《In The Name of Love》


 1: Sisters

    If King Ansgar had anything to say to his eldest daughter, Princess Wilhelmina, about her upcoming Quest for Favor, he should have been saying it long before today.


    At least, that''s what his younger daughter would say, if anyone asked her. But no one, least of all King Ansgar, asked for Fifi''s opinion on the matter. The Chief Royal Steward just came and announced that the king required Princess Wilhelmina''s presence, and no one can refuse an order from the king, so Princess Wilhelmina--known to her friends and family as Minna--went, mouthing apologies to her younger sister on the way out.


    That was ages ago, it seems to Fifi now as she paces methodically through the suite she shares with Minna, bedchamber to dressing room to antechamber to study and back again.She ought to be back by now,she tells herself for the forty-seventh time since Minna left. After all, what can King Ansgar possibly have to say to Minnanow, when the Quest for Favor starts tomorrow? Even as Fifi paces, Queen Ingrid is in the grand courtyard of Adelhyod, the castle the Royal Family of Aethyrozia calls home, graciously receiving suitors who intend to compete for Princess Wilhelmina''s hand in marriage.


    "Princess Josefina, please sit down," Greta, one of the princesses'' chambermaids, pleads as Fifi passes through the dressing room again. "You''re making me nervous."


    "I can''t help it, Greta," Fifi whines. "And please, call me Fifi. His Majesty isn''t here to scold--"


    "If I let myself get into that habit, Your Highness, I can''t trust myself to use your proper name when His Majesty is present."


    Fifi rolls her eyes and stalks out of the dressing room before Greta can say more.Overly cautious, that one. And she hasn''t been working here long,Fifi grumbles privately. Her feet carry her to a window in their antechamber, but she still can''t see the grand courtyard from this window or any other in their suite.How many are coming to compete for Minna?She has no way of knowing until tomorrow morning, when the Quest for Favor starts, unless perhaps one of their parents says something about it at supper.


    As far as Fifi knows, Aethyrozia is the only country in all of Lokva that allows its princesses to have some say in choosing their own husbands. Rather than the king just deciding who each princess will marry, any unmarried man of royal or noble birth who wishes to marry an Aethyrozian Princess must compete in her Quest for Favor, a competition consisting of three rounds in which the princess herself determines the victor. The Quest for Favor typically occurs on or near the princess''s nineteenth birthday; Minna''s is approximately three months late, and still far too soon for Fifi''s liking.She''ll have to move away, to live with whichever suitor becomes her husband, and how lonely these chambers will be without her!


    The telltale creak of the door from the corridor into the princesses'' antechamber brings Fifi running from the adjoining study.


    "Minna! What did Father have to say to you?" Fifi asks, more frantic than she intended, as Minna glides into their suite like the proper princess she always strives to be.


    "Goodness, Fifi, no need to get so excited," Minna chides gently, closing the door behind her. "And surely you know. It''s all anyone''s been talking about."


    "Your Quest for Favor, then, though I can''t fathom what he''d have to say to you about it. It''s meant to beyourdecision, no one else''s--"


    "But that doesn''t mean he wouldn''t have guidance to offer regarding my choice, nor that I wouldn''t want to hear what he has to say." Minna settles herself in an armchair by the window, tightness in her jaw and shoulders the only clue that she is anything but perfectly composed and at ease.If she doesn''t feel she can show her true feelings here, to me, what must Father have said to her?!Fifi wonders. She knows she''ll never get an answer; Minna has always looked up to their father as something of a god, someone who can do no wrong¡ªnotions utterly foreign to Fifi. She could never have such feelings towards someone who so clearly regards them as beneath his notice.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "What''s his advice to you, then?" Fifi sighs, dropping into the chair nearest her sister''s. "Heisaware you''ve been preparing for this your whole life, is he not?"


    "Aye, he is. He and Mother talk. And don''t worry. He might not have such strong opinions about your choice as he does about mine."


    "And who has he recommended to you, out of...how many suitors are competing for your hand?"


    "I believe he said there are forty of them, give or take. At least, that many have sent him their letters of intent. Mother is still in the grand courtyard, waiting to receive any who may come before tomorrow morning." Minna pauses, staring out the window. Fifi taps her fingers with frenetic impatience on the small decorative table next to her chair. "And Father simply requested that I give the five princes of Syazonia my special consideration."


    "Five?!They sent all five to compete for your hand?"


    "Father says Syazonia and Aethyrozia intend to be the closest of allies, and a marriage between the royal houses would be most advantageous."


    "You can hardly marry all five of them!" Fifi protests, incredulous and concerned on Minna''s behalf.How can she possibly be so calm?!"Won''t the brothers you reject take offense?"


    "They might, but that would be quite irrational, and it won''t matter regarding the desired alliance. All of the contestants have been told in no uncertain terms, and shall be reminded throughout the Quest for Favor, that the decision of which competitor I wed is mine alone and based on personal inclination."


    "That sentiment would be fine, if it were not untrue."


    "It''s none so bad as all that, Fifi. As Father told me, since all five of them are competing, surely one of them will find favor in my eyes."


    "Still, to have all five brothers pitted against one another...."


