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My outfit consisted of black, shimmering pants and a purple shirt, embroidered with golden thread with the crest of Palgia. Golden epaulets adorned my shoulders, with a golden sash across my chest and medals that adorned my breast.
The valet slicked my hair back—it was longer now that I didn’t have to keep it in a warrior’s brush cut—and combed my beard.
Shiny shoes on my feet were polished to within an inch of their lives so that I could see my own reflection in them.
I looked at myself in the mirror again. I hardly recognized the man I saw staring back at me.
“Not bad, Your Majesty,” the valet said with a smile.
“You can’t call me that yet.”
“It’s only a matter of time. I think a slip of the tongue is in order.” The valet offered a secretive smile.
I grinned back at him. A thrill ran through me.
I walked through the castle. The sound of my feet was muffled on the carpets I’d had put in all the hallways. I’d always hated the sound that echoed off the cold stone. I’d done a lot to change the castle and make it my own after the land had been rid of darkness.
Tapestries and oil paintings hung on the wall. The thick velvet curtains, old and tattered after centuries of wind howling through the cold hallways, had been replaced by light curtains of satin, with sheer lace curtains that could be drawn aside to admire the view.
All of the gardens around the castle were in bloom, thanks to Hazel and her affinity for making things beautiful.
When I walked into the grand ballroom, it was filled with guests. I spotted Vanya and Zita first. Vanya wore an elegant blue dress that brought out the sky blue of her eyes, and her blonde hair had been done up in intricate curls. Zita wore a more understated gown that hung straight down her fit, warrior body, her short white-blonde hair had been combed to the side, and she wore subtle makeup.
“You look wonderful,” Vanya said with a smile. “Are you nervous?”
“I am,” I admitted.
“It’s going to be great,” Zita added, excited.
“I hope so,” I replied.
Through the crowds, I spotted Rainier and Ellie. They smiled when I walked to them. Rainier wore a black leather shirt with a red sash, and he looked every bit as regal as the King of Jasfin should. Ellie wore a red dress that matched his sash. It had an empire waist to cover the belly she sported underneath it, carrying the future of Jasfin cradled in luxury and fashion.
“You look great,” Ellie breathed. “I can’t believe we’ve come this far! Are you happy?”
“Happier than I ever dared to dream,” I said.
Ellie beamed at me. “When you find your love, everything changes in ways you could never have imagined. Trust me, I know what it can be like.”
“We both do,” Rainier said. He held out a hand. “I know we’re going to do the whole drill later, but I want to take this moment now to congratulate you. We wish you both every happiness. You deserve everything that’s coming to you, my friend.”
I warmed at the word ‘friend.’ I’d started off as the enemy, and I’d never thought I could become anything more. When Rainier had told me I could rule Palgia on his behalf, we had become partners of a kind, and we’d become friendlier with each other than when we’d been at war.
Being called a friend was a whole new level, and I’d never thought it could make me this happy to hear it.
After talking to Rainier and Ellie, I walked through the room and greeted the guests who had come from near and far to attend the ceremony. All the statesmen were present, the mayors and everyone in charge of every corner of Palgia. They’d come to pledge their allegiance to me over again, to renew their loyalty. They’d come to celebrate our victory together.
Palgia had never been as rich as it was now. Our crops were abundant. Rain fell constantly, and the rivers and lakes were full. The countryside was lush, and every household had more than they could want.
Palgia was equal to Jasfin and Tholand now in riches, after it had been pathetic in comparison, and I was proud to be called Palgian.
When the event planner came to me, whispering in my ear, it was time to start.
The crowds fell quiet and shuffled so that they could all look toward the front of the room. I walked up the steps and met with Nylah, who would oversee the ceremony.
She wore her white robes, decorated with rubies and diamonds, her long hair twisted into a complicated braid.
“Nervous?” she asked.
