Page 63 of Crown of Hearts
“Do you think so?” I raised a recently trimmed eyebrow. Anesta insisted that one doesn’t go to royal events with uneven eyebrows and therefore thought it appropriate to attack me with a small pair of metal tweezers. The act was mostly a combination of her telling me to sit still and me yelling “ow!” with each hair she removed from my face.
“I know so,” she replied. “You’ll be the most beautiful queen he’s ever seen.”
I proceeded to tilt my face side to side, inspecting the reflection as if not quite believing her words. I had managed to convince Cai not to have a ball on the evening of my birthday but rather a few days after. That way I could at least pretend it had nothing to do with me.
“Everyone’s been urging Cai to throw a ball, but now that it’s happening, I feel like I’m going to be sick.” I groaned.
There was a soft knock on my chamber doors before Cordelia strolled in. Her eyes widened at the sight of me. “Your Majesty, you look beautiful.”
I stood up from the dressing table and swished my skirts from side to side. “Thank you.”
“I must say, I’m proud of my work.” Anesta placed her hands on her hips in satisfaction, and I grinned. The silk dress cascaded down my body in waves of blue. The bodice was tight and flattering, my sleeves of a see-through material.
“Do you know if Lady Meredette will be there tonight?” I dared to ask Cordelia, who seemed to know everything about everyone at court.
She hesitated for a moment, and I noticed her jaw clench.
“What is it, Cordelia?”
“Not only will Lady Meredette be there but it turns out she is close friends with Lady Delany, who has also been invited.”
Lady Delany who’d been betrothed to Cai since they were children and ended up marrying his cousin. The woman Cai’s familyactuallywanted him to marry.
“Delightful,” I muttered.
“Come now, Your Majesty.” Anesta placed a hand on my shoulder. “Surely you’re not jealous or intimidated by her?”
“Why would I be jealous?” I pretended to inspect my reflection again. “Cai only used to be in love with her.”
“His Majesty was a boy back then. He didn’t even know what love was.” Cordelia tried to reassure me.
I squared my shoulders. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I need his throne, not his heart.”
Anesta smiled, and I sent a look her way.
“You keep telling yourself that, Queen Elara.” Cordelia linked her arm with mine and led me out into the hallway.
The ballroom was lit with a thousand candles hanging from the chandeliers illuminating every corner of the room. The orchestra plucked at their stringed instruments while ballgowns of every colour swished across the recently polished floors.
I lifted the hems of my dress while ascending the few stairs that led into the ballroom. My eyes scanned all the faces untilthey landed on a tall figure with broad shoulders and an unruly head of blond locks.
Cai was as finely dressed as ever, in his black polished boots and blue tunic.
As if he felt my gaze, his head turned away from the conversation he’d been having with one of the court’s council members. Those deep green eyes met mine for a moment before a smile spread across his lips. Cai turned back to the gentleman and gave what I presumed was an apology before he started making his way across the ballroom floor.
He met me when I reached the final step.
“Elara, you’re—”
“Beautiful, ravishing, exquisite?” My nerves forced me into a sense of teasing.
“And shockingly humble too.” Cai grinned while holding out his hand. He led me to the other side of the room, towards the refreshments, while having to stop every two seconds for someone who wanted to greet him. Still, Cai didn’t once show a hint of agitation. He patiently engaged in every conversation.
“You’re astoundingly popular, Your Majesty,” I told him when we finally reached the table filled with refreshments.
“I’m fortunate to have grown up close to my friends and family. Though I suppose in some ways this resulted in them raising me as the king they wanted me to be,” he said, with a hint of disdain.
I wanted to ask him if this was a bad thing, but a servant stepped in front of us with a wine jug and asked Cai if he would like some.
