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I shoved off, standing to my full height, looking down at him. He fumbled with a ring of keys, inserting one into a desk drawer before opening it to retrieve an old, folded ledger. Handing it to me, I took an opportunity to scan it, ensuring it was the document I set out for. A stare with a sealing promise was the last communication I gave before leaving.

I entered my carriage, glimpsing the sword I’d left on the bench. Had I brought it with me, that man wouldn’t have been blessed with the opportunity to flee. Not for what he’d inflicted upon the love of my life.

55

Nora

I’d barely slept all night, excitement and anticipation keeping me awake. The morning sun sprawled across this attic room, and I realized how eager I was to leave this house behind.

It hadn’t been a home in over a decade.

Melody had spent the night with me, and I felt bad for the dark circles under her eyes I no doubt gave her by tossing and turning relentlessly. Nevertheless, she glowed once she awoke. An exchange of no words, only eager smiles and disbelieving blinks over the day ahead.

“Do you know when the wedding is to be held?” she asked, resting her face on the back of her hand while she adjusted on a pillow to face me.

“A week from today.” Nick had told me the other night, after our throes of passion that’d left my lower back scratched by bark.

But fuck if it wasn’t worth every scrape and scab.

“I can’t believe this is happening. What will be your first decree as Queen of Highcrest?!” she asked, as if that question wasn’t insane.

“Melody, I’m going to be so unequipped walking into this position, I’m sure I’ll have a hundred things to learn before I can even attempt to suggest changing anything.” Resting my hand over my forehead, I tried not to think about it too hard. It was a whole new world I’d be stepping into, one I had no knowledge of or training for. A task I highly doubted my daggers could help me work through.

“You’re going to do great, Nora. I agree it might take some time, but you’ll have Nicholas to guide you. He won’t let you fail, that’s plain to see. And I’ll be by your side, noble lady of the court!” She tossed her arms high into the air, proclaiming her newly self-imposed title. We both laughed, mostly over how wild it was to even have these conversations. She lowered her hands with a thud onto the blanket. “He really does love you.”

We locked gazes.

“I saw it the night of the ball, while you two danced.” She exhaled a deep sigh. “I hope to find something like that one day.”

“You’ll have your choice of suitors, I’m sure. After all, who won’t fawn after the Noble Lady of the Court?” I poked her side, and we giggled. “Maybe I’ll make that my first decree. Miss Melody Burton, official Noble Lady of Highcrest Court. Wait, does Highcrest even have a court?”

A laugh ripped past her lips, and I couldn’t help but join. There’d be so much to learn. Despite being on the third floor in my room, with the door open, we heard the resounding knocks at the front door.

Melody sat up faster than lightning. “Your gown!” She tossed the blankets off, and her excitement spilled over onto me. We nearly raced each other in our nightgowns down the stairs, laughing the entire way.

I reached the door first. Melody stumbled to a stop, nearly ramming into me after I opened the door, revealing the last person I expected to see. The air in my lungs turned frigid, seizing at the sight.

“Jenta,” I choked down a breath, my heart still racing from running down the stairs. She held the beautiful box topped with a bow I’d recognized from Lady Smythe’s shop. Her smile felt venomous, even before she uttered a word.

“I just wanted to congratulate you on your impending nuptials.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Crossing my arms, I assessed her. “Since when do you make dress shop deliveries? Did you get a job working for Lady Smythe?”

My question was genuine, though the mere suggestion that she’d subject herself to labor made her chuckle. “When I saw the delivery man pulling up, I insisted that I be the one to hand it to you.” She extended the oversized box.

I took it, eyeing her suspiciously.

“That was very kind of you, Jenta,” Melody said in a questioning tone.

Jenta shrugged with a smile sweet as honey and sauntered back down the steps. “Couldn’t miss my opportunity to offer my respects, could I?” she called from where she turned onto the sidewalk.

Maybe my new position inspired her to change up her attitude. I should probably come to expect that since people loved to earn favor with those in high society. Fake or not, I didn’t mind Jenta’s switch up.

Melody closed the door, swinging on her heels to face me.

“Open it! Let’s see!” She clapped while bobbing on her tiptoes.

I smirked, rolling my eyes. I set the large box on the ground and lifted the lid.