Page 46 of Crown of Hearts
“You don’t need to apologise, Rhen. You were only doing your duty. I’m starting to learn that privacy is a luxury I can no longer afford.” Which seemed ironic considering how many luxuries I could, in fact, afford.
“I’d better go and get ready. I’m having dinner with Cai’s family.”
“You have much to do, Your Majesty.” Rhen smiled, taking in the state of me.
We walked towards the single door leading back inside the palace. I looked up, spotting movement. There was a window high up, overlooking the grounds and the training yard. Despite the glass’s reflection, I made out a tall figure with blond hair. Thatcher. He smiled and waved. I returned a slightly awkward smile and waved back.
“You know, sometimes I think you’re a little too honest, Rhen.”
“Whatever you say, Your Majesty.”
* * *
I was lucky that Anesta knew what she was doing.
Not too long ago, my hair was a mess and I was covered in sweat, but Anesta managed to make me look like the picturesque queens I always saw in the portraits in the palace. I hadn’t realised how long Rhen and I had been sparring. Needless to say, it would have been very rude of me to arrive late to a dinner held in honour of my visit.
My stomach churned, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to hunger or nerves. I held on to the heavy skirts of my dress while trying to hurry through the hallways without looking like a fool. Though lavender wasn’t my favourite colour to wear, Anesta always found a way to make it work. The soft material cascaded down my legs in waves of light purple, while the sleeves hung about my arms, revealing my shoulders. My footsteps were soft on the carpeted floor beneath me. Candlelight illuminated the wallpaper-covered wall panels and decorated side tables.
I wasn’t even entirely sure how to get to the dining room from this part of the palace. And I would have hated to ask forassistance again. If Rhen had been at my side, he probably could have shown me the way. But I had too much pride to walk all the way back and ask for his help. Especially after I’d insisted he didn’t escort me everywhere.
My eyes caught the large portraits hanging on the walls. Some of the faces looked familiar. Which meant the dining room had to be left.
I veered down the next hallway and stopped short for a moment. In the middle of the hallway stood a woman well into her later years, looking up at one of the paintings. Cai’s grandmother. There was no doubt about it. I gulped.
My disrupting presence was impossible to miss and my blood chilled slightly as her head turned to take me in.
“Queen Grandmother.” I bowed my head. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t ruled a kingdom for a very long time. Everything about this woman’s stature and attitude labelled her a queen. A real queen. Everything I could never be.
“Ah, the young queen, Elara. Come closer,” she ordered, and I didn’t hesitate to obey. I could see Cai’s green eyes in her, but her hair had long since turned grey. Her dress and jewels, however, were still of the most elegant and expensive kind.
“You’re a very pretty thing.” Her eyes took in every part of me.
“Thank you.” I attempted a smile even though everything about her made me nervous.
“Pretty things can be dangerous, you know.”
My smile dropped, and I remained quiet only because I had no idea how to reply.
She turned to walk away, and when I didn’t immediately follow, she stopped to look over her shoulder. “Well, aren’t you coming?”
“Of course.” I quickly fell into step beside her.
“Usually, in nature, we find that the more beautiful something is, the more poisonous it can be.”
I still had no idea how to respond.
“I see you’re wearing my necklace.”
I couldn’t help but look at her with surprise.
Her necklace? I hadn’t planned on bringing the infamous necklace to Norrandale, but Anesta must have packed it with my other beautiful pieces of jewellery. I decided to wear it tonight as a reminder for Cai. A reminder of the things we used to fight for. Of the past and friendship we used to share, in the hope that it would aid me in gaining this alliance.
“But Cai had given the necklace...” I began.
She watched realisation settle on my face. Cai had talked about giving the necklace back to the original owner when we were in Fairfrith. And I had refused to return it to him. I was afraid of what it could be capable of. And I selfishly wanted to keep it if I ever needed to exchange it for money someday.
It had belonged to Cai’s grandmother all this time, and I was parading it around in front of everyone tonight. Could the embarrassment be worse?
