Lady Alma

by A. G. Marshall

  Donna Senona looked significantly less pleased. She waited near the throne with a group of Merchant Guild leaders and their families. Mirella and Carlo were at the front of the group, their eyes wide and questioning. Martina and Rafael stood behind their children. Our neighbors looked even less pleased than Donna Senona although they were trying to hide it. The rest of the Merchant Guild looked indifferent.

  “Announcing Miss Alma, Donna Rosa, and Ensign Ethan,” the footman said.

  His voice snapped me back to the present. What was happening? I looked up to Lorenzo. He smiled at me. At all of us.

  “Welcome Miss Alma, Donna Rosa, and Ensign Ethan,” he said in a regal voice. “Please approach the throne.”

  The crowd whispered for a moment, then hushed in respectful silence as we walked across the room. I kept my eyes ahead. Or at least I tried to. I couldn’t help admiring the scenery and glancing at the nobles on either side of me. It was a very long way, and we moved slowly. Beside me, Rosa and Ethan looked as overwhelmed as I felt.

  The courtiers’ faces were polite but not friendly. My heart beat faster and faster, and I focused on breathing. Breathing and walking. I caught Mirella’s gaze as I passed her. She raised an eyebrow as a question, and I shook my head. I had no idea what was happening.

  We reached the throne, and Lorenzo nodded at us. Unsure what else to do, I knelt. It was the proper thing to do when presented to the king, and Lorenzo was acting king during his King’s Trial.

  Rosa and Ethan followed my example and knelt beside me. Lorenzo stood and addressed the crowd.

  “Loyal subjects, thank you for your attendance today. Last night, my life was put in danger by an assassin. If not for the bravery and loyalty of these three people, I would not be standing before you today.”

  The crowd gasped, and whispers filled the room. Lorenzo stood silent, waiting for everyone to quiet down. He looked regal in his royal robes. He even wore the king’s crown. The giant red rubies in it sparkled. After our adventure together, it was easy to forget he was the heir to the throne.

  Seeing him in the king’s regalia made him seem distant. A stranger.

  “Alma, you may rise.”

  He winked at me so quickly I might have imagined it. I stood.

  “In recognition of your outstanding service to the royal family and your country, I hereby grant you the title Donna Alma of Castana.”

  Oh.

  I stared at him, feeling a bit weak. I was a donna now? Just like that? Father beamed at me from beside the throne. We had planned for this for so long. I had wanted to be a donna my whole life.

  And now I had become one.

  I glanced at the council members and nobles around the room. We were equal now. I was equal with Rosa. The same rank as Donna Senona.

  Courtiers nodded politely, but they didn’t smile. Was that normal?

  People cheered whenever guilds admitted new members. Martina and Rafael had thrown a party for the entire Merchant Guild when Carlo passed his apprenticeship. Everyone was happy to have him.

  None of the nobles looked happy to have me.

  “Donna Rosa and Ensign Ethan, please rise.”

  They stood beside me. A guard offered an elaborate wooden box to Lorenzo. The prince took it and addressed the crowd.

  “Donna Alma, Donna Rosa, and Ensign Ethan saved my life last night. In recognition of their service to Castana, I present them with the Medal of the Rose, our highest honor.”

  Lorenzo stepped down from the dais. He took a medallion from the carved box and placed it around my neck. He leaned close, and for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me again. But he winked instead and moved on to Rosa.

  I ducked my head and studied the medallion. The intricate golden rose clinked against my fairy charm. It was beautifully made, like gold lace. Far nicer than any jewelry I had ever seen.

  Lorenzo gave Ethan a medal and returned to the throne.

  “Thank you again for your service to Castana. Please accept these medals as symbols of the royal family’s appreciation.”

  He gestured to the musicians. The trumpeters played a fanfare, and we walked back down the aisle. Nobles nodded at us as we passed. A few glared at Ethan. His face flushed until it matched the rubies in Lorenzo’s crown.

