Page 27 of Enchanted Kingdom
Aiyana snorted. “NowthatI believe.”
Seeing that she wouldn’t get more of a reaction out of me, she spun and turned away. As her green skirt swished out of my view, I caught some steel blue eyes looking into mine.
I blinked once and turned to go find Gwen. I’d had enough run-ins with Prince Krewan for the day.
Finding Gwen talking with Prince Keiran, I decided to be a decent friend and give her a moment. But then another woman interrupted them. And another.
Gwen ended up walking off to stand next to me.
“That’s rough,” I told her. “Sorry.”
She shrugged. “I suppose that is to be expected.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to stick around the castle, but I did wonder how all this would work when there were twenty women instead of thirty. Or only ten women. Or even five. I wasn’t even sure how Prince Keiran would find the time to get to know me, as he said he’d wanted, when he had so many other options to get to know.
“Thank you, Rinaldi,” I said to him as he swapped out my water shortly after.
“Are you quite all right, miss?” he asked.
I gave him a nod. “Yes, Rinaldi. Thank you for asking.”
He leaned in and said quietly, “There is no poison, I promise.”
That had my lips twitching. “Thank you. I’m so glad I have a protector of drinks such as yourself.”
With a little bow, he walked away.
Less than a minute later, Prince Keiran came up beside me. “Come here.”
My eyebrows reached together. “Come where?”
He pulled me gently by the arm over to the side, around the grand staircase as if to hide from view. He had his back to the others while I could still see part of the room.
“You haven’t so much as looked my direction all evening. Did what my idiot brother say truly upset you?”
No. Yes.My lack of answer must have been enough of one for him.
Prince Keiran shook his head. “Don’t let him get to you. And don’t let him ruin our walk today or make you question where I stand.”
Where he stood? He stood in line to the crown with thirty women at his feet. Wasn’t that kind of the point? I took a drink of my water to keep from snapping his head off. Couldn’t he see how tiring it was to constantly be reminded of where I came from and where I stood in comparison to him?
Seeing Aiyana making her way toward us and not wanting to live through any more of her specific hue of humiliation, I offered, “We are about to be interrupted. Have a good evening, Your Grace.”
He looked up at the ceiling, frustrated, just as Aiyana called his name and I made my exit. Whether he was frustrated with me, or Prince Krewan, or Aiyana, or a combination of any of those, I had no idea.
Finding my water glass mostly empty and seeing that there was no chance of being dismissed soon, I headed to find Rinaldi.
I had just located him and was about to brave a path through the skirts in his direction when I heard a voice from behind me.
“I didn’t mean for you to sulk all night.”
Did this jackass of a prince speak a language other than condescension? I spun in Prince Krewan’s direction to find him looking at me, seeming confused.
Not in the mood for being around him for another second, I raised my empty glass in mock toast to him. “Here’s to self-control,” and because I was feeling extra spiteful, I spat out the words, “Your Grace.” And with as slight of a bow as I possibly could, I walked away.
I chatted with Renna and Molly, though still a bit reserved, until it was dismissal time. Fortunately, it was only Prince Keiran dismissing me tonight.
As was my place, I was the last in line.