    "I think it ought to be most entertaining, don''t you? At least, if they have any rivalries between them. And besides, there will be all the other suitors to consider."


    "Are you actually planning to consider suitors who aren''t princes of Syazonia?" Fifi jibes, but she half means it, knowing how highly Minna values their father''s opinions.


    "I mean to give every contestant fair consideration, based on what they show me during the Quest for Favor." Minna bites her lip, and Fifi wonders what Minna''s holding back. "We''re very fortunate, you know, to have so much say in our own marriages. Princesses of the kingdoms around us are not so lucky."


    "So we''ve been told. Many times. I just...." Tears spring into Fifi''s eyes, and she swallows hard, trying to force them back. "You''ll have to go away to get married, and then nothing will ever be the same."


    "Oh, Fifi," Minna sighs, and then she''s standing and pulling Fifi out of her chair and into a hug. "Your own turn won''t be long in coming after mine. And you''re right, it won''t be the same, but we can write to each other, and perhaps visit on occasion. We''ll just each be having our own adventures, instead of sharing the same one."


    "I guess," Fifi mumbles as she pulls away, forcing a smile she hopes is brighter than her spirits. "But we have time before that, I suppose. And your Quest for Favor to prepare for."


    "What''s to prepare? Tomorrow is just the Talent round, and all the preparation for that falls to the suitors."


    "Aye, but the next day is the Questioning. Have you thought of any good ones?"


    "I have the list we''ve been building together." Minna pulls the thin roll of parchment out of a hidden pocket in her skirts and unrolls it so they both can examine it. "Of course, what I ask each one will depend on who he shows himself to be. And the last question must always be, ''what questions do you have for me?'', but beyond that--"


    "Make sure you ask them some tough ones, like how they would handle a revolt amongst the common people."


    "Of course. That''s always been our plan. I thought you''d be more concerned about what they like to do in their free time, or their favorite menu items for a feast."


    "How they''d handle a revolt says more about their personalities than their favorite foods. It''s not only a political question," Fifi points out, both pleased and annoyed that her best friend and sister has relaxed enough to poke a bit of fun at her.


    "You''re right," Minna agrees. "Will you dance with all the suitors who make it to the Ball, as well?"


    "If you want me to. I would never think to infringe upon your Quest for Favor. Especially since you probably won''t be able to attend mine, if you''ve already wed."


    "All the more reason you should dance with my suitors, so we can discuss them together." Minna rolls up the scroll and puts it back in her pocket, staring contemplatively out the window. "What do you most hope for in my future husband?"


    "That he can bring you happiness. That he''s good for you, not just for Aethyrozia," Fifi replies. She''s never meant any words more in her life, and she hopes Minna takes them to heart.


    "May it be so," Minna smiles. "Come, let''s join Mother in the grand courtyard. Perhaps she will be able to give us some insight into my suitors."

 Advice

    As they walk down the mirror-lined corridor towards the main entrance of Adelhyod, Minna catches a glimpse of herself and Fifi and marvels that Chuezoh made the two of them sisters. Their faces and figures are similar enough, but Minna¡¯s neatly dressed rosy-gold locks and green eyes are far more eye-catching than Fifi¡¯s loose chestnut tresses and brown eyes, and Fifi¡¯s steps are more meandering and unladylike than Minna¡¯s practiced, regal gait. I know Father wishes Fifi would settle down and take her position in life seriously, like I do, Minna muses, but I wouldn¡¯t have her any other way. She reminds me that there¡¯s more to life than meets the eye, even for those of us of royal birth.


    Though she dares not say so aloud, Minna hopes Fifi¡¯s wishes for her future husband will be realized. She knows that their father, as King of Aethyrozia, prioritizes what¡¯s best for their country above all other concerns--even his children¡¯s happiness. Even so, there are five of them, the princes of Syazonia, she reminds herself as she and Fifi continue to walk, skirts swishing and heels clicking. They can¡¯t all be horrid louts, even if some of them are. As Father said, surely one of them will find favor in my eyes.


    Despite her best efforts to reassure herself, Minna gets more anxious with each moment that passes¡ªeach one moment fewer between her and her Quest for Favor. The muffled sounds of thunder and rain drumming on the roof do nothing to quiet her nerves.


    ¡°The ides of Bretor,¡± Fifi observes, glancing up at the ceiling as if she might see the stormy sky outside.


    ¡°I hope Mother¡¯s all right,¡± Minna replies, choosing to ignore Fifi¡¯s superstitious remark. Storms during the month of Bretor, the height of springtime, are thought by the common people to be omens of great tumult to come, but Minna puts no stock in such things.


    Then they round the last corner in their journey to the entrance hall and happen upon Queen Ingrid and one of her maids cresting the Grand Staircase. The Queen¡¯s long hair, a few shades darker than Fifi¡¯s, hangs damp and limp down her back, and the maid is helping her carry her sodden skirts.


