Page 41

Clarissa

E veryone arrived back at the manor shortly after Galen and I did.

I recounted what Galen had told me to my mother before Devora and Katrine appeared.

The latter frantically forced us into our respective baths to wash up from the fields.

Mia was enjoying her new domain and had sniffed every single item she could reach, then collapsed on the rug in the center of my room and napped peacefully.

I sent Devora out to find some food and toys for her while Katrine begged me to get ready for the Harvest Festival.

I couldn’t believe they were still continuing with the event, but Galen insisted on things happening as planned.

I felt…disconnected. Unfocused. Like my body was trying to put on a show, smiling and prancing around these events as if nothing was wrong. But my mind was spiraling through the secrets of this kingdom and this curse, everything I’d seen and heard in the last week.

And lately, those spiraling sessions included light blue eyes, a smirk that wasn’t afraid to call me out when I was in my own head, and warm hands that kept me grounded.

A knock sounded on the door to our suite. Mia instantly bolted awake and let out a high bark, rushing to the sound with Devora on her heels. My maid answered it with a sweet, “Why, hello there!”

I turned away from the mirror where Katrine was buttoning up my dress to find Marigold in the doorway, with Mia up on her hind legs and yapping away excitedly. Marigold giggled as the dog licked her arms. She was precious in her pink and purple tulle skirt and flower crown.

“You look like a fairy queen!” she exclaimed, pointing at my dress while petting Mia with her other hand.

Katrine was incredibly talented—she had outdone herself with this one.

The bottom layer of my lightweight gown was a soft cream color that flowed from my waist and trailed behind me, with a high slit in the front coming up to my thigh.

A thin outer layer of shimmering gold fabric covered the entire dress.

Green threads that looked like vines with multi-colored flowers snaked their way down the tight corset and over the waistline, spreading out among the gold and cream.

“Well, thank you,” I said with a laugh. “And you look like a little princess.” My grin faltered when Thorne’s large body came into view, his hand on her back as he glanced around the room sheepishly.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but she kept asking if she could play with the pup again…” He trailed off as his eyes found me. The way they slowly drifted up from the slit at my legs to my neck made heat pulse against my skin.

“You look beautiful, Empress,” he said, voice rough.

“Look, Daddy, we match!” Marigold cried, drawing my attention back to her. She motioned to the flower crown on top of her head. I smiled and touched the one I wore, which Devora had made out of green vines, pearls, and wisteria.

“Hello, Lord Reaux,” my mother called from her room, poking her head out and raising an eyebrow at me before smiling at Thorne. “I thought I heard you.”

He nodded to her. “Evadine, sorry to intrude. ”

“Oh, nonsense. And who is this precious little girl?” my mother asked.

Thorne shuffled Marigold farther into the suite. “This is my daughter, Marigold. Marigold, say hello to Ms. Aris.”

Marigold waved shyly at my mother, rocking back and forth on her heels. “Are you Rissa’s mommy?”

“Why yes, I am.”

“She looks like you. She’s very pretty,” Marigold said earnestly.

“Yes, she is,” Thorne remarked, so quietly I thought I misheard. My grin faded as I looked at him in surprise. He cleared his throat. “They both are, of course.”

An awkward silence filled the room. I could feel my mother’s knowing gaze digging into my back.

“Well, I’ll be in here if anyone needs me,” Mother said, retreating back to her room. “The rest of you, have fun at the festival.”

“Daddy said I can’t go tonight,” Marigold said, gazing longingly at my dress.

He sighed. “It’ll be past your bedtime. And you, little girl, need your sleep after the exciting day you had.”

I chuckled at the way she tilted her head up to look at him with those big brown eyes, a tactic I’m sure worked like a charm for her. Pair that with the puppy nudging sweetly at Thorne’s ankle, and I could see his resolve crumbling bit by bit.

I crossed the room and knelt before Marigold, taking both her hands in mine. “How about you watch Mia for me tonight while I’m gone?” Her neck snapped back to me. “Would you like that?”

She nodded and grinned, showing off her dimple and the small gap between her teeth.

“Now, taking care of a dog is a big responsibility,” I said in a mockingly stern voice. “You have to make sure she has enough food and water, and take her outside on her leash every couple of hours so she doesn’t have an accident inside your room.”

