“Apparently you will compete every three nights, and every competition will be preceded by a ball.”
“Seriously?” Sophie groaned. “Because competing in a ballgown and dancing slippers is such an ideal scenario.”
I winced at the thought. I could only hope not every night would be as physical and exhausting.
Once we had eaten and dressed, we asked a servant to direct us to some greenery. We discovered extensive gardens spread behind the palace, full of gravel paths, bright flowers and well-sculpted bushes. The sun felt comfortably warm, and a cool breeze blew past our faces. We sat on a well-placed bench, enjoying the view in silence. Surrounded by living, green trees, I felt a world away from the strange underground groves.
“Good afternoon,” said a warm, deep voice. I recognized it easily and then wondered why. We had only spoken twice before.
Prince Jonathan approached us with two young men at his side. Thankfully Prince Oliver was not among them. I recognized them both from the opening ceremony, though. I could hardly believe the formal event had been only this time the day before. It felt like a world ago.
“This is a happy coincidence.” He smiled down at us. “Gabe and Teddy have been dying to meet you.”
“Thanks, Jon,” said one of them, shaking his head. He turned to us. “I promise neither of us is as desperate as that makes us sound.”
Jon laughed, looking entirely unrepentant. “That scapegrace is Prince Gabriel of Talinos.”
Prince Gabriel bowed while I tried to remember what, if anything, I knew about Talinos. Does he have sisters in the Tourney?
You really are hopeless you know. Sophie tutted at me in her mind.
Yes, yes, I know. But does he?
The other twins, Pearl and Opal. Talinos is the southern one to the east of here.
Ah, of course. I remembered now. The Emissary had told us all about the various kingdoms on our voyage here, showing us maps and teaching us their names. Although I was gradually starting to realize how much he had left out.
The city-state duchy of Marin shared a land mass, and borders, with the large, northern Palinar and the almost-equally-large, southern Talinos. Across the strait, northern Eldon and southern Eliam were both smaller. As was the southern island kingdom of Trione.
Sophie was busy saying all the proper things and covering up my confused silence. I noticed Jon was watching me, a question in his eyes, so I forced myself to join in the conversation.
I turned to his other companion. “And you must be Prince…”
Theodore.
“…Theodore,” I added, smoothly. “Millie’s twin.” The cute one on the end.
Sophie kicked my foot, her movement hidden by our large skirts. He’s a little young.
What do you mean? Millie’s the same age as us.
Exactly!
I chuckled to myself at her apparent new-found interest in older men.
Prince Theodore bowed politely, but the slightly dreamy look I had noticed the day before gave him an abstracted air. Even so, he didn’t have the coldness of Oliver.
“I have to apologize for my brother here,” said another familiar voice. Millie rushed down the path and dropped onto the bench beside us. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, by the way.” I wasn’t sure if she meant us or her brother, but she kept talking, so I didn’t have the chance to ask. “Teddy used to be a lot more fun. But he had a bit of an accident on the voyage here.”
“Yes.” Jonathan laughed. “We’ve been hearing all about it.”
Millie rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet you have. Not that there’s that much to tell.”
“I hope it wasn’t a serious accident,” said Sophie.
“Less of an accident,” Theodore assured her earnestly, “and more of a divine encounter.”
Millie groaned. “Just listen to him!”
I grinned. “Now I’m really curious. Tell me the whole story.”
Theodore opened his mouth, presumably to oblige, but his twin cut him off. “Absolutely not. We’ll be here all day. And I’m sure Gabe and Jon have heard enough about it. I’ll tell it.”
She turned slightly to face us. “Trione is an island, so we had to sail here. Our whole family decided to come as it’s been forever since we visited Marin. That meant Daisy was with us. Our younger sister,” she broke off to explain. “Princess Margaret, really, but don’t bother calling her that, she won’t know who you’re talking about.”
“She’s a handful,” said Gabriel, with a chuckle.