    ¡°Oh! We were just coming to see you!¡± Minna greets their mother. ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Minna dear, I¡¯m fine,¡± Queen Ingrid replies with a somewhat forced smile. ¡°Just soaked through. I saw the clouds rolling in but didn¡¯t think it would do more than sprinkle, and then all of a sudden, the heavens just opened. It¡¯s sweet of you to want to see me, but shouldn¡¯t you be preparing for your Quest for Favor instead?¡±


    ¡°Let me help, Mother,¡± Fifi offers. She joins the maid in carrying the Queen¡¯s skirts before anyone can answer her. Always quick to act, without thinking of what consequences her actions might bear, Minna observes of her sister; she admires Fifi¡¯s kind heart and helpful spirit¡ªqualities she knows their mother appreciates in her, as well¡ªbut she cannot help thinking that stooping to help a servant is not exactly appropriate conduct for a princess. I wish I dared to do the same, Minna sighs, but tomorrow the marriage games begin, and I cannot forget, even for a moment, who and what I am.


    ¡°It was to prepare for tomorrow that I wanted to speak with you,¡± Minna answers Queen Ingrid as they make their way down another of Adelhyod¡¯s corridors, this time bound for the Queen¡¯s chambers. ¡°Perhaps we can be of assistance to you now, and then by and by, once you are more comfortable, we might speak privately?¡±


    ¡°You know I had no Quest for Favor myself,¡± the Queen responds. ¡°I am always willing to help you however I can, Minna, but I don¡¯t know what use I can be to you with this.¡±


    ¡°I just thought, perhaps, since you¡¯ve met my suitors, at least the ones who have already arrived¡­. Father has already given me his advice, regarding my upcoming decision, and I was wondering--¡±


    ¡°You are right. This would be much better discussed privately, once I have changed into dry clothes.¡±


    I must¡¯ve said something I shouldn¡¯t have, Minna tells herself, knowing how rare it is for her mother to interrupt anyone. Maybe she¡¯s worried about the suitors overhearing? It¡¯s definitely possible; to her knowledge, there¡¯s no protocol confining them to their chambers until the Quest for Favor begins.


    ¡°Mother, did I tell you that Algot stole my favorite brooch?¡± Fifi asks brightly.


    ¡°Goodness, no! That naughty raven. Did you catch him in the act?¡± Queen Ingrid smiles at her younger daughter. Minna finds herself smiling, too, and thoughts of her Quest for Favor leave her for the few minutes¡¯ walk to Queen Ingrid¡¯s suite as Fifi regales them with an animated tale of how she noticed the brooch was missing, searched their rooms high and low, and finally found Algot¡¯s hidden stash of shiny things on the top of an armoire, her brooch among them. That raven is nothing but trouble, but I suppose I¡¯m glad Fifi keeps him, if only for the entertainment, Minna muses. Fifi¡¯s story has been a welcome distraction to her during their walk.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Once they arrive, Minna and Fifi settle themselves next to the window in their mother¡¯s pink and gold sitting room while the maid and Queen Ingrid go to the queen¡¯s dressing room to change.


    ¡°Do you s¡¯pose the storm has kept any contestants from getting here?¡± Minna wonders. The rain batters the window next to her relentlessly.


    ¡°Probably not,¡± Fifi shrugs. ¡°Emrik never lets the weather get in the way of his riding and combat lessons, no matter what his tutors say.¡±


    ¡°Emrik is also twelve. I¡¯d hope any man competing for my hand would have more sense than our little brother.¡±


    ¡°Emrik¡¯s quite sensible for his age.¡±


    ¡°I never said he wasn¡¯t, but no suitor of mine ought to be Emrik¡¯s age. He¡¯s seven years my junior.¡±


    ¡°True enough, but like as not a few of them will be at least a year or two younger than you.¡±


    ¡°Just like you, so I¡¯ll leave such contestants for your Quest for Favor, should they wish to try again to marry a princess of Aethyrozia.¡±


    ¡°If I were them, I don¡¯t know that I¡¯d want to come back. Why should they think I¡¯d want your leftovers?¡±


    Minna¡¯s eyes widen at the brazenness of Fifi¡¯s question. ¡°I doubt any of them would think of things that way. But they might genuinely like you. Or find you more attractive than me.¡±


    ¡°Doubtful. My dowry¡¯s to be the same as yours, and you¡¯re the beauty of the family.¡±


    Minna rolls her eyes and bites her tongue. Public opinion is on Fifi¡¯s side, but most of the public isn¡¯t aware of Fifi¡¯s endearing genuine smile, her engaging mannerisms, the way she always seems to know exactly what to say or do to make someone feel better.


    ¡°Princesses, please. Let¡¯s not have this fight again,¡± Queen Ingrid implores as she emerges from her dressing room.


    ¡°Our apologies, Mother. We meant nothing by it,¡± Minna replies, instantly putting on her perfect princess mannerisms. She hears Fifi coughing back snickers beside her and her cheeks redden.


    ¡°Please, Minna, save your niceties for your suitors. We can speak more or less freely here. Now, what is it you wanted to know about them?¡±


    ¡°Did any stand out to you, as you were meeting them?¡± Minna¡¯s nails dig into her palms as her nerves return with a vengeance.


    ¡°Which one do you think is the handsomest?¡± Fifi adds mischievously. Minna flashes her younger sister a glare. Now is not the time, she wants to say, but their mother seems amused by Fifi¡¯s antics, and so she holds her tongue.


