Three
The lord paled at my father’s words but gave a curt nod. The king bid farewell to everyone else in the foyer before leaving through the front door, followed by Gray’s butler. I stood frozen for a moment after the door had closed behind them, unsure of what to do with myself.
“Tom, my study,” Gray barked an order, startling me out of my stupor.
He turned on his heels and stormed off, and his adviser quickly followed, throwing me a scornful look as he passed by. My brows pinched in a scowl as I watched him retreat into the lord’s study, forcefully shutting the door behind him.
“That was a bit unexpected.” Thea laughed nervously.
Her eyes were wary as she stood before me, wringing her delicate hands.
As if catching herself, she dropped them and smoothed out the front of her dress the color of dandelions.
“Would you like a tour of the house?” she asked, plastering on a smile.
Before I could respond, the butler returned, carrying the bags I had brought with me.
“Is that all you brought?” Thea asked, eyeing my meager belongings.
Her confusion was understandable as I had packed for the few days’ travel from the capital of Nasyra to Zalie, not for an extended stay.
“Staying here was a spur-of-the-moment decision,” I told her, making sure my voice was steady.“I have everything I need for tonight. We can go shopping tomorrow.”
When Thea’s gaze returned to me, a myriad of questions danced in her eyes. Would she voice any of them? I owed her no explanation as to why I had suddenly decided to train, and here of all places.
“Of course, Your Highness. Are you ready for me to show you around?” she asked instead.
“Yes, I am.” I smiled at her.
She nodded, clasping her hands in front of her. “We will start the tour on the first floor. Follow me.”
We strolled to the sitting room that flowed into the dining room with a long, rectangular table.
Glass doors lined the back wall and led onto a raised covered patio with an outside sitting area and steps that descended into a luxuriant garden.
The trees and bushes looked healthy, and some were even in bloom with delicate, soft-pink flowers.
In awe, I slowly approached the glass doors, taking in the oasis before me.
The coolness radiating from the glass snapped me back to reality, reminding me that the weather outside was not as welcoming and warm as it appeared.
“It’s impressive you have maintained the estate in such a great condition despite the weather,” I observed, looking at Thea.
“Oh, that’s mostly thanks to Gray. I just help out when I can.” She shrugged, her cheeks turning pink. “But thank you, Your Highness. I’m sure the lord will be pleased that his efforts didn’t go unnoticed.”
“Please, call me Emelin. I will be your house guest for a while. It’s only fitting we are on a first-name basis.”
Thea’s brows lifted in surprise before she gave an answering smile, which looked more genuine this time. “Of course, Your Highness. I mean, Emelin.” She caught herself with a soft laugh. “Are you ready to continue the tour?”
“I am. Lead the way.”
I walked in step with her as we passed by a well-stocked kitchen, an ornate ballroom, and a half bath.
“And here’s the library,” she said when we reached the back of the mansion.
Another smile tugged at my lips as we entered a room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a marble fireplace, and an oversized sofa.
The library was not as extensive as the one at the palace, but it was cozy, and I could easily picture myself spending many an hour in here.
My smile grew when I spotted an easel in front of a large window to the left.
“Do you like to read?” Thea asked, momentarily disrupting my perusal.
“I do,” I answered excitedly, turning to her. “Do you?”
“Not particularly,” she admitted, scrunching up her face. “But Gray does.”
“The lord didn’t seem pleased about my staying here,” I prodded, watching for her reaction.
She gave me an understanding look. “Your decision to train with him was quite unexpected. He will come around.”
“What about his adviser? The look he gave me after my father had left was outright hostile,” I pointed out, my brows knitting in confusion.
“That’s just Tom.” Thea waved her hand dismissively. “He’s very invested in Gray’s political career. He probably thinks you will be a distraction.”
“How long have you known them?”
“The three of us grew up together.”
“I see.” I tried and failed to picture Gray and Tom as lighthearted children. “Are you all from Zalie?”
“Born and raised. Are you ready to see more?” Thea turned to leave. With a nod, I followed her out, knowing full well that I would be back in the library sooner rather than later.
“This is my first time in the region, and I don’t know much about the area, but from what I have seen so far, it’s lovely,” I said as we made our way back to the foyer.
The royal women were mostly confined to the capital and didn’t travel much.
My father had only let me tag along this time because I had asked for a distraction from my failed engagement, and he had taken pity on me.
“Oh, this area is charming, and everyone is so nice! You will see tomorrow when we go shopping,” Thea said, stopping before the grand staircase.
“All the bedrooms are upstairs, and I think Killian has finished preparing your room. Let me show you where you will be staying. After you.” She motioned for me to go up.
