Page 4

It's strange to have this much space for myself. Back in Someil, I only really had my bedchamber and a second room where I would write my correspondence. I know I'll be sharing a lot of my new space with Arthur, but it still feels good to be able to walk around and know that it's mine in some way.

Felicia lounges most of the way up the cat tower he made for me, and I smile at her.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" I scratch my cat behind the ears, and she lets out a loud purr. "I hope this means you like Arthur."

She doesn't respond, which isn't a surprise. It's not like she really understands what's going on. As far as she's concerned, I put her in a basket in Someil, and now we're not there. It's not like she can tell that people are speaking a different language.

On the other hand, maybe they're not. I used to practice speaking Falhavien to her all the time.

The door to the private sitting room opens and my maid walks inside, still wearing her uniform from home. I should make sure to find out if that's considered acceptable here or if she's supposed to be wearing what the other maids working at Falhaven Castle do.

"Your Highness," she says, dipping into a curtsy. "Princess Evelyn and Princess Veronica are here."

I nod. "Please tell them that I'll be there in a moment." I check that my dress is perfectly presented, even though I know it is. I want to make a good impression on Arthur's sisters, especially as this is the first time I'm actually going to meet them without an entire retinue in front of us.

I take a deep breath and head into the receiving room, noticing that my aunt has already made herself at home in one of the chairs and looks like she could fall asleep.

She's always had the uncanny ability to sleep wherever she's sitting, and it seems to have become more pronounced as she's grown older.

I'm not convinced that she's the best person to have sent to Falhaven as my chaperone, but that decision was one that was made without me.

The woman I recognise as Princess Veronica notices me entering and nods in my direction, nudging the other woman with her arm. I assume that must be Princess Evelyn, but I only got a brief look at her when I arrived yesterday.

"Your Highnesses," I say, dipping into a curtsy just as Princess Evelyn turns around.

"Princess Solana," she nods her head in response.

I give them what I hope is a friendly smile. "I wasn't expecting you this morning."

"Ah, yes. Artie, erm, Prince Arthur, asked me to give you this." Princess Evelyn holds out a letter to me.

There's a hint of excitement within me as I think about getting a letter from Arthur, even though we're in the same castle.

"Thank you, Your Highness," I say as I take it.

"I don't think there's any need for that," Princess Veronica says. "You can call me Veronica, and you can call her Evelyn, or Evie, everyone does."

The other princess shrugs. "That's true."

"If you're sure that it's proper," I respond, not really knowing what to make of the two princesses in front of me.

"You are marrying our brother," Veronica says. "I think that removes any need for titles when we're in private."

I nod. "Solana." It's strange, especially given how few people have called me by my given name in my life, but I do believe it's something I can get used to. Especially as I plan on living in Falhaven for a long time to come.

I turn my attention to the letter, feeling a little nervous as I run my fingernail under the familiar seal and unfold the paper. The handwriting inside is familiar, but I'm not used to the correspondence being so short.

"He wishes me a pleasant day and hopes I will enjoy my time with the two of you," I say, folding the letter up and putting it in my pocket.

"I'm sorry he isn't here himself. There was an issue at the port that he needed to go and deal with. He didn't want to go, I think he'd much rather be here with you," Veronica says.

"That's all right, he told me as much yesterday." Though I'm a little disappointed, I'm not surprised. Hopefully, this isn't an omen of how things are going to be in the future.

"He asked me to show you around the castle," Evelyn blurts out. "Veronica said she'd come along."

"Because otherwise, you're going to spend three hours taking her on a tour of the kitchens and not get to any of the good things," Veronica counters.

"I would not," Evelyn mutters.

The other princess rolls her eyes at her older sister. "Well, you've got me too," she says. "And this afternoon, we can take you down to the Winter Fair."

"It's loud, and there are a lot of people, but Arthur thinks you'll like it," Evelyn says.

"I'm used to that," I promise. "I've been to plenty of banquets."

"There'll be plenty more here," Veronica says. "Including the Solstice banquet."

"Arthur mentioned that," I respond.

