Page 20 of Enchanted Kingdom
“I’ve been to the shore before,” she admitted.
Molly perked up. “Was it as lovely as I always imagine it to be? All that water? The relentless waves?”
“It’s beautiful, definitely.” Renna gave me a smile, “We are fortunate to live in Wylan. There is beauty within every level of our kingdom.”
I was shocked Molly even wished to see the shore. She was from the second highest level of the kingdom. Yet she longed to see the shore? How did that even make sense?
Molly gave a wistful sigh and took a larger sip of champagne than was necessary.
My eyebrows came together as I watched her.
She must have felt my stare as she gave me a little shrug. “My family is Enchanted, but not strongly so. Compared to the magic in the Valanova line, we have very little. So I might as well be from Rallis with how we are treated.”
I thought on that a moment while Gwen asked, “Please forgive me if this is rude, but I’m curious, do you live close to the wall then? Is there some sort of built-in hierarchy in Savaryn based on the strength of the Enchanted?”
Molly gave her a smile that looked forced. “Exactly. The king’s commanders and most loyal Enchanted live higher up in the largest homes. A few of the weaker bloodlines too, but only because of flattery and schmoozing.”
Renna gave her a quick smile and squeezed her wrist in either comfort or understanding.
In Molly’s world, it would’ve been better to be born in Rallis without magic, than to be treated as a lesser Enchanted in Savaryn. I wondered if that was part of the reason she was an only child. I found myself saying, “Well if you ever find yourself in Nerede, I’ll take you to see the sea.” I found I had genuinely meant those words too. Was it because I now knew Molly didn’t have much magic and wasn’t a strong Enchanted, thus less of a threat? Or was it because I understood what it was like to have people constantly look down upon you? I knew forging these friendships with the women were useless, but I couldn’t help but feel for Molly.
An hour later, it was finally time to be dismissed for the night, and I tried my best to not be annoyed with the fact that our crown princes had to dismiss us to our rooms. We may be in this castle, but we were far from free to do as we pleased.
I stood in a row, waiting. Without being told to, Gwen and I naturally lined up at the end of the line, next to Nara, a gorgeous blonde woman from Rallis. I was last, the only Nerede candidate left from either Assemblage.
I started feeling uneasy when I noticed that it was not just Prince Keiran dismissing us for the night, but all three of the royals. Prince Krewan’s women were all lined up along a different wall, but fortunately, the pink gowns were going first. The king was flanked by both sons, going from woman to woman. Three men with three crowns and each with a sword on their hip tonight. I wasn’t certain what the swords were for, other than appearances, because surely with all the guards in the room, they’d never have to lift a royal finger.
But this meant though I had successfully avoided the king since arriving, I was about to be forced to be face-to-face with him.
“Ms. Gwendalyn Montfrey,” Prince Keiran greeted when it was finally her turn. “Here is Your Majesty, King Valanova.”
She bowed low. “Nice to meet you, My King.”
“Thank you, dear. Have a good evening.” And with the flick of his hand, she was dismissed.
Okay. That wasn’t so bad. I could survive something as simple as that.
“And lastly,” Prince Keiran said with a smile at me, “Ms. Jorah Demir.”
I bowed and said, “It is my honor to meet you, Your Grace.”
The king just looked at me a moment, with his eyes that seemed to see all and know all. The fact that all three sets of blue eyes were pinned on me in that moment made me stop breathing altogether.
“You are from Nerede?” he asked.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Your gown has elicited a few whispers tonight,” he stated.
It wasn’t a question. What was I to say? I didn’t choose the thing, I only had to wear it.
“I sent it to her,” Prince Keiran admitted. “After her tailor from Nerede designed her first dress to light up, I thought she should continue the trend.”
“Prince Keiran was most gracious and thoughtful,” I added, trying to just get us out of this as fast as possible. “He knows I do not always have the opportunity to wear such lovely gowns.”
“Hmm,” the king muttered. “I suppose not.”
Prince Keiran and Prince Krewan exchanged a look from behind the king’s back. My eyes were so focused on the king, I barely caught it. While Prince Keiran looked like he was trying not to laugh, his lips pressed together, Prince Krewan looked annoyed or angry, one or the other, a scowl on his face. He must also have a problem with us peasants from Nerede.
