Chapter 21 – Kian
Chapter Twenty-One
KIAN
Lady Astoria sweeps back into the foyer, a self-satisfied look in her eyes, like the cat who’s eaten the canary. Or at least won some prize she’s been after. My shoulders tense. I don’t trust this woman. Not a single bit.
“Lady Raelyn agreed to see you,” she says. Her smugness now surprises me. I’m the one who won here, right?
“Wonderful. Now, will you show me to the parlor, or are you inclined to have me stand in the foyer for another hour?” I bite back.
Her lack of regard shocks me after how she fawned over me at the ball.
I like to think I’m somewhat of a catch despite my alter ego’s nighttime activities.
Perhaps even more so because of them. I seem to be the only prince who cares about the welfare of his people, not that anyone other than Alex and Margot know.
I also highly doubt Lady Astoria cares much about anyone other than herself.
“Of course,” she croons. “My apologies for my rudeness, Your Highness. I have been a little out of sorts trying to manage the manor. My husband has been gone for quite some time now, as you perhaps know.”
A little too late to turn on the charm.
“I never knew how challenging it would be to arrange marriages for so many daughters. I only have sons from my previous marriages.” She laughs, but it sounds fake to my ears.
“I’m sure that has been difficult for you,” I reply, hoping I don’t come across as too annoyed. Her audacity in changing her tone with me from one moment to another is astounding.
She leads me to the parlor and urges me to take a seat on the settee facing the windows.
The sky is quite overcast today, and I can’t help but wish for sun, even if for nothing other than healthy crops.
I haven’t found any information or word of Kyros since the mention in Cary Astoria’s journal from almost thirty years ago.
The urgency to find the lost god is even more pressing with the visual reminder.
“I’ll have tea sent in for you momentarily,” Lady Astoria says with a sickening sweetness. “I can send Lady Erika or Lady Chessa in to keep you company while you wait.”
“No, that’s quite all right,” I reply. “I don’t mind the quiet.”
“Nonsense,” she declares. “I’ll send one right in. Lady Raelyn might be a while.”
What in Luna’s name is going on with Raelyn? Does her stepmother know I saw her cleaning the floors like a servant last time I was here? I palm my face. None of this is going to plan.
I fully intended to call on Raelyn earlier this week, but Colin made it impossible for me to get away.
The king also made it very clear that if I did not at least attempt to spend time with Helene, there would be dire consequences.
I feel like the worst kind of ass, knowing that, in all likelihood, Raelyn has heard rumors of my courting Helene and probably thinks the worst of me.
Spending time with Helene is what I imagine spending time with a little sister would be like.
And as lovely as she might appear, no single part of her is appealing to me as a partner.
It doesn’t help that she comes across completely vapid.
The more time I spend around Helene and Juliana, the sorrier I feel for Colin.
What a drag to be married into that family.
When Colin announced they were finally returning to the country estate last night, I wanted to jump for joy. I couldn’t wait to get away from court.
Lady Erika sweeps into the room, excitement making her eyes glow. Fantastic. I truly have little desire to entertain Raelyn’s sister, but what else can I do?
A maid enters with the tea service and starts bustling around, preparing our drinks.
“Your Highness, such a pleasure to see you again,” Lady Erika simpers.
Her voice puts me on edge, but I suppose I can at least be grateful it isn’t Lady Chessa. Her reputation of being the most aggravating female to attend court precedes her.
“A pleasure to see you as well,” I lie.
Lady Erika adjusts her full skirts as she sits across from me.
I don’t miss how she tries to perk up her chest to show off her assets, or lack thereof.
The women of court are all the same, thinking they can flaunt their bodies and have us men falling all over them.
And yet, can I blame her? If one were to listen to all the rumors at court, this is exactly what one would think I look for.
Times like this make me wish I didn’t have to play a role.
I wish I could be myself and fully known.
Regardless of who I marry, that will never be possible.
“I have to say, I’m quite surprised to see you here,” Lady Erika says, arching a brow. “I understand you’ve been courting Princess Helene all week.”
I force a smile. “Our families have been close since we were children. It was my duty to escort the princess around court during her visit.”
“Oh,” Lady Erika muses. “Funny. That’s not at all what everyone is saying.”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t put so much stock in what people say.”
