Page 7

“S o you’re telling me, in less than a day here, you’ve been kicked out of an official ruler’s meeting, insulted both the King and Queen of Ryntook, and angered your fiancé enough for him to practically confine you to your bedchamber?” Raena blinked, trying her best to understand exactly how I’d ruined my chances of ever helping my kingdom.

“At least it’s a very pretty bedchamber,” Ivy added from beside her. With a tight smile, she patted my wrist.

Another tear rolled down my cheek. Of course, I’d already ruined everything. After the meeting, Lukas had to rescue me from hordes of furious advisors and their rulers. I’d never seen him look so disappointed. And the worst part was, I still couldn’t see how it was such a bad idea. So what if my mother and father were of royal blood? How would that make me fit enough to take their place? How would it make anyone?

“There must be something we can do to fix this,” Ivy offered.

Raena exhaled and flopped down onto my blue bedsheets. The three of us were seated on a grand, shell-shaped bed in the centre of my new room. A few metres away, white gauzy curtains fluttered in the breeze, suspended above the arched open doorway that led to a huge balcony overlooking the ocean. The rest of the room was decorated with ocean themes. Shells were carved into the columns that held up the arched ceilings, while deep blue and gold paintings adorned the sand-coloured walls.

Ivy was right. It was a very beautiful bedchamber. Lovely in all ways except for the guard stationed outside. He’d already stopped me once when I tried to leave in search of dinner.

A beautiful prison, indeed.

“We’ll figure something out,” I decided. “Or at least maybe Lukas will.” I laughed humorlessly. “It’s not like he’s already had to figure everything else out for me.”

Ivy squeezed my hand. “That’s not your fault. You’re still learning.”

“She’s right.” Raena took my other hand. “No one is born knowing how to rule a kingdom. Lukas had to learn too. Give it a few years, and you’ll be just like Queen Cora.” Her face brightened, while mine only drained of colour.

“She was furious today, though. All the rulers were.” I hung my head, letting it flop into my hands with a groan. “I didn’t think it was possible for someone to be so angry.”

Ivy scrunched her nose in thought. “Well, I suppose you did sort of point out some very valid flaws in their leadership system…”

Raena eyed her with a scowl.

“Sorry,” Ivy muttered. “At least things can only get better from here?”

A knock sounded at the door. My heart stuttered as the three of us sat up. Perhaps Lukas was back? Maybe with a plan to fix all this? But then the door creaked open to reveal a young guard holding a tray of steaming food.

“Princess Naria?” the guard stammered. “You said you were hungry so I had the servants fetch you something. They said Queen Cora wanted you to have this.”

“Thank you.” I gathered my skirts and pushed myself up from the bed, making my way towards her. Just as I approached, she placed the tray onto a nearby table and lifted the silver lid.

My stomach churned.

“Ancients, what is that smell?” Ivy gagged.

Far too many glazed over eyes stared back at me as I struggled to even look at the bizarre ‘meal’. It appeared to be some kind of fish, but then it also had strange tiny arms and smelt more like what came out of the backside of cattle. The creature’s grey scales looked barely cooked, and even though it had been placed on a cream plate and decorated with vegetables, a good healer could probably bring it back to life.

“That’s poerfish.” Raena’s nervous voice cut through the stench. “It’s considered a delicacy here.”

“A delicacy ?” I dry-heaved. Snatching the lid back from the guard, I slammed it over the fish.

“It’s not exactly my favourite meal either,” Raena mumbled, fidgeting with the lacy hem of her blue gown. “But this is definitely a bad sign…”

“What do you mean?” Eyes narrowing, I stepped away from the tray.

“Everyone in Ryntook knows poerfish is an acquired taste,” she explained. “And my family are good friends with Queen Cora. She’s a kind soul, she’d never want for a visitor to feel unwelcome.”

My throat began to dry. I knew where this was going.

“You must’ve really, really upset her today with what happened in that meeting,” Raena went on, dropping her skirt to run a finger through her dark curls. “Oh, Naria, this is not good for your kingdom at all.” Shaking her head, she paused in thought for a moment before announcing, “I’m going to have to talk to Cora.”

