Chapter 16 #3
“That’s correct,” Queen Noemi clipped, losing some of that softness when she addressed Eiko.
The bitch was playing favourites already, and Eiko couldn’t even blame her.
The differences between her and Rion were startling.
“You will exemplify a new standard of royal woman: one who is exceptional in her role as a member of this family, a member of court, and one who is exceptional in her role as protector of this city. You will be expected to excel in both roles, however … impossible they may seem.” Her stare burned into Eiko.
“You will have a month before your engagement is made public, but people will begin to gossip long before that, so failure is simply not an option. We cannot afford the embarrassment or the scandal.”
How had this been turned around so fast? How was Queen Noemi suddenly speaking to them as though they had come to her, begging to be married? And these were her terms, should she be prevailed upon to accept? What in the dark was happening?
Welcome to court, Hymn said. While you were learning to tie your boot laces, these people were learning every possible method of manipulation to get exactly what they want.
So much for equal, free education across the regions, Eiko muttered back. I could have used that class.
“We would never try to bring speculation on the royal family,” Rion promised.
“It’s settled then.” Queen Noemi stood, smoothing out her gown. There were gemstones set into her rings, and even more sparkling across her bracelet. More still dangling from her ears.
Eiko’s curiosity was piqued.
She knew she was being sold like livestock, but those were some really nice earrings.
The princes were both handsome—though a little scowly. Maybe she could make this work if she could get along with one of them, if she could grow to love one of them.
A staff to manage sounded quite nice, actually. A spattering of gemstones sounded even nicer. A nice, cushy room in Brightfort? A convenient excuse to escape Chasin’s brutal training whenever she wanted?
Sorry, Commander. My husband—the prince—needs me. You know the prince? Your brother? Yes, I’m a royal now too. Want to try poisoning my coffee and pushing me around again? I’m sure my husband—the prince—won’t like the sound of that. Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Uh, Eiko? Hymn interrupted her fantasy. Is this the start of a breakdown or something?
Probably.
“Great,” Corvan drawled sarcastically. “All settled then, Mother?”
“Enough,” King Grigori snapped, turning away from the window, his tone sharpening again. “Why don’t you choose one of the girls to take for a stroll around the gardens, Corvan?” It didn’t seem like a suggestion.
Eiko stared at the golden prince—a grown man with a monster of his own, the crown prince—being bullied by his father, and it only increased her fear of the King of All. It immediately reminded her of Cairn. The lone guard on the Kingsweep. The man with the cane, whom they had all underestimated.
Appearances weren’t everything, and the king’s absolute sway over the people around him, who should have had power in their own right, spoke volumes.
Corvan approached the couch, and it was no surprise that he didn’t even look at Eiko. He stopped before Rion and held out his hand, tempering his scowl somewhat for her benefit. “Miss Shulin,” he said. At least he knew her last name.
Rion placed her hand in his, and he gently helped her up, steering her from the room. Some of the tightness eased from Eiko’s chest when the oldest prince didn’t immediately take out his anger on Rion. He kept it squarely where it belonged.
“Can that one even walk the grounds?” King Grigori asked offhandedly, slapping Ceran on the back as he strode for the door. “Keep me updated on her training, will you? Chasin isn’t the best at communication, and I’m too busy to walk to the damn Godsguard barracks every morning.”
The king left without even glancing at her, the queen following. The attendants filed out.
Ceran finally emerged from his shadowed corner, a sigh on his lips as he walked to the chaise opposite where she sat. He sank into a seat, his long, graceful fingers scraping down his handsome face.
“He meant it,” he said. “My father—he meant what he said about wanting to stay informed. Don’t let all his bluster fool you: He’s utterly obsessed with that monster you’re hiding away.”
Eiko’s brow furrowed. That was … awfully candid.
“You truly have no way out of this, I hope you realise.” Ceran dipped forward, muscled arms notching on his knees, as he examined her face.
He didn’t try to catch her eyes but surveyed her like he didn’t need to guard himself or attempt any facade of politeness.
What was the use when she couldn’t see him?
“I had gathered that, Your Grace.”
“Ceran,” he corrected with another sigh. “Might as well get on a first-name basis, don’t you think?”
She nodded hesitantly.
“Do you know what this is?” he asked, leaning back again, his eyes drifting down to her hands, to the thin gold lace that streaked her skin.
He was wearing gloves, his own lace hidden.
“This, as in—”
“This union, this marriage.”
“He wants my power in his bloodline?” Eiko gave him the answer as a question, unsure if she was supposed to play along with the queen’s game or not.
Ceran’s firm lips quirked into a small smile.
He really was very handsome. Strong but delicate features, his gold colouring dulled to a darker, more russet tone.
Up close, she thought it made him more beautiful than Corvan.
The dark gold of his hair deepened to ruby in patches, only in the light.
His eyes were also a deeper gold than the almost-metallic sheen of his older brother and father.
They appeared a wonderful, faceted chestnut, burnished copper in the light.
He would have been almost too pretty, if not for the strong line of his brow, the dark slashes of his eyebrows, and the harsh set of his mouth—though it softened a little when he smirked.
“So you do see,” he drawled. “In some ways, at least. Why don’t we just speak plainly, Eiko?”
“Fine.” She didn’t even stop to consider if it was wise.
“Then if you really must know, I’m a lowborn from Stonesigh.
I wasn’t raised in preparation for a fancy, arranged marriage.
I was raised thinking I would find a mountain boy I loved and we would live out our days raising little mountain children. ”
“But mountain boys don’t have gold castles,” he joked, a little twinkle in his eyes.
He wasn’t teasing her—there was a note of self-deprecation in the way he spoke.
“I knew my wife would be picked for me.” He paused.
“I’ve resented it. Every single day … but …
” He shrugged lightly. “This is less boring than I anticipated.”
“What did you anticipate?”
“Someone like my mother. Someone who never says what they mean. Someone who couldn’t understand what it’s like to march with a battalion and fear that you may not return.”
“I wasn’t aware the Kingsguard actually … did anything,” she admitted.
He scoffed. “Thought we were all pompous little snobs, didn’t you?”
“I’m sure there are a few pompous little snobs. Admit it. You know one.”
His lips twitched almost unwillingly. “His name is Gaylon.” He shook his head, thinking something over for a moment before he said, “My brother is an idiot.”
She couldn’t help herself. “Which one?”
“The one who overlooked you and chose your friend.” He eyed her. “He always did have terrible taste.”
Eiko’s lips parted instinctively, but she managed to bite back her retort just in time. He was only trying to pay her a compliment. Perhaps he thought this was what ladies wanted to hear: that they were superior to their closest and dearest friends.
Doubtful.
But surely there was another reason. He was too charming for her to believe otherwise.
He tugged a timepiece from his pocket and then stood. “I have a few things to attend to, but may I walk you back to the barracks?”
Her heart did a little flop, which made no sense. Her heart didn’t flop. She wasn’t a flopper.
And she already had a lover … sort of thing.
Shit.
Ren.
Had she really been fantasising about gems and handsome princes only a few minutes ago?
She needed to talk to Ren.