  As soon as we left the throne room, a footman motioned for us to stand beside the door. The nobles exited the throne room in a slow line. Most ignored us as they passed.

  “Are people usually this upset about an honor ceremony?” Ethan whispered.

  “You’re the first Salarian to receive the Medal of the Rose,” Rosa replied. “Some people don’t like change.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I didn’t let him make me a don.”

  I coughed.

  “Lorenzo was going to make you a don?”

  “He offered this morning, but I refused. I’d rather earn a title through the Salarian Navy.”

  Rosa nodded in agreement. I stared at Ethan as if he were crazy.

  Don Diego bowed to me as he left the throne room, and I curtsied. He took that as encouragement and kissed my hand. His mustache tickled.

  “Donna Alma, congratulations on your honors. Would it be impertinent of me to request a dance at your quince?”

  My quince. What would I do for my quince now that I was noble? Would I still have it at my house? Or would it be a celebration at the castle? Would Tía Teresa have time to make me a new dress, or would we need to remake an old one?

  Don Diego took my silence as a refusal and sighed.

  “It has been a pleasure to know you, Donna Alma. You are truly the reddest of roses.”

  His shoulders slumped as he followed his father out of the castle. I watched him go, unsure what to feel. A few days ago, my highest ambition had been to catch his attention. Now he considered me beyond his reach. He would have to look elsewhere for a wealthy bride.

  When all the nobles were gone, the Merchant Guild walked past. A few of Father’s friends smiled at us, but no one stopped to talk. Carlo wouldn’t meet my gaze. Mirella hurried towards me, but her mother grabbed her shoulder and pulled her away.

  Chapter 31

  Finally, everyone but Lorenzo, my family, and the Salarian delegation had left the room. Rosa, Ethan, and I hurried back towards the throne to speak with them.

  Lorenzo handed his crown to a guard and jumped off the dais. He picked me up and spun me around.

  “Well, Donna Alma? What do you think?”

  “This isn’t a ballroom,” I said with a laugh.

  “It is if there’s music,” Ethan said.

  He whistled a lively tune. Lorenzo set me down and danced a jig. I grinned and matched his steps.

  “That is enough, Alma.”

  Donna Senona stood with her hands on her hips. Father stood next to her, suppressing a smile.

  Lorenzo released me and bowed to them. Father returned the bow. Donna Senona didn’t curtsey. Lorenzo ignored her rudeness and focused on Father.

  “With your permission, sir, I would like Donna Alma to spend the afternoon in the castle. There are several important matters she needs to attend to.”

  Donna Senona’s scowl deepened, but Father nodded. Lorenzo grabbed my hand and pulled me from the room. We ran through the castle together.

  “You were right,” he said. “Your stepmother doesn’t like me.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Your portrait sitting, Donna Alma! Alessandro will have to hurry to have it ready in time for your quince.”

  He opened a carved door decorated with colorful roses. I groaned when I saw the endless staircase on the other side. We stood at the bottom, catching our breath before we started the climb.

  “Well, Just Alma? Were you surprised?”

  I waved the rose medallion at him.

  “That’s Donna Alma to you, sir. I can’t believe you gave me a title!”

  “You earned it. You saved my life, Donna Alma, and you deserve everything I can give.”

  “An
yone would have done the same. Rosa and Ethan helped.”

  His shook his head, and his eyes were serious.

  “Alma, I’ve lived my entire life dreading the moment someone would see me without my ring. I felt like a monster underneath the enchantment. But you. None of it mattered to you. I can’t thank you enough for that.”

  I wanted to tell him it was nothing, but that clearly wasn’t true. His eyes held a light I hadn’t seen before. A light that had nothing to do with fairy magic.

  Lorenzo stroked a strand of hair away from my face and leaned closer until our foreheads were touching. After a moment, he kissed my nose and stepped back.

  “Royal life isn’t all glamorous, you know.”

  I raised an eyebrow at him.

  “If you were a princess, for example, you would have responsibilities. You’d have to support the prince when he became king.”

