Page 24 of Quest for her Knights
I rub my chest where I feel a strange pain as I stare at my plate and ask, “And what will I be doing there, with them?”
“They’ll probably be organizing a formal dinner upon your arrival,” Ranger tells me. “So they can all meet you at once. After that, they might want to spend some one-on-one time with you, take you for a stroll around the garden or a walk through town, things like that.”
That sounded a bit like dating. “Is that considered courting?” I ask, finally looking up at Ranger.
He shakes his head. “No, it’s the precursor to courting. And you won’t ever be left with any of them alone, at least one of us will always be with you. You’re spending time with them to get to know each other, to see if you want to try courting.”
Knowing they’ll be with me eases some of my worry, but his answer brings up another question. “And let’s say I decide I want them to court me, then what? Do I still have to visit all the other lords?”
My eyes scan all four men. Blaze and Arrow start frowning at their plates, Draven continues eating, seemingly oblivious to our conversation, and Ranger seems to consider his answer before he replies.
“That’s up to you. If they ask to court you, you can accept or refuse. If you accept, then we would stay for a few weeks to allow them a chance to continue courting, and if all goes well, you would go back home and present them to your parents for approval.”
“But haven’t they already approved of everyone we’re seeing on this tour?”
“Theoretically, yes, but it’s tradition for the kings and queen to approve once the intention to marry is there.”
I nod my head as I push the food around on my plate. I hadn’t even met the Carmichaels yet, and I already felt nervous about it.
“Elora, what are you worried about?” Blaze asks as he places his hand on mine, stopping me from playing with my food. I look at him and see the concern on his face. I twist my lips as I try to gather my thoughts.
“I guess I’m just nervous about the whole thing. I’ve been on plenty of dates before, but they never go well. I’m not exactly likable.”
Blaze’s head recoils, confusion written all over his face.
“Not likable? You’re kidding, right?” Arrow asks.
I turn to see he’s giving me the same look as Blaze. Ranger is frowning at me, and even Draven is watching me with curiosity on his face.
“Why else wouldn’t they be interested in me? Is it my looks? I didn’t think I was bad to look at,” I tell them honestly. I thought I was pretty, anyway. Not drop-dead gorgeous, but I’d been given enough compliments to think it’s true. Unless everyone’s been lying to me.
“Darli—Princess,” Blaze corrects himself before continuing, “if men have been turning you away, it’s definitely not yourlooks or your likability. Trust me, you have no problem in those departments.”
Heat creeps up my cheeks as he speaks, and I see the sincerity in his eyes. But there had to be a reason I was still single. I’ve never even had a boyfriend before. What was it the matchmaker had told me? I was too picky. Did that mean I had to lower my standards?
As my eyes dart around the four men surrounding me, I can't help but feel like they each call to me in a different way. If I could meet men just like them, I know I wouldn’t be lowering my standards at all; they’d be exceeding them.
Chapter ten
Draven
Elora is a strange woman. I know she didn’t grow up as a princess, and this is all new to her. I imagine it’s only a matter of time before she becomes comfortable in her new role and starts acting more like the Princess of the North I’ve known for the past fourteen years, cold, cruel, and malicious.
But I have to admit, that would be a far cry from the woman before me, the one who’s worried about not being likable. The problem is that she’stoolikable. Everything she says and does is so… so… cute.
Fuck, I hate using that word. But that’s what she is, cute, kind, friendly, funny. I try not to notice, because when she wears the same face as the woman I hate, it’s hard to separate them in my mind.
“All right, I think it’s time we retire for the evening,” Ranger tells us, and we all stand and head to our rooms. I make sure to walk directly behind her as we ascend the stairs. I saw how she almost fell earlier; this way I can catch her if she stumbles backward. Carting her around with a broken foot would be a nightmare; she’d probably become bossy and demanding.
Part of me almost hopes that she’s hiding her true personality from us, that any moment, we’re suddenly going to see the real, cruel side of her. It would make it easier not to like her if she acted more like her predecessor.
Because liking her doesn’t help anything, it’s not like we could be friends, or anything else. She’s a princess, and I’m her knight. No,aknight, notherknight.
Ranger and Blaze get her situated in her room, but I head to the washroom to get ready for bed. When I come out, all three doors are closed, so I head to my shared room with Blaze. The room has two single beds, and he’s already chosen the one by the window. I strip down to my underwear before climbing into my own.
“Draven?”
“Hmm?”
