Chapter 15 #2
He scoffed. “You were a tiny child. You didn’t even know what you were doing when you burned her. You were acting on immature impulse. It’s ridiculous they would hold a grudge over that.”
“Even so, she was permanently maimed because of it. I suppose it’s hard to let anger go when something that horrible happened, even if I was too young to fully understand what I was doing, but no matter.
” I straightened and infused another beat of positivity into my soul.
“I shall win them over. It’s just a matter of time, and everyone will see that I’m not a threat and can be quite pleasant to have around. ”
The energy in Kole’s aura increased, and when I glanced up at him, he was watching me, his look tender.
“Come,” he said, his voice low and deep.
He gestured for me to continue toward the ballroom, and since more voices carried to us from down the hall, he fell into step behind me as was customary of guards.
I kept my chin up, even though I was technically venturing to the ballroom alone since I couldn’t count Kole as my date. But by the time I reached the wide hallway to the grand room, despite my positive thoughts and self-reassurances, my palms were sweating.
It didn’t help that several House nobles already lined the walkway. To make matters worse, everyone stopped to stare at me.
Music carried into the hall from the ballroom, and I briefly admired the walkway’s beauty.
As was customary throughout the continent, the Wood had been welcomed into the palace.
Trees grew through the floor. Branches brushed across the ceiling and twisted within the architecture.
Colorful leaves of every shade fluttered in a light breeze coming in through an open high window, and vines of varying thickness climbed up the walls.
Flowers bloomed from each plant and perfumed the air with subtle scents. My academic mind buzzed, and I automatically catalogued each species as I breathed in a lungful of fragrant air.
To those I passed, I nodded and smiled, but then a whispered statement made me pause.
“Is that her?” an older female asked her friend behind a cupped hand.
“Yes, Lady Ryderdim, that’s Princess Primelle,” the friend replied.
I cocked my head and glided toward them. “Lady Ryderdim, did you say?”
Kole followed me, his aura hot at my back. Even though the warrior was entirely silent and moved like a predator, I still felt him everywhere I went.
As I neared her, Lady Ryderdim stiffened. She appeared to be of similar age to Lordling Fillingmore since her hair had entirely grayed, and deep wrinkles appeared permanently formed around her eyes.
Despite her age, she stood tall and regal, and from my studies, I knew her House had been in power during her entire lifetime, not like some of the other ten Houses, in which their leaders changed every few centuries.
Since kings changed the ten House leaders at a whim, such a thing wasn’t uncommon.
I stopped before the powerful House leader. “Have we met before? I’ve been told that some House nobles have already made my acquaintance, but of course, I was too young to remember if we did.”
She looked me up and down, her mouth pinched, but when her gaze alighted on the cuff upon my wrist, her stiff form loosened slightly.
“We have, Your Highness. My grandson is around your age. He played with you a few times when we were visiting the palace, and—” She cleared her throat but didn’t continue.
I smiled good-naturedly. “Let me guess? He did something to displease me, and a childish tantrum from me ensued, in which your grandson suffered from something I did to him with my magic?”
Her brow furrowed, and she studied me even more closely. “Do you remember him?”
I laughed, the sound carrying down the hall.
“No, not at all. I’m sorry to say that I don’t remember any of my time in the palace from my youngest summers.
But from what my mother’s told me, it was the common theme throughout my entire short seasons when I lived within these walls.
” I waved at the resplendent atmosphere.
“But I can assure you, that was a long time ago, and as I’m sure you appreciate, I was a tiny child.
I had no idea what I was doing, and thankfully, as I matured, I realized that and have learned to control my ways.
I can’t remember the last time I subjected someone to the full extent of my magic.
It’s been so long that I fear I’ve forgotten how.
” I laughed again, and Lady Ryderdim studied me even more closely, as though trying to determine if I was being truthful or taking her for a fool.
“Tell me, Princess Primelle, if you would be so kind as to appease me . . . Where have you been all of these summers?” Her gaze turned shrewd, her aura probing.
“Right here in the capital.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Here? In Whiteolf?”
“Indeed. I grew up in the Coswell District, but once I left for university, I moved farther north, into the Baefim District. I had my own apartment there and had been living there until . . .” I waved my hand at the palace. “Until I moved here.”
“The Baefim District is only several blocks from here.”
“It is.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You mean, you’ve lived among us all this time, and we never knew it?”
I shrugged. “I did, but I apologize if that makes you uncomfortable, although, in my defense, I had no idea that the entire kingdom once feared me. As I said, I’ve grown up since we last met.
I can assure you that I’m not a threat to you or anyone here.
I’m happy to carry on with the life I’ve created and have no desire to subject anyone to my magic.
It doesn’t suit me. I quite enjoy having free will and cannot imagine taking that from any other. ”
A frown tugged at her features, but she didn’t challenge my words, and if anything, she looked contemplative.
“Anyway, it was lovely to become reacquainted with you.” I clasped my hands behind my back. “Perhaps we can talk again later this evening, or if your grandson’s here, maybe you can reintroduce me to him?”
She dipped her head, that pensive look still upon her face. “Yes, I suppose I could do that. Good evening to you, Princess Primelle.”
I nodded in reply, and a thrill ran through me that I’d managed to thaw a bit of her icy exterior, but it wasn’t lost on me that as soon as I resumed my walk to the ballroom, she and her friend began whispering to one another again.
I could only hope their words weren’t too damning.
“Nicely done,” Kole said softly from behind me, and for the briefest moment, his palm met my lower back.
He did it quickly but removed his hand almost immediately.
To anyone who might have seen the gesture, it would have simply looked like my protective warrior was guiding me back to the hallway’s center, but I knew it for what it truly was.
It was reassurance, a touch of encouragement.
Even though everyone thought Kole was only here because he’d been assigned to be, I knew the truth. He wanted to be at my side, especially tonight of all nights.
“One down, nine to go,” I said quietly under my breath, then gave him a subtle wink beneath my lashes.
He chuckled softly but just as fast, smoothed his expression into his usual devoid mask.
Ahead, the guards opened the tall doors to the ballroom. They both bowed, and one said, “Welcome to your ball, Your Highness.”