Chapter 35 #2
She reached for my hands. “Alara, it’s so good to see you, lovely. Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for the invitation. You’ve been in my thoughts.
I should have reached out sooner, but I wasn’t sure if you’d want the company…
” I trailed off apologetically. Something unpleasant squeezed my insides.
Divine goddess, was I feeling guilty for not making more of an effort?
What were these people doing to me? The sooner I got back to Vantillios, the better.
“Think nothing of it,” she dismissed with a wave of her hand.
She sat beside me. “I’ve had an endless stream of visitors to entertain, I’ve barely had a moment to myself, but I desperately wanted to see you after what happened with Prince Hugo.
And now I hear you got lost in the woods and accosted by wolves, if the rumors are to be believed? ”
I told her the same version of events I had told everyone else while she sipped tea, completely enraptured. She didn’t interrupt me, but she occasionally raised her eyebrows or gasped at the more jarring details.
After I’d finished speaking, she gracefully placed her teacup on its saucer. “I don’t know what to say,” she said with a shake of her head. “You’ve been through a terrible ordeal. Thank Tuli you managed to escape with your life.”
I didn’t know what to say either. I averted my gaze towards the gilded brass and wood chest housing a vase of striking red roses and an ormolu clock.
“You’ve arrived in this kingdom at a tumultuous time. A murder, an attack, beasts, impending war—it’s more than anyone could possibly take,” she continued, looking sorrowful.
“Have they come any closer to finding the murderer?” I asked cautiously. I didn’t want to upset her, but since she had brought it up…
“No.” She shook her head. “But Captain Hansen and the Royal Guard are making a show of interrogating everyone. Me included,” she added bitterly.
I nearly choked on my tea. “Surely they don’t believe you had anything to do with the murder?”
She offered me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “They have to explore all avenues, I suppose.”
Why was I so shocked to hear that Hansen and his men had turned their investigation on Livia?
She could very well be the witch. I couldn’t completely discount her just because I liked her.
Although why she’d choose to murder her husband, and why now, was beyond me.
Still, no one in this castle was above suspicion. A fact I’d do well to remember.
Before I could speak, she continued. “I told them the same thing I’ve told everyone.
He was speaking with Lord Helvig when I left him to retire for the evening.
When he didn’t return, I assumed…” She paused, a faraway look on her face.
“I never dreamed he would be…” Her voice started to break as her eyes watered.
“Anyway,” she said, waving away her tears.
“That’s why I’m going away in the morning. ”
“Where to? For how long?” I asked, disappointed despite myself.
“Our manor near the border. I’ve not yet decided how long I’ll be gone. Days? Weeks? All I know is that I need to get away from all of this.” She gestured around the room.
Did this unexpected trip have anything to do with the conversation I’d overheard between her and Oriane? Had Oriane gotten what she wanted? Was Livia leaving because of her?
Not knowing how to coax the answers out of her without exposing my own eavesdropping, I asked, “Why are you leaving?”
“The castle no longer feels like home,” she said, her eyes shining. “Everything here reminds me of him.”
She looked like she needed comfort. The best I could do was give her hand a light squeeze as I said, “I understand. If it were me, I would probably do the same thing.” I hesitated.
“I hope your leaving has nothing to do with Lady Oriane? I couldn’t help but notice you two seemed to be having a tense discussion after the Ceremony of Rites. ”
She blinked, then rolled her eyes. “Oh that. No, no—that was nothing. It would take more than the likes of Oriane to chase me away from the castle.” She reached for my hand again. “It’s been positively delightful getting to know you. I do hope you’ll be here when I return.”
Disappointed by her blatant change in subject, I let the matter go for the time being. “Of course. I’ll remain here for as long as the king wills it,” I lied, looking down at my lap in feigned shyness.
At my words, she gave me the first proper smile I’d seen from her all day.
“Well, if the heir has anything to say about it, then I have no doubt I can consider you a permanent resident of the castle. Perhaps even a prominent member of court. They say the king has been pushing him to marry,” she said suggestively, a glimmer of that familiar mischief in her eyes.
I shifted in my seat. “I wouldn’t be so certain about that.”
I hadn’t heard from Tarben since he left for the border, and worry had begun to gnaw at me.
Not because I thought he’d been harmed—if there had been any bad news, I would have heard it by now—but because I was running out of time until the full moon.
He hadn’t written to me, not even to let me know he was safe, like he’d said he would.
He also swore he would hurry back to me, but it had been five days already.
Was it possible that the distance and time apart had made him reevaluate his feelings for me? Impossible. I couldn’t think like that. He was just preoccupied with the conflict, that was all.
“You’re too modest,” Livia said, drawing me out of my thoughts. “I’ve never seen our prince so enamored as he is with you. If I had to speculate, I would say it’s love.”
At her words, warmth spread throughout my body. But it quickly disappeared when I remembered that he still hadn’t mentioned love. Yet.
“Oh, you’re blushing,” she said. “I apologize; I was being wicked. I’ll change the subject.”
I spent the rest of the afternoon in her company, chatting idly and laughing over her tales of petty court gossip.
I broached the subject of Oriane a few more times but, just like before, she didn’t provide the details that I so desperately craved.
It only made my curiosity burn stronger.
But what else could I do? I had more chance of meeting my mate in The Stag and Stern than I had of Oriane telling me anything.
By the time I left Livia’s quarters, I couldn’t help but feel the pinch of regret.
In another life, I may have been able to call her a friend.
But, just like my relationship with Tarben, it would never be real.
This ruse would soon come to an end and I would return to my old life with everything I’d ever wanted.
What I couldn’t understand was why a crabapple sized lump formed in my throat when I thought about what I would have to do to get it.