Page 85 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2

"Make sure it doesn't," he says firmly. "But there are more pressing things we need to discuss."

"Bastian?" I ask.

"Breakfast was an unpleasant affair, and I do not say that lightly. I believe it would be best if you could find rooms for Bella here."

I blink a couple of times. "You want me to give Bella a room?"

"For her safety, and your brother's. I don't believe it is wise to have the two of them continuing to live in the House Rothorne apartments at the moment."

"Does Bella know that you're suggesting this?" I ask.

"It was her idea," he responds. "We can put out that she is helping you acclimatise to your new position. It isn't unheard of, and given that the two of you are cousins, I believe most people wouldn't think anything of it."

"I will do what I can." If it comes to it, Bella can use the bedroom that I'm currently ignoring. Anything is better than making her share a home with Bastian right now, but I don't say that out loud. There are some things Lord Fallmartin doesn't need to know.

For a brief moment, I think there's something like relief written on my father's face. I suppose it makes sense. I don't have to think very hard to imagine what breakfast with Bastian and Bella was like this morning.

"Excellent. Now, we should go through the rest of the events for the week. After the wedding festivities are done, we should get you a social secretary. Someone you can trust and who knows the way of the court."

"Not you this time?"

He chuckles. "No. If I am to be the official advisor to you and Prince Lincoln, I imagine I shall have enough to manage. Though I would suggest that Bella would be a potentially good person for the position."

"I will think about it." Mostly because I don't want to put too much pressure on my cousin when I know she's going to be struggling already.

"Excellent. Then we shall begin," he says. "Today you have a luncheon with your new ladies, and then this evening, there is to be a tournament."

"A tournament?" I ask. "What kind of tournament?"

"The usual kind. Jousting, archery, combat prowess."

"I didn't realise that was something done here."

"Indeed it is," he responds. "Who you give your favour to will be of the utmost importance."

"No doubt you will consider it good luck that you will be there to guide me."

"I will be taking part," he responds. "But I trust your judgement."

"That feels like a dangerous thing to do when my brother has just shown you that his judgement includes killing someone who should be an ally."

Lord Fallmartin gives me a weak smile, one of the first indications that he's truly affected by the events of last night. "Believe me when I say that I know you are not your brother, Beatrice."

I shouldn't let the praise get to me, not when there are so many dangerous things happening among my family members, and the court, but it fills me with pride. Because I want to prove to Lord Fallmartin that he's right about me, and that I'm the one he should have saved to be his heir all along.

A hint of shock travels through me at the thought. I never had space for ambition in my human life, but it seems that being at Castle Sanulieon has brought it out of me, and I'm not about to let it be extinguished by anyone.

SIX

I should have known that there was going to be more to court than balls and feasts, and a tournament makes a lot of sense. I've heard about human nobles doing things like this, and as a child, I took part in mock tournaments with other children from my neighbourhood. I don't imagine we got very much of them right, but it was fun to pretend that we were knights and princesses.

It's surreal to think that I am a princess now, and that all of those times pretending turned out to be a glimpse into my future.

"Bea?" Linc prompts.

"Sorry, I wasn't listening."

He chuckles. "I guessed. I was asking if you were all right. You seemed lost in thought."