Page 56 of Beacon

The man was indeed handsome…but he was nothing to Owen. I nodded to give the answer the princess expected before mimicking putting on a crown and resting my hand over my heart to indicate whose appearance I preferred, an opinion that would have been true whether or not Owen and I were feigning a relationship.

By Reece’s giggle, she clearly understood my meaning. “Of course all of us are biased in thinking the most highly of the men who hold our affections.” She smiled reassuringly at the attending guard. “Not to worry, Odin, you’ll eventually find a woman who appreciates you above all others.”

From there the conversation shifted to other topics I was able to silently contribute to in various degrees. It was amazing how simply sitting with them while surrounded by their conversation affected me. Their interactions caused several of my almost forgotten memories to return—moments when words had been a part of me, particularly the conversations I used to enjoy with my parents. Ever since the shipwreck, such reminiscences had become tainted with my last memory of Mother’s impatience with my chatter, but today no darkness tinged the memories, only light.

Each word the princess and her handmaiden shared stoked a strange emotion within me. For the first time I no longer desired to remain wrapped in my usual cage of silence but instead wanted to be heard, a participant rather than a silent bystander.

But even if these foreign desires ever became stronger than the fear that had stolen my voice, I would still never be able to utter a single sound. I gingerly touched my throat, empty of the voice I’d long since given up.

My musings were interrupted by the arrival of Prince Ronan. He knocked before opening the door wide enough to peer through. Princess Seren brightened upon seeing him, her smile an invitation for him to step fully into the room, his hands behind his back.

“Forgive me for the interruption, but I have a surprise for you, darling.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “A surprise?”

He grinned. “Close your eyes.”

She didn’t immediately obey, looking almost…embarrassed. “You want me to close my eyes?”

“Please?” His plea was so cajoling, I almost humored him myself.

His coaxing tone softened her resistance. He leaned close enough to ensure she wasn’t peeking before revealing what he’d been hiding. I expected a romantic gift—flowers or even jewelry—but it was only a stack of documents, which he rested carefully in her lap.

Her eyes snapped open to stare wide-eyed down at the papers. For a moment she didn’t speak, and when she finally glanced up, she looked…touched. “Reports?”

Prince Ronan nodded enthusiastically. “I snuck them from the meeting room. I know how frustrated you’ve been without anything to do, so I took it upon myself to find a task—”

The reports tumbled to the floor as the princess stood and flung her arms around her husband to hug him as close as her large stomach allowed. Prince Ronan held her tightly in return, gently rubbing her back.

“I’ve been more restless today than usual,” the princess said. “How did you know?”

“I know you.” He pulled back to kiss her, but as with every kiss he gave her in public, she immediately broke it with her usual blush.

“Ronan!” Her shy gaze darted towards me and her handmaiden. Reece smiled knowingly and leaned towards my ear.

“This is our cue to look away.” She promptly turned around. I hesitated before following suit, sending the handmaiden a questioning glance. “The princess is very proper and thus rather shy,” she explained.

I stole a peek at the princess to find her giving her husband a rather enthusiastic kiss now that she didn’t have an audience. I hastily looked away again to grant her the privacy she desired and caught Reece’s mischievous smile and waggling eyebrows, which I returned with a grin of my own.

The two only pulled away when a knock sounded on the door. Crown Prince Ronan groaned. “That’s likely Father, coming to retrieve me for the meeting I’m due to attend.”

The princess’s eyes widened. “Despite such an important duty, you still took the time to see me?”

“Of course,” he said. “You’re my wife and thus my absolute favorite duty. If I hadn’t visited, I’d have been distracted the entire meeting knowing you were bored and thus unhappy.”

She caressed his cheek, her gaze both adoring and rather touched. She looked as if she meant to kiss him again if not for the second knock, this one much more impatient than the first.

The prince chuckled. “That is definitely Father, sounding moments away from bursting into the room uninvited. We better quickly hide the evidence of my mischief before he acts on that impulse.”

He hastily handed the documents to Reece, who only had time to hide them beneath the settee before Prince Ronan nodded to the footman to open the door, allowing His Majesty to enter with his usual cheerful stride.

“Ronan, my boy, I know you adore your dear wife, but the meeting is due to start in ten minutes and your presence is required.” Despite his scolding words, the king didn’t look the least put out but only had the warmest of smiles for his daughter-in-law.

Prince Ronan lifted a single eyebrow. “Considering you came for me yourself rather than send a messenger, I can only guess you wanted to see her almost as much as I did.”

The king beamed. “Naturally. I’m so pleased you took my advice to get more rest, my dear.”

“She is indeed getting plenty of rest.” As he spoke, the prince subtly sidled close enough to scoot the reports farther beneath the settee with his foot. “I’d never dream of requiring Seren to do any of her usual tedious duties while in such a condition, not even something as simple as going over dull reports.” He cast her a mischievous wink over his father’s shoulder, which earned him another smile, which he seemed quite good at acquiring from her.

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