Page 7 of The Prince's Wife

"This is absolutely beautiful," Relanya said. "I love water lilies. They do not grow back home. I've tried to import them for my private garden, but they never survive, despite our best efforts. How incredibly thoughtful of Prince Bakhtiar."

Aradishir bit back every rude thing he wanted to say about his stupid brother and only smiled, "He'll be delighted to know you love it."

A servant took the jewelry case, and one of the handmaidens pushed the next gift in front of Relanya. "I feel a bit silly being the only one opening gifts."

"Not at all. Bakhtiar doesn't deserve them anyway for being a reckless fool and breaking his leg right on the cusp of your arrival."

Relanya laughed. "Brothers, all the same everywhere." She unwrapped the next gift, the wrapping itself a shawl madeof softest wool and dyed an ombre purple. Within it was a book of poems and illustrations, bound in purple leather and debossed in gold leaf, more gold on the edges and in each of the illustrations. Only one hundred of them had been made, and Aradishir had volume number one. He hated to part with it, but a future queen deserved gifts worthy of that station.

"Oh, my goodness, this is the most beautiful book I've ever seen," Relanya said. "I cannot wait to read it. Look at this artwork!" She looked up with a smile that made her more beautiful than ever, like a little girl given the doll of her dreams for her birthday. "Your brother put a great deal of thought and care into this. I am deeply honored."

Death wasn't good enough for Bakhtiar. Aradishir was going to shackle him to the face of a cliff and leave him to rot.

For the present, he returned her smile. "I'm happy you like your gifts, Your Highness. He'll be delighted to know his efforts succeeded."

The book was taken away, and the third gift presented. This one was more basic, but a tradition all the same: a set of wine carafes and cups for her private use, at dinner, in her room, wherever else she wanted. She would gather more of them over the years, gifts from visitors, friends, and more, but this first set came from her future husband.

Aradishir had chosen it himself, from a variety of samples that had been sent to the palace for him, and delivered the moment the storm had cleared and it was safe to do so. The carafes were made of frosted glass that was pink at the bottom and a delicate orange at the top, the very colors of a setting sun. Each of the cups was a different coordinating color, rimmed in gold and the outside painted with gold flowers and butterflies.

"These are stunning!" Relanya said with a gasp. "Your brother has exquisite taste."

"I will be sure to convey your happiness to him," Aradishir said, mustering the smile he very much did not feel. It was stupid. He had no reason to be upset that Bakhtiar was getting all the credit. This was exactly what his mother had set him to do: make her happy, keep her safe, ensure the marriage went through.

It still hurt.Hehad picked out the necklace suspecting she'd love it.He'dknown from everything he'd read that she'd love the book.He'dpicked out her first personal wine set.

She would never know. Nevershouldknow. What did it matter? It didn't.

The more he repeated the words, the more hollow they felt.

"It makes happy hearing that you like your gifts so much. I hope you enjoy the others when you open them later. Shall we go on with our day? We can start with the royal gardens while the weather is still cool, and move indoors as it gets hotter."

Relanya rose gracefully and fell into step beside him as they left the dining room.

Chapter Three

He took her first to the succulent garden, which was Bakhtiar's favorite, probably because he too was prickly and high maintenance. "This is Bakhtiar's favorite of the public gardens. He has an even more impressive private garden that I'm sure he'll delight in showing you."

"They're beautiful. Is it true you can drink from them if you're in the desert?"

Aradishir smiled. "No, I'm afraid. I'm not sure how that rumor spread. If you try to drink the contents of any of these plants, it's likely to hurt and even kill you. Better to make certain you take plenty of water with you, but that is hardly a concern for you, Your Highness." He led her onward, pausing only to introduce her to a handful of the nobles and other visitors they passed. Next up was the rose garden, followed by one filled mostly with orchids. After that a few more general gardens with various plants and trees mixed about before he led her into the gardens accessible only to the royal family and those nobles with special permission.

The first of them included an enormous fishpond, filled with fish of nearly every color, with benches and loungers scattered around the edges for people to watch in comfort. Beyond that was his favorite garden, save for his own private garden. This one had a marble gazebo in the middle, surrounded by water and accessed by arched bridges. From there spilled out a winding walking path, all manner of trees and flowers, cultivated specifically for the butterflies that flew about, in more sizes and colors than could be easily counted.

Relanya and her handmaidens gasped. "This is stunning."

"The butterfly garden, designed by my mother not long after she moved to the palace, and finished right before the wedding. They exchanged their vows right in the gazebo. I'm told it was a beautiful ceremony."

"I would imagine so, given how deeply your parents love each other," Relanya said with a smile tinged in sadness. "My first wedding was very much a matter of state, and… well, the relationship did not end well." She laughed, the sound sad and bitter. In the next moment, though, before he could figure out what to say to comfort her, she smiled brightly. "I can see why visitors always speak so avidly of the royal gardens of Tavamara. The only thing they talk about more is the famous Market. Will we get to see that too?"

"In some measure," Aradishir replied. "My mother would kill me if I let us simply wander about, but I will make certain you see it, never fear."

"Marvelous, thank you."

Once they were back inside, precisely on the side of the palace he'd wanted, Aradishir escorted her to the library, regaling her with its history, how it had once been the concubine hall before the new laws that limited how many concubines each royal could have, the fascinating story of the last Harem Master, King Ihsan, and Queen Euren[1].

"What a tale, and what an absolute wonder this library is," Relanya said. "The palace as a whole is a work of art, but this library is truly remarkable."

"We are proud of it," Aradishir said with a grin. "Come, come, I'll show you the rare books collection."

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