  I nodded, still not sure what point he was making.

  “I can’t do anything until after your quince. No need to give your stepmother another reason to dislike me. That gives you time to think about it.”

  “I don’t care what she thinks. What are you trying to ask me, Lorenzo?”

  “Nothing at all. But I’d like to ask your father something after you’ve come of age. Once it’s proper to do so.”

  I stared at him.

  “Are you saying you want to call on me when I’m old enough?”

  “Are you saying you’d like me to?”

  I tried to breathe, but there wasn’t enough air in the stairwell. Finally, I managed to nod. Lorenzo’s grin widened.

  In that moment, I didn’t care what anyone thought. I didn’t care what was proper. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed Lorenzo’s lips. He smiled before he pulled away.

  “We’re going to be late for your portrait sitting if we don’t start climbing.”

  I eyed the stairs.

  “How far up does it go?”

  “Alessandro’s studio is in the highest tower of the castle.”

  “I hope you’re joking.”

  He laughed and started up the steps. I followed him with a sigh.

  A few minutes later, I gave up my hope that he was joking and leaned against the wall to catch my breath. My legs shook, and my vision blurred. Lorenzo watched me with concern. I blinked until he came into focus.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t usually have problems with stairs.”

  His eyes sparkled in the flickering torchlight, but he didn’t say anything. He just waited until I was ready.

  We started climbing again. I was determined to make it to the top this time, but I had to stop again a few moments later.

  “I’m just tired from last night,” I said. “That must be it.”

  This was ridiculous. Lorenzo had been stabbed last night, and I was the one who couldn’t make it up the stairs. Sweat beaded on my forehead. I wiped it away in disgust.

  “It might take time for you to adjust to the charm,” Lorenzo said. “Magic always has an effect.”

  I glanced at my fairy necklace. It sat hidden beneath the rose medallion.

  “Does your ring make you feel this weak?”

  He offered his hand and helped me as we continued to climb the stairs. I took his refusal to answer as confirmation.

  “Lorenzo, have you talked to the doctors about this? Maybe they could find a way to restore some of your strength.”

  “I’m used to it. You’ll adjust to the change after a while.”

  “But maybe they could-”

  “I’m fine, Alma.”

  I let go of his hand and climbed ahead, ignoring the lightheadedness that the effort caused. Lorenzo hurried to catch up with me. He twisted the ring around his finger as he spoke.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not used to talking about this. The doctors don’t know about the fairies, and it’s better if they don’t.”

  “But maybe they could help you.”

  “I don’t need help, Alma.”

  He looked defiant, and I didn’t have the energy to continue the argument. I focused on climbing, and Lorenzo stayed quiet. Each step was a struggle, but I found a rhythm that worked for me. The dizziness passed, and my legs steadied.

  Finally, we reached the top. Lorenzo knocked and flung the door open. Sunlight flooded the stairwell. I blinked and stepped into the room.

  The walls and ceiling were made of glass, so it was as bright as day. Lorenzo had told the truth. We were in the tallest tower, and the view was worth the climb.

  The castle sprawled beneath us in a heap of stones and gardens. Ocean waves sparkled on the horizon. Rose estates in the Garden District were a blur of color, and the Fairy Mountains looked close enough to touch.

  The studio itself was a mess. Paint, brushes, and canvases covered tables scattered around the space. Stained towels and smocks draped over easels. Half-finished portraits lined the room, watching us with incomplete eyes.

  Alessandro stood in the center. The legendary painter wore a smock covered in splotches. His long white beard was streaked with color, as if he had stroked his chin with wet paint on his hands. He held a brush and waved it as he spoke.

  “Welcome to my portrait studio, Donna Alma.”

  He bowed deeply. When he stood, his eyes darted from my face to Lorenzo’s.

  “You are well matched,” he said.

  He started to say something else, but stopped himself with a small shake of his head. Lorenzo placed his hand on my shoulder.

