well, I saidthisis fan mail. That doesn’t mean there weren’t a few stragglers of thedarkervariety, discarded before bringing these up. Can’t please them all, right?”

Her honesty was refreshing, causing me to smirk.

My interest was certainly piqued, though. Reaching for the first, I lifted my head just enough to read the words printed on the hot pink stationary, adorned with hearts and flowers galore.

“You’re officially an icon,” Elle’s chipper voice reached me again.

Thinking I misheard in my tired stupor, I peered up at her. “Say what now?”

She laughed. “Despite the controversy surrounding your initiation into the princes’ lives, you’re the object of their affection. So, by default, that makes you the envy of nearly every Ianite female, between the ages of fifteen to twenty-five.”

The frown still hadn’t left my face. “But … don’t most of them disapprove?” I questioned. “It was my understanding that most women despised Dolls, oranyhuman woman who took up with an Ianite man.”

Elle sighed, giving me the impression that I ought to be a bit more‘with the times’.

“Their mothers and grandmothers might feel that way, but tothisdemographic, you’re the mysterious, heartbreakingly beautiful equivalent of a queen. An empress.”

I had never considered myself becominganyof those things. In fact, I didn’t think I’d ever be revered as anything other than a glorified Doll in their eyes. The titlestilldidn’t move me, but I was flattered that it seemed to mean something tothem,these girls who’d taken the time to send their love through the mail.

Setting them aside, I promised myself I’d read them later, and would likely respond to each one.

“Thanks for bringing these,” I said to Elle, placing a stray envelope I’d missed on top of the pile.

She was in the middle of responding when I gave that envelope a closer look, seeing the electronically printed address labeling it, as opposed to the curly freehand of a teenage girl. I reached for it and my heart raced.

“This one’s from the Magistrates.”

The statement earned me Elle’s full attention. She knew as well as I did,anycorrespondence from them was bad news, but I couldn’t help but to feel it was worse that the letter had been addressed tome, and not Julian or one of the other princes.

I stared at it a moment, and then lifted my gaze to Elle again. “What do you think it says?”

She dropped down onto the edge of the mattress, focusing on it just as intently as I did. “Well, I suppose we can’t really answer that until you open it.”

She had a point there.

I hadn’t even been back at the palace for a week, and already, it seemed trouble had arrived at the doorstep.

Literally.

Swallowing hard, I decided to woman up, sitting straight as I tore through the thing like I had no fear whatsoever, which couldn’t have been further from the truth. The paper crinkled in my hands when I unfolded it, taking a moment to focus on the words printed in black ink.

Elle leaned in to read alongside me.

There was silence while I scanned a few seconds longer. “They want to see me,” I said flatly, still skimming the page. “Once I’ve fully transitioned.”

The rest was a montage of formalities I wasn’t interested in reading. No reason was given for why they’d make such a request, but their expectations were clear.

Shortly after I turned in the next few weeks, I’d meet them face-to-face.

“Elle,” I blurted, “Can you do me a favor and keep this between us? I’d like to talk to the princes about this myself. When I’m ready,” I clarified.

Her head quirked to the side as curiosity filled her expression. “Of course,” she promised.

I offered an appreciative smile just as a rhythmic vibration on my nightstand redirected my thoughts. It came from the device I’d been given, the one that linked me to my team. When I flashed Elle a thoughtful smile, she took the hint and left so I’d have privacy.

---