    ¡°Fifi, dear, you know I have eyes for only your father. I cannot possibly judge the appearances of the men seeking to wed my daughter,¡± Ingrid reproaches Fifi gently, but Minna notes the mirth in the queen¡¯s green eyes.


    ¡°I care far more about their personalities and manners, anyway,¡± the elder princess says.


    ¡°Well. The Syazonian princes made quite an entrance, of course, given that there are five of them, and all with their own attendants and luggage,¡± Ingrid remarks, her thoughtful gaze settling on Minna as she speaks. ¡°I know your father wishes you to give them your...special consideration, but based on how they presented themselves this morning, I would focus that consideration on the eldest, Adalberto, and the middle one, Lisandro, if you are at all concerned for your own happiness.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother. I will keep that in mind.¡± Thank you for telling me exactly what I needed to know, Minna adds.


    ¡°But what of the others?¡± Fifi presses. ¡°It¡¯s more than just the princes of Syazonia that have come for Minna¡¯s hand, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Aye. The Grand Duke Maksym of Khandazar is here. He seems very shy, but perhaps he will open up to you, Minna. And Prince Didier of Vyrunia is quite a charming young man,¡± Ingrid continues.


    ¡°Khandazar is so terribly far away, and Vyrunia is so vast,¡± Minna comments, trying to keep calm even as her thoughts are racing. ¡°They must be eager for alliances, as well, or else--¡±


    ¡°There is something of a shortage of marriageable young ladies of royal blood in Lokva at present, from what your father tells me. More than one ambassador has offered myriad temptations for the king to forgo both of your Quests for Favor and arrange your marriages in a more typical fashion, but I have insisted that the tradition remain undisturbed by their greed and whims.¡± Queen Ingrid sighs, and Minna wonders what their mother must be thinking, why she¡¯s telling them this. Surely what¡¯s best for Aethyrozia will work out for our benefit, as well? ¡°Still, Minna, I imagine your father would be...most displeased if you were to select a suitor who is not of royal blood.¡±


    ¡°Which seems a bit unfair, don¡¯t you think? By this count Minna has only seven royal suitors, and I¡¯m sure more men than that have come to compete for her hand,¡± Fifi points out.


    ¡°Fifi,¡± Minna reproaches. She wants to tell her sister that it¡¯s not for them to question their father¡¯s will, but before she can voice those thoughts, their mother speaks again.


    ¡°Some of the Aethyrozian nobles, and noble sons, seem to be interesting characters. And you¡¯ve probably met, or at least seen, all of them before,¡± Ingrid tells Fifi before returning her attention, with grave intensity, to Minna. ¡°But ultimately it is your choice, Minna, and yours alone, which of these men who contend for your hand shall prevail. And while your devotion to king and country is admirable, you must not forget that you are choosing your life partner. Follow your heart, or at least do not forget to take yourself and your own well-being into consideration when you make your choice.¡±


    Not for the first time, Minna wonders whether Queen Ingrid is happy in her marriage to King Ansgar. He chose her from among the daughters of the Aethyrozian nobility at a ball held in his honor on his nineteenth birthday, and though he claims he chose her for her myriad personal charms, it has escaped no one¡¯s notice that her father was the fabulously wealthy Duke of Ferdun. Many suspect his choice was mandated by his own father on account of her family¡¯s riches, and of course no one even pretends that Ingrid had any say in the matter of her own marriage. Not so for me. Father may have his restrictions on my choice, but there are still five of them. I still have some freedom to choose, Minna reassures herself, but the thought is cold comfort.


    ¡°Well! I think that¡¯s all the advice I can really give you, my dear,¡± Queen Ingrid decides, cutting Minna¡¯s thoughts short. ¡°Now, I do believe it¡¯s time we joined your father and brother for supper. Let¡¯s not keep them waiting! Come along!¡±

 Presentation

    By the time the sun rises over Adelhyod on the morning of her Quest for Favor, a bright, clear dawn characteristic of glorious spring days, Minna has already been up for hours. Anticipation thrums through her taut nerves as she makes her way to the sumptuous seating on a dais at one end of the Great Hall, accompanied by her parents, brother, and sister. Daylight filtered through arrow slits and multicolored stained glass windows above mingles with the warm blaze of torches and candles in the hall, making the large open room with its stone walls and floor seem festive instead of cold.


    For Minna, though, this makes no difference. The comfortable chairs lining the walls on the main floor fill her with dread¡ªthese are designated for her suitors. Members of the nobility are settling in plush seats in the galleries overlooking the Great Hall, chattering excitedly amongst themselves about the festivities they soon will witness. Their presence reminds Minna that she has an audience, that she must be a perfect princess every moment. As if the nobles didn¡¯t create pressure enough, King Ansgar sits at her left, in the center of the royal dais, straight and tall as a knight¡¯s lance in his throne. Silver mixes with gold in his hair and beard, making his regal bearing all the more imposing. I must not disappoint him. I must do what is best for Aethyrozia, Minna reminds herself, but the reminder does nothing to keep her insides from quaking.


