Page 69 of Enchanted Kingdom
I laughed my agreement.
“How was your week?” my mother asked when she was done with her truffle and while I took over for her. We had baked so many recipes and worked alongside one another for so long that I could pick right up for her and know exactly where she was in the process without having to ask.
I thought on it for a moment. “Umm. Terrifying. Strange. Also interesting?”
“Just another week in the castle,” Owen deadpanned.
I snickered.
“Prince Keiran is trying to keep the king away from me, so around the others he has somewhat pulled back,” I told her honestly.
Owen glared at me from over his shoulder, as if we weren’t fooling anyone.
“And we are okay with this?”
I sighed. “I hate feeling like I’m some sort of secret, but for now, it’ll have to do.”
She looked at me like she always did when she had something important to say. “I have had record sale days here lately. So great I’ve asked Hattie to send over a helper for me.”
“What?! That’s great.”
“It’s you,” she said. “The people. Our people. Nerede is all rooting for you. They come to the bakery asking about you. Asking what I’ve heard.”
“They’re rooting for me and Prince Keiran?” That was something I had never considered.
She gave me a one-shouldered shrug. “Yes, but mostly just for you. They’d love to see someone from Nerede wearing a crown, whether it be a queen’s crown or a princess.”
I opened my mouth and shut it. Opened it again. Shut it.
My mother laughed. “You do know that’s at the end of this, right?”
I shook my head. “I’m just not queen material, Mother. I’ve never been as graceful or elegant as you are. My mouth will get me in trouble, and then we’d have to go to war or something! I like Keir well enough, I just don’t think I’m the type.”
She held up a finger to stop me.
“What?” I asked. “I cannot be the only one thinking it.”
“You do not needmyskillset to be a great queen, Jorah. You need to use your own strengths. Your stubbornness. Your drive. Your mind. That caring heart of yours. You need nothing you don’t already possess.”
I felt tears sting my eyes. “Thanks, Mother.”
She turned toward Owen. “But getting in and out of here unnoticed is going to be harder, should you come back again.”
Owen groaned. “You’re absolutely right. We’ll send word next time.”
The remaining time flew by as I filled her in on the other women and we even commiserated on the color coding of dresses. By the time we left, I was feeling ready for another week. Whatever may come with it.
* * *
“Tellme you didn’t save that jerky just for the wolf,” Owen said, seeing right through me.
I squared my shoulders. “Fine. I didn’t save this jerky just for the wolf.”
“You’re a horrible liar.”
I laughed. “True.”
I set the jerky down at a tree somewhere close to where we’d seen the wolf last time. Then I turned to Owen, hands on my hips.
