Page 14 of His Noble Savior (Folk of Vale #3)
Lilian
Richard commanded the knights to open the gates, Lilian clinging to him. They’d gotten up from the blanket and walked onto the path running through the outer courtyard, connecting the drawbridge to the castle’s gate.
Tension froze Lilian as he stood half-hidden by Richard. Clouds were moving in, covering the sun, and a stiff wind picked up, driving into Lilian’s thin shirt. The weather had been more than warm enough for a picnic, but with the sun gone, he was shivering.
The gate rattled as the knights unbolted it, hinges screeching as the huge wings swung open. Richard had had no idea Princess Bellerose was going to visit, Lilian was sure of it. The surprise in his eyes had been bright, mirroring Lilian’s.
Princess Bellerose rode ahead of the train. She sat straight-backed on an ethereal white horse, its mane and coat so bright it gleamed. Clad in magenta leather armor and with an artfully twisted braid slung over her shoulder, glossy pearls threaded into the strands, she was painfully out of place in the human world.
Behind her, a train of twenty fae on horses filed through the gates. They wore the emblem of the princess and had attached little bells to their armor and the manes of their horses—a common practice to ward off dark fae. The princess’s household filled the outer courtyard in seconds, sending the gnomes running for their underground homes.
Princess Bellerose was beautiful, her feminine figure evident even under her armor. Her heart-shaped face was graced with bright, intelligent eyes, high cheekbones and full, pink lips. She was not only a high fae, wealthy and powerful, but also exuded her royal birth from every pore. Lilian paled in comparison—of course, Richard was going to marry someone like the princess. She had everything Lilian didn’t and could offer Richard protection, riches and things beyond Lilian’s wildest dreams. As the higher-ranking spouse, she’d take the lead in their marriage. Soon, it’d be her riding Richard, not Lilian. Bile rose in his throat. He’d known this was coming, and yet the shock made him physically ill. He was unworthy of Richard’s love. Rejected by his parents and abused by a horde of orcs, Lilian wasn’t decent company for a lord, much less an acceptable lover.
“Your Highness,” Richard said, bowing to Bellerose when she jumped off her horse. She was tall, almost Richard’s height, and she towered over Lilian.
Lilian bowed as well, though Bellerose showed no signs of noticing him. Her attention was fixed on Richard.
“Lord Dalton.” Her voice was rich and warm, deep for a woman.
“To what do I owe the honor?” Richard asked.
Bellerose’s eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Did you not receive my mother’s missive? The messenger delivered it weeks ago.”
A missive? They received several each week from all sorts of people. Could this one have gotten lost? It dawned on Lilian. There had been a letter from the Spring Court the evening when he and Richard had kissed in the rain. He vaguely remembered the steward calling out to them as they went inside. She’d mentioned leaving the letter in the writing room, and then Lilian and Richard had retired to his chambers and taken a hot bath. Lilian’s cheeks heated at the thought of what had happened in the washroom that night.
The steward was diligent, but there were a lot of papers on Richard’s desk, and Queen Dahlia’s letter might’ve slipped between them. Perhaps Richard had forgotten about the missive like Lilian, and the next time he sat at his desk, he’d pushed it aside without thought.
“Of course, Your Highness,” Richard said. It was the only thing he could say to defuse the situation. “My servants will show you to your chambers.”
He gave one of the knights a sharp nod, and she sprung into action. In the inner courtyard, the stable master took the fae’s horses while the steward directed the servants. Richard had skirted a diplomatic incident.
As soon as the attendants guided Bellerose and her household toward the castle’s many guest chambers, Richard sprinted up the stairs to his writing room, Lilian on his heels. They burst through the door.
“I can’t believe I missed her letter,” Richard mumbled, shuffling the papers on his desk. He thumbed through several neat stacks while Lilian searched the shelves. “I wondered why the queen hadn’t sent another message.”
Richard dropped a stack and cursed as the pages tumbled to the floor. Lilian helped him gather the papers, finding a letter with an unbroken pink seal. “I think it’s this one.”
He handed Richard the missive, their fingers brushing. Would this be the last time they touched? With Bellerose at Somerdale Castle, Lilian had no idea if he and Richard should even be in the same room anymore.
Richard tore through the seal and unfolded the letter. His eyes flitted over the page. “This is it. Queen Dahlia announced Bellerose’s arrival for today. She didn’t even ask if it was convenient. When you’re royalty, you get away with that.” Richard read to the end of the page. “It says Bellerose wants to discuss a possible betrothal in person and establish what each party hopes to gain from the arrangement.”
An arrangement. That was all the wedding would be. A political move executed in a lavish ceremony. It’d help with the war against the orcs and hopefully bring Richard’s brother home. There was no love between Richard and Bellerose. And yet, Lilian couldn’t help but fear the abandonment Richard’s wedding would bring. There’d be no room for Lilian in his life once he was married. Hell, there might be no room for him once they walked out the door. Richard had obligations and wouldn’t be available to someone as broken as Lilian.
“I’m sorry this has been sprung on you,” Richard said. “If I’d known Bellerose wanted to visit, I would’ve told her this wasn’t a good time.”
“No, it’s fine,” Lilian said, hoping his dejection wasn’t plain on his face.