My eyebrows shot up. “What?”

Raena sighed. “Well, I was planning to surprise the Queen with a grand entrance at the Oceans Ball next week. I just know she’ll be delighted to see me here again, in my home kingdom.” Grinning, she pushed herself up from the bed, the soft fabric of her gown trailing behind her. “But since you are in such dire need of my help, I will speak with her tonight and see if your reputation can be salvaged.”

“Oh Raena that’s very nice of you, but—”

She cut me off with her palm. “Do not worry yourself. I already have a lovely gown to wear this evening, and I’m sure the Queen will still be in awe at the ball when she sees the new gown I’m having made by my Ryntook tailors.” Leaning in closer, she lowered her voice with a grin. “I’m having dresses made for yourself and Ivy too, but let’s keep that between us for now.” She giggled while Ivy tried her best to hear our whispers.

“Thank you, Raena,” I chuckled. “But that was not what I was going to say.”

“I’ll bring Erik along if you’re worried about safety,” she said in a louder tone, making her way towards the door. “I’m sure the Queen will approve. She used to have a thing for guards,” she laughed.

I shook my head, smiling. Raena really didn’t have to do that. This was my mess, and if anyone should be visiting Queen Cora, it should be me. But still, I was grateful for her help. I thanked her one last time before she swept through the door in a blur of blue chiffon and giggles.

“Poerfish?” I offered to Ivy.

A pillow, narrowly missing my cackling face, was her only response.

Hours later, I was still locked aw ay in my bedchamber. The poerfish had been eaten by the very grateful seagulls who’d caught it after I tossed it out onto my balcony, and the sun had long since dipped below the blue horizon. Ivy, however, refused to leave my side. She stayed lounging against my teal pillows, even despite there apparently being a party in the main hall to celebrate the arrival of all the rulers – a party I’d obviously lost my invitation to.

Although, I’d be lying if I said I was upset. Instead of dressing up in her finest gown, Ivy had visited her own new room before returning with her chest of herbs. We’d spent the evening re-organising the plants into their little drawers and tossing any that had expired into the ocean below.

It was nice to take my mind off my racing thoughts. But my bliss only lasted for another hour or so before the door swung open and Lukas charged inside, a stack of parchment in his arms.

“Miss Ivanya,” he acknowledged my friend with a curt nod.

Startling, she rose from the glossy floor.

“You may leave us,” Lukas barked before she’d even had the chance to bow.

“Lukas…” I frowned, but he deliberately ignored me. As Ivy slipped out of my room, I gave her a thankful smile before turning my attention to the scowling king. “I know you’re upset with me, but there’s no reason to be rude to my friends.”

“I am more than upset with you, Naria,” he grumbled, dragging a hand through his hair. “What you said today had serious repercussions that I had to spend the entire afternoon dealing with. Did you really think that proposing the idea of a democracy would go down well in a room full of monarchs?”

My arms wrapped around my chest. “I suppose I was quite tired… But I was only speaking my mind. Surely you, of all people, know I’m hardly suitable to be a queen.”

“You can and you will,” he declared, marching over to my pink shell desk and dropping his parchments on top. His hands pressed against the table, and after a breath of pause, he turned to face me.

“Look.” His voice softened. “I know you’re probably scared of your upcoming responsibilities, but I am here now to help you and I always will be.” As he stepped towards me, my gaze dropped to the floor, embarrassment staining my cheeks.

“I truly am sorry for causing you so much trouble,” I admitted. “That was never my intention.”

“I know,” he sighed.

My breath caught as his fingers swept under my jaw, tipping my chin up to meet his gaze.

“You are so strong, Naria.” He spoke in a commanding yet tender voice. “And you will make a wonderful queen. Don’t ever let any silly thoughts convince you otherwise.” His fingers tapped gently on the side of my head. “I mean it,” he warned.

A tear splashed against my bodice. “But what if that’s not who I’m supposed to be?” His eyes narrowed as I continued, “I’ve already helped my people so much. My goal was to rebuild my kingdom and now Corlixir is slowly growing into what it once was. Why must I be the one to ensure it stays that way?”

