Page 32 of One True Love (Love Mark 1)

I sent her a bored glance, trying to ignore the way my blood heated from merely seeing the elbow of her sister from the corner of my eye. “Apologies, Your Majesty,” I droned out as I paused to present her with a low bow I didn’t feel like giving. “But in fact, I did not know. Thank you for informing me.”

She narrowed her eyes but didn’t reply, so I turned my attention to the empty space between Allera and Princess Nicolette.

Figuring this must be my assigned place from here on out, I went to seat myself, only for my sister to lean toward me and hiss, “What is wrong with you?”

I sent her a short glance, whispering back, “Nothing. It’s nice to see you too.”

The meal began around us, and everyone else promptly dug in. Apparently waiting on me had truly strengthened their appetites. There was definitely more eating than talking, a gusto which I did not replicate. I picked up my spoon, but instead of tasting whatever kind of lumpy white sauce sat in my bowl, I simple stirred it idly, not really hungry, as I attempted to ignore the incessant prickling from my mark.

Another two courses passed before Allera leaned toward me, murmuring, “You’re going to offend everyone if you don’t eat something.”

“Bite me,” I muttered, just loud enough for Nicolette to hear.

The young princess blurted out a laugh and promptly reached for her napkin to cover her mouth, muffling the sound.

The king and everyone else on the other side of the L-shaped table glanced our way.

Blushing, Nicolette cleared her throat and said, “Excuse me,” to the room at large. “Must’ve swallowed something that tickled my throat.”

The others went back to eating. Allera cast me a telling scowl as if she knew Nicolette’s embarrassment was my fault before she returned her attention to her meal. I moodily stabbed my fork into a white piece of rubbery, meat-like substance and lifted it closer, frowning.

Jerking my elbow Nicolette’s way, I lightly tapped her on the arm to get her attention. “What is this, anyway?” I asked under my breath.

On the other side of me, Brentley had engaged Allera in conversation, and she was speaking avidly to him. I furrowed my brows as I watched them. Huh, they truly seemed to enjoy each other’s company.

I guess that meant their walk in the gardens had gone well.

“It’s scorpion,” Nicolette said from my other side, answering my question.

I zipped her an incredulous glance. “Scorpion? Seriously?”

“Yes.” Her lips tightened as she worked to keep in another laugh. Then she nodded encouragingly, her eyes dancing with humor. “Try dipping it in the butter sauce. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

I squinted my eyes warily, then shrugged and did as she suggested. Once the morsel hit my tongue, my eyebrows shot up. It tasted rather like lobster. And Nicolette had been right; slathered with spiced butter sauce, it was simply decadent. I finished the rest of the scorpion on my plate in moments.

“Thanks,” I told the young princess, flashing her a grateful grin. “Your suggestion proved quite fortunate.”

Nicolette beamed as if she’d accomplished a heroic deed. Then she asked, “How was your first full day at the Iron Castle?”

I glanced toward my sister again as she laughed over something Brentley said. In response, his face turned bright red with pleasure, and he grinned back.

“It was…lonely,” I said before I could quite check myself.

Thank goodness, Nicolette was the only person to hear me, but still, it was mortifying enough to turn her way and find her looking sympathetically sad.

“Oh, but there’s so much you can do here,” she started, nodding with encouragement. “Why, you could… Or… Or there’s…” A small frown-wrinkle appeared between her eyes as she thought about it. Then she blew out a depressed breath and leaned closer. “Truth be told, I get bored to tears every day, which is probably why I get into more trouble than I should.”

I gave a low chuckle. “I understand completely, my lady. It’s as if you just described my childhood at High Cliff entirely.”

“Truly?” She beamed up at me as she realized I did comprehend her plight. “But I’m sure there are plenty of things for old people to do here.”

My eyebrows rose. “Old?”

Her cheeks immediately brightened. “I mean… You know… Merely more advanced in their years than I. Your age.”

“Ah,” I murmured thoughtfully. “I’m old, then. I hadn’t realized.” When she covered her face with her hands and moaned an apology, I had to laugh some more. Her embarrassment was adorable. Princess Nicolette was a sweet kid.

“We have board games,” she rushed to say, trying to save herself. “Like chess and… And…”

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