Page 56 of The Kingdom's Crown

"It will, little muse."

It might feel like an eternity in the meantime, but yes, it would pass.

Together, Cosmo and I dressed Bryony between us, moving her gently into her sleeves, tightening the laces on the corset she hated so much. Cosmo's quick fingers navigated the buttons up her spine as Bryony's cheek rested on my chest. I wanted my warrior queen back.

* * *

The royal tombwas full of bodies, and every scuff of a shoe and soft clearing of a throat seemed amplified as it floated up to bounce back and forth against the high marble arches. The volume was high, even with the funeral's audience all speaking at whispers. Bryony and I had separated briefly to do our part bending the ear of nobles, and I was on my way through the crowd to her when a vaguely familiar face snagged my gaze.

Victor—no, Vincent. One of the remaining Chosen of the now deceased dowager queen. He looked a little lost in the crowd, eyes searching, and my chest squeezed dully. He was probably only looking for the other, Hector, but there was a distance in the look that made me wonder if he knew what to do with himself without his mistress. Would I know what to do without Wendell or Bryony?

I drifted to him unconsciously, and his face smoothed, a faint smile rising at my approach.

"Your Highness," he said with a soft bow.

"My condolences," I answered with one of my own.

He released half a sigh, nodding, and then held the rest of the breath, eyes scanning the room again. "I had enough time to prepare myself, and yet…" He trailed off, swallowing hard.

"What…what will you do now?" I asked, my own eyes traveling to Bryony. What if something were to happen to her? We knew now that the Chosen didn't take part in their daughter's life and that most of the queen's line used them as a tool for relief in some fashion. Would we all be discarded from Kimmery?

"Her Majesty has offered me a seat on the council," Vincent said with a slight wrinkle of his nose. "Not to my taste, but it was a request from Violet and I do want to be of some help to the princess."

"And Hector?"

Vincent smiled at me, head tipping. "They don't kick us out, Your Highness."

I wasn't too proud to breathe a sigh of relief. Wendell and I would've managed, I supposed, but to be ripped away from the others too after losing Bryony? I was surprised by how distasteful it sounded. I didn't want to return to Mennary, even in my occasional homesickness.

"I am all the family Heck has left. He'll remain in the castle with me," Vincent said with a nod.

"Bryony will be glad to hear it," I said. Perhaps a little more to hear that Vincent would be representing some of her grandmother's voice on the council, but she was more tenderhearted than she gave herself credit for too. And then, as if it was her voice speaking through me, I offered, "The two of you should take dinner with us when it suits you."

Vincent brightened a little. "We'd be very happy to do so, I'm sure. Ah! I see Hector."

I saw Bryony too, searching the room for me, and I made my goodbyes to the older Chosen, heading for my princess.

"Incoming," I murmured, dipping my head down to Bryony's ear, my eyes narrowed on the tall man approaching us from the opposite direction.

Bryony's vague gaze turned to follow my stare, and I glanced down to watch her shift between confusion and then a sudden and surprising embarrassment. Color rushed into her cheeks, and her eyes flicked away from the man and back again. He was tall, handsome, and fairer than Wendell. He was also irritatingly familiar looking, although I couldn't place why.

"Your Highness," the man said, and I studied the many medals on his dark jacket as he bowed shallowly.

"Prince Holden," Bryony said with an equally shallow curtsey, her lips twisting nervously as they both rose. "How…how very kind of you to travel so far. And so soon after…"

It clicked at last, and I let out an inappropriate choking sound as I struggled not to laugh. Here was one of the fools Bryony had dismissed so abruptly after her choosing ceremony. I searched the crowd around me and jerked my head as I found Wendell, urging him to us.

"Holden, did you ever even leave Kimmery?" I asked, and I smiled through Bryony's elbow jamming lightly into my ribs.

The prince glared back at me. "I did, although I feel I've spent more time on that road this year than at home."

Bryony's blush deepened as Wendell joined us, wrapping an arm around her waist and gaining Holden's glare. "I really do apologize for my confusion at the choosing, Your Highness. I was quite overwhelmed and—"

If it had been me, I would've been wholly disarmed by Bryony's delicate sweetness—or at least I liked to think so—but Holden only puffed his chest and raised his stare above her head.

"My family still desires a friendly alliance with Kimmery, and so I'm back to try my luck with the younger princess. They saysheis amenable," Prince Holden declared. "And that she has much appetite."

"Camellia?" Bryony said in a barely restrained squawk.

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