Page 64

Rian’s mouth fell open as if he intended to argue. But when he saw the amused smirk on her face, he narrowed his eyes. “A princessanda jokester? Gods, how did I get so lucky?”

“You had the best offer, of course,” Kallie said, winking and taking a seat.

Rian laughed, loud and boisterous. Kallie, however, wasn’t joking. Not that he needed to know that.

Pulling one of the books from the table, Rian opened to a page he had flagged with a piece of parchment.

“Research or pleasure?” Kallie asked, brow raised at the book with a title she could not identify.

Rian shrugged. “Unfortunately, research as per usual these days.”

Kallie hummed in acknowledgment. “Your mother did mention that Frenzia prides itself in its research.”

Rian arched his brows. “Did she?”

At his tone, Kallie’s skin prickled at the back of the neck. “Frenzia is, after all, the military stronghold of Vaneria. Everyone knows that. There must be a lot of research into strategy, material durability, and so forth to hold that title.”

Rian shrugged, the concern brushing away from his countenance. “And you? Research or pleasure?”

Kallie smiled, opening her book and leaning back in the chair. She shrugged. “A mix of both.”

“Hmm,” Rian mumbled, an amused smirk playing on his face.

And then, they fell into an unexpectedly comfortable silence as they both turned to their books. Throughout the hour, Rian would offer Kallie a small smile. She would reciprocate, anticipating a conversation, yet Rian would return to his research, but Kallie didn’t mind. She didn’t even mind when Laurince, as Rian predicted, came to retrieve the king. Because it was in these quiet moments that Kallie would win the king’s heart. Not through witty banter or light-hearted jabs but rather from the shy glances, the exchange of Everling quotes, and the soft, quick touches when they said goodbye.

Chapter21

KALLIE

Days passed,and Kallie and Rian fell into a natural rhythm.

Before her handmaidens came to prepare her for the day, Kallie would head to the library, where Rian would already be hunched over a table, either reading one of the giant tomes or furiously jotting down notes. On the third day, Rian had anticipated Kallie’s presence, and a chaise had been waiting for her near his preferred table.

Upon inquiry, Rian had shrugged it off, mumbling about Kallie needing something more suitable for leisurely reading than the straight-back chair. Yet, even though the gesture had Kallie involuntarily grinning, she could still not get a read on him. Some days, they talked; others, Rian barely lifted his head in greeting, too absorbed in his research.

It should have been infuriating, but somehow it wasn’t.

Rian was a curiosity Kallie wanted to unfold. It became a game, one Rian didn’t even know he was playing. As he read with an intense focus, Kallie watched, taking note of the way his face transformed as he read something intriguing or perplexing. The way his brow curled, wrinkles creasing his forehead. Or how his hand was constantly buried in his hair.

In truth, she enjoyed this time. She enjoyed not using her gift.

After a few days, Myra caught on to Kallie’s absence when Kallie was running late. Upon hearing that Kallie had been sneaking off to a library of all places to meet with her betrothed, Myra burst into unrestrained laughter.

“Oh, hush,” Kallie had said, pushing Myra’s shoulder playfully. “What did you expect me to do?”

“You’re seriously justreading?”

“We talk too,” Kallie countered. “A little. Rian is . . . different.”

“And how is he different, exactly?” Myra asked, raising a brow.

Kallie sighed. “He’s . . . simple.” It was the truth. Rian was a simple mind. Simple values, simple behaviors. But nothing about their circumstances was simple.

Myra pursed her lips. Then her gaze dropped to the simple dress Kallie wore. “Hold on—you mean to tell me you are having secret meetings with your betrothed, theking, likethat?”

“Yes, why?”

“Now that just won’t do, Kals.” Then Myra morphed into a tornado, riffling through the collection of dresses and jewels and pulling at Kallie’s hair.