Kingdom Cold

by Brittni Chenelle

  It didn't help that Young spent weeks at a time away from the castle. Now that Drethen had retreated out of our territory, he'd helped rebuild the northern castle and set out across the kingdom to recruit and train new troops for Besmium. He seemed to be acclimating nicely to his new role and gaining the trust of the queen and the rest of the council, but more importantly, it left Charlotte mostly to me.

  There was a clear line between the thoughts I had about Charlotte and what I could share. I knew what was at stake. I knew that if I slipped, I'd destroy my brother. I hadn't so much as hinted to Charlotte how I felt, but I had begun to admit to myself that I had feelings for her. Feelings I never had before, and each day they became more difficult to bury.

  One afternoon, Charlotte arrived waving a leather-bound book over her head.

  "It's here!" she said, the brightness of her smile filling me with warmth.

  I reached out to touch her face but caught myself and ran my hand through my hair instead. "Your favorite? Dragon's Breath?" I said, trying to match her enthusiasm.

  "The Dragon's Call," she said, sitting beside me. "Which means that your brother could be back today or tomorrow." Her leg touched mine as she grinned, her eyes dimming as she wandered through some hidden memory. She always looked that way when she thought of my brother. My cheeks burned hot and I lay back on my bed.

  Charlotte leaned over me. “Are you okay?” She put her hand to my head and a jolt of energy shot through me. The urge to touch her was maddening.

  Her eyes widened. “I’ll fetch the doctor.” She stood, but I grabbed her wrist.

  “Wait! There’s no need for that. I just need to rest a moment.”

  She sat down again and, in a moment, the dreamy, far away look returned to her face.

  I was happy my brother was returning, wasn’t I? It was just that my time with Charlotte was nearing its end. I spent three months in recovery, three months with Charlotte, and if I was being honest, my strength had nearly returned. Still, I remained bedridden, too afraid to break from this routine. Even so, this time with her didn't seem like it would be enough for me much longer.

  I sat up and put my hand down flat on top of the book. "How about we forget the book today. I think some fresh air will do me some good. Why don't we go outside and I'll show you how to use that dagger you love so much?"

  "Really?" She beamed. It may have been the spell she cast on me, but I loved the way she lit up about things, like she'd had a hard year and looked for any excuse to be happy.

  The temperature in Besmium had dropped a lot in the last couple months. The air was crisp and refreshing—too cold if you weren't moving much. But this was combat training and in the midday sun, I knew we'd be alright.

  "Huah!" Charlotte swept the dagger through the air.

  "Better, but your stance is still too weak," I said. I positioned myself behind her and kicked her left foot out, widening her stance. Then I pushed down on her waist, lowering her center of gravity.

  "Ahh," she said, "I feel it. That's better."

  I went to release her, to fix the form on her arms, but couldn't let go. Had I planned this the entire time? Was this whole combat idea an excuse to touch her? A practice swing of her dagger brought me back to reality.

  "Yes, exactly," I said, recovering. "Remember, you'll typically be fighting someone taller than you, so swipe up at this angle," I said, thrusting my dagger upwards.

  I stepped away and stared down at the ground. Disappointment seared into me. What was I doing?

  "Is everything okay?" Charlotte asked, noting my obvious mood change.

  I nodded. "Yeah, just tired is all. Maybe I pushed myself too hard." I lied. I needed to get over this—to forget about her.

  A few months ago, I encouraged Young to return to Vires and to leave Charlotte here. I'd told him to spend the night with a few other women and he'd forget all about her. The better man had already won. Perhaps it was time I returned to Vires—I chuckled. Or spend the night with a few women.

  "Milly!" Charlotte called, interrupting my thoughts. Charlotte ran over to a pretty, yellow-haired servant girl and threw her arms around her.

  "Prince Minseo!" Charlotte said, turning to me. "Come meet my friend Milly."

  A servant girl? Back in Vires, I would have never even considered it, but I was desperate to let go of Charlotte and this was the only idea I had. "Milly, is it?" I took her by the hand and kissed it.

