“I’m calm. Which is kind of freaking me out.”
She nods slowly. “That’s actually a good sign. I was a wreck. I threw up on Mrs. Vasek’s shoes twenty minutes before my ceremony. She didn’t blink. She is a saint. And she still wears them. She simply cleaned them up and says they’re hergood luck shoesnow. I am traumatized.”
I laugh through tears.
She takes my hands. “Listen. After you say I do today, the tabloids are going to lose what’s left of their minds. They’ve been holding back for the engagement period — there’s an unwritten Krovenian press rule about not savaging the Crown Prince’s intended before the wedding. But once you’re officially Princess Hazel of House Draven, it’s open season.”
“Viktor warned me.”
“Just remember. They only have power if you read them. I have not read a single Krovenian or European tabloid since Alexei was born. My life has improved exponentially.”
“I’ll follow your lead.”
Claire nods. She glances down at her own hands for a beat, then looks back up at me.“Also. I figure you might want to know the latest on how things are going out there. Beyond these walls.”
“You mean the kingdom?”
“I mean the kingdom.”
“Tell me.”
“The Council has fully accepted the match. They had to, the moment Viktor walked into the Chamber three weeks after the bite, with you on his arm and the mark visible on your throat. It is canon law. A completed Blood Calling cannot be dissolved. Three of the Elders were furious, but most accepted it once they saw the bite. Last night they finally voted to formally bless the union. You have not heard from them since except the standard congratulatory letter, which is exactly how it should be.”
“That’s why none of them are here today.”
“Correct. Viktor was very firm. The Council was rude, not blessing the marriage in their official capacity until the last moment. They were not invited. Nikolai backed him on it. The Elders are not pleased about being excluded, but there is nothing they can do.” A small wicked smile tugs at her lips.
“What about the other noble houses?”I ask.
She shrugs. “Mixed. Some old families remain stiff and unhappy. Most have come around. The ones who matter to Viktor are here today, the parents of Lily’s playgroup who you already know, the few houses who supported the match from the beginning. The ones who were hostile simply were not invited.”
“And the regular Krovenian citizens? How do they feel about this?”
“Sixty-eight percent in favor.”
I blink.“They poll on this?”
“They poll on everything. Welcome to royalty.”
“Sixty-eight percent, is that good?”
“It is higher than I was at this point. By eleven points. They like that you are an early-childhood educator who sent out a release already stating your mission is to institute free preschool. And they like that you adore Lily, the heir to the throne. They’ve decided that you are acceptable.”
“Acceptable?” I chuckle.
“It is the highest praise a Krovenian gives a foreigner, Haze. Accept it.”
I laugh, half-disbelieving.
“Okay.” She looks at the clock. “Now get out there and marry that very serious male. He’s been pacing in the garden for forty minutes. Sebastian is genuinely worried about him.” She kisses my cheek, stands, smooths down her own gown, blows me a kiss, and slips out.
Madam Petrova goes back to fixing the veil.
There is another soft knock.
“Sweetheart?” My father’s voice.
“Come in, Dad.”
