Page 11

Embassy

The following morning, Adelina stretched across the mattress, yawned, then rose onto her elbows. Golden sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains and embers sparked in the hearth.

A frown creased her brows as a memory from the previous night’s celebration resurfaced. Today, she’d be making her first public appearance with Filip.

Scratching the side of her face, she wondered what was in store for her. What did he expect her to say or even do? It’d been less than two weeks since the test revealed astral magic flowed within her, and she’d spent exactly none of that time practising her magic. Her training was yet to start.

Nonetheless, Filip’s benefactors would be expecting to meet her. After all, each town and village in Toichrist, Temauten, and Saintlandsther would likely know. The problem was, Adelina didn’t know what she could do, so how in the realm was she going to give a speech?

She dragged a hand over her face. Someone rapped on the door, jolting her from her thoughts.

She drew the covers over her chest as she lifted into a sitting position. “Come in.”

“Good morning, miss,” Natasha curtsied, beaming. “It’s time to get you dressed and fed. You’ll be meeting with Filip this morning. He’ll want to talk to you before the public announcement later on today.”

Nodding once, Adelina slid out of bed, then padded across the thick carpet towards the chair in front of the mirror.

“Do you know what I should expect?” she said as Natasha drew a brush through her knotted, bedraggled hair.

“As you know, Filip has been looking for you for a decade—he wants to show you off!” Natasha said. “More so, I think it is a way of showing his benefactors he does indeed mean business.”

“What do you mean?” Adelina frowned.

“Well, he’s found you for a start, miss.

” Natasha set the brush aside once she was done.

“You are the beginning of some positive things. Preparations can be made, and treaties can be drawn between the countries. It doesn’t matter if someone is from the rural towns of Temauten, or the highlands of Saintlandsther, but they’ll surely know of astral magic and its importance. ”

“Shouldn’t I speak with Yelena first?” Adelina swivelled in her chair, looking Natasha straight in the eyes. “She’s going to be my primary teacher, right? Perhaps she can explain the details of my training. I don’t know what I’ll be doing to help these people, but I do want to help.”

Natasha patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t fret, miss. I’m sure you will be fine.”

∞∞∞

After breakfast, Natasha escorted Salma and Adelina through the long conservatories at the back of the palace.

“Mr. Tarasov will be with you shortly.” Natasha gestured to a stone bench in front of white rose bushes beside a water fountain. “Take a seat.”

Adelina reclined onto the bench next to Salma, then tapped her fingers on her leg.

“It’s a beautiful place, isn’t it?” Salma’s gaze travelled along the full rose bushes—butterflies fluttered through the open windows and landed on the delicate petals.

“It is.” Adelina’s gaze dropped to her gold embroidered sarafan skirt. “Although I wish I could share this with Damir.”

Salma smiled and placed her hand on Adelina’s knee. “This evening, once you’ve completed your duties, we’ll call for some parchment and ink for the letter you need to write.”

“I’d love that.” Adelina squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”

“Of course, dear,” Salma said.

Natasha curtsied as Filip strolled through the conservatory towards them .

Unsure of how else to behave in his presence, Adelina rose, then smoothed her already creaseless sarafan.

“Good morning, Ms. Orlova.” Filip beamed. “I’m sure you slept well?”

“Yes, thank you.” She bowed her head.

“Will you join me for tea?” He gestured to a circular, white iron table and two chairs nestled between the rose bushes.

“Certainly,” she said, smoothing her hair back from her face.

Salma remained on the stone bench, continuing her role as chaperone, but from a sensible distance.

Filip offered Adelina his arm, then escorted her to the table. Water on the fountain trickled, accompanied by the twitter of birdsong from the trees outside.

Several servants tended to the rose bushes, while another brought them a tray. She set the china teapot, cups, and saucers on the table, then took five steps back.

“I have a lot planned for you today, my sun.” Filip poured the tea, the scent of bergamot and citrus wafting on the steam. “Before we get started, I want you to feel at home. You are not a stranger here, Adelina.”

She smiled, then sipped her tea. “What should I expect from the public announcement?”

“This will be my opportunity to show you to the world, of course,” he said.