    From King Ansgar¡¯s other side, Queen Ingrid smiles at Minna, which brings her some small reassurance. At least I do not face this alone, Minna smiles slightly in return. Mother will not let anything terrible happen. Queen Ingrid is elegance incarnate in her flattering emerald gown, a stark contrast with Prince Emrik, who is slumped in the seat to her left looking, despite his resplendent attire, as though he could fall asleep at any moment. I am glad they are here with me, though I can¡¯t imagine either of them will take much pleasure in it.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Fifi whispers on Minna¡¯s other side, even though she knows that speaking is against protocol. ¡°Today¡¯s the fun part. All we have to decide today is who doesn¡¯t get to come back for the Questioning.¡±


    ¡°Hush, Fifi,¡± Minna breathes, but she¡¯s smiling. Fifi¡¯s presence at this event is the greatest comfort of all for her. She envies Fifi¡¯s effortless composure, as well as how lovely she looks in her pink gown. Much as Minna loves pink, it has never been her best color, and so she wears pale blue instead.


    In response, Fifi nudges Minna, directing her attention to the Chief Royal Steward, who is idling conspicuously near one of the Great Hall¡¯s many pillars. His impatient gaze is directed towards King Ansgar, as though he is trying to will the monarch into starting the day¡¯s festivities. A pit of dread settles in Minna¡¯s stomach. Protocol dictates that he cannot initiate a conversation with any of us unless it¡¯s a matter of life and death, she tells herself. Just a few minutes more, Father, please. Let me have just a few minutes more¡ª


    ¡°Well, Wilhelmina?¡± King Ansgar prompts, his stony impassive gaze falling heavily on his eldest daughter.


    Minna, already stiff as a statue, tightens every muscle further to keep from flinching at her father¡¯s words. Like it or not, you are a Princess of Aethyrozia. You must do your duty. And so, despite her dread and her nerves, she offers the king a deep nod of assent, not trusting herself to speak.


    ¡°Let us begin the presentation of the suitors,¡± King Ansgar directs the Chief Royal Steward with a small, satisfied smile.


    The Chief Royal Steward wastes no time in producing a slim silver trumpet from a sort of holster at his side and making three long, shrill blasts. The immense doors at the far end of the Great Hall swing open before the echoes of the trumpet calls fade. Between them marches a processional, led by the Royal Drummers and Royal Bagpipers of Aethyrozia in their sharp red and white uniforms. Behind them stride the men who¡¯ve come to compete for a princess¡¯s hand in marriage. Minna suspects that they are ordered by rank and their favor in King Ansgar¡¯s eyes, because the five Syazonian princes enter directly after the musicians. All five are arrayed in golden livery and have hair in varying shades of red, and Minna guesses they are arranged eldest to youngest; certainly their leader seems the most mature, with an unspeakable sadness in his eyes and a bearing not unlike that of King Ansgar. The second Syazonian prince struts like a peacock with his chest puffed out. Ridiculous, Minna observes. No wonder Mother didn¡¯t mention him. The third of the brothers seems shy and earnest, the fourth wild and impatient, and the fifth bookish and rather too young for Minna. All five give a courtesy half-bow to the Royal Family of Aethyrozia and move to one side, that the other suitors may do the same.


    Wait a moment. Who is that? Minna wonders, her attention captured by a handsome young man in an emerald doublet that exactly matches his eyes. The Royal Crest of Vyrunia marks him as the prince of that prosperous country. He bows elaborately to Minna and her family. He walks with confidence and grace, and his smile makes Minna¡¯s heart skip a beat. Appearances aren¡¯t everything. Wait and see what he reveals today before you judge him, Minna scolds herself, but she can¡¯t keep from following him with her eyes as he joins the Syazonian princes at the side of the Great Hall. Fifi¡¯s elbow in her side brings her gaze back to center, where a tall, lanky young man in vibrant orange livery, wearing the Imperial Crest of Khandazar, is bowing shakily. This must be the Grand Duke of Khandazar Mother mentioned, Minna deduces. He looks as nervous as I feel. Poor thing. Did his parents force him to come here?


    Beyond the Grand Duke of Khandazar walks a sea of Aethyrozian noblemen and noble sons of all shapes and sizes: Lord Felix, the pompous and potbellied Viscount of Donthur; Lord Rolf, the Viscount of Senthior, a veritable mountain of a man; Duke Gustav of Punthar, tall and thin as a blade with a dark cloak and a harrowing smile; and several others who seem more plausible as suitors for Minna. She relaxes slightly, seeing these more familiar faces, men she¡¯s seen at court from time to time, even a few she¡¯s danced with at balls in years past. Except that one. I haven¡¯t seen him before, Minna observes a young man with dark hair long enough to be tied in a low ponytail. He wears the crest of Lyrnola, an Aethyrozian region. Father complains of the Earl of Lyrnola¡¯s avarice somewhat frequently. But this isn¡¯t the Earl, looking as uncomfortable and hyperaware as a startled rabbit. This might well be his first time ever coming to court. His father must be monstrous indeed, to feed him to the wolves like this. Minna would have liked to observe him more¡ªa side glance at her sister reveals that Fifi, too, is intrigued by the newcomer¡ªbut he is eclipsed by the portly and balding Baron of Nunsingham, and then she can no longer pick him out of the crowd of suitors.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    All too soon and yet not soon enough for Minna, the presentation of suitors concludes with an elaborate, earsplitting fanfare. Minna stiffens to keep from wincing as the sound reverberates through the unforgiving stone of the hall. As the noise fades, King Ansgar rises from his throne while the suitors sit in their chairs.


