Chapter 47
Sisters
Evelyn and Damien, still standing by the river, were distracted by the arrival of a carriage from the eastern road. A golden music note was emblazoned on the side wall.
The Auditory Court.
“Is that your family?” Evelyn asked.
“My mother and sisters,” Damien confirmed.
The carriage stopped in front of the palace. Damien jogged over to meet them, and Evelyn followed.
Lady Nadine stepped out first. She wore a high-neck, long-sleeved, dark blue gown. Her brown hair was braided and her hazel eyes were tired.
“Mother!” Damien pulled her into a gentle hug.
Lady Nadine smiled. “It hasn’t even been that long since you saw me last.”
“It’s been a hell of a week.”
One of the sisters exited the carriage next in a short-sleeved pink dress.
“Desirée!” Damien picked up his youngest sister and spun her around. She laughed hysterically at his dramatics, and the intricate updo of her hair threatened to unravel.
Evelyn observed the Fontaine family curiously.
This is so different from the formal introductions during the ball last week. Is that because Lord Stuart isn’t around?
Daphne left the carriage last. Her loose hair flowed past her shoulders and she wore a lavender dress. She put her hands on her hips and scowled at her brother.
Damien released Desirée, who was dizzy and giggling. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Daphne.
What’s going on? Do they not get along?
Daphne’s facade broke first. She cracked a smile and dropped her hands to her sides. Damien grinned, then crushed her in a tight hug.
“Stupid soldier!” Daphne gasped. “I can’t breathe!”
“If you can talk, you can breathe.” Damien squeezed her harder before letting go.
She inhaled theatrically, as if she had been on the brink of death in his grip.
Damien rolled his eyes, then spoke to his mother again. “I didn’t expect you until tonight.”
“Your sisters were up at dawn. They are under the impression that something exciting is happening at the palace,” Lady Nadine said dryly.
“I heard a princess is stealing Alexander away from Desirée,” Daphne said.
“I was sixteen!” Desirée argued. “You can’t blame me for having a teenage crush on a prince!”
“No, but you won’t live it down, either,” Damien promised.
“Daphne liked Prince Christopher,” Desirée claimed.
“The taller, more responsible, future king? Absolutely, I did,” Daphne said shamelessly.
Evelyn laughed. “You should meet my brother.”
The four Fontaines looked at her, and Evelyn remembered too late that she wasn’t part of the conversation. Even through her awkwardness, she couldn’t help but notice how similar Damien, Daphne, and Desirée were. All three siblings had striking green eyes and straight black hair.
Evelyn stepped forward to stand beside Damien. “Hi.”
Is that the best I can do? Really impressive, Evelyn. You’re so ready to be a queen.
Damien’s family continued to stare at Evelyn like she was a puzzle. It was an expression she had seen from Damien more than a few times.
“It’s nice to see you again, Princess Evelyn,” Lady Nadine said kindly to break the silence.
“You as well,” Evelyn replied. “We didn’t get much time to talk at the ball.”
“I thought the two of you were going to get engaged,” Daphne blurted out, her eyes darting between Evelyn and Damien.
Evelyn blushed. “Things didn’t quite turn out that way. But, believe me, that would have made this week a lot simpler.”
Why did I say it like that was even an option? And what is that look Damien is giving me?
His quizzical expression shifted into a smirk. “I’m not interested in redheads, anyway. And who needs a soulmate when I can have a third sister to pick on?”
Damien kissed Evelyn’s cheek, which was a ruse to pluck a single strand of hair off her head.
“Ow!” Evelyn complained, rubbing her scalp before slapping his hand.
“Leave the princess alone!” Lady Nadine scolded.
Desirée’s mouth hung open in shock, but Daphne was barely containing her laughter.
“You’re younger than them,” Damien told Evelyn, pointing at his sisters. “They outrank you here.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works,” she grumbled.
Daphne walked over to Evelyn and looped an arm with hers. “Clearly, you already know Alexander is the better option.” She steered Evelyn toward the front door. “It’s refreshing to see a woman not fall for Damien’s charms.”
“Someone finds him charming?” Evelyn asked.
“Against all odds, there have been rumors of it happening.”
“I can hear you!” Damien called from behind them.
“I know!” Daphne said.
Evelyn and Daphne strolled inside. Rory and Simon joined them, having just returned from Commander Magalie’s office.
I can smell lunch from here. I didn’t have a chance to eat breakfast in the chaos of this morning. No wonder I’m so jittery.
Lord Nicolas popped into the hallway. “Is that my darling Daphne?”
A huge smile spread over Daphne’s face. She dropped Evelyn’s arm and rushed to hug him.
“Gem of the kingdom,” Nicolas said affectionately, lifting her chin.
“Liar of the land,” Daphne teased. “I’m not the jewel you want.”
Nicolas lowered his voice conspiratorially. “Then tell your brother to stop fussing over the princess and visit the Vision Court.”
Laughter echoed out of the dining room where the lords had already gathered.
Daphne’s smile faltered. “Is my father here?”
Nicolas nodded. “Evelyn nearly tried to kill him a few days ago, though I didn’t catch why.”
Evelyn’s face reddened. “Damien wouldn’t let me. He said there were too many witnesses.”
Daphne seemed pleased by that and moved back to Evelyn’s side. “I think you and I will be great friends.”
“Well, that’s just what this world needs,” Damien said sarcastically, catching up to them. “A princess and a witch joining forces.”
Daphne scoffed. “Fuck you, Damien. At least make me a sorceress.”
“I never said you were the witch, sweet sister.” Damien winked and rested an arm around Evelyn’s shoulders.
Evelyn glared up at him. “I didn’t hit you hard enough earlier.”