Marigold nodded again, this time at Mia, an adorable crease appearing at her brow as she concentrated hard on my words.

“And she needs lots of playtime to get all her energy out. Do you think you can do that?”

“I’ll take such good care of her, I promise,” she said, then craned her neck to look at her father again. “Can I, Daddy? Please?”

I gave him a slight smirk as I cocked my head. “Can she, Lord Reaux? Please?”

His answering glare sent a thrill through me. “You two will be the death of me.”

“Then what a way to go,” I responded.

His jaw shifted and he took a deep, exaggerated breath. “Just one night.”

Marigold squealed before he even got the full sentence out, then wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Thank you, Rissa!” she said into my hair.

I returned the hug, glancing up to catch Thorne’s eyes fixed on us, the column of his throat moving as he swallowed.

The look he was giving us made my toes curl and my heart constrict, an unfamiliar emotion flooding my chest.

I smoothed out Marigold’s hair and tapped her nose. “You two have fun tonight, yes?”

She beamed and nodded vigorously, brown hair swaying. “I think you’re my new favorite. I’m so glad you’re marrying Uncle Galen!”

And just like that, the warm feeling was gone. I plastered a smile on my face and said, “Thank you, sweet girl,” before standing to gather the few possessions we had for Mia.

When the three of them left, my mother padded from her room and into mine, her perceptive eyes resting on my face.

“Don’t give me that look.”

She raised an eyebrow. “And what look might that be?”

“Why aren’t you getting ready, anyway?” I asked, ignoring her question. She was still in her robe and holding a book with a letter sticking out between the pages. When she caught me glancing at it, she shoved the piece of paper out of sight.

“Oh, I think I’ll stay in tonight. Let you younger ones have fun. Today was an adventure enough for me. ”

I frowned and crossed over to her. She did look tired. I often forgot how much she’d aged in those years wasting away in our cottage, before her mind returned to her. I still remembered the version of my mother that was constantly on the move when Leo and I were children.

I squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, Mother. I feel like we’ve barely seen each other on this trip.”

She scoffed. “Clarissa, after missing nearly sixteen years of your life, any moment I have with you is a blessing. Do not be sorry. I’m perfectly content being your shadow and watching you take this kingdom by storm.

” Patting my cheek as she always did, she smiled softly. “I just hope you’re being careful.”

“Of course,” I said. “I always am.”

“And I don’t simply mean with politics and court intrigue.” She tilted her head. “I mean with your heart .”

“My heart has nothing to do with this, Mother. Will you hand me those shoes?” I asked quickly, pointing to the gold sandals by the armoire.

She let out one of her long I’m-not-happy-with-you sighs just as Devora and Katrine appeared by the suite door. “If you no longer need us, we’ll head to our dinner now,” Katrine said, giving us a curtsy.

“Actually, there is something I need.” I walked over to grab the two of them by the hand and pull them back, an idea forming in my mind. I flashed a smile. “You’re coming with me. You two deserve a night of fun.”

Katrine’s eyes widened in excitement, but Devora’s lips turned down for a fraction of a second before she schooled her features.

“Your Majesty, it’s probably best that we—” she started, but Katrine cut her off.

“But what will we wear?” Katrine asked breathlessly.

I gave them a wink. “I’m sure we’ll find something.”

The fields of Gold Row had been transformed from the tournament to the Harvest Festival, and the sight of it as our carriage pulled off the gravel road took my breath away.

Small lanterns hung from strands of rope tied to steel posts in the ground, creating an enormous circle that spanned several fields.

The outskirts of the wide area were occupied by tents and booths of more vendors—people selling food and drinks and little trinkets like corn dolls and prayer talismans.

Vespera had told me how traditional this festival was, with their rituals and sacrifices to the Fates.

What she didn’t mention was that it was basically a glorified outdoor ball.

Within the large border of the festival was a handful of bonfires spread out across the fields, with people already dancing and drinking around them like they’d been there for hours.

Even though the sun had set, the light from the hanging lanterns and blazing fires was enough to illuminate their bright eyes.

Several musicians with stringed instruments were playing fast-tempo songs with catchy beats that already had my feet tapping along.

The scent of sweet wine and smoked meats wafted closer, drawing me in as Galen, Thorne, Devora, Katrine, and I made our way to the entrance, with a throng of guards, Lady Reaux, and the Silenus family trailing us closely.