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My lady-in-waiting and I looked at each other and dissolved into giggles, which judging by his furrowed brow, confused the fae.

“Best be finding a thick cloak, my lady.” He shrugged. “The temperature is falling fast.”

“I’ll do that now,” I said. “I’ll meet you outside, Clemencia.”

We separated and rushed to our rooms. When I arrived in my room, maids were just finishing packing up my room.

One pointed to the bed. “There are cloaks for you to choose from to wear during travel. They’re the warmest. Once you have the one you want, we’ll pack up the others.”

“Thank you.” I scanned the options.

I chose two crimson cloaks lined with thick brown fur. If I were to arrive at the Winter Court as Roar’s fiancée, I needed to make the king believe it. So I would wear House Lisika’s colors as often as possible.

“Excellent choice, my lady.” The maids scooped up the others and packed them away for me. “They’ll be in this gold trunk with black straps.” She patted the one she worked on. “In case you need an extra along the way.”

“Thank you.” I looked about the room, checking that they had not missed anything.

As I’d arrived with nothing and possessed only the clothing Roar had given me, I came up nearly empty. Aside from extra clothes and books, I only wanted to pack one other thing myself. I went to my bedside table and opened the drawer. Inside, the golden vial of Roar’s blood stared back at me.

Since the day we’d made our deal, Roar had given me a chain so that I might wear the vial around my neck, but I noticed that he didn’t do so and I followed suit. Truthfully, it felt too weird.

Thankful that my dress had pockets, I slipped the vial into one. This was my safeguard that he would not betray me at court, which, to be honest, I found a preposterous notion. He needed me as much as I needed him. And yet, I would guard the vial until our deal finished.

When I arrived at the main castle door, a thrill of excitement coursed through me. I felt excited to see the lands of Winter’s Realm and experience traveling with an entourage and soldiers.

How many soldiers exactly, I had no idea until I stepped outside. At least one hundred fae waited outside on horses, all in armor and heavy cloaks, to shield them from the cold. The warden spoke with them.

Undoubtedly, Roar routinely traveled with a retinue of soldiers, but this many? Surely not. How many had come just to join the king’s army?

Three conveyances waited, each one a carriage poised on gleaming planks of wood like sleighs. The nicest one stood between the other two. Painted gold and crimson, the sleigh donned colors of House Lisika. A snow leopard had been carved on both sides of the door, dancing on its back paws. The other two carriages looked plain by comparison, so I assumed Roar would want me in the sleigh meant for a lord or lady. I began walking through the freshly fallen ankle-deep snow for the most ornate sleigh.

“My lady!”

“Yes?” I turned.

Clemencia burst through the castle door. “I need to help you into the sleigh!”

I scoffed. “I’m capable.”

“But she’s right.” Roar rode up to me. He looked quite dashing, wearing a cloak of muted gold with the fat snowflakes falling into his red hair. My core gave a flutter. “She’s your lady, and at court she’ll assist you in most matters, much like a maid would.”

“Not an actual maid?” I frowned.

Roar cleared his throat. “The king has demanded that every lord or lady with children of marriageable age attend. No matter how small or large their estate is, hundreds of nobles will arrive at Frostveil Palace, and that means the castle must house them. It will be too crowded for my servants. Hence, I cut the traveling staff because I will have to put them up at inns while they wait for the journey home.”

I found the imposition astonishing.

“And it will force their own servants to work harder,” I added.

“Likely.” Roar leaned closer. “It’s also a way for the king to use his own staff to spy on us.”

My lips parted. Of course he would. How frustrating.

“So, how many of these soldiers are being sent to fight the orc hordes?” I asked.

“Eighty of the one hundred and ten we will travel with. The rest will remain in the city, waiting for our trip home.” He exhaled. “It is not a total loss. They’ll be working during their stay. I like to have eyes and ears in as many places as possible.”

He was a cunning fae, my fake fiancée.