  Chapter 37

  Prince Young

  THE MORE TIME I SPENT in Besmium, the more I learned there were still troops throughout the kingdom, but they were poorly organized. Teams of troops patrolled Hiems Castle and weren’t reassigned after the Drethen army broke through. The borders seemed too big for the number of available troops, and the contact between outposts was infrequent. The council delegated most of the travel work to my men and me while Charlotte stayed at Castle Cadere to watch over Minseo. In just three months, we'd begun to put the pieces of Besmium back together, but I missed Charlotte when I was away.

  Captain Leon dismounted his horse and tied it next to my camp near Hiems. "Your Highness, a letter came for you."

  My stomach dropped. Charlotte. One thing I'd learned in this kingdom was that no news was good news. I tore open the letter, my fear spilling onto the wrinkled parchment.

  Prince Young,

  I hope this letter finds you well. The council and I are very pleased with your work around the kingdom, and as such, have decided to bring forward the coronation next week as planned. Your father, the King of Vires, has been made aware and set out early last week. He is expected to arrive in the next few days with your mother, the queen. Your eldest brother will not be in attendance.

  Sincerely,

  Her Royal Highness, the Queen of Besmium

  I exhaled relief. It was good news. I looked up from the letter to find Leon biting his bottom lip. I laughed. "It seems we've both been conditioned to expect bad news." I handed him the letter. "Worry not, my friend. There's to be a party."

  Leon skimmed the letter then grinned. "Home at last."

  It had been a no-brainer for me to select Leon as my right hand; he had proven himself a loyal warrior and gained my trust. However, it took several months to realize just how good a choice he'd been. With each visit to an outlying outpost, it became increasingly obvious that not all the soldiers felt comfortable being led by a foreign prince. Selecting Leon had sent two distinct messages to the kingdom. One, I didn't intend on favoring the Viran soldiers. And two, I had Besmium's best interest in mind. The counsel admired my political know-how, but I didn't feel I deserved their praise—I'd chosen based on trust, not politics.

  It felt good to be returning. Home was the southern castle now. I'd always assumed we'd eventually return to the northern castle, but it was still undergoing repairs. After seeing it in my travels, I had a hard time believing that Charlotte or I would ever want to move back there. It was a mausoleum—littered with the memories of the massacre that still lingered within each cracked stone.

  A few days later, my company arrived at the southern castle. Trumpets sounded as we rode up to a red-carpeted entrance framed by several lines of soldiers. Poised to attention, they formed a path to the palace like brightly-colored statues. It was a stark contrast from arriving here surrounded by Emmett's men.

  I dismounted my horse and hastened in. I had to see Minseo. Charlotte had written me, explaining that he was doing well, but I had to see it with my own eyes. I sprang up the grand staircase and hurried straight for my brother's chamber. A Viran guard stood outside his door. As I neared the chamber, I heard the muffled sound of a woman's cries. I gulped. It was a sound I'd heard outside Minseo's chamber before, back in Vires. Once I'd forced Charlotte to replicate it. In fact, it sounded exactly the same.

  I backed away from the door as I tried to swallow the horrible thought before it manifested, but it was too late. My mind replayed the moment Charlotte first met Minseo, the glimmer in her eye. A sharp pang of fury to
re through my body, my temperature comparable to the sun's surface. I gripped at the air, stumbling mindlessly to my chamber. Tears stung my eyes as the wind departed from my lungs with no hope of returning. I pushed open the door with far too much force and slammed it shut behind me. How could she? I leaned back against the door and slid down to a seated position, burying my face in my hands.

  "Young?" Charlotte's soft voice called from the other side of the chamber.

  I exhaled a taste so sweet that the Viran persimmons would've been envious. I sat frozen in a perfect world before allowing the guilt I'd earned to settle in.

  "You're back!" Charlotte said, running toward me. She got to her knees and nuzzled her head under my arm, forcing it around her. "Are you okay?"

  Overcome with relief, I pulled Charlotte onto my lap and hugged her. She froze as if she'd expected me to pull away, as I’d done many times while I was getting to know her.

