Page 25 of How Not to Marry a Prince

He landed with neither grace nor dignity, but no broken bones either, so he would take it.

"Well? Well?" Marcellette asked eagerly.

Amador laughed, lifting his hands. "I don't know much. I heard Nazaire say Léonce's name, so it's safe to say he was caught. I apologize, Vladlena, that Léonce will likely believe you were responsible for the door and knocking."

Vladlena laughed. "I was involved, even if I didn't do the important work."

"If you think I could have ever gotten up there on my own…" Amador said.

"Drinks! Drinks!" Marcellette cheered, standing between them and linking her arms through theirs. "To the glass room! Allons-y!"

"Allons-y!" Amador and Vladlena echoed, and headed off through the garden, through the palace, to what proved to be an absolutely beautiful room, more like a gazebo combined with a balcony and the whole covered in colored glass, set to softly glinting in the moonlight.

Servants arrived shortly after they did with trays of sparkling wine and finger foods, looking faintly amused as they filed out again. Though Amador ached to go see Sohan, he was loathe to leave his friends, when he could not remember the last time he'd had friends who would invite him to something as silly and self-indulgent as midnight champagne.

As though summoned, a familiar laugh came from the doorway, and Amador turned to see Sohan watching them. "What do we have here?"

Sohan was, for once, dressed rather plainly, in only a linen shirt that had no business fitting so snugly, breeches that were faded, especially at the knees, stockings and boots. He didn't even have a jacket, yet seemed not to feel the chill in the air.

"Your Majesty," Marcellette said. "We are celebrating Prince Amador's marvelousness."

"We are not!" Amador hissed, face burning as he scowled at her. "Stop that right now!"

"Good luck with that," Vladlena said with a snort.

Marcellette looked not remotely repentant. "My engagement, then, that would not have happened without you because I am marrying the most stubborn-headed woman in the world."

Vladlena gave her a look. "You don't get to make that accusation."

Clearly amused, Sohan stepped further into the room and accepted the champagne that Marcellette thrust at him. "Congratulations, Lady Marcellette, Lady Vladlena, and on your recent appointment as Lord Lipovsky's heir. However did you talk him around?"

"That is the doing of our darling Amador!" Marcellette said, and before Amador could stop her, launched into the tale of all he'd done, leaving Amador no choice but to flesh out details as needed.

Unsurprisingly, that led into an explanation of what exactly had inspired the midnight champagne.

Sohan smiled and once again, Amador found his hand enveloped in both of Sohan's. "You seem much happier than when I left. I'm glad. I did not mean to interrupt your time with your friends, though."

"You didn't. I was going to drink a couple of glasses and then come see you, if you were still awake."

"Nonsense, nonsense," Sohan replied. "I will see you tomorrow, maybe at breakfast, after I've had a conversation with my brother that clearly should have happened sooner. Thank you for doing so much for us, little more than strangers to you, especially when you've your own problems." He slowly let go of Amador's hands. "Speaking of problems, that one has been attended. He leaves tomorrow morning, with orders to be gone before the prayer bell. He is forbidden from ever coming here again, on pain of consequences just short of death. You will not have to worry further upon him."

Amador fought down the need to rail against unasked help. He needed help, and it was stupid to keep protesting when that help was offered, no matter what his pride said. "That reminds me: I have a gift for you."

"A gift?" Shock filled Sohan's face, more open, unguarded emotion than Amador had ever seen from him.

Face heating, Amador pulled the gift from his pocket. "It's not much, but I do appreciate all you've done for me, Your Majesty."

"Thank you," Sohan said softly as he accepted, hands lingering on Amador's again, the touch of his warm fingers fading slowly as he withdrew. "I will see you tomorrow, hopefully sooner rather than later, but there's never any telling with my schedule."

Amador smiled. "I understand. Tomorrow then, Your Majesty, and thank you again."

Sohan hesitated, as if he wanted to say something else, but in the end, only nodded and took his leave, bodyguards folding in around him.

"Oh, la la," Marcellette said, making Amador whip around, his face hotter than ever. "I knew our good king was more than a little smitten, but mercy me." She fanned herself hard enough to send the curls around her face fluttering.

"Smitten? With me?" Amador shook his head. "That's absurd."

Vladlena snorted as she refilled her champagne. "You're joking, right? I was so clueless about Marci's interest in me that I didn't figure it out until she kissed me, and even I can see that if you asked for the moon His Majesty would obtain it for you. Never seen him act like that. It's positively mind-boggling."

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