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Daiseeum sneezed again, then dabbed at her nose with her handkerchief. “Excuse me, Ilara. The marigold blossoms always get to me, but I just couldn’t look away. What you were just doing... It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I had no idea you were capable of such...” Her voice trailed off, as if she were at a loss for words.
“Art?” the crown prince supplied.
“I was going to sayexotic dance,” Nuwin replied, which got a glare from his brother.
I cocked my head at them, and the crown prince’s sapphire gaze bore into mine. His expression was blank, yet his eyes burned with fire.
“’Tis how you appeared,” Prince Norivun added. “Like a beautiful piece of artwork come to life, not like a sultry dancer as my brother so eloquently implied.”
“Well, her breasts were straining quite regularly against her—”
“Enough, Nuwin,” the prince growled.
Nuwin just grinned and gave me a cheeky wink. I knew he meant nothing disrespectful by his comments, but a blush still tinged my cheeks.
Clearing her throat, Cailis glared at Nuwin too before adding, “What the crown prince was saying is true, Lara. I’ve never seen you move like that either, even when we danced or pretended to battle as children. You were truly—”
“Magnificent,” Prince Norivun finished for her.
Cailis gave him a begrudging nod. “What he said.”
“Oh, all right.” Nuwin sighed. “It truly did look more like art than an exotic dance.”
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I gave an embarrassed smile. “Well, thanks.” Turning to Sandus, I said, “Tomorrow then, we’ll do this again?”
“You can count on it, love.”
I eyed the crown prince, knowing that if he was here, it was only for one reason. “Are we going to another field this morning?”
He dipped his head. He hadn’t stopped watching me, not once, since I’d realized he was there, and the urge to pick at my fingernails grew. “We are. As soon as you’re ready, we’re going to Isalee Territory before your training with Matron Olsander. There’s a new field I need you to revive—the very first field that died on our continent.”
CHAPTER6
After Daiseeum cleansed me with her magic and I consumed a quick breakfast, I was ready to depart with the crown prince.
But before I could join him in the main room of the Exorbiant Chamber, Daiseeum called, “Ilara, one more thing. Sir Featherton stopped by while you were training with Sandus. He plans to pop in again tonight after your training with Matron Olsander, to explain the rest of the Trial. Since your first date is in three nights’ time, he would like you prepared.”
My jaw dropped. “The courtship dates start that soon?”
“Indeed. Did you not know?”
All I managed was a shake of my head.
How are so many things that are completely out of my control happening so quickly?
* * *
The prince mistphasedus to a field on our continent’s northernmost territory. Cold, icy wind bit into my cheeks the second the realm reappeared around us. Snow blew across a field in a raging whiteout.
The prince wore thick leggings today, which hugged his strong quadriceps. A long cloak hung around his shoulders, but the hood was down. Snow flew around his hair, which hung loose in silver waves. His dazzling blue eyes cut through the whiteout, as alluring as sapphire gems.
Like yesterday, I put distance between us immediately, not liking how his hands lingered on my hips or how a soft growl of discontent worked up his throat when I pulled away, but I didn’t move far. In this blinding snow, I would likely become lost.
“Really?” I asked, peering up at him. “You had to bring me here today? Couldn’t you at least have checked the weather first?”
I was practically yelling at him since the wind was so fierce.
He stepped closer, then leaned down until his lips brushed my ear. “It’s always like this at this time of the season. The laborers here are used to it. They commonly tie themselves together while working so no one becomes lost.”
