Page 37 of Fall of the Ember Throne (Crown and Crest 3)

They’re going to do all this work…for nothing.

“They’re all so beautiful,” I say, panicking slightly. “I don’t think I can make the decision on my own. I would like Lawrence’s opinion.”

Master Edart’s eyes go wide. “His Majesty?”

“Surely you don’t want to bother him with something such as this?” Madame Linwa chides gently. “Men don’t usually—”

“I’ll be back.” I leave before Lavender has a chance to follow me, gulping great breaths of air as soon as I’m alone in the hall.

I can’t order five hundred settings when I know the wedding will be called off—how horrible. It’s bad enough that Minda is already making a gown.

“Your Highness!” calls Saletta, a resident artisan who often resides at court.

I jerk my head up, hoping she didn’t notice me hyperventilating near the potted pothos. “Yes?”

She steps in front of me, tall and slender, with an aristocratic nose and features that are interesting if not beautiful. “I’m so pleased I ran into you.”

I force a smile, not certain I’ve ever spoken with her in my life. “I as well.”

“I started on the invitations as Madame Linwa requested, but I wanted your opinion on the calligraphy.”

“Invitations?” I say with a squeak.

She laughs. “Your wedding invitations, of course. Do you have a moment? Would you mind looking at them?”

“I need Lawrence,” I blurt out.

Her dark eyebrows dart up.

“I mean, I’mlookingfor Lawrence. So I can’t right now.”Or ever. “Why don’t you give a few samples to Calla, and she can show them to me?”

“Of course,” the woman says soothingly, and then she suddenly takes my hand. She smiles in a maternal way that makes me hide a cringe. “You seem on edge. Wedding jitters are normal, Your Highness. Don’t work yourself up too much.”

I manage a laugh, but I think it makes me sound half-mad. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

She bows her head, thankfully releasing me, and then continues down the hall.

“This is madness,” I whisper to myself.

It takes a little while, but I end up finding Lawrence with Denny, Miguel, and Alfred in the entrance hall. A devastating smile spreads across the young king’s face when he spots me, and I falter for just a second. Lawrence has never looked at me like that before.

Immediately, he breaks away from the knights. “Fancy meeting you here, princess.”

“Don’t call me that,” I say, more out of habit than anything.

Lawrence leans a smidgen closer, his eyes wicked. Dropping his voice to a sultry whisper, he says, “Fancy meeting you here,Clover.”

“Don’t say that either!” I hiss.

He grins. “I can’t say your name?”

“No.”

“Then what shall I call you?”

“Don’t…” I exhale, frustrated. “Don’t call me anything.”

“You’re ridiculous.” He laughs, stepping back. “But you know that, don’t you?”

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