Page 11 of Crown of Hearts
“We have accepted your invitation to come to court because I’d like to discuss a matter of importance.” Darwick tapped his fingers together, his son’s eyes lingering on me as he ate.
“As you likely know, being a recently crowned queen has its challenges,” he continued.
“The royal court can be a wicked place,” I agreed.
“And it’s our alliances that keep us protected.” He clearly had a few ideas in mind.
“If you are to remain Queen of Everness, you need to secure your reign, Your Majesty. A marriage can be an immensely powerful alliance.” Definitely not beating around the bush.
“Your family has a long Evernean lineage, Darwick,” I admitted, “and they’ve always been close to the Crown, haven’t they?”
He took a sip of the tea and tasted it for a moment too long. His silence gave the impression that he wanted to dominate the conversation and the room. Part of me couldn’t blame him. His family was one of the oldest in Everness and he’d had his hand innoble affairs for a very long time. Now he found himself sitting across from an eighteen-year-old girl who hardly knew anything about the Crown and wanted to tellhimwhat to do.
“Yes, Your Majesty. And I believe an Evernean husband would vastly strengthen your claim to the throne. As you said, our family has a long history and heritage, dating back to the founding of Everness. Our land and resources stretch far and wide and you would have the approval of your council as well as the people. All parties benefit this way.” The duke wasn’t lying. Every single word I knew to be true. And yet, it still felt like they were getting the better end of the bargain.
“Before I consider an agreement, I have a few questions,” I responded, and the duke frowned.
“Yes, Your Majesty?” The tone of his voice gave the impression that it irked him to use my title.
“I have to consider this matter very seriously, as the future of the kingdom hangs in the balance. So, I suppose my question is, why would I want to marryyou, Lord Edgar?”
He seemed momentarily surprised at my question. Edgar opened his mouth to speak, but before he could reply, I continued, “You would, of course, get to be king of Everness, but you are not the only wealthy family in this kingdom. And more importantly, we hardly even know each other.”
I was in way over my head and perhaps risking the only alliance currently offered to me. But Anesta was right, being a scared queen who gives in to any offer because of fear wasn’t going to get me anywhere either. Even with my hands shaking, I had to remind myself that I was the one with power.
I am the prize. I am the prize. I am the prize.
I stood up from the table and folded my hands together so that the shaking would be less visible. Then I took a slow, deep breath to steady myself as I walked around the table to where Edgar was sitting. I used to be the most wanted thiefin Everness. I was not going to be patronised by a spoiled boy and his overbearing father. I held out a — now steady — hand towards Edgar.
“Care to join me for a walk? Perhaps we could change the latter.”
His cautious expression turned into an unsuspecting grin, renewing my previous feelings of discomfort. Something about him unnerved me. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
“It would be my pleasure.” It was the first time he’d spoken, and I wasn’t sure I liked the way he stretched out the word “pleasure”. He took my hand, rising from his seat, his plate full of food forgotten. His hand was cold and clammy in mine, and I shifted our position so that I was holding the crook of his elbow. Together, we made to leave the dining hall.
The Duke of Darwick tried to hide his offence in having been excluded. When Rhen made a motion to follow us, I held up my hand. I needed a private audience with Edgar for various reasons and something told me he wasn’t going to get in many words as long as his father was around.
I pulled away from him, pretending to fix my dress as we continued down the marble hallway and into the throne room. A servant was sweeping the floors, which seemed like a useless and impossible task with a room so large. The servant girl looked up, her eyes flashing with recognition for a moment. She awkwardly stepped out of our path.
“You’ve been awfully quiet so far,” I commented, trying to assess his character.
Edgar shrugged, picking at a nail. “My father likes the sound of his own voice. Eventually you learn to stop listening.”
I let out a “humph”, thinking for a moment that perhaps Edgar did possess some sense of humour. It didn’t count for much, but it was better than being married to a boring man.
I looked about the throne room, trying to come up with something for us to talk about.
“I’ve always thought this room to be rather cold, don’t you think?”
Edgar gazed at the ceiling that stretched high above us. “I suppose on a cloudy day like today, it can be a little dark despite all the windows.”
“Perhaps I could add a few tapestries to brighten it up?” Good grief, had I truly resorted to talking about tapestries?
“I’ll admit, I don’t know much about tapestries.” At least he was honest. That had to count for something, right?
“Do you have any particular interests, then?”
“I like to read.”
