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Cheeks aflame, Jocelin mumbled, “Yes, Your Highness. My apologies, Princess.” With her head down, she skittered out of the room.

An older woman who had been sitting beside Jocelin stood and turned to Kallie and Tessa. “Please excuse my daughter’s clumsiness, Your Highnesses.”

“Of course, Lucinda,” Tessa said with a toss of a hand and a grimace.

After curtsying, Lucinda hurried after her daughter.

Before Kallie could ask for clarification about what Jocelin had meant about the hunt, Tessa returned her attention to Resenia. “I heard your daughter is opening a shop in the village?”

“Ah, yes.” Resenia pushed the glasses up the bridge of her nose as she straightened in her seat. “Torince and I are very proud of her. Ryla is very excited.” She sighed, the corner of her mouth pushing into a sad half-smile. “It is nice to see her excited.” Resenia paused and fidgeted with the handle of the gold-rimmed tea cup. “Since the passing of her husband, we weren’t sure if she was going to follow through with the plans, yet here we are.”

Tessa reached a hand forward, nodding. “Yes, my sincerest condolences. It has been a hard year for many of us.”

“That indeed. But at least my son-in-law’s endeavors were not for naught. After all, you are here now, Princess Kalisandre, safe and sound.”

About to take a bite of the pastry, Kallie froze, her brows knitting together as she stared at Resenia. “I’m sorry, Resenia, but do you mean to suggest—”

“Ryla’s husband was one of the many soldiers who died during the fight to save you,” Tessa said, interrupting Kallie. With her teacup hovering in front of her mouth, Tessa arched a brow. Kallie could practically hear the unsaid words on her lips:he died because of you.

Another person to add to Kallie’s growing list of people who had sacrificed their lives because of her decisions.

Resenia shook her head. “So many of our young men died that day. War has not graced our lands for over a century, and now look at where we are.” Her lip curled around the teacup as she took a sip.

Kallie’s hand fell back onto her lap, lifeless and heavy. Everywhere Kallie went, death followed her.

“It truly is despicable,” Tessa said in agreement.

“The Pontians have always been crude people,” Resenia said. “What gives them the right to think they can just waltz into our lands and kidnap someone? It’s preposterous!”

The other women hummed in agreement.

To the world, the Pontians were the villains in Vaneria’s long history. Once, Kallie believed the same, but now her opinion of the island kingdom was skewed.

Tessa clicked her tongue as she picked up the porcelain cup with long, slim fingers. “It was only a matter of time.”

“A matter of time for what?” Kallie asked, twisting the ring around her finger.

Tessa pulled the teacup away from her lips, swallowing. “Well, for another war, my dear.”

“I heard”—Resenia leaned forward—“that one of their villages was utterly destroyed.”

Tessa nodded. “Nearly.”

Another woman, Gilliana, leaned forward, suddenly interested in their conversation. “I also heard that the Pontians were trying to commandeer the Prince’s ship.”

Kallie straightened in her seat.

“Oh! I believe I heard that too, Gilly.” Resenia dipped a cookie in her tea. She took a bite, and crumbs fell onto her plate. “Didn’t ten of those miscreants jump aboard before the ship left?”

“Ten? I hearddozenshad,” another woman countered, leaning back in her chair to join the conversation.

Beneath the table, Kallie’s nails bit into her palm, the pain piercing.

Lies. They were all lies. There weren’t dozens of Pontians that night. Only one. Kallie, however, did not say that. Instead, she did her best to refrain from shaking her head as everyone grew more and more interested in the conversation. Eager eyes bounced from woman to woman as they provided new tidbits of gossip and tried to piece together the story.

“Princess, you were there, weren’t you? How many was it?” Resenia asked, leaning toward Kallie.

“How many?” Kallie asked, brows raised.