Page 48 of Crown of Hearts
“Are you ready to proceed, Your Majesty, or do you fear a little competition?”
Meredette boldly spoke up, making all our eyes turn towards her. She wore a deep red gown, her lips once more painted the colour of rubies to match.
“On the contrary, I was simply trying to be a gentleman and let the ladies go first.”
Thatcher cleared his throat next to me, hiding a smile behind his fisted right hand.
“Very well.” Meredette shrugged nonchalantly and stepped forwards, her weapon in hand and ready to be drawn. The target wasn’t set at an impossible distance, but still, one would require definite skill to hit the white circle.
The air became deathly quiet, all eyes on Meredette as she pulled the bowstring taut. By the sheer confidence and focus on her face, one could tell it wasn’t her first time. She let go and the target sounded as the arrow impaled it. Not quite dead centre but not far off either.
Thatcher let out a low whistle and Gwen stiffened next to me, her face blank. “Looks like you have some competition,” her brother said, almost in satisfaction. She sent a look of disapproval his way.
“Who would like to go next?” the assigned judge dared to ask, but when no one volunteered, I had no choice but to step up.
“I guess I’ll go, then.”
My arrow managed to hit the target almost dead centre and there was a small round of applause.
“Well done, Your Majesty,” Meredette said. “I had no idea you were such a skilled archer.”
“Nor I you,” I admitted. Over her shoulder, I saw Elara watching us carefully.
Gwen took her turn and hit the target in the middle of the white circle. She turned and made a vulgar gesture towards Thatcher, who’d been trying to distract her throughout the whole process.
Next was Elara. Even from a distance, I could see her hands shake. This was not going to go well. She bit her lip in displeasure as the arrow hit near the outer edge of the target.
Thatcher was the last to go and he managed to hit the target a little further off than Meredette had. We continued for another few rounds, gathering points with each.
Unsurprisingly, Gwen came first and I second, with Meredette a very close third.
“This was certainly very entertaining.” Meredette handed her bow to a servant before we started making our way back to the palace’s veranda. “We must do it again sometime, Your Majesty.”
“I’m at your disposal,” I replied, without thinking. “You name a time and place.”
“I quite like the idea of that,” she said, with a hint of flirtation, before I caught Elara staring. Was she jealous?
“In that case, would it be too much to ask you to host a ball? I’m sure the whole court would be very pleased,” Elara asked sweetly, but her tone wasn’t entirely sincere.
“I suppose it’s possible,” I agreed, not quite knowing her motive. Was she trying to win my affection or simply peeved that my attentions had been elsewhere?
“Yes, please host a ball.” Gwen jumped into the conversation. “It’s been forever since we’ve had a proper ball at the palace.”
“I think a ball is a great idea.” Thatcher slapped Gwen on the back, causing her to elbow him. “And since poor Cai is so terrible at planning them, I think he should leave the planning to us. Don’t you ladies agree?” he asked, looking at Elara and Meredette. He didn’t wait for a reply to continue. “We should all convene for lunch in, say, an hour or so?”
“I could do with something to eat,” I agreed.
“Me too. All that winning has built up quite an appetite,” Gwen joked.
“Then it’s settled. I shall see you at lunch.” He gave an exaggerated bow before strutting off, leaving me shaking my head at him.
I turned to speak to Elara, but she was gone.
“Something the matter, Your Majesty?” Meredette asked.
“I just remembered something I need to take care of, if you ladies will excuse me.”
I presumed she’d taken the long way around through the gardens. And I walked along the hedges and around the potted ferns until I reached the path where the majority of the flower beds were planted.
