Page 160 of I Ran Away to Evil
“Not for lack of trying,” Henrietta mumbled. She looked between Keith and her bedroom door. “Let’s talk more tomorrow?”
“Of course. Good night, Princess Henrietta.”
Her voice was full of lighthearted teasing as she returned, “Good night, Dark Magician King Keith.”
Keith stared at her door for a moment after it closed. He briefly considered sweeping in and ordering Lilith to bunk with Sithli for the night.
Briefly.
Their Royal Highness was long gone by the time Keith rolled out of bed. Sithli was already out preparing the wagons, so Keith had the room to himself. His morning ablutions were rudimentary while traveling, kept to the minimal brush-hair-and-teeth-and-shave-face routine. He missed his usual morning bubble bath and servanted ministrations.
He’d done far too much traveling this year, and he still had more coming. He sighed. Being a Dark Magician King was hard, but dating the Heroine of Justice was harder.
It was well worth it, though.
Henrietta was awake and happy to see him when he wandered downstairs for breakfast. Her poofy brown hair and soft brown eyes looked the same, but there was something different about her. He tried to figure out what it was, and Lilith coughed from behind the princess, motioning to her lips.
They were lightly colored with a soft pink. He stared. It had been a very long time since he’d kissed those lips. Atleasta day.
There was something wrong with him. He gathered himself and complimented Ria over breakfast. She laughed off his words, but he could tell she enjoyed his praise.
“I’m trying to move from dungeon war paint to debutant war paint,” she joked.
Keith laughed. “I can’t wait to see you in your finest. Rinrin assures me that we will be a sight to behold, with matching outfits no less.” He pushed down the unease that resurfaced every time he thought of that disastrous fitting. It was getting easier.
All too soon, they were alone in the carriage again, heading toward Grand Duchess Calisto’s palace. There was a lot more reading for Ria than himself, as he’d finished the last of his required reviews before bed. It was her turn to be immersed in interkingdom gossip while he relaxed and kept an eye out for assassins.
They didn’t meet any, but it was distraction enough to keep him occupied and not thinking of his princess sitting very close beside him in a carriage on a makeshift bed.
He had made sure there was ample light, sheer curtains, and an open atmosphere in the carriage. Henrietta didn’t seem to mind the enclosed space, and he wondered if it was because it wasn’t a cold dark room, or if she was just pushing down her anxiety.
Either way, he planned extra stops along their journey, and he kept up a steady [Cantrips: Dancing Lights] perk. Consideration wasn’t hard, just time consuming. It was also why he’d put Rufus on guard duty for Henrietta’s friend.
It was barely midday when they arrived at Grand Duchess Calisto’s palace. It had onlyfeltlike an eternity.
CHAPTER 97
Decorum be Damned
Henrietta
I’d been to the Sumbrian Royal Palace, the Emerald Palace of Peldeep, the Servalt Castle of Ashes, and the Capital Castle in Drendil, the last of which I’d grown up in. My trips to the Baldorin Council had not granted access to the royal suites, but since they were carved into the mountain, it wasn’t something you could look at from the outside and admire.
I’d seen the wonders of the Dark Enchanted Forest and beheld marvels that could only be found in the twisted environs of dungeons.
And yet, Grand Duchess Calisto’s palace was stillbreathtaking. Spires of ornate shimmering teal and coral pink reached into the sky, all at different heights. Great archways of floating crystal bridges connected the buildings, catching the light and scattering it into rainbows that lanced to the earth far below. The entire palace was enclosed by delicate white peaked metal fencing that I didn’t need [Sword Aura] to tell was magically enhanced. Mana rippled in the air, thick enough to tickle the senses.
Our carriage entered through the open front gates, in line with three others that had arrived around the same time. The entry led to a one-way road that circled around a shimmering fountain to the front doors of the biggest and tallest tower, a pure-white edifice that stretched up at least twenty floors.
The palace doors opened, and attendants exited to create a welcoming path leading up to the entrance. A statuesque woman descended the short stair and walked with grace toward the first carriage. She wore a soft flowing dress made of tan-colored arachne silk. It accentuated her night-sky black skin and long loose dark-red hair. Streaks of gray and gentle crow’s eyes betrayed her age and her trials in life.
Grand Duchess Calisto personally welcomed her guests as they exited their carriages. We were third in line, and my heart fluttered with growing anticipation.
I recognized the first to arrive as Duke Wyldon of Servalt, a scholarly young man who was high up in administration, and nephew to the queen of Servalt. He was diligent and strict, following the rules of the law with a hard hand. He exited his carriage alone, and politely greeted Her Grace before being guided inside by an attendant.
The following carriage held an elderly couple who dismounted painfully slowly. The woman kissed Calisto on both cheeks in greeting, then they ambled in after their own guide.
Finally, we arrived at the front. Sithli hopped down and opened the door to the carriage, and I realized I was sitting closest to the door. Decorum be damned, I stepped down first, offering my hand up to the Dark Lord. He laughed and reached out to take it.