“Poor Gabe should know,” said Millie, with a grin. “He fostered with us for eight years—the result of some alliance-strengthening treaty—and she hero worships him.”
“I’d like to meet her,” said Sophie with a smile of her own.
Would you really?
Sophie sent a laugh back. She sounds like us when we were children.
“Anyway,” Millie continued, “a storm came up on the way and Daisy became frightened. She’d been filling her head with terrifying stories about the Beast and the Princess Tourney, so she was already on edge. Teddy started playing around, acting like a fool to show her there wasn’t anything to fear.”
“I don’t remember the word ‘fool’ coming into the story we heard,” said Gabe, elbowing his foster-brother in the side.
“The best mistake I ever made,” said Teddy dreamily.
Millie coughed. “To keep it short, in his efforts to show her how safe it was, he managed to prove exactly the opposite by falling off the side of the ship. Everyone panicked. It wasn’t a very big storm, but we thought he was gone for sure.” She shook her head, and I saw a remnant of real fear in her face. I shivered. I could swim well, but I had never liked deep water because I didn’t like not knowing what might be lurking beneath my feet. A storm only made it worse. I would have been terrified in either of their places.
“Only somehow he managed to resurface,” Millie continued, “and he hadn’t been swept away from the ship, either. We threw him a rope and hauled him back on board.”
“That sounds unpleasant. But I’m glad it had a happy ending,” said Sophie.
“If only that were the end of it,” said Millie. “Apparently, while nearly drowning, Teddy here didn’t have the good sense to see his life flashing before his eyes. Instead he hallucinated a beautiful girl swimming through the water and saving his life.”
“Hallucinated?” I asked.
“No!” Teddy exclaimed. “It wasn’t a hallucination. That’s what I keep telling everyone. She was real. She was young and beautiful, and she saved my life. She even sang while she did it, and I’ve never heard such a lovely voice.” He looked over our shoulders and seemed lost in his memory, or dream, or whatever it was.
“So now he’s determined to find this magical girl of the sea,” said Millie, finishing her tale. “And to make us suffer through endless descriptions of her beauty and grace and bravery and…” She sighed. “I keep hoping he’s going to snap out of it.”
I considered the strange story. “How did she survive the storm? And what was she doing in the ocean? And why didn’t she come on board the ship with you? And how on earth could she be singing while swimming through a storm and dragging a man behind her?”
“All excellent questions!” Millie spun around to face her brother, placing her hands on her knees and leaning forward with fake expectation. “Perhaps you’d like to enlighten the fair princess as to the answers?”
“I have no answers, you know that,” said Teddy, shaking his head at his sister. “But I intend to find them, however long it takes.”
“Believe me, he cannot find them quickly enough for my liking,” Millie muttered in our direction. Her next comment was directed at the princes. “But that’s quite enough of that topic of conversation. It’s been far too long since I’ve had the chance to see the gorgeous rose gardens here, and Lilac tells me they’re in full bloom. So I expect an escort.” She turned back to us. “Would you like to see them? They truly are exquisit
e.”
Sophie nodded and stood up, but I shook my head. Sophie loved roses, but my liking for flowers was only middling. Their attraction didn’t override the ache in my feet, and I had no desire to wander too far afield. Gabe offered his arm to Millie and, after a poke from his sister, Teddy offered his to Sophie.
“I’ll stay here with Princess Lily,” said Jon.
Sophie raised an eyebrow at me as she began to move away. Don’t think I’ve forgotten last night, either, she warned. The two of you were looking very friendly. We’re going to need to have a talk, you and me.
There’s nothing to talk about, I protested, although I knew I wasn’t getting out of it that easily.
Mmhmmm, she projected dismissively as they all disappeared down the path.
I stood, feeling awkward sitting now that Jonathan was the only other person present.
“Don’t stand for me,” he said, with a gallant smile. “I’m perfectly happy to sit.”
