Page 26 of The Starlit Ring (The Chronicles of Liridin #1)

“That isn’t quite a compliment,” Prince Marius pointed out, but the corners of his mouth lifted into a crooked grin.

“Well, it isn’t quite an insult, either,” said Toral, rolling his eyes. He sighed. “But alas, I must return to making the rounds. I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow at the solstice.” He nodded at me. “You will be there, and not behind the scenes styling hair?”

I glanced at Ria and Marius sheepishly. “I plan on it?— ”

“She will be,” said Ria firmly. “I’d hardly ask her to miss out.”

“Good,” said Toral, and he was gone, wings bouncing as he walked.

“Are those… do his wings really work?” I said, unable to stop staring.

It might have been my imagination, but I thought Prince Marius pursed his lips in disapproval.

“Yes,” he said. “They really work, but you won’t see them used here.

Centuries ago, our people would shoot his from the sky for sport.

Though we’ve reached an agreement, they’re reluctant to fly anywhere near the surface.

Only messengers and scouts will get within one hundred feet of the ground. ”

“That’s horrible,” said Ria, and I could see the rant building in her. Later, she’d tell me exactly what she thought about this. For now, we were wise enough to keep our mouths shut.

“It is,” said Marius. “I cannot answer for my ancestors, but I can assure you that I will not allow anything like that to ever happen again.”

“How altruistic,” said Ria, eyes flashing.

I looked away. People could be both good and bad, I reminded myself. At least Prince Marius was trying to do what was best for his kingdom and the surrounding ones, even if he attacked Olmstead over a broken treaty.

I still worried that war would break out.

King Amonrew was probably stewing in his war room right now, moving figures across a map and swearing.

He’d agreed to let Ria go, but a part of me wondered if the wedding would ever happen.

As the days passed, reality settled in. Father wouldn’t tolerate this arrangement.

Tocchia hadn’t just exercised poor judgment—they’d also humiliated him.

He’d been given a choice: submit, or admit that he could’ve prevented the slaughter at the Spring Banquet, and didn’t.

I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if Father tried to retaliate tomorrow. A festival for a banquet .

And he would have no mercy.

But Tocchia was not so easily caught off guard. Ships might come in the night, but the sea was notoriously treacherous between our realms. The flatlands before the mountains would not long conceal an army, and the scouts would’ve warned us long ago if soldiers from Olmstead were in the area.

“I would beg your pardon,” said Prince Marius to Ria, interrupting my musing. “But I know you’re not the generous sort.”

Ria’s jaw dropped. “A bold insinuation,” she said.

“Not even if I begged ,” continued Marius. The frozen wrath in his glare was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Ria scowled. All around us, people stopped and stared at the prince and his betrothed, who looked ready to come to blows.

My gaze flickered to Ria. What was Marius talking about? Had he begged her already? And for what?

I could’ve told him that such behavior would earn him no favors with my sister, but of course, he hadn’t asked.

“I’m afraid the desserts are calling me,” said Ria, spinning on her heel.

“I will reunite with you later, future husband .” She spat the words with vitriol.

I almost felt sorry for the prince as I darted after her, desperately hoping that we might actually stop at a dessert table, and knowing already that I would be disappointed.

Servants didn’t get cake, and my sister wasn’t fond of sweets to begin with.

“We’re supposed to put up a united front,” Prince Marius hissed after us, but Ria ignored him.

We passed a table absolutely buckling beneath an assortment pastries, cakes, cookies, and puddings. Ria didn’t spare it a glance, but I was halfway to salivating at the sight.

Several people attempted to greet Ria, but she tore through the crowd like an arrow from a crossbow, and didn’t stop until we reached the gardens outside.

“That foul, foul man,” she snarled, when we were finally alone. “How dare he say such things! In public, too,” she fumed, fanning at her face with her hand. We found an empty bench, and Ria all but collapsed onto it, like her legs had given out.

I didn’t know what to say. Any attempt to reassure her would be received poorly, so I just sat beside her and patted her on the shoulder.

“It’s like he thinks he deserves forgiveness,” she snarled. Furious tears spilled over her long lashes. “As if I owe him anything after what he did!”

I bit my lip. While it would probably be easiest to forgive Prince Marius and carry on as though nothing had ever transpired, I understood why Ria couldn’t do it.

Couldn’t ignore the violent loss of her autonomy, the disappointment she must’ve felt when she realized she couldn’t marry someone new and more compatible, the terror and fear as she left the castle more or less a hostage.

“You don’t,” I said. “Just be careful, alright?”

“I make no promises,” said Ria, wiping her eyes. The kohl around them smeared. When I went to fix it, she slumped back against the bench, and said, “Leave it. I’m not perfect, and my makeup doesn’t have to be, either.”

The rest of the evening was tense. We were eventually joined by a sheepish Prince Marius, who gave no apologies. But when he offered his arm, Ria took it, and I supposed that was good enough.