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“Did you like her?” I asked, my arms tightening around Cali as I flipped the book open at the first page. Flicking my wrist in the direction of the candle that sat on the table, the flame sputtered into life without me even having to look at it.
Cali’s eyes lit up when I did that, like they always did.
“Will you teach me how to do that?” Her voice was full of wonder as she tried to copy the hand movement I had just used. Laughing, I pulled her back against my side, ruffling her hair.
“Maybe when you’re older.” I smiled, “You didn’t answer question.”
“She seemed nice,” Caliara nodded, her eyes scanning the page in front of us now.
“But?” I pressed, not sure why I was so concerned with my nine-year-old sisters’ opinion.
“But nothing!”
I rolled my eyes, settling into the chair properly with her so we could read together. I was not so sure why I wanted Caliara to like Kira as much as I did.
~~~
By the time Caliara and I had finished the book, she was snoring softly on my lap. I stroked her arm gently as I shifted positions, my legs tingling with pins and needles. Gently, I slid Cali into a position where I could slip my arms under her and lift her sideways, her head against my shoulder still and her legs dangling over my other arm.
Iris had left the library not long after we had arrived, knowing that it was only us in there. No one else had entered since we had been there, and that time spent with my smallest sister had me more relaxed than I had been in weeks.
Kira’s arrival in my Kingdom, while expected and necessary, had thrown me through a loop. It haddisturbed my daily routines, and I would not lie and say I was not slightly bitter about it. I was bitter about a lot of things, recently. Chewing on my bottom lip as I walked through the now nearly silent castle with Cali in my arms, my mind wandered.
If not for my father and his ridiculous scheming, I would not be getting married at twenty-three. If not for my father and his power-hungry, self-obsessed ego, I would not have to put up with this by myself. If not for my father making enemies everywhere he went, he would still be alive, and I would have left long ago.
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I nearly missed Caliara’s room completely. Stopping suddenly, I turned and retraced my steps back to her bedroom door, pushing it open with my shoulder. The floor was littered with toys, and I cursed to myself as I tried to manoeuvere my way around them to her bed, plopping her onto the soft mattress, the covers already pulled back enough for me to slip them over her without much of a fuss.
Once I knew she was comfortable, I made my way back across the deathtrap of a bedroom and out into the hall, letting out a breath as I closed the door with a softclick.
I was almost back at my quarters when I spotted Gracie, Kira’s best friend, walking down the corridor towards me. Sighing, I straightened my shoulders, rolled my neck, and plastered on the best smile I could manage.
“Gracie,” I grinned, keeping my voice kind. Gracie jumped, her hand going to her chest as she looked upfrom the floor, her eyes wide.
“Your Highness!” She gasped; her cheeks flushed pink under the freckles that dusted them. “I was just heading back to my room.”
“Don’t rush on my behalf,” I smiled, clasping my hands together behind my back. “Have you been with Kira?”
“Yes, Your Highness, all day.” She returned my smile, and I could not help but notice how beautiful she was.
“Ah, lovely.” I nodded, “I’m grateful for you keeping her company.”
“It’s my pleasure, she’s my best friend.”
6
Kira
Breakfast with Gracie was disturbed by Cirro. His cheeks flushed red and sweat clinging to the ends of his hair, which lay across his face like it had not been washed in weeks. I could not quite stop myself from grimacing when I saw him standing at the door to my chambers, and his face fell into a glare when he caught my expression.
Schooling myself back into an expression of friendly indifference, I took Gracie’s place standing in front of the open door, one hand on the handle in case I needed to close it quickly.
“Cirro,” I smiled, tilting my head slightly to the side, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“His Highness is requesting you be ready to leave in an hour.” he said, tipping his chin up and looking down his nose at me, despite the fact I was barely an inch shorter than him. I furrowed my eyebrows, pulling the door closer to myself.
“Oh? Where are we going?”
Cirro rolled his eyes, and I barely contained the urge to slam the door on his foot, which was, infuriatingly, inside of my chambers — as if he knew I was thinking of doing exactly that.