  “I have to go,” he said. “I took the morning off to arrange the ceremony, but I need to get back to negotiations with the Salarians. I’m eager to finalize the agreement after what I learned last night.”

  “You’re leaving so soon? But you climbed all this way.”

  “It was worth it to spend some time with you.”

  He kissed my cheek and walked back down the stairs. His footsteps echoed in the stairwell long after he turned the corner and faded from view. When I turned back, Alessandro was still studying my face.

  “Please, sit,” he said. “You would like the usual portrait?”

  “It is for my quince. So yes, I guess whatever is usual.”

  “And you wish to be painted as you are?”

  “What do you mean? Should I take my medal off?”

  I lifted the Medal of the Rose, revealing the fairy charm beneath it. Alessandro’s eyes flickered with recognition.

  “No, you should wear your medal. You earned the honor. Although it is a shame to cover up your pretty necklace. Please, sit.”

  He cleared a chair for me, pulled a wooden stool from under a pile of smocks, and placed it behind an easel. I sat and watched him set up a canvas and line tubes of paint onto a palette.

  He sketched in silence for a moment, and I stared out the windows behind him. The countryside glistened in the sunlight. I studied the sparkling rivers and oceans. Could I capture that shimmer in my wedding dress design? Maybe if I added a hint of blue beneath the silver trim?

  “My job is more than just painting,” Alessandro said.

  I turned from the ocean and looked at him, but he seemed to be talking to himself.

  “I study these young people and explore the possibilities. They look one way, but how would they appear in another light? Who could they be if they gave themselves a chance?”

  “My stepsister admires your brush technique.”

  I wasn’t sure what else to say. Alessandro raised a bushy, white eyebrow, but he didn’t comment. Had I offended him? He worked in silence for a while, looking at me only to gather details for his sketch.

  “Some subjects have a long way to go to reach their full potential,” he said at last. “Some never will.”

  Alessandro set his pencil down and stared at me for a long time. I met his gaze. His gray eyes were warm and understanding.

  “Maybe I be honest with you, Donna Alma?”

  I nodded.

  “Others may not notice the magic affecting your appearance, but I am more observa
nt than most.”

  I flinched, but Alessandro shook his head.

  “No need to be alarmed. I’m not a gossip, and I’m sure you have good reasons for using such a charm.”

  I nodded again. Alessandro resumed his sketching.

  “Such a spell makes my job easy. I don’t have to imagine what you could be. I only have to sketch what you are. I have painted only one other portrait like that in my lifetime.”

  “Lorenzo.”

  The painter nodded.

  “In some ways it is a waste. It takes energy and time to realize potential. Yours has been spent for you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He ignored the question for so long that I thought he hadn’t heard me. Finally, he looked up from sketching and met my gaze.

  “Every spell takes energy, Donna Alma. Just as every accomplishment does. Most of the young people I paint are still deciding who they want to be. I paint the potential I see, but someone else has directed the potential for you. Your energy will go into being beautiful. The choice has been made.”

  “But I asked for this. I chose it.”

  “Then you should be happy.”

  He finished sketching and started to paint. Golden magic filled the room as he mixed colors together with a snap of his fingers.

  What enchantment did he use? What was the secret that made his work so much better than the other painters?

  I tried to sense it. Tried to form a soul loop. Tried to stir any emotion at all.

  Nothing happened. As he said, the fairy charm was already directing my magic. There was nothing left.

  I stared at the ocean. Ships sailed into the horizon. The wind in their sails pulled them to Salaria and beyond. The sun sank into the water, drifting down towards the ships.

  I had dreamed of having my portrait painted for as long as I could remember. It had been fun when I imagined it, but the reality was boring. I tried not to fidget on the chair as the hours passed. I wished I had a cushion. Now that I was a bud again, the wooden chair was uncomfortable. At least I had padding when I was fully bloomed.

  Why did I feel so empty? My dreams had come true. I should be ecstatic.

  Alessandro noticed my discomfort and gestured to the door with his brush.