  However, today was different. I'd doubted her, and I'd doubted my brother. That thought alone meant I didn't deserve them, but for the moment it didn't matter. Sometimes terrible things happened that no one deserved, so why shouldn't the opposite be true once in a while?

  Chapter 38

  Prince Minseo

  I FELT DISGUSTING. Now, it was painfully obvious that Milly would never be able to help me forget about Charlotte. Milly was too easily convinced. She hung on my every word and breathed truth into my every lie. Despite the impossibility of the words I told her, she lay beside me gazing into my eyes with a girlish grin. I turned over, unable to look at her any longer. Every moment with her only made me miss Charlotte more. My body ached with longing, an unquenchable thirst. This was not the outcome I had planned, but it hadn't been for nothing. Milly made me certain of something—I only wanted Charlotte.

  I couldn't dress fast enough. Without a word, I hurried out of my chamber, leaving my mistake behind in my bed. I needed to be alone to think. Had I been wrong all this time? Women had always been interchangeable in my world, so why couldn't I trade Charlotte for Milly and feel satisfied? Unless. I stopped. Turned. This time headed for Charlotte's chamber.

  It was unlikely that she felt the same way. I knew that. I just couldn't kill the seed of hope that grew within.

  My heartbeat doubled my footsteps as I pushed open the door to Charlotte's chamber. A surge of energy exploded through me. This was it.

  My stomach clenched as I stood face to face with a part of the plan that I hadn't considered.

  "Brother," Young shouted, his eyes beamed excitement. He laughed, throwing his arms around me. "It's good to see you on your feet again." He nudged me with his elbow, waking me from my trance-like state.

  I faked a laugh, noting his mischievous smile. Ah, Milly. "Yes, yes. That's what the real thing sounds like." I felt bile rise up in the back of my throat. I'd already forgotten about Milly. I didn't like that Young knew about it, though he probably didn't know it was Milly in my bed this morning. I hoped she'd left my chamber by now. "So, I take it you've been back for a while," I said, forcing my attention back to Young.

  "Just a few minutes. I went to see you first, but you were busy. Glad to see you're back to your old self."

  I smiled, my gaze stealing quick glances around the room, looking for Charlotte.

  "Actually, brother," Young said, "you don't look that well after all." He reached out and touched my forehead with the back of his hand. "You're a bit warm. Your cheeks are flushed, and if I'm not mistaken, you're quite a bit less talkative than usual."

  I laughed. "This is the glow of a job well done," I said with a conscious effort not to picture Milly. "Has our father arrived yet?"

  "Not yet, but any minute now."

  "And your—" I knew the word. Wife. But my mouth wouldn't say it. "Charlotte?" I said.

  "You just missed her. She went to see the queen."

  I put my hands on my hips, hoping to relieve the heaviness that plagued my arms.

  Young patted me on the back. "Well, I hope you cheer up before the party tomorrow. You're more than a bit depressing today." He turned to leave the chamber. "I'm off to bathe and rest a bit before father arrives."

  I felt like a spy. Every passing thought was a betrayal of my brother. I shouldn't have allowed myself to feel this way about Charlotte—his wife—but I was a man in love, and my brother was just a boy with a crush; a boy who'd faked the consummation of his marriage. What did he know about the depths of adult love? Besides, she would surely reject my feelings, and when that time came—I'd surrender.

  I stood alone in my brother's chamber for a moment before springing back to life. Parchment. I scoured the room to find some. Now that Young had returned, it would be difficult for me to get Charlotte alone to tell her how I felt. I'd write her a letter and slip it to her in passing. I just needed parchment. I didn't find any on the desk and started hopelessly pulling open drawers.

  "Guards! Help, there's a thief in my chamber."

  I turned to see Charlotte standing with her hands on her hips. She smiled playfully. My stomach dropped. This was my chance.

  Chapter 39

  Princess Charlotte

  "UH, HEY PRINCESS," Minseo said, dropping something made from dark fabric into the open drawer beside him.

  "Is there something I can help you find?" I asked, noting the disarray of my desk.

  "Parchment," he sighed.