“I have a lot of support—financially and politically—from wealthy men in all three countries. They are all invested in my plan to reunite the people. It will be my chance to show them they weren’t wrong for standing by me for the past ten years while I searched for you. ”

Trying to ignore her mounting nerves, she forced a smile. Filip’s words sounded like a whole deal of pressure placed on her. “I want to help you. What can I do?”

“I’m glad you are as invested in this as I am,” he said. “You won’t be required to do anything except attend. Salma will accompany you, and Yelena will be there too. You’ll have plenty of support.”

“When does my training start?” she asked. “The sooner I learn how to use my magic, the sooner I can make a difference for people.”

“Tomorrow.” He sipped his tea. “As I mentioned, it’ll last a few months, then afterwards, the real work begins.

We will travel to Saintlandsther where you will see, first-hand, the poor living conditions and poverty.

Toichrist, on the other hand, has vast, rich lands used for cultivating, and mines to explore.

If I could make an agreement between the countries, I could set up trade deals and create a democracy to lead a united kingdom. ”

“You want to create one country?” She arched a brow.

“It is the only way to truly unite them. If all works, I will become interim President of the Republic lands.” Filip’s eyes gleamed with confidence.

“How do I fit into all of this?” A lightness filled her chest, and her pulse quickened. Could she help to make a difference for the people living in poverty and bring a balance between the three countries?

“Magic is power.” Filip relaxed into his chair.

“You’ll see this during your training. The highest skilled sorcerers are assigned to one of the three governing bodies.

You have the Temauten Congregation in Murtei not too far from your hometown, the Saintlandsther Council, and the Convocation of Toichrist, which I currently lead. ”

“And now you have found astral magic, you’ll be at your strongest.” Her lips parted as she connected the dots.

“Precisely. We will both be at our strongest when we are together.” He stretched across the table and rested his fingers on her hand holding her mug.

“Astral and nether magic are halves of one soul by nature. When the other governing bodies see us both at the public announcement, any doubt in their loyalties to us will be eradicated.”

Adelina frowned. He spoke of their power as if it were a living entity—a concept she couldn’t quite wrap her head around yet. Perhaps she’d believe it when she saw it in practise.

“Thank you for the tea.” She sipped the last mouthful, then set the cup on its saucer. “Is there a clockmaker in town? I’d like to make a visit if time allows for it.”

“There is. Tell the coachman to take you to Francov’s Clocks , but ensure you are back by three.”

She rose, flattening her sarafan with her palms. As she turned to leave, she realised she hadn’t the funds to pay for the repairs on her grandfather’s pocket watch.

“Have Natasha provide you with ruble,” he said, perhaps noticing her pressed lips, revealing her inner thoughts.

“Thank you, kindly.” She bowed her head graciously .

“There’s no need for such formalities.” He shunted his chair back, then rose. “After all, we will be working and living together. I want you to feel at ease around me.”

She nodded—her lips curving up slightly. “I’d like to return to my chamber and write a letter home. My family will be happy to hear from me.”

“Of course—I’ll have writing implements sent to your room,” he said.

As she turned to leave, Salma re-joined her, placing Adelina’s hand in the crook of her elbow.

“Did he tell you anything important, my dear?” she asked—her large eyes sparkling.

“He did.” There was a slight hop to Adelina’s step as they left the conservatory and headed outside the main entrance of Kirovo Palace. “I’ll tell you on the way to Francov’s Clocks. ”

∞∞∞

A servant cleared away the empty teacups as Filip left the conservatory and headed towards his office, which overlooked the gardens.

The lawns were clipped short; the bushes cut into topiaries, and the flowerbeds bloomed.

Sunlight drenched the Fernleaf peonies, royal azaleas, and the Lady Slipper Orchids.

Only the finest flowers for my garden.

He smiled as he leaned on the windowsill, watching a bird as it flew overhead, then disappeared into the aspens behind his property.

Then it was time to place his attention on more pressing matters—informing his father, Antanov Tarasov, of his success after ten long, hard years.

He paced the length of the thick, red carpet, his fingers pressed to his lips.

Antanov was a difficult man—stern and a challenge to impress—and their relationship had always been strained.

Growing up, Filip had taken to many different sports, such as jousting, fencing, and polo, yet even when mastered, Antanov would turn his nose up, and no words of congratulations were shared.

Climbing social and political ladders—that would surely win his father’s approval.