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Chapter
Three
Robyn
Every head swings our direction as we enter the great hall for supper.
We are late.
Again.
Ramiro is at the head of the table looking way too comfortable in my father’s chair. My grandmother sits to his left, looking particularly annoyed as Cyra and I hurry across the room, grabbing our usual seats across from her.
“Ah, sister. So nice of you to finally join us,” Ramiro sneers, gripping his knife and fork tightly in his hands. “Long day of training?”
My grandmother scoffs with disapproval as my brother stares me down, waiting for a response.
“My apologies, Your Grace. Grandmother insisted I freshen up before dinner,” I respond, gritting my teeth at his mocking tone. “Today was a good day, Rami. Thank you for asking,” I say politely. My brother’s face morphs from angry to nostalgic.
“A lady has no business picking up a shield and sword. Ladies are to smile, sing, and tend to their husbands. Rami, you need to put a stop to this nonsense at once!” My grandmother’s voice screeches through the air.
Rami’s jaw ticks angrily, but his eyes never waiver from my own.
“Mind your tongue, woman,” Ramiro fumes under his breath. If I wasn’t close enough to hear it for myself, then I’d never believe he would speak to her in such a manner. I’ve never seen him defy her in any way. He’s her precious Rami.
The tension in the air only seems to dampen the mood, but Rami shifts the conversation back to me, ignoring the queen dowager completely.
“I remember when I started my training as a boy, you were always there by my side, cheering me on.” He stops as if he’s remembering the past and all the great times we once shared. “We’d sneak off into the Blackwood Forest playing hide and seek. The guards, of course, were the ones seeking.” We chuckletogether for the first time in ages. “You were always better than me at finding hiding places, Robyn.”
“You found a few good ones, brother. Remember that one time, Father had to send his own guard out to find us.” We laugh as the memories flow freely between us. “Mother had half the kingdom searching for us that evening.”
“Those were good times, Robyn. Sometimes, I feel like they happened in another life,” he says stoically. I place my hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze. These are the moments I long for with my brother.
“Maybe I can come out and spar with you one day? Find out if your guard is as good at training you as they are in battle,” he teases.
A smile spreads quickly over my face at the thought of spending time with my brother without my grandmother lurking nearby. “That would be a—”
“Unacceptable!” The queen dowager cuts me off, slamming her fist against the table. The room goes quiet for a moment as we all hold our breath, waiting for her mask to slip.
I can feel the tension coming off of Greyson in waves. He moves in closer, his leg brushing against the back of my arm. He wants me to know he’s close. Close enough to stand between me and any danger. He’d happily throw himself on our enemy’s sword if it meant saving my life.
But what is one to do if that enemy is her own family? Given the chance, my grandmother would slit my throat in a heartbeat if it meant paving the way for Rami.
“It’s bad enough the princess is out here galivanting through the kingdom doing as she pleases,withwhom she pleases,” she seethes. “But you will do no such thing, Prince Ramiro. You have an image to uphold,” she continues, berating me in front of our guests.
Did she actually just insinuate I was sleeping with my guard in front of a room full of noble men and servants? Her treachery knows no bounds.
Cyra and a few other women gasp, but I let my mask slip into place. One of my own making. It’s taken years to be able to sit stone-faced and hollow inside, but I’m far from an amateur these days. She will get no reaction out of me.
It’s what she wants.
It’s what she longs for.
She pushes until she’s almost crossed the point of no return, then she plays innocent old woman who’s looking out for her grandkids. Anyone who falls for her shenanigans is just as crazy as she is in my book. It doesn’t take much to see through her facade, and as the years go by, she does less to cover it up.
Rami’s face turns down, and for a moment, I think he’s actually going to stand up to her. To let her know we are just following the king’s orders, and there’s no harm in him joining me for one afternoon. But as he looks up meeting my grandmother’s eyes, I watch as his demeanor shifts back to her little puppet. “You’re right, Grandmother. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
She smiles back at him, causing my stomach to churn. “It’s alright, my dear. Let the princess have her fun. You have a kingdom to rule.”
