Chapter Seventeen – Kalon #2
“Yes, Your Highness. If not, she should be in her bedroom.”
I stood and pushed away from my desk. “I should greet her, don’t you think?”
Hayes dropped his chin to his chest and peered over at me. “Are you upset she wasn’t outside to accept your wyvern?”
“Upset? When have I ever been upset, Hayes?” I shot him a cold look and walked out of the door. “Mind your words before I cut out your tongue.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“The offering isn’t a custom known outside of Stein, so I’ll forgive it.” I adjusted the collar of my jacket. “Don’t you think it’ll be far more entertaining to offer her something even bigger at the Royal Hunt in a couple of weeks? We can put on a nice show.”
“Your Highness, you will upset the Empress,” Ark warned me.
“I’ve been upsetting her since I could talk and see no need to change that now. You know how I feel about consistency.”
“Of course.”
I smiled.
How amusing.
I could scarcely believe that Alicia was making me come to her. I’d only ever yielded to two people in my life—my mother when she’d been alive and my father. Yet, this strange woman was drawing me in like a moth to a flame.
What a peculiar feeling.
The maid standing outside the door dropped into a curtsey as soon as she saw me. “Welcome back, Your Highness.”
I frowned. “Who are you?”
“My name is Bella. I’m Lady Alicia’s lady-in-waiting.”
That explained why I’d never seen her before. “Is my fiancée in her office?”
“Yes, Your Highness, but she’s requested that nobody disturb her.”
“There’s no place in this castle I cannot go,” I said harshly, grabbing the door handle.
Bella squeaked. “She’s taking a nap!” she blurted out, then quickly covered her mouth with her hands.
Hayes coughed to cover up his laugh.
“She’s doing what?” I asked. “She’s sleeping?”
Bella squeezed her eyes shut. “She worked late yesterday, then woke early as the castle was so busy.”
“Ark.” I looked at him. “Tell the staff to work more quietly near her bedroom.”
He bowed his head.
“Oh, I didn’t mean—” Bella pressed her lips together. “She’s been working quite hard, Your Highness, and complained of a headache before she dismissed everyone. Do not disturb my lady, I beg of you.”
“She’s right,” Hayes said. “She’s extremely dedicated to this project.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t disturb her.” I eyed Bella. “I see why she brought you along. You’re a loyal maid.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Hayes, go and see to the returning knights and get the debrief from Sir Emmett. Ark, bring me my letters to respond to. And you,” I said to Bella. “Take a break. It seems you’ve earnt one.”
Three murmurs of agreement came from them, and I quietly pulled open the office door. The room looked remarkably different from the last time I’d come in here, and the musty smell it’d previously held had been replaced by the scent of fresh flowers that were prevalent in decoration.
So, she liked flowers.
There wasn’t an inch of dust that remained on the bookshelves, and the once-empty desk was covered with envelopes and papers. Even the floor and coffee table held remnants of her work, and I smiled despite myself when I saw the scrunched-up paper balls in various spots around the room.
And in the middle of it all was the woman herself, lying on the sofa, fast asleep and completely oblivious to my presence.
She really was beautiful. It was no wonder that she was the most coveted woman in the capital—even the marquess had seemed relieved he no longer had to fend off useless marriage proposals after I’d approached him.
“This hair,” I murmured, lightly brushing a thick lock of the golden-brown strands away from her eyes.
Eyes that, when she awoke, I knew would be the most dazzling emerald green.
They were what had captivated me at the ball. Those green eyes, so full of life, yet when they met mine, they shone with inexplicable hostility.
I had to know why. Our paths had never crossed, so what possessed her to hate me so vehemently before we’d ever shared a word?
I collected a blanket from the storage footstool in the corner and unfolded it. The door creaked open, and I turned to see Ark holding a small box. I pressed one finger to my lips and gently laid the blanket down over Alicia, then retrieved the box from him.
“A letter has arrived from Aerwyna for you. It’s on top of the others,” Ark whispered.
“Thank you. Make sure nobody disturbs us.”
He bowed and backed out of the room, closing the door almost silently.
“Haa.” I exhaled, sitting on the couch opposite Alicia with the box of letters.
It was completely quiet here.
Yes—this was much better than sitting in my own office where I’d be bothered by everyone.
I took off my jacket and laid it over the back of the sofa, then picked up the letter with Aerwyna’s seal on and opened it.
Your Highness,
I request to be notified when you return from your expedition. There is something important you must know about Lady Alicia, and it is most urgent.
I frowned and looked over the top of the letter at Alicia. There was only one thing Aerwyna would need to notify me about, and that would be if Alicia possessed mana.
But the only mana the Vermillions used was a sword aura, and the only one who had use of that power right now was her father—and no woman in history had ever wielded it in their bloodline.
So what could Aerwyna need to tell me?