Page 5 of The Queen's Crown
“I will.” She took the letter and tucked it into her dress.
“Please give it to him after I leave. It explains everything. I want him to understand.”
Sabine didn’t know how he was going to understand when she didn’t understand it herself.
“I love you and I’m going to miss you.” Alina held her arms out.
Sabine rushed over and hugged her sister again, the tears freely flowing. “Please don’t go.”
“I have to. One day you’ll understand.”
ChapterTwo
Sabine stood at the top of the staircase, leaning against the railing, observing the elegantly decorated great hall below. White wisteria hung on ribbons that stretched from one end of the room to the other. Hundreds of candles cast the area in a soft glow. A group of musicians played in one corner while dozens of couples danced. Scattered around the edges were people drinking and talking. A few couples hid in the shadows gossiping or perhaps even kissing. Sabine smiled at the thought of doing something so scandalous. At least everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves as they celebrated Alina’s engagement and bid her farewell. Her hands tightened on the railing—she couldn’t believe her sister was leaving tomorrow.
Viktor strode up the stairs carrying two goblets. “Mother and Father are wondering where you are.” He handed her one of the drinks. “And Alina is asking for you. You’re not going to sulk up here all night, are you?” He raised his dark eyebrows, awaiting her answer.
Sabine shrugged her delicate shoulders before taking a sip of the strong wine, not quite ready to head downstairs and mingle yet. When she did decide to go down, she would have to be happy and cheerful for her sister. Right now, she felt like punching something. Or crying. Maybe both.
“I thought the drink might give you the courage you need to join everyone.” Viktor moved to stand at the railing beside her.
Taking another sip of her wine, she let the warmth seep into her. “I still don’t understand why our sister agreed to marry King Rainer,” Sabine murmured. The entire situation irked her. Alina wasn’t a cow to be sold off to the highest bidder, and that was what this marriage alliance felt like. A business deal. Sabine took another drink from her goblet as she watched the revelers dancing below. “Alina has never cared about something so trivial as her title.”
“Says a princess who knows nothing of hardship,” Viktor muttered.
“Excuse me?”
Viktor sighed. “You have to understand that Lynk is a large, powerful kingdom. Our sister is going to be its queen. I’d say it’s an ideal situation for her. It puts her on equal footing with Father.”
“But she’s going to be all alone in a foreign kingdom, married to a man who’s a stranger. She’s not going to be happy.” Alina hadn’t even met the man, and she was going to be expected to sleep with him. The mere thought made Sabine nauseous.
“I didn’t say it was perfect.” Viktor nudged his shoulder against hers. “I only meant to explain how it’s an appealing match. We should be happy and supportive of her.”
Sabine understood that part of it and she really was trying. “I just wish Alina was marrying for love.” Then she’d know her sister would be content, and she wouldn’t have to worry about her. “I overheard Rolf and Otto talking. They said King Rainer must marry a woman who can produce an heir quickly and that his kingdom is in dire need of food. In exchange for him marrying Alina and receiving a sizable amount of grain every season, King Rainer will send five hundred soldiers to assist Father’s army and secure our border.” She finished off her wine and peered at her brother, wanting confirmation that what she’d heard was true.
“This is correct.” He focused on the contents of his goblet, not looking her way.
Tears welled in her eyes. “How can you be okay with this?”
“I know you may not want to hear it right now, but Alina marrying such a powerful man is a good thing for our kingdom. I know you’ll miss her, but she has to marry at some point. And now at least she can help make sure Bakley is secure, and our people are safe.”
“But she loves Albert.”
He chuckled; the sound harsh. “Albert is a nobody. A lowly baron. He’s not an acceptable match for her. It would be a waste of a marriage.”
Sabine didn’t know how a marriage built on mutual love could be a waste. It wasn’t fair that her brothers could remain here, not only in the kingdom but close to home, while her sister would be all alone, hundreds of miles away.
“Let’s stop this sad talk and go join the party. Have you found your victim for the evening?” Viktor asked, nodding toward the guests below.
“No, and I have no intention of bothering with men tonight. I am here to celebrate my sister.” And with that, she handed her goblet to Viktor and strode down the staircase, rolling her shoulders back and standing tall.
She ran her free hand along her silver dress, reveling in the feel of the soft fabric. The color highlighted her gray eyes, making her face appear lively. Her brown hair had been braided and wound atop her head, exposing her long, elegant neck. She’d even managed to convince the seamstress to lower the neckline a few inches to showcase her diamond necklace. Even though her white gloves came up over her elbows, her mother would be furious once she saw Sabine, claiming the outfit revealed too much skin. She sighed. Her mother could be such a prude sometimes.
When she reached the bottom, she easily spotted her sister in the middle of the room dancing with their father. Alina’s soft pink dress complemented her blonde hair and pale skin. She looked stunning—as she always did. The king twirled Alina around, and the song came to an end. As everyone clapped, Sabine wound her way through the people and to her sister.
“Sabine!” Alina said, her voice filled with joy. “You’re here.”
The king kissed Sabine’s cheek. “Thank you for coming,” he said. “Now if you’ll both excuse me, I must find your mother.”