    ¡°Thank you all for coming, and for pledging to compete in Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s Quest for Favor,¡± the king says grandly. ¡°We are most pleased to have so many and such a variety of contenders for our eldest daughter¡¯s hand in marriage. Of course, the question of who prevails in this contest is up to the princess alone to answer. As you know, the Quest for Favor takes place in three rounds, and today we will have the first round, a showcase of your talents. Each of you has chosen to compete in one of four categories: Visual Arts, Athletics, Music, or Performance. We will begin with Visual Arts in this hall, then move outside for the Athletics presentations, then break for dinner. After dinner the Music and Performance contenders will present in this room. Princess Wilhelmina will announce which suitors will move on to the second round of the Quest for Favor at the conclusion of our evening repast.¡±


    A few smatterings of polite applause circulate the Great Hall in acknowledgment of the proposed schedule of events. The suitors mostly look eager to get started, and Minna cannot blame them. Their fates are also on the line, she realizes, and what hell it must be to wait until the Performance category, through so many other contestants¡¯ efforts, to show off one¡¯s skills! Were their positions reversed, Minna would be competing right after dinner, performing with either her harp or her violin. Fifi would have a harder task, trying to demonstrate her considerable talent for drawing in a mere fifteen minutes.


    ¡°The first to compete will be Lord Ulrik of Sulthir!¡± the Chief Royal Steward announces, prompting a nervous, scrawny youth to rise from his seat. A servant hands him a block of wood and a small knife as he approaches the center of the Great Hall. The Earl of Sulthir is at least twenty-five years my senior, and much more self-assured. This must be his son, Minna deduces. ¡°Your time begins now, Young Lord.¡±


    Lord Ulrik ducks his head, then begins carving the block of wood in his hands without so much as a glance toward the dais where the royal family sits. He clearly knows what he¡¯s doing, Minna observes. She and Fifi glance sideways at each other while he works. Does he really mean to remain silent for the full fifteen minutes? He seems so fiercely focused. I don¡¯t want to break his concentration and ruin his work¡­. Lord Ulrik continues to carve without speaking. The scraping of his knife on the wood seems unnaturally loud with no conversation to dull it, and every shuffle and sniffle in the Great Hall echoes. Fifi squirms slightly beside Minna. She must be as uncomfortable as I am. And has the freedom to express it, Minna muses, stifling a sigh. The Chief Royal Steward clears his throat, and Minna looks his way to find him glaring disdainfully at the growing pile of wood shavings at Lord Ulrik¡¯s feet. Emrik snickers aloud, and Queen Ingrid hushes him with a touch on his wrist and a sideways glare. I must be a proper princess. I must not laugh. Another glance at Fifi reveals that she is also struggling to keep quiet.


    Finally, the Chief Royal Steward declares that time is up, releasing a collective sigh of relief from nearly everyone in the Great Hall. Lord Ulrik presents a small wooden bunny to Minna with a cute, awkward smile. It¡¯s actually adorable. Good craftsmanship, Minna observes as she accepts the new-made trinket, gracing Lord Ulrik with a smile of her own. The woodcarver then bows and retreats to his seat at the edge of the room. A servant emerges to sweep away his wood shavings. The Chief Royal Steward announces the Baron of Nunsingham, whose rotund bulk takes Lord Ulrik¡¯s place in front of the Royal Family. Another servant brings him an easel, a sheet of parchment, and a variety of ink pens. When his time begins, the Baron starts to draw, his gaze fixed on King Ansgar rather than Minna. How unsettling. I¡¯ll not have a suitor who¡¯d prefer my father to me, Minna decides. As he draws, those seated behind the Baron with some view of his parchment begin to whisper to one another and shift uncomfortably. Emrik tries to get up to see the Baron¡¯s work, but his mother pulls him back into his seat, and King Ansgar turns towards his son for a moment, no doubt with a disappointed scowl. What can this suitor possibly be drawing?


    When his time ends, the Baron of Nunsingham presents his parchment to the Royal Family, revealing a most unflattering caricature of King Ansgar. Vashrua¡¯s teeth, does he have a death wish? Minna wonders, biting back a gasp. Emrik actually gasps and starts coughing; to Minna it sounds like he¡¯s covering laughter. Father has never tolerated such an egregious affront to himself or his authority¡ª


    ¡°I hope it pleases you, Princess,¡± the Baron wheedles.


    ¡°Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s pleasure is the least of your concerns, wretch,¡± King Ansgar declares before Minna can reply. ¡°Your work has disqualified you from the Quest for Favor. The Hedersvakt will see you out.¡±


    The king snaps his fingers, and soldiers wearing the royal crest of a golden swan on their breastplates emerge from behind the tapestries, advancing towards the Baron as one.


    ¡°Wait! Nonononono this is a misunderstanding! Mercy, Your Majesty, please have mercy!¡± he wails. The guards seize him and bodily remove him from the Great Hall despite his girth and his protests. The other competitors shuffle uncomfortably under King Ansgar¡¯s iron gaze.


    ¡°Serves him right,¡± Emrik mutters.


