Page 30 of Manor of Wind and Nightmares (Fae of Brytwilde #3)
Then
A handful of servants escorted my maids and me into the palace. The entrance through the carved double doors was as grand as I’d expected, with glistening starlight tracing patterns on the marble floor as it danced through the panes of the tall arched windows.
“Come with me, Your Highness,” said a fae servant.
When his mouth opened in a not-so-friendly grin, sharp teeth flashed in the night.
He led me swiftly down a fine hallway, where more arched windows lined both walls and offered glimpses of beautiful courtyards and gardens.
Windows must have been left open somewhere nearby, allowing a draft of cool air to whisper toward me, fragrant and alluring.
In sharp contrast to the beauty of the grounds and the extravagance of the polished marble floors were the paintings of stern-faced fae and vacant-eyed humans adorning the spaces between each window.
A shiver coursed down my spine when I glanced up into the blank gaze of a woman who might have been close to my age when her likeness had been painted.
She stood beside a fae with horns protruding from his long chestnut hair and fangs glinting in his mouth.
My stomach dipped with foreboding. How many women had been lured into this kingdom either through glamour like this one, unbeknownst to her, or through trickster bargains and deceptive promises?
Or like me —forced into a task I did not want to complete because the alternative was unthinkable?
The servant led my maids and me through numerous halls, up winding staircases, and past vast rooms full of humans scrubbing, dusting, and otherwise tending to the palace in the middle of the night.
Each glimpse of the mortals performing such drudgery in the hours when the fae could avoid seeing them made my stomach clench with horror and disgust. The humans’ clothing was ragged; their figures gaunt.
It was a constant reminder that the Willowbark king was as awful as King Wystan.
If I failed in my mission, my family wouldn’t be the only ones to pay dearly.
I could only imagine the sort of retribution that Willowbark would eke out against a would-be assassin.
At last, the servant paused before a white door ornately painted with depictions of a swirling river lined with willows. “Your room, Your Highness.” He swept the door open, bowed, and departed before I could even enter.
A handful of maids awaited beside a roaring fire, despite the fact that I was already surrounded by my own.
Immediately overwhelmed, I scarcely had time to take in the four-poster bed draped in the finest bed linens, the painted ceiling, the arched windows leading to a balcony overlooking the Willow, or the wardrobe open and already filled to almost overflowing with clothes.
“Your Highness.” The foremost maid, with hair as green as the grass outside and eyes a bright shade of pink, dipped into a low curtsey. “We have food awaiting you and will prepare you a bath so you can rest from your journey.”
I cleared my throat, lifting my chin and mustering my best commanding tone. “I brought my own maids and won’t be needing your services.”
The slightest scrunch of her brow was the only indication of the maid’s displeasure. “Very well. But if you need anything...”
“Of course. I will send one of my maids to fetch help.” I had no desire to deal with any more unknown fae than necessary. It was troublesome enough having to endure the Emberglade trio, knowing they hated me and were spying for their king.
The Willowbark maids filed out the door, allowing my maids and me to enter my new quarters, when a thought struck me. I glanced over my shoulder. “Will I meet the prince tomorrow?”
The green-haired maid’s brows rose in surprise. “Were you not informed? It is tradition for Willowbark royalty and their spouses to not see one another until the wedding ceremony is complete.” She blinked with feigned innocence. “In the marriage chambers, on the wedding night.”
Though I wasn’t surprised, my heart lurched at having my fear confirmed.
I wouldn’t have an opportunity to move against Prince Kaede until we were alone together after our wedding.
Certainly, it would be a vulnerable time for him, and easier when we were alone, but it would force me to go through with vows before the gods, ones I would have to break.
Light-headed, I plastered a disinterested expression on my face and nodded.
“Sleep well tonight,” the maid added before she left. “Queen Ara has requested that you take breakfast with her and Princess Laila in the queen’s quarters tomorrow. We will fetch you at the ninth hour, so be ready.”
Ellery shut the door behind them.
I wandered to the washroom and soaked in the tub, dreading meeting more fae I’d betray. My maids prattled on about royal etiquette and other needless reminders as they helped me bathe, dressed me in my nightgown, and brushed and plaited my hair for bed.
As I settled into the expansive bed, they unpacked my trunks and filled my wardrobe even further. I drank down my vial of potion in a quick swallow, noting that the stash was dwindling. Now that I was in Willowbark, I was expected to strike soon.
“I trust your journey was pleasant?” Queen Ara’s expression held such hope in it that I forced a smile and a nod, not wanting to divulge the stories of the goblin or water wraith attacks.
She was the picture of serenity and poise as she sipped her tea, her raven-dark hair falling in a sleek curtain down her back.
At her side, Princess Laila stirred sugar into her tea as she stared out the window at the golden spring day. Her ivory complexion was dusted with a smattering of freckles. While her features and rich dark hair resembled her mother’s, her eyes were a more muted shade of soft brown.
The breakfast room in the queen’s quarters was intimate and bright, full of windows that offered views of the cherry tree orchard and the expansive gardens.
Outside, a small brook ran into a pond full of darting fish.
Such tranquility and beauty were a stark contrast to the heavy, staining guilt I carried, and it made everything taste like ash in my mouth as I exchanged pleasantries.
It was clear the princess, Kaede’s younger sister, found the whole situation uncomfortable and didn’t trust me.
Meanwhile, the queen was graceful and kind, watching me as if she dared believe her son and I could one day be a love match.
My stomach cramped with every piece of meaningless conversation we exchanged, every polite bite of food, every forced smile and laugh.
I’m here to murder your son and break your heart, I thought bitterly.
“The wedding is to take place tomorrow,” Queen Ara continued after asking about the suitability of my quarters, how well I’d slept, and commenting on how lovely the weather would be as I began to settle into my new home.
“I thought, given you’ve had little choice in all this, you would perhaps like to choose from a few different wedding gowns we had prepared for you? ”
I blinked in surprise. Princess Briar had mentioned sending my measurements to Willowbark ahead of time, but I hadn’t given much thought to it. It mattered little when the wedding was a farce.
Now, I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, hoping my emotional response looked like appreciation for the queen’s thoughtfulness rather than regret.
Once we wrapped up our meal, Princess Laila made her excuses.
“She’s a shy girl,” Queen Ara murmured as she led me toward her adjoining lounge, where an array of dress forms had been wheeled in, each displaying a stunning gown.
Since it wasn’t customary for fae to wear white for their weddings, the room was full of a rainbow of color.
Everything was stunning, in vibrant shades of cherry-blossom-pink, Willowbark green and gold, and blues that matched the hues of the river.
I sucked in a breath, trying not to be overcome as I scanned each dress, forcing myself to run my fingers over the fabric and study each one as if the choice mattered.
At last, after murmuring my gratitude, I chose the one I deemed most practical, without a flowing train to slow my steps or a bodice so tight it hindered movement.
The fabric felt light and airy, made of a pale purple overlaid with sheer gold tulle.
Queen Ara presented me with a mask that matched the dress. “For the ceremony,” she explained, “as it is tradition for neither of you to see one another until afterward.”
I stared at the gold and purple mask, one that would cover my entire face but for my eyes. A shimmering ribbon dangled from the back.
In a way, it was a relief to know I wouldn’t have to even see much of Prince Kaede during the wedding itself. I could continue to focus on my task rather than think of him as an actual soul with emotions and dreams and fears. Just a mission. Just a way to keep my family alive.
“Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness,” I repeated for perhaps the third time, before politely making my excuses and retreating to the solace of my empty rooms.