"Ah good, he was supposed to."

"Have you had breakfast?" Evelyn asks, looking around as if trying to find evidence of it.

"I have." I look over at my aunt. "I'm not sure about the Duquesa."

"We can leave her to sleep," Veronica says. "Some tours don't need chaperones, unless you want her to come."

I want to say yes, but I still hesitate, it's just so different from what I'm used to back in Someil. I'm sure there are guards waiting to follow both princesses outside the door, but there's no chaperone with them now. I suppose in a way, they probably act like that for one another.

"I think Arthur was hoping that we could get to know one another," Veronica says. "You are going to be our new sister soon."

"That's true." And it's not like my aunt will need to have much of a tour of Falhaven Castle, this isn't about to become her home.

"I'm sure my aunt will appreciate the chance to rest after such a long journey.

" A wave of confidence follows my proclamation.

I don't need a chaperone to tour a castle with Arthur's sisters, nor do I particularly want one.

"All right, shall we?" Veronica gestures to the door, which I assume is my cue to follow her.

I touch the snowflake necklace around my neck.

I wish it were Arthur taking me on a tour of the castle, but I suppose there'll be plenty of time for that later, and there's nothing wrong with getting to know his sisters.

"Do you know much about Falhaven Castle?" Evelyn asks me as we exit the room.

"Only what your brother has told me."

"I can imagine the kind of things Arthur has deemed fit to talk about," Veronica says, more than a hint of affection in her voice.

"He told me a lot about the history," I say. "That your great-great-grandfather built the castle."

"Well, he built the west wing," she responds. "The rest of the castle was there long before that."

"Except for the stables. Our father built those," Evelyn says.

"Mmm, true. Do you have a horse?" Veronica asks me.

"No. I know how to ride, but I never had much chance to in Someil. I have a cat though, Arthur encouraged me to bring her with me." It's only as I say it that I realise I have no idea if everyone else knows about that.

"I'm not surprised, Artie loves animals," she says in response. "You should see him with his horse."

"Brownfoot?" I check.

"You've talked about a lot in your letters," Evelyn says.

"I suppose so." I let out a shaky breath, feeling a little bit more reassured that he's been genuine in his letters. It seems that his sister isn't surprised by the fact we've been writing to one another or that he's been telling me real things about himself.

"I'm sure he'll introduce you to Brownfoot soon," Veronica says. "He never misses an opportunity to introduce people to his horse."

"And you say I'm the one with only one interest," Evelyn mutters under her breath.

"I don't. Not that much, anyway," Veronica denies. "So, we can give you a tour of the most important rooms in the castle, and then head down to the fair for lunch now that we've lost your chaperone."

"We can't do that," I protest, thinking of my aunt who wasn't so much lost as actively left behind.

"Why not? We'll take one of the guards with us. I'm sure Frederick wouldn't mind, he's sweet on the blacksmith's apprentice and loves any opportunity to go flirt with him," Veronica muses.

"Is that why it took him so long to get back with my pan?" Evelyn asks.

"Your pan?" Veronica responds.

"Yes. It had a dent in it, so I asked Frederick if he could get it fixed for me, but it took him three days."

"I doubt he was flirting for three days," Veronica says.

I frown as I listen to them talk to one another, not entirely sure what to make of it. "What would your parents say about you going into the village?" I can only imagine how my parents would respond to me doing something like that.

Veronica shrugs in a very unprincesslike gesture. "They've never said anything about it. They're probably happy we're keeping out of trouble. Did you never go down to the village next to your castle with your brother?"

I shake my head. "I haven't seen much of my younger brother since he started training to become the next king."

"Ah, yes. I forgot that was how your kingdom worked. Kathryn has been the crown princess since she was born, Arthur's arrival didn't change that."

"I can't say I mind," I say. Though I'm not entirely sure if that's the real answer, or the one I give because I feel like I have to. My brother has always been the one set to inherit. I don't think they even named me as heir temporarily.

But I am glad for it in one way. It means that I'm here in Falhaven and not at home in Someil with all of the pressures of trying to learn how to be a queen.