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He sighed. “I was trying to get your mind off everything, even if it was for a second.”
I smiled and squeezed his hand. “How are you so romantic even when you do not mean to be?”
“What can I say? I am the perfect man, a true gift from the heavens.” He leaned into me, and I leaned back and away, rolling my eyes.
“A gift from the heavens?”
We both paused for a second before turning to see his mother dressed in a cream-colored dress with a white and gold sash similar to the one Gale wore, only a star was at the bottom of hers. She wore a large sliver, diamond, and sapphire crown on her head, and her gloves went up to her arms. Beside her, Sophia was dressed in black lace with a black and gold tiara on her head. Upon seeing them both, I curtsied, as did Eliza.
“If you are a gift from the heavens, it must be that I was being rewarded,” the queen said as she stopped in front of us.
“Of course,” Gale replied, lifting her hand and kissing it. “For your grace, understanding, and patience.”
“Kiss up.” Eliza coughed.
I smiled.
They were a family. Under the jewels, the protocol, and the palace, they were a family. That was what I had to hold on to.
“Ma’am, we are ready,” Ambrose said to her.
According to protocol, she nodded, and I stepped back from Gale for Sophia to stand beside him. She was the widow of the previous Adelaar, so until I married Gale and I had a higher title, I would walk to the left of Eliza. Gale glanced back at me, and I nodded at him that I was okay. I was more worried about Sophia, who refused to take his arm. Only when the queen glanced back as she stood in front of us all that Sophia finally lifted her hand, not bothering to look to him. He took it without looking at her, either.
What happened? Their relationship was never great, but it wasn’t like this. Sophia always followed protocol, so for her to have to be given a look was odd. I glanced at Eliza, but she shook her head with a small frown. I didn’t have much time to focus as we began to walk forward.
The guards stood ready at the door.
“Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elspeth, and His Royal Highness, Prince Galahad, the Adelaar,” they announced as the doors opened.
When we stepped out, the cameras flashed, blinding me for a second. Then I saw over two hundred faces on opposites sides of a long, formal dinner table, all of whom either curtsied or bowed as we walked to the head of the table. Centerpieces made up of the four flowers of Ersovia, and actual candles in golden candle holders decorated the table while all the chairs had the royal seal on their backs. At the head of the table were two chairs larger than the others with the seal on the front—the one for the king would remain empty.
Gale led Sophia to her seat beside the queen, before switching to my hand and leading me to sit beside him on the seats beside the king’s chair. We stood until the queen sat.
Gale gave my hand a light squeeze.
Step one. Entrance. Done.
Step two. I had to sit still and listen to their speeches. Which I thought would be easy; however, I noticed everyone’s eyes seemed to drift more to me—watching me carefully. It wasn’t malicious. Well, not all of it. Some just seemed curious. When I met some of their eyes, they smiled. It was hard not to smile back politely; it felt rude, but I wasn’t supposed to. I had to be pleasant but invisible. How was that possible? I had no idea. However, I did my best to look at Gale most of the time while he stood and spoke.
When he finally sat back down, I almost applauded but then dropped my hands quickly, which I’m sure people caught—first mistake.
Ignoring it, I moved to focus on step three as the first course of seven was brought out by the footmen. As they set the food in front of me, Gale leaned over to whisper, “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”
I had tried to keep my face under control, but since when could he read me so clearly? “I heard you,” I lied, lifting my soup spoon when everyone else did. All my training from my mother and Lady de Marissonne came to my mind as I slowly brought the soup to my lips, taking a delicate sip.
“Name one thing I said?” Gale asked.
Swallowing, I opened my mouth to speak, but suddenly, like fire and ash were being poured down my throat, I couldn’t breathe. I glanced down at the soup, confused, and tried to take a deep breath, but I couldn’t.
“Odette?”
Turning my head, I looked him in the eyes and tried to speak, but I couldn’t. As my vision blurred, I reached out and grabbed his arm tightly. I knew what this was. This had happened once before. I needed help. I tried to get up, but all of me shook.
“Odette?”
“Pea-p-peanuts,” I gasped out before everything went dark. The last thing I heard was his voice.
“Odette!”
