Chapter 9
Romantic
Lunch was being served by the time Evelyn made it downstairs the next day.
The staff are probably whispering about the pale girl who stays up all night and sleeps through the day. They’re going to think I’m half vampire. Is it possible to be half vampire?
Queen Camille was the only person in the dining room.
“Good morning,” Evelyn said.
“Good afternoon,” Queen Camille responded.
“Right.” Evelyn took her seat. “Where is Hannah?”
“She said she had a headache and went to her room to lie down. She’s had a bit too much sun this week, I expect.”
They’re going to think my family are all half vampire. Lovely.
“Are we the only ones here today?” Evelyn asked.
“I believe so. The kings are working with the army.”
“Do you know what they’re doing?”
“My dear, have you seen me in any of their meetings?”
“No. Doesn’t that frustrate you?” Evelyn’s voice rose, but she couldn’t help it. “You’re a queen! You should be included!”
“And if I really wanted to, I could push the issue,” Queen Camille said calmly. “But I spent hundreds of years discussing war and I don’t miss it.”
“So… you choose not to be involved?”
“Yes. I trust my husband, as well as your father, to do what needs to be done. My voice is not needed and I am happier not hearing all the gory details. But from what I have seen and heard of you in the past few days, I would say your voice is needed here.”
“Mine?” Evelyn blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I know it was your magic that led to the soldiers being found. Your gift of seeing past illusions is extremely rare for someone born on the continent.”
“Is there another land where it isn’t rare?”
“Actually, yes. The Isle of Lochmatten. I believe immunity from our illusions is one of the traits they are most proud of.”
“I never knew that.”
“It wouldn’t have been relevant while you were in Carrowmore.”
Evelyn’s brows drew together. “I thought Lochmatten’s magic focused on divination, like prophecies. Isn’t that where the Seers come from?”
“Yes, as well as the Spell Breakers. The fae of Lochmatten have spent millennia dedicated to understanding magic like a science. I doubt any of us in the kingdoms know the full scope of their abilities.”
“Why not?”
“They like to keep to themselves, doing research and practicing new magic.” The queen waved her hand dismissively.
“Some of them come over to Gryon or Carrowmore and earn endless amounts of gold doing tricks like fortune-telling and scrying. Or cleaning up illusion messes like the ones you found. But I’m certain the fae on their isle are capable of much more than that. ”
“Is Lochmatten our ally?” Evelyn asked.
Queen Camille thought about it. “They are not interested in war and do not have a proper army, so we would not call on them for military aid. But they help us in other ways. They are not our enemy.”
“Why would I have a gift that’s associated with Lochmatten? I’ve never even been there.”
“That is still a mystery, my dear girl. I would suggest asking your father if there is any Lochmatten magic in your bloodline.”
“If he ever starts talking to me again,” Evelyn grumbled.
“Tell me something else,” Queen Camille said. “Why didn’t Leo return you to the palace himself after the soldiers were found?”
Evelyn’s eyes went wide as she looked up at the queen. “How—”
“I’ve known Damien nearly as long as I’ve known Leo, and I certainly know which of the two gets them into trouble.
Captain Fontaine would have dragged you back here out of spite if you’d threatened him into going to the city.
Leo, on the other hand, would be more than happy to whisk you away for an adventure if you gave even the slightest hint of wanting to go. ”
Evelyn blushed.
The queen is far too amused by all of this.
“So,” Queen Camille said, getting back to her original point. “Why did your little trio of chaos split up that day? Why didn’t Leo keep you with him?”
Is it okay to be honest with her? She already knows this much.
“Leo said he wasn’t supposed to leave the palace that afternoon. He told Damien to bring me back and not mention him.”
The queen nodded at Evelyn’s explanation, putting something together in her mind but not sharing what it was. “Well. I hope it was a fun outing before the day went to hell in a handbasket.”
Evelyn laughed much too loudly and covered her mouth with her hand.
“It was fun before that.” Another question formed in Evelyn’s mind. “Does Prince Alexander want to marry Hannah?”
Queen Camille hummed. “What makes you ask about that, dear?”
I would feel better if she just said yes.
“I know Hannah likes the prince,” Evelyn explained. “But they’ve barely spent any time together. I don’t want my sister heartbroken if Alexander drags this out and then rejects her.”
The queen stared at Evelyn intently for several seconds before asking, “Can we keep our opinions just between you and me?”
