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My guard cleared his throat. “It is the training you requested, milady.”
Oh—OH. Heat flushed my cheeks, and I felt guilty for snapping. “I’m sorry, Abherham.”
“No apologies needed, milady,” he said as he led me toward the gym. I quickened my pace. I wanted to spar someone. I wanted to hit something, to let my frustration out with each punch.
“Please call me Scottie,” I told Abherham. I was getting sick of repeating this same phrase over and over, but every time I heard any variation of a title, I winced.
Abherham’s lips curved into a slight upward tilt, barely passable for a smile, and I knew that he wouldn’t oblige. But it didn’t matter, not right now at least. I was going to be able to train. I would be able to get out of this awful dress and put on pants and a shirt.
We had just rounded another corner when I ran into Peter. Three females surrounded him. One was clutching her belly, doubled over at something he said. The other two smiled shyly, covering their mouths to muffle their laughter. I clicked my tongue. The fact that it was lady-like to mask your emotions, hide your laugh—at least one of the girls was living right. His smile broadened as he saw me approach. Abherham took a step back, lingering a safe distance behind me.
“Ladies.” Peter nodded toward his entourage as they took the cue and dispersed.
“Hi.” I smiled as he came up beside me.
“Hi back,” he grinned. “How was your first day? Are you a lady yet?”
I rolled my eyes. “My day will be a lot better once I get to the gym and can finally spar someone. Thank you for adding training to my schedule.”
His smile faltered. “I did the best I could. Sie could only get the Council to agree to acontrolled workout. It won’t be the training you are used to. You aren’t allowed to fight anyone.”
“What? Why can’t I spar?”
He arched his brow. “You really need me to tell you the answer to that?” When I didn’t say anything, he sighed before adding, “It’s not forbidden for a girl to fight, but it is still frowned upon. Why do you think there are no female King’s Guards? They expect you to act the part of a Princess, and a Princess wouldn’t show up to functions with a black and blue eye and a split lip.”
“I’m just as likely to get a bruise from Lady Applebee,” I tried.
He shrugged. “Rules are rules. I don’t make them, I just follow them. Sometimes.”
I ignored his wink. “And what exactly does acontrolled workoutentail?”
“Well, the punching bag will be very frightened of you.”
His tone became serious as he added, “Scottie, just lay low for a little bit. This is new for everyone. You will have a lot of eyes on you, especially because of your rank. It will be hard for Sie to make any changes until he is King. You don’t want to draw any more attention to yourself.”
I nodded because I agreed with him about the attention part. I just didn’t see how fighting anyone would be an issue.
“Speaking of which,” he elongated his words. “I did hear that you stirred a bit of attention already.”
“What do you mean?”
“Reagan found me this morning and was uncharacteristically chipper. She told me that you two became friends. What happened?”
It definitely didn’t seem that way by how she pointedly avoided me at lunch today. “I talked to her once. She tried to help me find my room last night after the banquet. I was lost.”
“That was nice of her,” he drawled slowly as if he was surprised by it.
“Yes,” I admitted but couldn’t keep the heat from rising in my face thinking back to last night. “Although she took me to the wrong room.”
“What?” he laughed, genuinely seeming confused. “We have all been visiting the castle together since we were little kids. She knows her way around this place better than anyone. Where did she take you?”
“I think she just mistook Sie’s room for my room. She told me my room was being renovated,” I said. Peter stopped laughing. “What is it?”
“First off, this castle is old as balls and hasn’t been remodeled in Goddess knows how long. Secondly, she did not mistake the rooms. She knows exactly which room is Sie’s. She was banking on Sie not being able to control himself around you. She must have thought you two would sleep together. It makes sense now as to why she insisted on waking Sie up the next morning with a handful of members from the High Council. She thought you would be there and that they would reject your engagement if you broke the rules.”
“Broke what rules?”
“Your betrothal was Goddess approved. You two aren’t allowed to consummate anything until your wedding night. If the High Council thought you two slept together, it would have ended very badly.”
