Page 3

It's only as we get further into the castle that I realise we're falling a little behind my aunt and Princess Veronica, who is loudly pointing out different features of the corridors we pass.

"Did the two of you concoct this plan on purpose?" I ask Arthur.

He laughs. "I believe Veronica came up with it all on her own. But I'm not above taking advantage of her generosity for a few moments without anyone to overhear us."

I nod, not really knowing what to say.

"How was your journey?" Arthur asks.

"It was good. Though there was no snow."

"I think that's probably a good thing, given that you were travelling," he says. "But I believe there should be some soon."

"In time for the wedding?"

"Would you like that?" he asks, looking at me with curious, deep blue eyes.

I swallow hard and look ahead rather than at him, watching my step as I move through the castle that's to become my new home. "I don't know what I would like," I admit.

"Neither do I. But there are a few weeks before the wedding, we can figure it out," he promises. "But that will have to wait, we're at your room."

He pauses for a moment, as if unsure what to do now.

"Your aunt is in the adjoining room," he says. "If you'd like us to wait for her so we aren't alone, we can do that."

I frown and look around. "Is it not improper for us to be alone?"

Surprise flits over his face, maybe that's not the answer he expected of me. "It's not considered improper in Falhaven. But if you would prefer that I get my sister to show you your rooms, then it can be arranged." He starts to step away, but I reach out to touch his arm.

"I'd like you to show me," I say quickly. "I just didn't realise that was an option."

He smiles and unlocks the door, holding the key out to me. "For you."

"Thank you." I take it from him, my fingers brushing against his as I take it.

He looks at me for a moment longer than he should, or maybe that isn't true considering that we are going to be married soon. He can look at me for as long as he wants. It's just longer than I'm used to from anyone else.

Arthur clears his throat and breaks eye contact and pushes open the door to my room.

"After you." He gestures for me to enter.

I'm a little nervous about what I'm going to find inside, even though it's not really going to be that different from what we have in Someil.

"This is our receiving room," he says. "For when either of us have guests that we want to entertain."

"These are our rooms?" I ask, looking around.

He nods. "They're yours until the wedding, and then I will be moving into them too," he says.

"Where are you currently?"

"In the same room I've always lived in," he responds. "It's not far from the nursery. All of my siblings have rooms there, but they're meant for children. Or at least, unmarried royals."

"I'm surprised your older sisters aren't married."

He shrugs. "I don't think any of them have found anyone they want to marry yet."

"You say that as if our marriage wasn't arranged."

"It was, but only after we'd written to each other for a few years," he points out. "And if either of us had said no, it wouldn't be happening."

I nod. "I suppose."

"If you decide you don't want this now that you're here, I can talk to my father. I'm sure he can work something out."

I blink a couple of times. "Cancel the wedding?"

"If that's what you wish."

I reach up to touch my necklace. I don't want to end our betrothal, though I have to admit to being a little more nervous now that I'm here and standing in front of the man I'm supposed to marry.

But I think that's just the natural feeling of being somewhere new as opposed to any doubts about Arthur or the wedding.

I'll feel better once I've settled in and have had something to eat.

Before I can think of what to say in response to him, Felicia starts squirming in the basket, almost knocking it out of my arms.

"I'm sorry, I need to put her down."

"Oh, I didn't think..."

"It's fine."

"You should come through here, then," he says, gesturing to another door.

I frown and follow him through, holding the basket with both hands to stop Felicia escaping before we're somewhere safe.

"This is your private sitting room," Arthur says, gesturing into the room. "It'll be for your use however you see fit, whenever you see fit. I'll only come in here if you invite me."

"But isn't this your home too?" I ask.

"It will be, but that doesn't mean you can't have a space to yourself. But that's not actually why I brought you in here today." He takes a couple of steps to the side and gestures towards the towering cat tree.

I swallow hard. "Arthur..."

His face lights up at the sound of his name, and I realise it's because it's the first time I've said it since I arrived.

There's a small part of me that wants to tell him that I meant to say Your Highness instead, but that feels strange after so long calling him Arthur in my letters, and the way he reacted to me doing that just now.

I can't say anything else before Felicia pops her head out of the basket and lets out an annoyed meow.

Arthur chuckles. "I think we're being told off."

"A little bit," I say.

"May I?" He gestures to the basket.

I nod, though I'm a little worried about Felicia deciding she doesn't like him and giving him a scratch.

He crouches down and looks right at my cat. "Hello, Felicia. I've been looking forward to meeting you."

" Meow ."

He chuckles. "Would you like to see the cat tree?" he asks her.

" Meow ."

He looks up at me, and a funny feeling spreads through me. There is a prince on his knees in front of me. I know that it's because of my cat, but it still feels strange.

"Can I pick her up?" he asks.

"You can try."

He reaches into the basket and carefully picks up Felicia. He moves her over to the cat tree and puts her on one of the middle levels.

She stretches out her legs, shaking them off. She sniffs at the cat tree before running up to a higher level and settling on a cushion there.

"She likes it," he says, a wide smile on his face.

"It's wonderful, Arthur," I say. "Thank you for getting it for her."

"I wanted you both to feel at home."

"This is a lot more impressive than anything she has at home." I frown. " Had at home. That's going to take a while to get used to."

A concerned expression crosses his face. "I'm sorry you had to leave your home."

"It's fine," I say in response, but it's partly because I also don't know what else to say. "I've been prepared for this my entire life. I've always known my parents would want me to make a foreign marriage."

"That doesn't mean that it isn't sad. I'm glad you're here, but I also wish you didn't have to leave your home for our marriage."

I lift my hand and reach out as if to touch him, but think differently of it. We've been sending letters for years, but this is an entirely different thing. Especially as we're standing in the room alone, even though we shouldn't be.

Except that's not what Arthur said. It seems that some things are different in Falhaven already.

"Would you like to see the rest of the apartment?" he asks.

"Oh, yes. Is there much more to see?"

"There's your bedroom. And I suppose there's mine, but there isn't anything in it right now. An office that we can share, or you can use for yourself if you want..."

"What would you do if I used it for myself?" I ask curiously.

"I could find one somewhere else in the castle," he says.

"I don't want you to have to do that."

"Please don't worry about that, Solana."

My heart skips a beat as he says my name. Very few people have ever said it without my title in front of it, and even though I've read it in his letters to me, it's entirely different to hear him say it out loud.

"We will have plenty of time to work out those things."

I nod. "Yes, I suppose so."

He flashes me a winning smile that makes my stomach flip around in the best way. "I should leave you to get settled. If you want anything, please let the servants know. I believe the kitchens are having meals brought up for you and your aunt."

"We're not eating with everyone else?"

"My father thought it might be too much after the journey," he says. "But there'll be plenty of time for that. You've arrived in time for the Solstice Banquet next week. And the Winter Fair starts tomorrow."

"That sounds lovely."

"We can go," he says. "If you'd like."

I nod, not really knowing what else to say.

I would like to go to the Winter Fair. We don't get snow in Someil other than at the very top of the mountains, and I've been looking forward to seeing it here, especially from the descriptions that Arthur gave me of the snow in his letters.

I know that the Winter Fair doesn't mean there'll definitely be snow, but it feels like it's one step closer to it.

"I have duties to attend to in the morning, but I hope I'll see you in the afternoon."

"Oh, yes." I'm a little disappointed that he won't be around tomorrow morning, but I suppose it isn't too much of a problem. He is a prince and does have things to attend to.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Solana," he says, hesitating before he heads to the door.

There's a part of me that wants to ask him to come back, but I don't know what I'd say if he did. I hope these things are going to get easier the more time I spend here.