“How can you even suggest that?” Lukas shook his head. “Your parents w—”

“Would’ve surely wanted me to just be happy,” I finished for him, desperation blurring my vision. “I love my people, of course I do , but I love them because I am one of them. I don’t want to stand there in front of everyone I grew up with and tell them what they can and cannot do. They should be allowed to decide that for themselves.” I stepped out of his hold, meeting his stare with fire now melting away the shame in my chest. “Please tell me you understand.”

Lukas just blinked. For a moment, a flicker of something I thought might’ve been understanding flashed across his eyes. Then, any flames inside me were smothered by his low, unwavering voice. “This talk is nonsense.”

My lips clamped shut. I’d tried… I’d also had enough of arguing for one day.

“Now, will you please come and see these papers I’ve been working on. I have a plan for how to smooth things over with the other rulers – one that doesn’t involve you dissolving any monarchies.” There was a hint of humour in his tone, but I didn’t laugh. Instead I followed him numbly as he led me over to my desk.

Once I was by his side, he spread out the parchments, the dark ink still fresh enough to glint in the candlelight.

“I take it you didn’t attend our welcome party either, then?” My gaze caught on his neat handwriting. Between the pretty letters, there was so much to take in. He must’ve been working on this for hours.

“We didn’t come here to celebrate,” he replied flatly, glancing at my lips before turning back to the papers. “Now please,” his voice deepened, “behave yourself for once and pay attention.”

Without another word, he dove into explaining his notes, while I tried my best to ignore the heat pooling in my belly. I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again, blinking all the unnecessary thoughts away.

After a few minutes, I began to make sense of his plan. It seemed simple at first – mainly involving me building new relationships with the other rulers, then convincing them of the value of my kingdom. Dalking and Ryntook shouldn’t be too much of a challenge, but Hallshire…

“Will probably present us with the most pushback,” he reasoned, his palms pressing into the desk. “I don’t know why Marigold has such a strong resentment towards you, especially since I’ve researched your families and there’s no history of any bad blood.” He paused, letting his gaze fall over his notes again. “But we’ll find a way to win them over.”

“You speak as if I even want their help,” I murmured, more to myself.

“You’ll need it though,” he answered anyway. “Hallshire is powerful. Maybe even more powerful than Drothmore.”

“We can grow our own food.”

“Good luck trying to grow enough to sustain an entire kingdom,” he argued. “Believe me, we’ve all tried, but our lands are just not fertile enough. In the same way that Hallshire cannot gather enough wood and stone to build their homes, or metals to craft their swords.”

“I know, I know,” I groaned, pushing myself away from the desk. “Drothmore has the mountains. Dalking has the forests. Ryntook has the sea, and Hallshire has the volcano that spreads enough life into their soil so that their harvests are always plentiful,” I recited what Lukas had told me months ago over our dinners. “It’s just a shame that it hasn’t decided to erupt yet.” My fingertips skimmed the curtains fluttering by the balcony. “We could all probably benefit from a nice stream of lava, aimed directly at the palace throne ro—”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Lukas laughed, returning his focus to the parchment. “You know it’s a serious crime to plot the death of another ruler?”

“Call the guards then,” I joked. A smile pulled at my cheeks while I stood by the balcony’s open door. For a few moments, there was peace. Just myself, the King of Drothmore, and the calming sound of the waves as Lukas continued guiding me through his plan.

Until something else weaved through the sea breeze. Something soft. Beautiful.

Singing.

A soft haze clouded my vision and my legs turned gooey. Without meaning to, I stepped forward, my bare feet warm against the stone balcony. Everything felt so lovely. And the singing was louder now too — although it felt wrong to call it mere singing. A ‘serenade’ was more fitting. A serenade gifted straight from the most whimsical parts of the ocean. And with every passing second, I wanted more and more to drown myself in it.

My limbs worked by themselves to push me up onto the balcony ledge. Briefly, I was aware of a male voice calling my name. But then my gaze fell to the rolling waves below, crashing endlessly into the palace and somehow calling to me. Singing to me.

She wants me…

With a wide, thoughtless smile, I jumped off the balcony.