Page 3 of If The Crown Fits
“I hear rumours that the infamous Masked Bandit has been busy recently.”
“How so?” I asked Jack.
“Merchants of Norrandale have been complaining they fear to travel across the border. But the bandit seems more focused on Evernean aristocrats. I heard this bandit is often encountered on the east side of the city of Levernia, so we shouldn’t be too concerned. Though it is affecting the Norrandish economy. Perhaps you should take up the matter with your future in-laws.”
“Who’s the Masked Bandit?” Conner asked.
“People say it’s the most infamous and mischievous thief in the history of Everness, but it’s all rumour,” I replied. Conner seemed intrigued, but asked no more.
Above all, bandits aside, I didn’t trust Prince Lance and King Magnus as far as I could throw them. I hadn’t been all that surprised when my father announced the alliance between our two kingdoms by my marriage to the princess. After all, the relationship between our nations had been dire for centuries. We’d been at war so many times, I hardly thought anyone knew what the reason was anymore. Perhaps now we could finally heal a wound of the past.
I was, however, suspicious at the odd request by Lance that I come to meet his sister alone. Father trusted that I would safely find my way, but my men and I weren’t taking any chances. Prince Lance had a reputation after all — loyalty was not a characteristic known to him. I would be willing to marry a stranger if it meant peace for my kingdom, but I certainly wasn’t too eager to walk into a trap.
Loosening my grip on the reins, I nudged my steed forwards with a squeeze of my calf. I sat back in my saddle comfortably once I had caught up to Jack.
“Beautiful day, is it not?” he stated and I nodded in reply. “What is it, my prince?” Jack asked and I raised an eyebrow in question. “You look rather concerned.”
I shook my head slightly. “The strangest feeling. Like we are being watched.” Jack glanced around at my words, scanning the area and the branches above. Then he met my smiling gaze and both of us looked towards Conner, who appeared to be desperately hiding any hint of fear or concern. I didn’t believe the stories about the magic forest myself. So why was a strange feeling of unease swelling in my gut?
“May I suggest you’re simply nervous?”
“Nervous about what?” I asked.
“About meeting your future wife.” Conner’s voice came up from behind.
“Why would I be nervous about meeting the princess?” I dared to ask, somehow knowing that I would soon come to regret it.
“I would be,” Conner stated. “Ladies are nothing but trouble, if you’re asking me.” His words earned a chuckle from the rest of the group.
“Is that so?” I glanced behind to meet his eyes. “And what made you come to that conclusion?”
“You get in trouble even if they were the ones who broke Mother’s vase and you had nothing to do with it. And if you don’t do as they say, they drag you by the ear.”
All of us were smiling now.
“I see,” I replied and even felt a hint of remorse for Conner, who had grown up with an annoying younger sister, it would seem.
“Are you, though?”
I turned back to Jack. “Am I nervous?”
He nodded.
“Truth be told, I hadn’t given it much thought.”
“Of course you haven’t,” Jack replied and his tone was biting enough to suggest more to his comment.
“What is that supposed to mean, Jack?”
“It means, I don’t think you’ve thought about any girl since the war.”
I pretended not to know what he was talking about. In fact, I didn’t want to think about that period of my life at all. Much less have a discussion about it.
“I have a kingdom to think about.”
He snorted. “It appears you’ve forgotten the pleasure and the pain that goes along with having a woman in your life.”
I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reply.