    ¡°I sincerely hope none of the rest of you have anything so ill-advised prepared for today.¡± Minna nods her agreement with her father¡¯s warning. If Father hadn¡¯t disqualified him, I would have, she adds silently. Insults to such a wise and capable ruler are not to be borne, especially as he is my father as well as my sovereign. Even if he were in other ways appealing rather than repugnant, the result would be the same.


    Despite her lack of pity, Minna does wonder what will become of the Baron, even as the Chief Royal Steward calls forth the next suitor. It seems there is some danger, beyond disappointed hopes, for those competing in the Quest for Favor, she observes. I hope the others have chosen their talents more wisely.

 Impressions

    ¡°So, Minna, do you have a favorite yet?¡± Prince Emrik asks as the Royal Family of Aethyrozia takes their places around the Royal Dining Table in a private room off the Great Hall. Much to Fifi¡¯s dismay, the suitors are dining elsewhere, in another, larger room in the palace. She would have liked to mingle with them, but King Ansgar insisted that he and his family have some peace and quiet away from the competitors. It isn¡¯t fair. Three days isn¡¯t enough time for Minna to really get to know someone, to be sure she¡¯s making the right choice, Fifi grumbles silently, but she knows better than to speak her thoughts aloud. Her father cares not for her opinion.


    ¡°That would be unfair, Emrik,¡± Minna tells her brother with unnatural calm. She won¡¯t say what she really thinks here, unless a prince of Syazonia impressed her, Fifi guesses.


    ¡°That Viscount of Senthior is sooooooooo strong! He lifted more than 700 pounds, and he made it look easy! I don¡¯t think he even broke a sweat.¡±


    ¡°Hardly the measure of a capable ruler,¡± King Ansgar points out.


    ¡°Or a good husband,¡± Queen Ingrid adds, so softly that Fifi would have missed it if she hadn¡¯t been paying attention. Did Minna hear her? I doubt she was seriously considering the Viscount of Senthior anyway, but¡ª


    ¡°But it was SO COOL! He totally showed up that swaggering Prince Casimiro,¡± Emrik argues. Fifi cannot help but smirk a bit; to her mind, Emrik¡¯s scorn for the strutting Syazonian prince is far from misplaced. Prince Casimiro made a great show of displaying his muscles not only to Minna, but also to her and to every other woman in attendance, even the serving women who are meant to be invisible at formal gatherings. Worse, many of the noblewomen were fawning over him¡ªand for what? With an ego like that, he¡¯d be a miserable life partner. Were it not for Father¡¯s wishes, I¡¯d guess Minna would be sending him home straightaway, Fifi reflects.


    ¡°My favorite so far is that Marquis¡¯s son who drew the scene from the legend of Saint Gustavus and the Dragon,¡± she remarks, eager to take the conversation away from Prince Casimiro so that Minna won¡¯t have to say anything about him in front of their father.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome to the drawing,¡± Minna offers. ¡°It¡¯s far more to your taste than mine. But how can you have a favorite when none of them will speak to us?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s clear he and I would at least have something in common.¡±


    ¡°Mayhap, but today is not about you,¡± King Ansgar reminds his younger daughter coldly.


    Fifi flinches at her father¡¯s harsh tone. She is no stranger to his disfavor, but it still stings.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°The suitors most likely to share interests with Minna will present their talents right after our meal,¡± Queen Ingrid reminds her family, sending Fifi a sympathetic smile. Minna gives Fifi¡¯s hand a comforting squeeze under the table. At least they know I meant no offense, Fifi tells herself.


    ¡°What about Prince Adalberto, the swordsman?¡± Emrik asks. ¡°None of the others stood a chance against him. Do you s¡¯pose he might give me lessons while he¡¯s here?¡±


    ¡°I can ask him for you, tomorrow,¡± Minna replies. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be much, even if he agrees, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°Please do ask him! Thank you so much!¡±


    ¡°He looks so sad, though,¡± Fifi murmurs while Emrik continues gushing. He¡¯s not exaggerating about the eldest Syazonian prince¡¯s prowess with a blade, but for the entire morning his eyes were dark wells of despair and emptiness, and not even a hint of a smile graced his lips.


    ¡°I noticed that, too,¡± Minna acknowledges Fifi, ¡°and I mean to ask him about it tomorrow, if I can find the right words to do so with appropriate¡­sensitivity.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to insist that your sister use a question to solicit one of our guests to tutor you, Emrik, perhaps the Grand Duke of Khandazar would be the best one to ask,¡± King Ansgar interrupts his son. ¡°Your archery skills need more improvement than your swordsmanship, and Grand Duke Maksym was the best shot in the field.¡±


    ¡°Taut as a bowstring himself, though, wasn¡¯t he?¡± Emrik protests. ¡°Probably too uptight to agree.¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to ask, all the same,¡± Minna smiles. I hope she doesn¡¯t give up on asking them more meaningful questions just because Emrik wants attention from them, Fifi worries.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t think it¡¯d be any fun to work with him. What about jousting, Father? Prince Emiliano¡¯s horsemanship was incredible, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°Where did you get the idea that your sister¡¯s Quest for Favor was actually a quest to get you new tutors?¡± King Ansgar demands. Back off, Emrik, Fifi warns her younger brother silently. Father¡¯s getting angry.


