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“I did?” I asked with alarm.
Astrid opened the curtains, revealing a sunny day. “Tea is being served in ten minutes. They would like you there.”
I groaned and flopped back on my bed. “Of course. I’m sure I’m in trouble for something.”
“I’ll get your outfit together for the day.”
It was the day of the picnic. I was looking forward to getting to wear jeans. “Thank you.”
I climbed out of bed, quickly dressed, and pulled my hair back. I knew it wasn’t going to be enough to meet their tea standards, but I didn’t have time to do much else. Tea with my parents had always been a formal affair, a ritual steeped in tradition and duty. As I took my seat at the elegantly set table, I couldn’t help but observe the subtle distance that had always existed between my mother and father. Theirs was a marriage built on obligation, a union of two noble families brought together for the sake of politics and lineage.
I supposed it never seemed strange to me before. A lot of the people I knew had similar marriages. It was just the way it was. No one questioned it, but after Theo’s declaration the other night, I wondered if he thought that was how this whole marriage thing worked.
I sipped my tea quietly, my thoughts wandering as I watched them exchange pleasantries and discuss the affairs of the day. The love that Theo spoke of was conspicuously absent from my parents’ interactions. When I had dared to ask my mother about it in the past, I had been met with silence or a stern reminder that duty took precedence over matters of the heart. That was a long time ago and I never bothered to press the issue.
Nora’s decision to run off with the love of her life had only reinforced the stark contrast between my parents’ approach to love and what a lot of other people believed to be the way to live. They had disowned her without a second thought, their reaction cold and unforgiving. It was as if she had become a mere shadow in our family, her name barely spoken within the walls of our home, her pictures taken down as if she had never existed.
I refused to let the same fate befall me. I was bound by duty. I didn’t want to turn my back on hundreds of years of tradition. I was going to make this match work. I was going to stay in my parents’ good graces.
“Emilie, I have a request,” Mother began, her tone measured.
That couldn’t be good. I looked at her, curious about what she had in mind. “What is it, Mother?”
She glanced at my father before turning her attention back to me. “I’d like you to invite Theo to dinner tomorrow night when you see him at the picnic today. We need to begin discussing the business side of things, preparations for your future role.”
I nodded, knowing I didn’t have an actual option. It was framed as a request, but it was a command. “Of course, Mother. I’ll ask him.”
My father spoke up, his voice gruff. “Emilie, you don’t have to talk business at the picnic. You can simply enjoy yourself.”
My mother frowned. “I wasn’t suggesting she spill out our financial needs.”
“There are already enough rumors about the state of our finances,” he said in a stern voice.
“I only suggested she invite him to dinner.”
“Invite him to dinner, but there’s no point in telling him why,” Father said.
My mother rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Magnus, do you always have to be so insufferable?”
“I was young once,” he said, his tone wistful. “I know what it’s like to want to be free. There’s no harm in letting her have a bit of fun before she has to begin her life repairing the kingdom we nearly lost.”
“She’s having fun,” my mother said in a clipped tone.
It was comical that they argued over my happiness. I was under no illusions they cared if I was happy. They only wanted me to be the dutiful daughter.
“Should I ask Theo to bring his parents?” I asked.
“No,” they both answered at the same time.
“That won’t be necessary,” my father clarified. “My business is with the future king, not his family.”
I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying anything snarky. My father’s business was very much intertwined with Theo’s family. It was the money his parents inherited and grew that we would be using. But I kept my mouth shut. Lately, I felt like staying quiet and just doing what I was told was the best way to get through this whole charade. If I asked questions, it would only make things worse.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready for the picnic,” I said and quietly stood.
“Do smile more,” Mother said. “We can’t risk Theodore Ashford deciding he wants another wife.”
I forced a smile. “We wouldn’t want that. I’ll smile. Anything else?”
