Page 82 of Cursed Crowns

“Aha!” Lei Fan waded back across her bedroom, clutching a handful of red silk. “Try this.” She tossed it to Rose before diving into another mountain of clothes. “Now, what shouldIwear?”

While Lei Fan inspected and discarded dress after dress, Rose quickly changed into the red-silk gown. Unlike the structured dresses she was used to, this one was loose and flowing, with billowing sleeves and a low neckline. She tugged on it self-consciously. “Am I wearing this right?”

Lei Fan paused to look up from the mess. “I’m a genius! I knew the red would suit you.”

Dinner was a small, intimate affair, served in the inner courtyard of the palace, where the walls were hung with yellow marigolds and trailing jasmine. The desert stars danced overhead, the moon casting them in its soft silver glow.

After her hour-long bath and now wearing Lei Fan’s beautiful silk dress, Rose finally felt like herself again. With fresh eyes and a clear head, her focus was shifting. Now that the Sunkissed Kingdom had been found, her thoughts turned back to Barron and the rebellion taking root in the heart of her country. The sooner she gathered her army and returned to the seat of her power at Anadawn, the safer they would all be.

For now, Rose held her tongue. Tonight was for Shen. The rest would come after. She sat between Lei Fan and Grandmother Lu, while Kai, who looked rather sullen, and Feng, who was impeccably dressed, occupied the seats across from her. Shen, who she hadn’t seen since he left for the kitchens with Grandmother Lu that afternoon, was at the head of the table, wearing a new sage tunic and dark trousers. Much to Rose’s disappointment, he barely acknowledged her arrival, and didn’t once comment on her dress.

“It feels a bit strange to be sitting at the head of the table,” Shen said, fidgeting and taking a generous slug of wine. “I’m not used to it.”

“Isn’t the seat comfortable?” said Feng. “I’ve been keeping it warm for you while you’ve been gone.” He laughed loudly at his own joke, before tracing the gold band on his head. “I suppose I should give this back to you as well.”

“It once belonged to your father, Gao,” said Grandmother Lu with a smile. “Such a handsome king he was. And what a smile!”

“It’s his sense of humor I miss the most,” said Feng. “Gao had a knack for making me spit out my wine at family dinners. He used to time his best jokes to catch me out.” He chuckled to himself, as he reached for his goblet. “I never thought I’d miss that, but I do. I miss him every day.”

“I’ll have to work on my jokes, then,” said Shen. “To make him proud.”

Grandmother Lu reached over to pat his hand. “You already do.”

Rose wanted to tell Shen that his jokes were already funny, that he made her laugh every day, but the moment was passing, and she felt strangely outside it.

“And I know one thing,” added Feng. “My brother would want his son to wear the Sun Walker’s Crown.”

Shen shook his head. “I don’t need a crown, Uncle. I’m just glad to be back.”

“Our people will be expecting to see you in it,” said Feng, exchanging a glance with Kai that was too quick for Rose to read. “After all, now that the crown prince is back, we cannot hide you.”

“If nobody else wants to wear it, I’ll volunteer,” said Lei Fan, conjuring a gust of wind to knock it off her father’s head. She grabbed it and placed it lopsidedly on her own. “Well?” She grinned. “What do you think?”

Grandmother Lu rubbed her eyes and then widened them in feigned surprise. “Who is this new queen I see before me?”

Rose giggled. “It really is quite fetching.”

Shen smiled at Rose across the table, and her heart hitched in her chest. But before she could ask him how his afternoon had been—ortell him how good he looked in his new tunic—his gaze slid over her and landed on Lei Fan. “You used to wear your hair like that when you were little,” he said, gesturing to her two long braids, wrapped with delicate gold twine. “It still suits you.”

“Lei Fan, the Sun Walker’s Crown is not a toy,” Feng interrupted. “Give it to Shen. Now.”

“I just wanted to try it on,” mumbled Lei Fan, as she removed the crown and handed it to Shen.

Kai took a slug of whiskey, watching it pass over the table with a keenness that made Rose uncomfortable.

Shen took the crown, and for a moment Rose thought he was going to put it to the side, but then he placed it on his own head. Something twisted inside her at the sight. She couldn’t tell if it was jealousy or fear, only that the thin gold band tied Shen to a place where she didn’t belong and offered him a future she wasn’t part of.

“Do I really need to wear it during a family dinner?” he said. “I feel a bit ridiculous.”

“No more ridiculous than a prince who has barely set foot inside his own kingdom,” said Kai between gulps of whiskey.

“Such a handsome prince,” said Grandmother Lu, smiling broadly. “You look just like your father.”

Finally, Shen looked at Rose. “Well?” he said, his smile sheepish. “What do you think?”

“It suits you,” she said, even though she still couldn’t quite believe she was seeing Shen in a crown.

“Now that that’s settled, I’m starving,” said Grandmother Lu, flapping her hands at a passing servant. “Bring out the food before I salt that crown and eat it.”

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