Lady Nadine and Desirée joined them in the hall. Desirée’s gaze lingered too long on Rory as she passed him. When Evelyn checked on Rory, his eyes were also fixed on Desirée.
What is that all about?
Lord Stuart came out of the dining room with contempt etched on his face. “You’re early,” he said, like it was a crime.
What a nice way to greet your family.
Lady Nadine held her smile like a shield. “The girls were excited to get here.”
“You should have gone to the guest house.”
“They would have missed lunch,” Damien argued.
Lord Stuart noticed Evelyn tucked at Damien’s side and sneered. “Tell me, Princess, do you plan on being that friendly with all of the Royal Army or just the officers?”
That was exactly the wrong thing to say after what happened this morning. But Lord Stuart probably knows that.
Damien drew his sword. A heartbeat later, Rory and Simon did the same.
Lord Stuart grinned like it was a game he was winning. “Did I say something wrong?”
Desirée had already retreated behind the guards, and Nicolas was slowly backing Daphne away.
“Damien!” his mother hissed. “Put your sword down before you get somebody killed!”
“That’s the whole point,” Damien growled, his unblinking stare focused on his father.
It was Lord Stuart’s complete lack of concern that infuriated Evelyn even more than the insult.
He thinks he’s untouchable… but he’s right. Even Damien can’t kill a lord in the palace without justification. Lord Stuart knows his words didn’t cross the line far enough.
Evelyn pivoted to face Damien, her back to Lord Stuart. She whispered low enough so only Damien could hear her. “Not here, not today.”
The rage in Damien’s eyes diminished only slightly. But Evelyn held her ground and Damien sheathed his sword.
Condescension dripped from Lord Stuart. “Isn’t it nice that you have a princess to protect you?”
Evelyn whirled toward him. “After tomorrow, this palace will be mine, and you will not be welcome here.”
“We’ll see.” Lord Stuart grabbed Lady Nadine’s arm with more force than necessary and led her into the dining room.
Damien took Evelyn’s hands. “I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” she told him. “Thank you for protecting me.”
He grimaced. “You shouldn’t need protection from a lord.”
Evelyn glanced around. Nicolas and Daphne were talking quietly. Rory was checking on Desirée, while Simon flipped his sword absentmindedly.
“Damien,” Evelyn whispered.
“Yes?”
“Promise me you will kill him eventually.”
His eyes widened in shock. “You were upset with me about the man this morning.”
“I’m not sure that asshole deserved to lose his head. But I think your father probably does.”
Damien stared at her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“Because you are the only one willing to say that out loud.”
What is in his eyes? Confusion? Hope? Anger? Love?
“Evelyn! There you are,” Leo said, appearing in the hallway.
Evelyn gently pulled her hands out of Damien’s grasp.
“I see our guests have started to arrive. Hello, Daphne, Desirée.” Leo smiled at each sister and received curtsies in response. He gave Evelyn a quick kiss. “Why are we all in the hallway?”
“Just talking before lunch starts,” she explained.
Damien whispered something to Nicolas, who nodded before leading Daphne into the dining room. Then Damien escorted Desirée to lunch. Leo and Evelyn were alone in the hall, other than her guards.
“Did I miss something?” Leo asked.
“Lord Stuart put everyone on edge,” Evelyn said.
“That makes sense. He can be… difficult.”
She gaped at him. “Difficult? That’s what you’re going with?”
“What would you call him?”
“Antagonistic? Misogynistic? Manipulative? Cruel?”
“Keep your voice down,” Leo said, moving her farther from the door. “He’s a lord.”
“Isn’t there something you can do about that?”
“Why would I?”
“Because he’s a horrible person!”
Leo sighed. “I can’t remove someone from their own court just because you don’t like them.”
“This isn’t some petty disagreement, Leo! You know he—”
“I know he is the Lord of the Auditory Court. Anything beyond that is none of my business.”
Evelyn blinked. “Are you kidding? Damien is your friend!”
“And he can handle his own problems. I don’t know why you are getting involved in someone else’s family drama.”
“Because Damien’s sisters are terrified! Don’t you care?”
“There’s nothing I can do.”
“You haven’t even tried. You’re the king!”
“That doesn’t mean I get to do whatever I want.”
“I told Lord Stuart he wouldn’t be welcome in the palace after tomorrow.”
Leo groaned. “Evelyn, you can’t do that.”
She took a step back from him. “I just told you that I don’t feel safe having him in our home. And instead of asking me why, you’re telling me I don’t have a choice. Did I hear that right?”
“Lord Stuart isn’t going to do anything to you. I know he made you mad the other day and you joked about wanting to hurt him, but—”
“I wasn’t joking! Damien knows that.”
Leo rubbed his temples. “We’re late for lunch.”
“So?”
“So, everyone is here for us. Please, let’s go sit down. We can talk later.”
I am really hungry.
“Fine,” Evelyn agreed. “But we aren’t done.”
She followed Leo into the dining room and they took their seats. Unsurprisingly, only Lord Robert was in a good mood during lunch.
“My family will be here tonight!” He beamed. “It’s been too long since children have run around this palace. Although that may change soon enough now.” Lord Robert winked in Evelyn’s direction, and she could’ve toasted marshmallows using the heat radiating off her cheeks.
“Gods help us. Robert, they aren’t even married yet,” Lord Grégory chided.
“I think we’ve rushed them enough without interfering with that,” Lord Nicolas added.
“The king will need legitimate heirs, though, won’t he?” Lord Stuart smirked.
“I don’t believe this discussion needs a quorum, gentlemen,” King Tristan said firmly.
“I’m sorry,” Leo whispered to Evelyn, who was too mortified to speak.
I’m not the only one. Hannah looks like she would rather die than stay in this room any longer. I don’t blame her.