Once we had climbed the steps to the second story, she opened the door to one of the rooms. “I know this isn’t Clairborne Palace,” she started.
“No, this is perfect,” I assured her as I walked inside and looked around.
As expected, the accommodations were far less spacious than my quarters at the palace. A wide bed dominated the room, with nightstands on each side, and a tufted bench at the foot. A vanity with a mirror lined one of the walls, close to the door that led into the bathing chamber and wardrobe.
“Truly, this is more than enough.” I smiled at Thea, trying to put her at ease. Having a smaller room didn’t bother me at all. While I appreciated all the comforts of being a royal, I wasn’t fond of all the fuss.
“I hope you enjoy your stay here.” She smiled back. “Do you know how long you will be staying?”
“However long it takes to unlock my powers.” And become strong enough to help reinforce the wards.
Something flickered across her features I couldn’t quite catch. “Well, since you didn’t bring any help with you, I am at your service.” She curtsied. “My bedroom is right next to yours. Tom’s is the one next to mine, and Gray’s is farther down the hall. Killian stays in the butler’s quarters.”
“Does no one else live on the estate?” I asked, my brows lifting in surprise.
“No, Your Highness. I mean, Emelin. Gray prefers a small inner circle. It’s just the four of us. Well, five of us now, including you.”
“I see,” I said low, feeling like an outsider intruding on their lives.
She cleared her throat. “Do you need help unpacking?”
“I don’t think so, but thank you for offering. I could use a few minutes alone to freshen up after the ride.”
“Of course. It’s almost dinner time. Please join us downstairs whenever you’re ready.” With one last smile, she slipped out the door.
The moment she was gone, the muscles of my neck and shoulders relaxed, and I released a long exhale, plonking myself down on the bed.
When I had awakened this morning, I’d had no idea that I would end up here, in this room at Bradford Manor, with an oppressive feeling of dread about the fate of my kingdom.
With a heavy sigh, I rose from the bed and walked over to my bags sitting on the floor by the vanity.
I retrieved my journal and ink supplies from one of them and perched on the stool before the mirror.
I couldn’t wait to document the events of today to help me process what had transpired, but doing so would have to wait.
Setting my diary and the ink on the vanity, I gave my reflection a nod of encouragement.
“You’ve got this,” I murmured before I left the bedroom.
Everyone was already in the dining room by the time I had made my way downstairs, and they all rose from their seats when I walked in. Gray stood at the head of the table with Killian by his side.
“Your Highness,” the butler said, stepping away from Gray to pull out a chair for me immediately to the lord’s right.
He remained standing as I sat down, and everyone else followed suit.
Thea sat next to me while Tom occupied the seat across from me, to Gray’s left.
Uncomfortable silence ensued as Killian filled my glass with wine and scooped some salad onto my plate before sweeping from the room.
Taking a sip of the wine to relieve my suddenly dry throat, I dared a peek at the lord over the rim of my glass.
His profile was stern, his expression unreadable, as he picked at his food.
I shifted my gaze to his adviser and nearly choked on my drink.
His expression was easy to read, and it was one of disdain.
“Why did you decide to train here and not with Lady May?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Tom,” Thea said through her teeth, giving him a pointed look.
“We have been through this,” I said calmly, setting my wine glass on the table. “Lady May is training my brother, the future king. I figured that instead of pulling her away from devoting her time solely to him, I would train here.”
“Thea said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. What exactly spurred your decision?” Tom continued my interrogation.
I glanced at Thea, who glared at him, her eyes blazing.
Gray kept eating, seemingly unbothered by how his adviser was speaking to me.
Scrambling to come up with a response, I took another sip of my wine. I didn’t owe them an explanation for my decision, but I wanted to provide one, lest they suspect that something was wrong with the wards.
“I decided to train here because I have recently broken off my engagement and wanted some time away from the capital,” I said before forcing the wine down past the lump in my throat.
“You have called off your engagement?” Thea gasped next to me. “Why?”
My cheeks burned as everyone at the table stared at me. Even Gray had stopped eating and lifted his gaze to my face. All I wanted to do was curl into myself and disappear. Instead, I clasped my hands in my lap and lifted my chin.
“The reason doesn’t matter. What matters is I’m here now and I will make the most of my training.”
Tom wasn’t satisfied with my answer. “Well, I still find it strange that—”
“Tom, that’s enough,” Gray interjected, cutting him off with a sharp look. “We will begin your training in the morning,” he said to me before returning to his food.
Tom glared at me a moment longer before he refocused on his plate.
I speared some salad on my fork and brought it to my mouth, chewing slowly, not really tasting the food as anxiety coursed through my veins.
Tomorrow, I would begin my training, taking one step closer to saving my kingdom. Or so I hoped.