Chapter 29
The familiar sound of Lys’s metal boots echoed through the empty corridor as we walked toward the king’s chambers. Bathed and with his arm wrapped in clean bandages, there was no visible sign of pain or discomfort on Lys at all.
Although the wound had been deep, it had not been life-threatening, so the healer had only cleaned it and wrapped it in fresh gauze.
Still, the moment of fear I had felt when I saw him bloodied on the floor was not something I could merely discard. No matter how much I tried to ignore him, or turn him into nothing more than a shadow destined to follow me, Lysande would always be something more.
“Princess.”
The king’s royal guards bowed deeply as soon as they saw me.
“Gerto and Tis, I pray you are well?” I asked them. “I hope your service is treating you kindly.”
A smile crease-lines appeared on Gerto’s older face, the kind that only years of service could carve there.
Both of them had been there since I was just a little girl, sneaking away from my governesses and trying to slip into my father’s chambers.
Countless times, it had been those two who took me by the hand and led me in to see the king.
“Thank you for asking, Princess. May our king be protected for many long years,” he answered before his gaze shifted past me.
“Royal Blood Knight.”
Both of them nodded toward Lys before returning their attention to me.
“The king is waiting for you, Princess.”
They opened the heavy stone doors and stepped aside. I smiled at them once more before turning toward Lys.
“Wait here for me, please.”
With my hands folded behind my back, I stepped into the chambers I had entered countless times before.
My father was seated at a table overflowing with papers and scrolls. His crown rested at the edge of the desk, and the scented candles had long since gone out.
The only thing left in the room now was the strong smell of ink, a smell I had never particularly been fond of, not even when I was that same little girl.
Deep lines from years of worry and leadership sat across his forehead, and his grey hair fell down to his ears. When he heard me come in, he looked up and smiled.
“Isolde, my darling.” He rose from his chair with his open arms flecked with ink, and I ran straight into them. No matter how many summers I had lived through, I was still his little girl. He held me tightly, kissed my forehead, and then gently cupped my face in both hands.
“Ah, look at you, daughter. You’re glowing,” he said proudly. “It seems your new company is doing you good.” He laughed softly.
“It’s summer, Father. I go outside more often,” I answered.
“Yes, yes...” He lifted his brows, but then his expression softened. “We haven’t seen each other in weeks. I’ve been occupied, especially with everything concerning your knight...”
“I understand, Father,” I cut him off, and he sat back down again while I moved to stand across from him behind the desk. “There’s no need to explain anything to me.” He nodded and smiled faintly again.
“I’ve decided to hold a ball in your honor. I believe you’ve already heard.” At that, I pressed my lips together and began picking at a hangnail with my thumbnail. No matter how much the others tried to assure me otherwise, the king’s word was still the final word. I forced myself to speak.
“Tell me, Father.”
“I thought that after everything that happened at the tournament, it just wasn’t up to the standard you deserve, daughter. I want you to have a day that is truly yours. I want you to have fun and enjoy yourself,” he said as he pressed his seal into the wax.
He lifted the scroll and blew on it gently to cool it.
“I don’t understand. This ball isn’t to secure me a proper marriage?” I asked, confused.
“Of course not,” he answered, equally confused by the idea.
“Where would you even get that thought? I only want you to have fun, to dance, and to meet the other nobles from the different kingdoms. Of course, if you happen to like someone, we can consider a union, but I won’t force you into anything.”
He rolled up another scroll while a second one dried beside it.
“The ball will be on your birthday, and I’ve already invited all the royals and nobles of the entire realm.” He stacked the scrolls onto a thin golden tray decorated with birds and flowers.
“So that’s all it is?” I asked again, though relief was already spreading through my chest.
“Of course, Isolde. I would never do that to you. We only had to marry off your sister because of the instability that struck us ten years ago, and believe me, that is a decision that breaks my heart every single day. I do not wish to repeat that in the same way again.”
He stood once more, set his crown on his head, and called out, “Servant!” A young man entered the room, keeping his eyes lowered the entire time. “Take these invitations to our messengers. They know what to do,” he said, gesturing toward the tray before turning back to me.
“Come.” He opened his arms again, and I fell once more into his embrace. “But if you find some prince on a white horse, I won’t stop you,” he said, pinching my cheek.
“Father, no,” I said like a child, and he laughed deeply. “Now come on, you have duties, and I still need to finish all of this.” He gestured towards the papers as he returned to his desk.
I smiled at him, bowed, and knocked for the guards to open the door.
“Good day to you two,” I said to them as I passed by them “Farewell, Princess,” they answered with a hint of kindness they always kept hidden for me.
“Come,” I said to Lys, who had been watching me the entire time with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
“Is everything alright I pray?” he surprised me by asking once we had moved a little farther away in the hallway.
I shrugged. “The king wants to hold a ball for my birthday. He invited all the royals of this realm.”
Something crossed his face, though I couldn’t make out what. He only gave a quiet “Hm,” and took another small step closer to me, all the way until we were near my chambers.