Page 105 of A Kingdom's Heart
She looked at me, caught between a frown and a smile. I felt her relax in my arms as the wind moved through the trees and the castle lights came into view.
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
IRIS
My stomach was tight with nerves. Lorenzo sat at the edge of my bed with his green eyes fixed on me as the tailors moved around, adjusting fabric and pins. I stood before the mirror in yet another gown. This one was white silk with heavy lace and soft pearls stitched along the hem.
Three days. Only three days left until the wedding. The thought alone made it hard to breathe.
“It’s alright,” Lorenzo said, his voice even. “Next.”
The tailors exchanged glances and hurried to change the gown. One after another, they brought out more. Five dresses later, I felt the weight of each one pressing down on me. On the eighth,
Lorenzo finally stood.
“That one,” he said, a faint smile touching his lips. “It’s perfect.”
I turned to the mirror. The gown shimmered under the light, its bodice trimmed with silver thread that caught every movement. Layers of white and pale pink tulle flowed to the floor, soft and light, like drifting clouds. Tiny jewels glimmered across the neckline, catching the light each time I moved.
Lorenzo stepped closer, nodding in approval. “It suits you,” he said, then turned to the tailors. “Now, go make her ball gown.”
They bowed quickly and left the room, the door closing behind
them.
I stood still, my reflection staring back at me. I didn’t feel beautiful. I felt trapped.
Lorenzo came up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. “You look beautiful,” he said quietly, his breath brushing the side of my neck.
I didn’t flinch, but I didn’t hide my discomfort either. “Please,” I said softly, keeping my eyes on the mirror. “Can you leave?”
His hands lingered for a moment longer before he stepped back. “As you wish,” he said. Then he turned and walked out, leaving me alone with the suffocating silence that followed.
—
By the time dinner ended, the hall was alive with talk of the wedding. Laughter and conversation filled every corner, words of alliance and prosperity passing from one noble to another. Servants hurried about, clearing plates, pouring wine, and polishing silver that already gleamed.
But I wasn’t listening. Not really.
All I could think about was him. William.
The sound of his voice, the steadiness of his arms around me, the warmth of his presence. It had been a day since that night by the sea, and the memory of it had not faded. If anything, it had only grown sharper. I ached to see him, to hear him speak my name again. My heart fluttered at the thought, quick and restless,
and I didn’t know why it felt stronger now than it ever had before.
I left the dining hall quietly and made my way through the corridors, the soft echo of my footsteps keeping me company. When I entered my bedchamber, I half expected him to be there, standing by the balcony as he always did.
But he wasn’t.
The room was still, dimly lit by the candles near the vanity. I exhaled softly until my eyes caught something near the balcony doors.
Roses.
A trail of them, just like before. White and pink, scattered across the floor, glinting faintly in the candlelight.
Excitement filled me so quickly it almost felt like a rush of wind
through my chest. I reached for my shawl and wrapped it around my shoulders, then fastened my headband, my fingers trembling slightly. My heart was beating fast, almost too fast, as I pushed the balcony doors open.
