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“Yes . . . yes, I think I need to lie down.” Tessa’s hand fell from Rian’s shoulder.

“Oh, Queen Mother!” Kallie called after Tessa.

Tessa stumbled as she glanced over her shoulder.

Kallie smirked. “Do feel better soon.”

Tessa only offered a tense grimace before taking her leave with her shoulders hunched as she gripped her stomach.

Kallie’s manipulations were only a trick of the mind. Once the common passed, Tessa would feel better.

Although, hopefully, not too quickly.

Kallie turned back to Rian. “Since it is just us, do you mind if I sit here instead?” She pointed to the newly vacated seat.

Rian smiled and gestured with his hand to the chair. “Please, Princess.” He moved around the table and pulled the chair out, the legs of the chair barely scratching against the floor.

As Kallie claimed the seat, he pushed it in, and Kallie picked up Tessa’s wine glass with two fingers. “Would it—”

Rian signaled the servant waiting by the doors to the kitchen. The servant, a man who appeared to be younger than Kallie, probably eighteen, hurried forward and removed the used glass.

“Thank you . . .” Kallie hesitated.

The servant froze, his fingers still on the new glass. “Parker, my lady.”

“Parker.” Kallie smiled sweetly at the man, and a blush rose to his cheeks.

He cleared his throat and bowed, then rushed out of the room.

The silence had barely settled before Parker and Trina, another servant Kallie recognized from an earlier encounter, began serving them. Trina piled venison and an assortment of vegetables onto Kallie’s plate. Then, with a nod from Rian, the two servants left the room.

Cutting the venison, Rian asked, “How are you finding the palace, Princess?”

“It is quite—” Kallie took a sip of wine as she searched for a way to describe the barren castle—“spacious.”

Rian’s lips twitched, and he glanced at her through dark lashes. “No need to sugarcoat it, Princess.”

Clamping her lips together, Kallie ducked her head. “Very well, then.” She brushed her hair behind her ear and observed the room. “The castle, I admit, does have good bones, but it needs a little . . . life, don’t you think?”

The bump in the middle of his throat dipped. “I suppose you are right. I haven’t had much time to redecorate. The council keeps me busy these days.”

“So it seems,” Kallie said. She ran a finger up the stem of her wine glass. “Although I must say, I did wonder if you were avoiding me.”

With a downturned mouth, Rian cut off another bite of meat. “I apologize if it appeared that way, for that was not my intent. I’ve had little time to myself.”

“Understandably so.” She popped a potato into her mouth, chewed it, and swallowed. “But I do hope we can find some time to get to know each other better. After all, we are to marry in what? Three weeks, is it?”

Rian pushed a hand through his hair and lightly pulled at the strands. A boyish chuckle left his mouth, a small dimple appearing on the right side. “Is it in three weeks already?”

“Don’t worry,” Kallie said, reaching a hand across the table and laying it atop his. With Rian’s hair out of his face, the purple beneath his eyes was prominent. This was the face of a king who had placed too much on his shoulders too fast. But that was why Kallie was here. To take that burden away from him.

She squeezed his hand. “I have it taken care of. Like you, the staff have been keeping me busy this past week. Invitations were sent out a week ago. Arrangements have been made, and orders have been placed. All you have to remember is show up.” Kallie raised a brow, a soft smirk splaying across her face. “Think you can manage that?”

Rian laughed, an amused glint in his irises. “I think I can convince my advisors to clear my schedule that week.”

At least he has some sense of humor,Kallie thought, smiling.

Rian flipped his hand over, holding her palm, the touch awkward and strange. “I do sincerely apologize for my absence, Princess.”