Page 36 of Stars May Fall

I was the last to leave the room and wished I could escape the torture of the formal lunch, but I wasn’t going to push the king any further. I followed the noise of chatter and clinking glasses to the yellow reception room that adjoined the throneroom to wait until we were summoned for food. Why the king had chosen that huge ostentatious throne room for lunch today, I had no idea. It was very rarely used and normally served as an empty space before the dais for people to stand and bow to their monarchs at large public events. I pitied the servants having to lug tables into there. It seemed like today, the king wanted to show off his power.

I hadn’t been in the throne room since the queen’s coronation when I was three. At the time I’d been held up by a nanny at the back of the room, my mother recently banished. My memories were vague and mostly constructed of paintings and pictures I had seen more recently. I had no desire to go back there today, but at least in this I would concede.

The bright and airy reception room was crowded with nobility, and I slunk into a corner on instinct, hoping that nobody came up to talk to me. I scanned the people; Duke James was talking to Lord Lyrason and Sir Charles. So the three of them weren’t afraid to still be seen together, despite Lord Lyrason’s crimes coming to the court’s attention. I grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter and took a large sip. If only Sophie was here to distract me from this all. The intense two weeks we had spent with each other, never apart, only heightened how much I missed her now. She would accompany me here this evening, but that felt like a lifetime away.

My attention moved to the other side of the room where Annabelle was talking to a group of younger nobles. Her arm was looped around Lord Venerick’s, and every now and again she would smile up at him, her bright red lips contrasting with white teeth. She was shorter and more sturdily built than Sophie and wore a dress that emphasized her wide hips and cinched in at the waist. I studied her in thought. Everything about her was different in the palace to how she’d been on the streets. Her expressions were pretty and perfect, her posture elegantand non-threatening. The emptiness about her was a sharp contrast to the stubborn, fearlessly confident girl I now knew. She was acting. Here, she was always acting. It just proved how ridiculously fake and insincere the palace truly was.

I hated this place.

Annabelle patted the arm of her betrothed, and I wondered if she had any genuine affection for him. She hadn’t mentioned him once when we’d been working together. Her father must have had some other reason to choose him, especially when Lord Lyrason had expected her to be betrothed to him.

I caught her eye, and she quickly looked away. I pursed my lips with amusement for a moment then strode up to join them, smoothing back my hair. I knew this would annoy her and almost looked forward to her glare. The younger nobles jumped back from me in surprise as I slipped between them. The conversation died.

I raised my wine glass. “Please, please, continue what you were saying. Don’t let me interrupt.”

An awkward pause replaced the lively conversation. My life always seemed full of awkward pauses. One of the young women, her eyes slightly wide and most certainly avoiding mine, said to nobody in particular, “It’s warm weather for this time of year, isn’t it.”

I inclined my head to her, all politeness. “Quite.”

Annabelle nodded, her jaw tense, but her smile never dropped. “I think it’s the lack of wind.”

A second noblewoman rested her hands on the two younger people either side of her. “I just remembered we were to speak with Lady Clara before lunch is served. Please excuse us.” She curtsied to Annabelle. “Your Highness.”

The rest curtsied or bowed leaving me alone with Annabelle and Lord Venerick. Sure enough, Annabelle glared at me while Lord Venerick shifted on his feet, his grip becoming tight andpossessive of the princess. Something about the man’s features and expression reminded me of a rabbit. I reminded myself he was a friend of Duke James, which quite possibly made him my enemy.

I smiled and inclined my head politely. “Your Highness, I don’t believe you’ve properly introduced me to your betrothed?” I lifted my eyebrows. “Last time we met I was rather…preoccupied.”

Annabelle’s glare didn’t lessen, though her voice sounded polite with a subtle edge of sarcasm. “General Kasten, meet my betrothed, Lord Venerick. Venerick, this is General Kasten who is the head of our armies under my father.”

Venerick inclined his head while Annabelle mouthed, “Be nice.” I wasn’t sure why she thought I needed the reminder.

Lord Venerick cleared his throat. “Thank you for all your hard work, General. I hear you lot have been meeting all morning. It must be hard to come to an agreement over such important things. Especially with how long this war has been going on.”

I smirked. “It is when winning the war isn’t everyone’s priority.”

Annabelle gave me a warning look. Venerick frowned as if confused by my meaning. “Well, let us all hope it will be over soon, hey?”

His comment fell flat.

Annabelle turned to him with a pretty red smile. “My dear, would you mind getting me a glass of rose petal wine?”

Venerick didn’t lessen his grip on her arm but looked between us with a worried expression. I couldn’t help but grin, showing my teeth. “What do you think I’m going to do? Eat her alive?”

Annabelle spun to me and from her expression I almost expected her to stamp her foot. “Kasten!” She turned back to herbetrothed. “Venerick, it’s quite all right. He’s my brother after all.”

The term caught me by surprise. I’d never expected her to use it. Venerick inclined his head to her, then me, then went to find where the servant with wine had wandered off to.

“You’re insufferable, do you know that?” she grumbled.

I scoffed. “Well, is this theappropriate wayto talk to you?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I am not your spy!”

I shrugged and left her comment lingering between us, hoping it would make her add to it. She looked away and rubbed her arm.

I gave in to my impatience. “Gah. What is it, Annabelle? You must have heard something? Aren’t you suspicious about why Lord Lyrason is being left relatively unpunished by your father? He is being calledimportant to the war effortand has been let into our meetings, yet sits in the corner saying nothing. You must know something.”

She deliberated one moment more before turning back to me, lowering her voice. “Kasten, don’t get involved with the king and Lord Lyrason’s schemes. It’s too dangerous. They’re planning a trap for you. They don’t believe the weapon you wielded was destroyed. They’re scared of you. They’re being careful and cautious but will try to corner you soon.”

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