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And his eyes were a deep green, almost brown. They were kind and gentle, completely at odds with his hard features. Golden ear cuffs covered his ears.
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as if he knew something I didn’t. It made him look younger and more approachable.
“Yes, I’m fine.” My voice came out steadier than I thought it would. “I was just surprised, that’s all.”
His face softened, and he took a step closer to me. “I’m sorry we startled you. We did not mean to.”
I inclined my head in acknowledgment, but said nothing.
The Caid cleared his throat. “Princess Thimsal, may I introduce Bers Elardefinsel to you? He’s Prince Maedras’ Second.”
His Second. That meant he was of high ranking. Important.
I inclined my head. “May your family always be at peace and your home filled with love.” I greeted him in traditional Midarian fashion.
He moved his fist to his heart before he raised two fingers to his chin. “May your works be as magnificent as your skills,” he said in the old tongue, his voice filled with warmth.
“And may your works be as magnificent as your skills,” I said, switching to Caelish.
The words were clumsy on my tongue, as the accent differed from what I was used to. Karif was more guttural, while the Caelish was more lyrical.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You have a good accent for someone who is not of our people.”
I inclined my head again, this time in thanks. It was a compliment, after all. If not a backhanded one.
“And you, Bers Elardefinsel, also have a good accent for someone who is not of our people.” I parroted his words back to him.
The Caid chuckled and the prince’s Second smiled wider.
I refocused on the other Elves. The one who had first caught my eye. The prince.
He watched me with an unreadable expression, and I wondered what he was thinking.
Was he disappointed? Regretting this already?
I straightened my spine and raised my chin. If he was going to be my husband, I would not show him any weakness.
He turned around and started walking away, and I had to fight the urge to not scowl at his retreating back.
I turned to the Caid, who watched them leave with a bemused expression. “Does he disapprove of me?”
He studied me for a moment before he shook his head. “I don’t think so, but it’s hard to say.”
That wasn’t a scenario we had thought about. It never crossed our minds. Prince Maedras had to marry me.
“No, he does not,” Bers answered. “He is just… curious.”
I tilted my head. “About what?”
How he could be curious about anything when he had barely looked at me, I didn’t know.
“About you. You will be his wife.”
I swallowed hard. “Is he not going to speak with me at all?”
Bers inclined his head. “Do you desire that?”
I thought about it for a moment. Did I want to speak to the prince? To get to know me?