“Of course.”
Queen Camille picked her words carefully. “Your sister is lovely. She would make a good wife and a fair queen. I have only kind words to say about her and absolutely nothing against her. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Evelyn said, wondering where all this praise was going.
“However,” the queen continued, “I do not see Hannah as a match for my son. She hasn’t done anything wrong, and neither has he. There is simply no real spark between them. But Alexander is under immense pressure from his father. And I believe Hannah is swept up in the glamour of meeting a prince.”
Is Hannah trying to force a connection? She deserves better than that.
“Do you think they will get married anyway?” Evelyn asked.
“For their sakes, I hope not. I want my son to be hopelessly in love with his bride. Hannah deserves to be head over heels for her future husband. But they won’t find that in each other.”
“Is there anything we can do?”
“No, dear, there isn’t. They need to make their own choices.”
Forget that. I need to talk to Hannah.
After lunch, Evelyn was headed upstairs when she heard voices through the front door.
“You are wasting time!” King Gerard yelled.
The second voice was too low to identify.
“It’s even more important now that you marry quickly!” the king said.
He must be talking to the prince. Good to know Alexander doesn’t raise his voice like his father.
“That Anna girl—”
The king was interrupted by the quieter voice again.
“It doesn’t matter what her name is,” King Gerard snapped. “You need to propose and be done with it.”
He can’t even remember Hannah’s name?
“You have until the ball, or I will make the arrangements for you,” the king declared.
Wait… the prince is going to propose the night of the ball? Should I tell Hannah?
Evelyn hurried upstairs before King Gerard or Prince Alexander could catch her eavesdropping.
Once she reached Hannah’s room, Evelyn knocked incessantly on the door until it swung open.
Hannah scowled. “Is there an emergency I should know about?”
“Yes!” Evelyn pushed into the room and closed the door. “I need an update on you and Prince Alexander.”
Hannah’s shoulders drooped before she put on a smile. “I had breakfast with him this morning.”
“And?” Evelyn prompted. “Did he sweep you off your feet? Are you madly in love and planning the wedding?”
“It’s only been three days.”
“But what do you think about him? Is he someone you would want to marry?”
The smile dropped as Hannah crossed her arms. “Why are you asking?”
“I just want to know if you’re happy.” Evelyn stepped closer to her sister. “If things aren’t going the way you want with the prince, we can always go home.”
Hannah let out a sharp laugh. “No, we can’t. I’m not giving up on a potential betrothal to a prince.”
“Who cares that he’s a prince?”
“Father cares! Alexander’s parents care! That’s why we’re here.”
How fucking romantic.
“What about you, Hannah?” Evelyn snapped. “You’re the one marrying him.”
“Of course I like that he’s a prince. I’ll be a queen someday. Who wouldn’t want this opportunity?” Hannah gestured around the room, like being in a palace was enough.
Evelyn groaned. “That’s exactly what I’m worried about. This isn’t about Alexander at all. You’re just looking for the fairy tale.”
“I’m still getting to know him,” Hannah argued. “And he’s been distracted the last few days. He was really tired this morning, like he’d barely slept last night.”
He’s not the only one. I’m surprised Leo and I didn’t run into him in the kitchen.
“Fine.” Evelyn blew out a breath. “But if Alexander proposed tomorrow, would you say yes?”
“Of course I would!” Hannah threw her arms up. “That’s what I’m supposed to do. That’s the whole point of all of this.”
“You aren’t a pawn!” Evelyn yelled. “You get to make your own decisions.”
“Exactly! It’s my choice, not yours.”
The sisters glared at each other.
This isn’t right. We shouldn’t have come to Gryon.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Hannah finally said. “Go back to running off with that soldier friend of yours.”
It took Evelyn a moment to realize who she was talking about. “Damien? I didn’t run off with him.”
Hannah raised a brow. “The two of you went into the city together, right?”
“Well, yes, but it wasn’t like that.”
“Evelyn.” Hannah sighed. “I haven’t forgotten all the times you sneaked into the estate after staying out all night with a man.”
“No, I—”
She isn’t going to believe me that I wasn’t on a date with Damien, and I can’t tell her about Leo because he wasn’t supposed to be there.
“What I do doesn’t matter because I’m not getting married,” Evelyn said. “But you better LOVE that prince if you marry him.”
Hannah grinned. “I plan to!”
I’m not sure she would back out of this even if she hated Alexander.