“Do you mind if we move onto the grass?” I asked. “I know it’s not the most decorous thing to do, but I’d like to feel something alive and growing beneath my fingers.”
“Certainly.” He led the way to a large, sunny patch of grass just off the path.
I sat, just as music started up somewhere out of sight. The charming, lively melody floated through the air from the direction of the city.
“It sounds like someone else is enjoying the beautiful weather.” Jon sat beside me, tapping his foot to the rhythm. “They must be dancing in one of the market squares.”
“Ugh. Not me. I’ve had enough dancing for now, thank you very much.” I leaned back, bracing myself with my arms and turning my closed eyes up toward the sky. The sun beat warmly on my face. “I’m trying to stay off my feet today.”
I could hear Jon lie down on the grass beside me. His informal posture reminded me of the way he had held me the night before. I forced myself to keep my eyes closed and not look at him. Why did I need to keep reminding myself that I hardly knew this prince? I wished he didn’t have such an effect on me.
A pause followed before he spoke. “Is that what you all were doing in there? Dancing?” I cracked an eye open and noticed that his expression didn’t quite match his casual tone. “We didn’t hear a peep the whole time you were gone, you know. Rumor is that there must be some sort of secret passage in there, but no one has any idea where it could lead. And the servants said all of your dancing slippers were worn completely through. Did Celine break her ankle dancing with some handsome prince?”
I wished I could tell him about the deadly dance we had all been forced to perform. “Why?” I asked instead, keeping my voice light. “Are you jealous?”
He propped himself up on one elbow and met my eyes. “Of Celine’s dancing partner? No.”
I looked away, a faint flush creeping up my neck.
Chapter 10
When I had myself under control again, I looked back up to find he had also turned away. Did he realize he had made me uncomfortable? Did he regret his words?
Perhaps so, since he immediately changed the subject. “It’s been a long time since we had representatives from all the kingdoms here.” He still didn’t meet my eyes. “Everyone except Palinar has sent someone for the Tourney, so we’ve already scheduled a number of meetings for tomorrow. So, in that sense, at least, you can take advantage of the timing of your arrival.” He didn’t sound happy about it.
I don’t think Marin’s too pleased that we turned up just in time to meet royal delegations from all the kingdoms, I projected to Sophie. I think they were hoping to get in first and lock us into an alliance before we saw our other options. Which makes sense if they’re not too prosperous.
Oh, for goodness sake! Sophie sounded half-exasperated, half-amused. You’re sitting in the sun on a beautiful day with a rather attractive prince. You should be flirting, not talking politics!
Is that what you’re doing over there amongst the roses?
Of course! Marigold was right, Prince Gabriel is charming. A mental giggle accompanied the words, although I suspected she was merely teasing me.
I didn’t respond because I knew she would take issue with me if I did. Sophie and I had always done everything together, we were the ultimate team. But, ever since her illness as a child, Sophie had been more prone to sickness than me. And our only brother was eight years older, so from as early as I could remember, I had known that we needed to look after ourselves. For years the two of us were wrapped up in our own world, and the only thing I worried about was keeping her well.
Then Alyssa, now our sister-in-law, came along and showed us that our responsibilities as princesses extended beyond ourselves. She had taught us how to fulfill our roles properly, but now Sophie thought I’d taken the lesson too far. That I’d just extended my efforts to care for her into an attempt to care for everyone. But what was wrong with that? Wasn’t it a princess’ job to care for everyone?
And that had never been truer than now. Between my family, my kingdom, the Tourney and my sister, I had too many responsibilities to think about flirtation. Especially now I knew how this land approached marriages of alliance. From the sounds of things, one way or another, love didn’t play much of a part. So, what was the point in letting my mind dwell on romance?
Jon seemed to take my abstraction as disapproval. “But, my apologies, I don’t know what I’m thinking to bore you with such topics on such a lovely day.”