  What was he doing here? I walked over to my cabinet and opened it, exposing four drawers inside. I peeked in the first and found nothing. I wondered what he’d say if I started going through his things. I slid open the second drawer and pulled out a blank piece of parchment. "Just one?" I called over my shoulder.

  "Yes."

  My heart leaped as Minseo's voice came from directly behind me. I hadn't heard him cross the room. I turned, handing him the parchment, instinctually backing up into the cabinet.

  "Thank you, Princess."

  I'd spent a considerable amount of time with Minseo over the last few months, enough to know something was off. He reminded me a bit of Young, despite what I’d originally thought. I closed the cabinet and slipped out from between it and Minseo.

  "Is there anything else?" I said, trying to ease the tension.

  "Actually, yes," he replied while pushing his hand back through his hair. "I—" He stopped. His eyes glistened like something lay hidden behind them. In a blink, it was gone. "I wondered if we were going to get the chance to finish that book. The dragon one."

  A wave of relief washed over me. "Oh, right." I wandered over to my desk and picked up the leather-bound book. "Here," I said, handing it to him.

  He took the book but lingered a few seconds too long. He laughed. "I can't do this." He shook his head and traces of the Minseo I knew returned. "I'll write it then," he said. "When the words come, I'll write it." He turned and started walking toward the door.

  I followed. “Minseo? Is everything—”

  He closed the door between us. Odd.

  As I straightened up the things that he'd displaced, I thought about the cause of his strange behavior. Had he still felt ill? My heart sank. I had seen him spending time with Milly; perhaps he'd developed feelings for her. I made a mental note to gently ask Milly about it, although if it were true, I had every reason to worry about her. My mouth dried with anxiety. No. I knew Milly better than anyone in the world. She'd never get involved with him. The feelings she had for Young were different, and I was certain she had put all that behind her by now.

  I hoped that things with us had gone back to normal—to the way they were before. On the surface, they looked normal enough, but there were things we hid from each other now, topics we never discussed. I was starting to wonder if I knew her at all.

  The next day, the King and Queen of Vires arrived. Young and Minseo had spent all morning and part of the afternoon with him, and I'd heard by rumor that they had brought along an unexpected guest.

  "She's beautiful," Glenda gushed. "A princess, all the way from Ryosun. That's
even farther than Vires."

  "Do you know why she's here?" I asked as Glenda laced the corset of my coronation dress. "For Minseo. The King of Vires is trying to arrange something."

  My thoughts flickered to Milly.

  "—the loveliest thing I've seen. Skin of porcelain and all," Glenda said as she tied the last of the ribbons.

  Curiosity clawed at my belly until, at last, we were finally introduced just outside of the chapel.

  I curtsied to the King of Vires. Nerves overtook me. I was used to meeting kings, but this was my new father-in-law. He was a small man compared to my father. His gentle, soft-looking skin and kind eyes matched his rather pleasant demeanor. The queen remained a step behind the king, but whenever he spoke, her gaze softened. I could tell in an instant that they were more united than my parents had been. Minseo's posture was slumped with disinterest, or perhaps he hadn't slept enough. He stood several paces away from the rest of his family—and the princess.

  That's when I saw her—the Princess of Ryosun. Pure white skin. Black waist-length hair that shone with every tilt of her head and flowed delicately with every move. Her eyes as dark and secret-filled as Young and Minseo's, and similar in shape.

  Young leaned closer and spoke in his kingdom's language. I'd never heard him use it before, not even when conversing with Minseo. The princess smiled shyly and bowed deeply to me—a bow only reserved for men in my kingdom.

  I found it difficult to look away. She moved gently—gracefully. Her agreeable nature and calm disposition lured in the gazes every man that passed. Despite my best effort, I was unable to stop comparing myself to her, my opposite in nearly every feature. She made me feel like a little girl again, how I’d admired the courtiers with their pink cheeks and rose-stained lips—with one difference. The sickening ache that radiated from the bottom of my stomach to my chest every time Young spoke to her. They shared similar cultures and language. Those were things I could never give him. I wondered if meeting the Princess of Ryosun had made him regret his choice.