Page 40 of Falling Princess

When everyone else thinks they’re an obvious match?

When you have exactly no experience with these matters from which to draw?

I can’t say it without sounding jealous, which I’m not. I don’t even like him.

All I can do is sit here and hope it all works out as planned.

“I’m sure he’ll say yes. If he doesn’t, he’s an idiot.”

Raina’s beautiful violet eyes met mine, misty with emotion. I wish I could do that. Whenever I feel like crying, the rims of my eyes turn red and I look like I have a case of conjunctivitis. She gets prettier the closer her emotions are to the surface. Raina is, undeniably, the emotionally healthier of the two of us.

“Thanks. I needed to hear that. I’ve liked him for so long, and I couldn’t bear it if I made things awkward.”

“If Lorcan turns you down, I’ll throat-punch him myself,” I vowed.

* * *

Auralia, Two Weeks Later

“I am disappointed, Zosia. Your grades leave much to be desired.”

My father’s brow furrowed deeply beneath the thick band of gold perched on it. I could spontaneously self-immolate with shame.

The B in my religion class might have been acceptable if not for the B-minus in political science. Though I studied hard, my midterm exam didn’t go quite as well as I’d hoped. I was more focused on polishing my paper submission for the climate conference. My father still hasn’t given me an answer about whether or not I’ll be permitted to attend. I clasped my hands and lowered my gaze.

And then, there’s the grade on our joint essay.

I’m going to kill him.

Absolutely, positively,murderLorcan of Tenáho. Just as soon as I next see him; he’s been granted leave for the next few weeks. Lasers will surely shoot from my eyes like I’m one of Saskaya’s Sentinels, the ancient weaponized robots we’ve been restoring to bolster our small army.

Howdarehe bring down my final grade? I did him afavor.It’s the last time I’ll ever make that mistake.

My father wasn’t finished lecturing me.

“I sent you to Scotland for two reasons: to keep you safe in the event of an invasion, and to obtain an education suitable for a future queen. Is it so much to ask that you take your studies seriously?”

“Iam,Father. Studying is all Idoat university.”

Damn him. Lorcan. Our shared paper is not fit for publication. It’s not even fit for the recycling bin. We earned a C-minus. It’s the worst score I have ever received, and I will never forgive him. Ever.

“—I can tell you’re not listening.”

I jerked my chin up. “Yes, I am.”

King Rohan sighed wearily. “Repeat what I just said.”

“You’re disappointed in my grades, I am to take my studies more seriously, and you sent me away to keep me safe,” I paraphrased.

“You missed the part about not taking appropriate care with your religious devotions.”

I open my mouth, then immediately close it. It’s true; I can’t argue the point. As High Priestess, that’s basically my whole job. Bless the spring planting, bless the autumn harvest, mark the return of light to the world at Midwinter. I haven’t even started working on the hour-long speech I have to give in three weeks at the Sun Temple. People make a pilgrimage from all over the country to see it each year. I can’t express how much I hate doing it.

“I’d like to take you to Davos in February, for an important global economic meeting. I think you’d find much to enjoy. But if it’s going to interfere with your studies, I’ll have to cancel the trip. Unless I see rapid improvement, forget attending the climate conference.”

No, no, no. That...little twerpwill not cost me the climate conference. I’ll push him into traffic before I let that happen. Or off a rooftop. It’ll be simple enough to lure him up there...

“I promise I’ll get my grades up.” I clenched my fists in my skirts. No jeans or leggings inside the castle; here I cannot leave my rooms unless I’m swaddled from neck to toe in layers upon layers of expensive fabric. Taking a piss is a chore; I miss the convenience of modern clothing. I miss not having to pretend I don’t have mortal needs. “You know, it might be easier to focus if it weren’t for the constant interruptions associated with my guard’s extracurricular activities.”

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