Page 18 of Façade

Heat warmed my cheeks. “Due to the nature of my arrival, I could only bring with me a few guards.” Though it was only a matter of time before he realized I lacked those too.

He frowned. “Why didn’t you say anything before now? I could have assigned one to you.”

“I didn’t want to be a bother.” In truth, my silence had been to stave the suspicion that was certain to follow such an admission. The less attention I drew to my situation, the better.

He sighed, though not angrily, manifested when his fingers curled around mine. I hadn’t prepared myself for the unexpected contact, nor how comforting I found his touch as it gently encased my hand between his. “You’re my wife, Evelyn. I’m happy to provide you with anything you might need.”

In exchange for my magic?It was an effort to mask my escalating bitterness. I fiddled with the ends of my hair. “Is my style inappropriate?”

“No, just…different than the gaudy styles I’ve become accustomed to.” He was silent for another beat…before he seemed to realize he was staring and hastily yanked his gaze away. “It’s nice.”

While my title had compelled many to bestow insincere flattery despite my not being a great beauty, I wasn’t used to receiving genuine compliments from anyone other than my false parents. And even though the words had been offered by my equally false husband, my heart still swelled in pleasure.

He offered me his arm and wriggled it encouragingly when I made no motion to accept it. “We’re going to have to walk in arm in arm. Don’t worry, I don’t bite.”

That might be so, yet accepting his arm felt almost more difficult than when I’d sacrificed my future on the altar in order to marry the man. To have to walk so closely to him while presenting the image of a happy couple, all for the sake of the charade we were both performing, felt far more daunting.

With a wavering breath, I lightly rested my hand on his arm. Even through the silky fabric of my gloves and the velvet of his shirt I could feel the heat emanating from his body, a proximity that was far more pleasant than I’d anticipated.

Silence accompanied us as we walked the corridors. It wasn’t until we reached the ballroom’s double doors and the attending footman announced our arrival that I forced my lips into a strained smile.

A swell of murmurs rippled through the elegant crowd as we glided into the ballroom, aglow with soft candlelight from the glistening chandelier that cast dancing golden patterns across the marble floor. As we greeted various members of nobility—all strangers—I kept my ears perked for any mention of rumors that Estoria’s princess had been an imposter, but thankfully all the gossip related not to politics and intrigue but to matters as shallow and tedious as those from Estoria’s royal court.

This should have left me relieved, but I only felt more anxious. It’d been two weeks since I’d discovered my identity as a decoy; it felt impossible the scandal could have been contained for so long. Whatever the reason, I was immensely grateful for the reprieve.

Crown Prince Lucian noticed us and broke away from the guests with whom he’d been conversing—two princesses I recognized from Kingdom2, one of whom was his intended. Despite their impending arrangement, both seemed relieved to end their conversation prematurely. I’d heard rumors the two hated one another and that their efforts to maintain the proper poise in one another’s company was only growing more strained the closer they came to their union.

Prince Lucian offered a strained greeting before leaning close enough to whisper in his brother’s ear. “I’m relieved you made an appearance. There have been a lot of whispered speculations concerning your union, especially considering it was done so hastily and in such secret. There are rumors…”

My heart flared.Rumors?What sorts of rumors? Did they perhaps concern my true identity as a decoy after all…or something more unsavory? Fear escalated my pounding heart when Prince Lucian’s wary gaze flickered in my direction, not subtle enough for me not to notice. A flicker of interest penetrated Ryland’s usual indifference as he turned to me.

“Forgive my rudeness, but might I converse with my brother in private? I promise you a dance the moment we finish.”

A flare of rebellion tempted me to deny his request, but a lifetime of princess training was enough to curb that childish impulse and release his arm in order to give him the privacy he requested. He and Prince Lucian departed for a secluded corner, and I used a roundabout route to make my way towards where they huddled together, blending into the crowds so as not to be seen.

I eventually ventured close enough to overhear their whispers. In theory I should have been too far away to hear anything, their voices too low to carry to the surrounding guests. But with careful focus my ears tingled, and to my pleasant surprise, the sound drifted across the distance separating us, as if some greater force sensed my desires and worked behind the scenes to accommodate me. I paid little attention to thehowof such a feat and intently listened to the conversation so as not to miss anything important.

“…anyone suspect we forged our union solely for Estoria’s magic?”

At Ryland’s words I gritted my teeth.I knew it. It was one thing to suspect my husband of duplicity and quite another to have it confirmed. I clenched fists and perked my ears to hear more.

“That is the suspicion, yes,” Prince Lucian whispered back. “However, no one faults you for it; the motive is actually saving you from the scandal that would typically come from marrying her in such haste. Rather, the complaints are for why it’s taking you so long to use her powers.” A question filled his tone, his own curiosity to that very thing.

Ryland sighed. “It hasn’t beenthatlong. I’ve tried broaching the subject only to be immediately dismissed; she doesn’t seem to trust me…for obvious reasons. I fear being any more overt will clue her in to my true purposes. If she suspects what I’m up to, our kingdom won’t see a single drop of magic.”

“Thenmakeher trust you,” Prince Lucian urged. “The situation is only growing more dire. We need that power before we suffer any more losses.”

Losses of what?

Puzzlement creased my brow. Was there a specific reason why Brimoire coveted Estoria’s magic? Finding no evidence of the rumor of a blight had led me to believe them solely motivated by greed, an assumption that had been the foundation for my hatred for the prince…only for me to now wonder whether there was more to the story.

All the more reason to conduct my own investigation into the matter. Prince Lucian’s clue would be the place to start when I eventually slipped away from the ball to snoop around the palace. Hopefully a greater understanding of the situation would provide me something to offer to Estoria to aid the true princess. My heart gave an aching twinge, desperation to be useful for the family and kingdom that was no longer mine.

After the two discussed various ridiculous suggestions for how to acquire my powers—ranging from Ryland utilizing his seductive charms to getting me drunk—the princes’ conversation ended without any tangible information. I melted back into the crowds before they could notice my presence, my head spinning with all I’d overheard. I was eager to immediately continue my fruitless investigations in order to learn more, but slipping away before my promised dance with Ryland would only arouse suspicion. Appearances must be maintained, the best safeguard for my own secrets.

I forced myself to push through my usual reservations to mingle in order to create an alibi; the courtiers’ shallow gossip pressed around me, my anxiety magnified by the sharp judgmental stares and heated whispers from the ogling nobles. I was only rescued when Ryland finally approached for our dance with the same dreaded anticipation.

I gratefully accepted his rescue and allowed him to lead me onto the dance floor, our hands clasped loosely and silence once more reigning. At the first melodic notes of a waltz he swept me into a dance, each step rigid and each twirl awkward. Neither of us spoke for the first half before he took it upon himself to break the tense silence.

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