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She kept a safe distance and showed no signs of aggression, her head low, hands folded in front of her. I sensed no one else among us.
Was it safe to relax?
“He’s reassigned me to the worst part of the palace,” Stralia informed me. “The north wing is where the oldest servants go to die. He wants me out of sight and mind now. He’s punishing me—and probably rightfully so.”
I gawked at her, refusing to accept that, but Stralia offered me a wry half-smile. “I don’t blame him,” she added quickly. “I wasn’t being fair when you got here. He warned me to stay away, and I couldn’t do it. I… I should have, but…”
She swallowed thickly and looked down again. My heart sank, the sadness in her tone hitting a truthful note inside me.
“We’ve been so close for so long,” she went on. “I suppose I loved him even before our parents died, as little girls do love their princes. He was always so charismatic and full of life.”
A faraway look overtook Stralia’s eyes, and my gut twisted uncomfortably. “But I always knew what we had was going to come to an end. And I thought I could handle that. I mean, I told myself I could, but…” She shrugged. “The reality was something else, I guess.”
“I don’t think Cade wanted his life to be this way, either,” I murmured, unsure of what to say to placate her. There wasn’t a handbook for this kind of situation. “Neither of us knew each other when I came here.”
“But you know one another now,” Stralia replied, forcing a smile onto her lips and meeting my eyes before quickly darting her gaze away. “And I’m sure you can see why I am in so much pain, being apart from him.”
I stared at her. “I don’t know what it is you want from me, Stralia,” I breathed honestly.
She balked at my statement, her clear, emerald eyes popping in shame.
“Nothing!” she proclaimed quickly. “I’m sorry! I-I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or beg you for a favor. I just wanted you to understand that I never meant you any disrespect…”
She inhaled. “It wouldn’t have mattered who you were, you understand. It wasn’t you that I took issue with. It was the whole situation.”
“I get it, Stralia,” I agreed.
She visibly gulped and again lowered her eyes. “I really don’t want anything from you except for you to know that it’s not personal and that I don’t hate you. Although…” She inhaled again, and I stared at her expectantly, my neck tensing again.
Here it comes…
“If you can… maybe you could have him reassign me from the north wing. I swear to keep my distance from you both. I won’t cause any trouble. I’ve learned my lesson,” she babbled. “I just want to be back with my friends, in the place where I’ve always known. I’ve already lost Cade. I don’t want to lose the rest of my support system.”
Sympathy for her overwhelmed me, but it had little to do with her job placement.
She’s still very much in love with Cade. If not for this arranged union, she would likely have married him. Life is so unfair sometimes.
“I have no say in Cade’s decisions, Stralia,” I told her softly. “I can barely see myself around the palace as it is.”
“No—yes, I understand,” she mumbled, her cheeks flaming red now. “I—please, forget this meeting ever happened. I’m sorry I disturbed you.”
“You didn’t disturb me,” I corrected her, reaching for her hand gently, stepping closer. “I’m glad you came to me, and I’m sorry that you’re suffering. I will never stand in the way of your friendship with Cade. Never. These circumstances… they suck, to say the least. But you and Cade have history. I’m not an ogre. You were friends before I got here.”
Her chin lifted, and she met my eyes with wonder. “Really, miss? Do you mean that?”
“Of course,” I replied, mildly offended that she would think otherwise. “I am the one who’s new to the kingdom. My arrival shouldn’t upset the balance of things—even though I’m well aware how much it has.”
“You’ll make a good queen. The King is lucky to have you.”
More shame washed through me when she squeezed my hand and released it. “You should probably get back before someone notices you missing and they send the entire Royal Guard and Council of Ministers out looking,” she said. “Thank you for meeting with me and being so discreet.”
“You can call on me anytime, Stralia,” I reassured her. “Maybe one day, you’ll even considermea friend.”
She smiled, her crystalline eyes glimmering in the moonlight. “I would like that very much.”
I returned the gesture to her hand and held her gaze a second longer, my heart breaking for her and for Cade at that moment.
How unfair for them both,I thought after I bid Stralia goodnight and retreated to my suites, a heavy blanket of despair falling over me.If not for the blood oath, if not for me showing up here and disrupting everything, Cade and Stralia would be together.
