Page 83 of Enchanted Kingdom
She smiled. “I would’ve reworn the other one if I were you.”
My pink dress this time around was such a light color, it was almost white. Other than the top half being lacy, it was simpler than a lot of the gowns I had worn thus far. It was as if Silvia had extracted my demure mood and simplified my outfit for me.
Renna sidled up to me in her dark pink gown. Keir’s women were in light pink, Krew’s were in dark pink. I felt like they were playing with fire there. It would just take one medium pink dress and then they’d both be kissing the same woman.
“Do you want me to sneak you some champagne?” she asked.
I smirked at her. “No thank you. I want to sleep well tonight and I don’t want that to prevent me from passing out the moment I make it back to my room.”
She smiled at me and squeezed my arm. “I’m sorry about yesterday.”
My eyes involuntarily shifted toward the balcony door. “Me too.”
The dinner portion of the evening seemed to go by quickly. The food was delicious, so delicious a lot of us quieted down to eat it. Or so we told ourselves.
“You don’t mean that!” I heard someone say forcefully as I put a piece of the tender meat into my mouth.
I turned my attention to find Lydia and Taleah, both in Prince Krewan’s Assemblage, speaking loudly.
“I do!” Taleah said. “I do. He spends more time with me, so I really do think you should excuse yourself. Before it ruinsourfriendship.”
Lydia was from Rallis. So of course Taleah, Savaryn born and raised, would expect that of her.
“I am not beneath you here!” Lydia hissed.
I honestly would’ve cheered for her if I could’ve.
Taleah glared at Lydia. “Honey. We are friends. I adore you. But you were never not beneath me. I just don’t want you to get hurt. And you know Prince Krewan isn’t keeping around the lower levels for long. Ask him to allow you to leave now. Before you get your heart broken.”
Here was a room full of forty-two women and thus far no fights had broken out? Other than Aiyana attacking me, of course. Seeing all the smiling and laughing, I realized how fabricated this entire situation was. How many other Lydia/Taleah situations were there? Anyone who truly cared for either of the princes was not okay with dating them while they dated a room full of other women. Even if they didn’t care at all for the princes and were after a crown, they also wouldn’t be okay with the competition standing in the way. So most of the friendships were likely not genuine.
We were flawless, dressed to the nines, exuding nothing but grace and distinction, yet I was certain more than half of the room probably wanted to murder at least one other woman in the room. The fakeness was suffocating.
This was a recipe for disaster. Yet the princes were expected to find their significant others from within the room.
Lydia was now fighting tears as they continued whispering.
I wanted to get up and help her. I wanted to scream from my seat how I also knew how she felt and how unfair this all was. But, ever the behaving mindless consort, I had to keep my seat.
I heard a clacking on the floor, and the whole room hushed as Prince Krewan himself strode his way over to the two of them.
They were at least wise enough to stop talking as he neared.
He bent over and said something, and though the entire room was quiet trying to eavesdrop, our table was not close enough to hear what was said.
Without another word, both women got up and left. I assumed to their rooms, and not out of their Assemblage, but I couldn’t be sure. He sent them out of the room mid-meal.
His Royal Jerkness didn’t even let them stay for dessert. And as if the murder wasn’t enough, I knew you couldn’t trust a person who didn’t appreciate dessert. I only wished Lydia wasn’t sent home because of Taleah’s insolence.
A type of chocolate gelato was served for desert with fresh fruit, so they had really missed out. If I had to fight with Keir and juggle all these hurts and fears of castle life, at least there were good desserts.
I was laughing with Molly and Renna as we lovingly jested Molly for her taste in books when I felt as if someone was watching me.
I turned toward the last spot I had seen Keir only to find him not there. He was probably out on the balcony, doing gods knew what.
When I spun the other direction, taking a drink of my water, I noticed Keir was chatting with Gwen not far off. Unable to shake the feeling, I randomly stole a look up to the indoor balcony, to find the king looming over us all. And looking straight at me.
I tried to make my face smile at him and bow, but I wasn’t sure I accomplished it.
