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Sophie smiled brightly. “He came all this way instead of writing, Wren. He must have some answers.”
Wren could barely contain the first glimpse of hope she’d had since the day with Rose. It felt like finally seeing the sun after nights of storms.
She moved to her wardrobe, grabbing a simple yellow dress.
Sophie snatched it from her. “No, a delegation of royalty means you have to dress like royalty.”
Sophie helped her into another painfully tight corset and chose a crimson dress outlined with white lacing to represent house Blackwood’s colors. Her chestnut hair was pulled back into an elaborate braid and color added to her cheeks. The color helped to hide the lingering side effects of the wine.
There was a knock at the front door and Sophie went to answer it. She said something quietly enough that Wren couldn’t discern it before calling out that it was time to leave. Wren followed her only to find Malaki in his familiar black wardrobe. His effort to not meet her eyes was commendable as he offered her his arm.
They walk down the halls in painful silence and Wren wished that Sophie had come with them to ease the tension. The easy conversation they had found was gone as if it had never been. When they were almost to the throne room and there was no one around, Malaki stopped.
When he finally spoke, he stared straight ahead, his voice was as cold as it had been when they first met. “Your life is yours to do with as you will. I only ask that you be discreet as we still have to pretend at this sham of a marriage.”
Wren felt his words like a knife to the heart. There was so much he misunderstood, and so much he understood that she wished he didn’t. She was about to respond when a group of servants came passing by. He offered her his arm again, and before she took it, she looked at him.
“Kai, I am sorry.”
“Don’t do that.” His eyes met hers, full of ice. “Don’t say things you don’t mean and don’t apologize for what you aren’t sorry for.”
Other nobility passed them, eyeing them suspiciously. The hall filled with more people, and she realized her opportunity to make him understand had passed. They moved together to the doors of the throne room, which were wide open, showing an elaborate gathering of nobility lined on either side of the two large wooden thrones. The king sat in the largest one and Richard stood to the left of the thrones fiddling with his lapels, nervously. Malaki and Wren moved down the aisle and took their place on the right of the thrones.
They stood there briefly before a servant entered announcing the arrival of Her Highness Princess Mary Hallewell of North Helm. Wesley entered, painfully handsome in his own house colors of deep blue and gold. He ran his eyes over her quickly as if making sure she was well.
She tried to breathe normally, feeling Malaki’s presence was like a weight on her chest. To Wesley’s right, on his arm, was a beautiful blonde haired, fair woman wearing similar colors to Wesley in a beautiful flowing gown. As they neared the throne, Wren could see that her eyes were the same shade of green as Wesley’s. There was no doubt that they were siblings. When they reached the throne, Wesley said, “Your Majesty, if I may introduce my sister, Princess Mary Hallewell.” Princess Mary bowed low, her eyes glancing over to Richard eagerly.
“Welcome, Princess Mary. What a surprise for us to learn that you were coming, let alone already here,” said the king.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. It is difficult to send word so quickly from North Helm as you know, and once I received my brother’s missive requesting me at court, I was eager to see him again.” She patted Wesley’s arm affectionately.
“Indeed. Strange that your brother had such a change of heart, but then again, perhaps it is not so strange,” he said without inflection.
Nonetheless, Wesley understood his meaning, his glance sliding quickly to Wren.
“It is an honor to be welcomed to your court, Your Majesty,” replied Princess Mary as if she had not noticed the tension.
The king nodded and signaled that he was finished with the meeting. The nobility dispersed and Wesley and Princess Mary moved to the side of the room where they were greeted by finely dressed lords and ladies.
“Go, boy, you are worse than a dog with a bone,” said the king, barely glancing at Richard, who murmured something and went to greet Princess Mary.
Princess Mary's polite smile grew into radiance itself when she saw him coming. She could never truly forgive Richard for what he did to her, but she knew now that there was goodness in him and she did not begrudge him his happiness.
“I hope the two of you are able to come to some sort of agreement that befits your stations.” The king did not bother to glance at them.
“It will not be a problem, Father,” replied Malaki tightly.
“Excellent,” said the king. “Now go rein your brother in before he makes a fool of himself.”
Malaki didn’t argue, and only offered Wren his arm again as they moved towards the small group. When they approached, Wesley blinked, losing track of his train of thought. She wished she could tell him to stop looking at her, especially like that.
“You must be Princess Wren. I believe it is to you that I must thank for my presence here.” Princess Mary smiled warmly at her.
“I am glad that you are able to be here now, Princess Mary. You are more beautiful than your brother described you,” said Wren politely.
Princess Mary smiled. “Please call me Mary.”
“Only if you will call me Wren,” replied Wren with a true smile. She already liked this woman who had her brother’s easy-going manner, but also spoke her mind.