I shook my head. “You take your role and responsibilities seriously. That’s a good thing and nothing to apologize for.”
“Yes,” he grinned over at me ruefully. “I often have lovely young ladies lining up to compliment me on my responsibility. A truly attractive quality.”
I laughed. “You don’t? You shock me. What’s wrong with Marin?”
I had meant the comment as a joke, but a shadow passed over his face at my words. I wanted to kick myself for being so clumsy. I could have sworn I was usually more deft.
“It seems like a lovely place,” I said, trying to regain ground. “I’ve actually never been in a city-state before.”
He brightened. “Would you like to see it? I would love to show you around one day. And your sister as well, of course. I’m sure Gabe and Teddy and Millie could be convinced to join us. Do you ride?”
“Oh, yes!” I sat up straight at the thought of riding again. “It feels like an age since I last went out.” My thoughts turned wistfully to my beautiful riding mare at home. The Emissary had offered for me to bring her, but I hadn’t wanted to subject her to the journey when I didn’t know how much opportunity I would even have for riding.
“Then it would be my pleasure to give you the opportunity. I might not be able to find a free day until next week, but I’ll do what I can.”
“Thank you,” I said, just as I spotted the others in the distance. We stood, waiting for them to reach us, but were accosted by a footman before they arrived.
He bowed low. “Your Royal Highnesses. I have been sent with a message for Princesses Liliana and Sophia.”
“Princess Lily and Princess Sophie, please,” I said absently, as I took the folded note and skimmed its contents. Sophie hurried over and peered around me. “It’s Celine. She’s awake, and she wants to see us.”
“Please take her our condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery,” said Jon, and the other two princes chimed in with their agreement.
“I’m coming with you,” said Millie, abandoning her brother and striding over to us. “I want to see how she is.”
As the three of us moved out of earshot, Millie added, “And we need to have a conversation without the boys.” For a moment I thought she meant to chide me on Prince Jonathan as well, but a glance at her face disabused me of that idea. She looked far too serious.
“The Tourney?” asked Sophie.
Millie nodded but didn’t elaborate. Our pace picked up, and we arrived at the door to Celine’s suite within minutes. Celine’s delegation head was clearly keep
ing a close eye on her condition, since it was the Duchess of Sessily herself who let us in before excusing herself at a significant look from Celine.
The Lanoverian princess looked tired and pale, propped up in bed with her leg stretched out on top of the coverlet. Sophie rushed over, while Millie and I approached more slowly.
“I told the duchess I needed to speak to you alone,” said Celine, before any of us could greet her. “I know there’s not much we can say—I’ve already tested it out—but we still need to talk. And I suspect it will be a lot easier when it’s just us.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I tagged along,” said Millie.
“No, of course not,” said Celine. “You were down there too and are as much involved as any of us.”
“But tell us your news first,” said Sophie. “What have the doctors said about your ankle?”
Celine’s shoulders slumped. “A break, of course. And made a great deal worse by the delay in treatment.”
I winced, remembering the way we had been forced to drag her across the hills of gravel.
“I passed out early in their examination, and they managed to set it before I came around, thank goodness. It’s bound with a splint now, and I’ve been ordered on complete bed rest.”
Sophie winced. “You poor thing. Not for the whole six weeks of healing, I hope!”
Celine’s face, which had been looking grim ever since our arrival, darkened even further. “No, indeed,” she said. “Impossible, in fact, since in two nights’ time, I will need to present myself in the ball room once again.”
“What?” Sophie looked outraged. “They can’t possibly expect you to continue in the Tourney!”
I glanced over at Millie who held her bottom lip between her teeth, her gaze fixed on the ground. She looked pale but not surprised.
“Let me guess.” I tried to keep the resentment out of my voice for the sake of our new friend. “They were full of apologies, but the rules must be followed. And the rules make no allowance for injury.”
“Got it in one,” said Celine.
“But…your ankle,” said Sophie in a whisper.
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