She flutters her lashes and gives a coy smile. “Don’t get me wrong, Your Highness, the prospect of your availability greatly pleases me.” She leans forward a bit more, squeezing her breasts together, and I want to roll my eyes at her desperation.
“I am here to court Lady Raelyn, or didn’t your stepmother tell you?”
A flash of surprise lights up Lady Erika’s eyes. She didn’t know. Interesting.
She laughs airily. “We’ll see. Raelyn isn’t really the marrying type.”
I frown before taking a sip of my tea. Raelyn’s family is quite possibly worse than mine.
Before I can respond, there is a rustling at the door.
There she is. My heart skips in my chest at the sight of her.
Her hair is haphazardly piled atop her head, and if I’m not mistaken, there is a smudge of dirt on her collarbone.
I greedily take her in. So unlike the women of court, so unlike her sisters.
There is something about her that takes my breath away, but .
. . she looks sad. The urge to take care of her is strong and surprising. What in the hells is wrong with me?
I quickly stand. “Lady Raelyn, thank you so much for taking the time to see me.”
She bobs her head but doesn’t move any closer.
I close the gap between us, reaching a hand out. Hesitantly, she lets me take hers, and I press a kiss onto the back of it, noting the dry roughness of her skin, probably from all the ridiculous chores.
“I apologize for not coming sooner,” I say quietly.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Raelyn replies, and I lead her over to the settee.
Lady Erika looks appalled when I seat myself next to Raelyn, but she tries to hide it as she sips from her cup.
“Thank you so much for keeping me company, Lady Erika, but there are some things I would like to discuss with your sister.”
The dismissal is clear, and she sets her teacup onto the table with a clatter. “I’m sure we will see each other again soon enough,” she replies before sweeping out of the room.
“You may go too,” I say to the maid. “Thank you for the tea.”
She looks to Raelyn for confirmation, and Raelyn nods, albeit a little nervously.
Once the maid leaves, Raelyn asks, “Is it even proper for us to be in here without a chaperone?”
“You didn’t seem so worried about that when we were alone in the garden,” I quip.
“That’s completely different,” she retorts.
Ah, there it is. The spunk I like.
I point toward the doorway. “It’s open, and was the butler not stationed outside when you came in?”
She looks out of sorts. “True. But he can’t see us. You could be doing something inappropriate in here.”
I grin and lean in closer, breathing in her intoxicating scent of citrus and vanilla. “Would you like me to be doing something inappropriate, Raelyn?”
Her skin turns a delicious shade of pink, and without meaning to, I find myself grazing her neck with my nose before I pull back.
Raelyn looks scandalized, but I love the flush in her cheeks and how her sadness has dissipated just a little. I decide right then and there I’m going to enjoy finding ways to make her blush.
“Your Highness,” she says breathily.
“Kian.”
“Kian,” she repeats.
I smile, but when her lip quivers, I straighten. “Did something happen?”
She shakes her head. “No more than usual.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
She inhales before saying, “I’m sorry, Kian. I can’t be bound to you. The arrangement is off.”
I frown. I expected her stepmother to push back, but this is surprising.
Raelyn wrings her hands on her lap. “I never should have agreed to it. I’d make a terrible princess.”
She isn’t making any sense. I tilt her chin up so she looks at me. “That’s a lie.”
She squirms under my scrutiny. “I just can’t,” she whispers.
“What did she do?” I demand. “What could have possibly changed in a week?”
“Everything.”
“Talk to me, Rae.”
She blinks. “No one has called me that in years.”
I smile. “It fits you.”
She smiles briefly before her face falls again. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but you’d be better off courting Lady Erika. In fact, I insist you do.”
Has this woman lost all sense?
“Raelyn, I don’t understand.”
She shakes her head sadly. “I’m sorry to ruin your plan, but trust me, you can’t marry me. Court my sister or go back to Princess Helene.”
“I don’t want Princess Helene,” I bite out. Is that it? Is she upset I took an entire week to call?
Her eyes well with tears.
“Did you think I forgot you?” I ask. “I could never forget you . . . In fact, you’ve been all I could think about this past week.”
Shit, I probably shouldn’t have said that.