    ¡°Let the boy have his fun,¡± Queen Ingrid chides. ¡°There¡¯s no harm in it, and if Minna¡¯s willing to ask the suitors to spend a bit of time with Emrik, their answers will give us more insight into their character than their athletic prowess has.¡±


    ¡°But what other questions might she ask them instead, to greater benefit? And why should my heir be seen acknowledging that princes of other countries may outshine him in some way?¡±


    ¡°Emrik is only twelve and cannot be reasonably expected to match a prince of six-and-twenty years like Adalberto in any skill!¡±


    Fifi sighs and looks longingly at one of the stained glass windows in their dining room as her parents argue. Would that I could leave, perhaps take a stroll in the courtyard or something before I¡¯m confined to that dratted chair in the Great Hall again, Fifi wishes.


    ¡°Go,¡± Minna whispers to Fifi, tipping her head slightly towards the door behind them. ¡°You won¡¯t get a better chance than this for a reprieve.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave you stuck with this,¡± Fifi protests softly.


    ¡°I have no choice in the matter. It¡¯s my Quest for Favor. I must endure everything. You, though, aren¡¯t bound by the same restraints. Be free while you can.¡±


    Fifi hesitates for a moment, but their father¡¯s icy words echo in her head: Today is not about you.


    ¡°Thank you, Sister.¡±


    And thus, as King Ansgar and Queen Ingrid continue to argue and servants come to clear away empty plates and serve the next course, Fifi slips away from the table and out the door, eager for a break from life as a princess of Aethyrozia.

 Unexpected

    The breeze greets Fifi as a long-lost friend, wrapping around her as she sneaks into the courtyard nearest the room where her family is dining, closing the door noiselessly behind her. She cannot help but smile simply because she is outside. This courtyard isn¡¯t one she typically frequents because it is so close to the parts of Adelhyod where King Ansgar spends the most time, but for Fifi that¡¯s an added bonus; she¡¯ll have new things to see as she explores this unfamiliar space. And I can pretend Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor doesn¡¯t exist, if only for a little while.


    A few puffy clouds chase each other across the blue dome of the sky. Fifi watches them as she wanders the cobblestone paths, until her attention is captured by an enormous rhododendron, its branches bowing under the weight of its plentiful fuchsia blossoms.


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± she murmurs, stroking a petal of one magnificent flower. Without realizing it, she starts to hum along with the birds singing cheerfully in the trees around the courtyard. Their joy is infectious, and though Fifi has always preferred visual art to music, her humming is as pleasant as the birdsong.


    After the rhododendron, Fifi spots a pond in a corner of the courtyard, complete with a fountain and overhanging weeping willows. As she approaches the pond, her smile broadens; colorful fish swim in the sparkling clear water, and a quaint stone bench affords her the perfect place to watch them. Is life in that pond any better than life trapped in my father¡¯s palace? she wonders. The birds, at least, are free to come and go as they please. And yet they choose to come and let us share in their songs.


    Guilt pierces her abdomen; not all the birds are free. Algot is in his gilded cage, back in the rooms she shares with Minna. I hope Lise remembers to give him a treat for me. Maybe I should go check on him¡­. But as much as she loves her pet raven, she cannot bear the thought of going back into the palace before she must. On a normal day, she might spend all afternoon in a courtyard, sketching and daydreaming and evading the maids and courtiers sent to retrieve her. But will I ever be able to do that again? Once the Quest for Favor is over, we¡¯ll have Minna¡¯s wedding to plan for, and then¡­once she¡¯s gone¡­


    A frog croaks loudly on the bench next to Fifi, making her jump and startling nearby birds into cacophonous protests. They fly a short distance away, settling in a stand of decorative trees on the opposite side of the courtyard. Fifi giggles a bit at herself and the frog, who glares at her with imperial haughtiness.


    ¡°I beg your pardon, Your Highness,¡± she addresses the frog in her most proper princess voice. It may be only a frog, but Prince Casimiro is exactly that arrogant, she muses, remembering a story she read years ago about a prince who was transformed into a frog, only to be changed back to his human self by a kiss from a very accommodating¡ªand foolish¡ªprincess. Is it possible that one of the competitors has magic and cast such a spell? That Duke of Punthar has the right look for it, anyway. But it¡¯s not likely. Great-grandfather¡¯s witch burnings drove true magic users into hiding long ago. And even if one of Minna¡¯s suitors has magic and used it that way, it¡¯ll be a long time before there¡¯s any princess here foolish and desperate enough to kiss a froggy Casimiro back into himself. He¡¯d be better off as a frog.


    The courtyard birds stir again, protesting raucously as they rise as one from a clump of lilac bushes several paces from Fifi¡¯s perch, drawing her notice. The lilacs continue rustling even after the birds have left them, though the breeze has died out.


    ¡°Hello?¡± she calls, suddenly alert, on edge. The frog leaps back into the pond, splashing Fifi¡¯s dress, but she hardly notices. There¡¯s no menagerie here. As far as I know, no one ever uses this courtyard, except the Royal Gardeners, Fifi worries, rising to her feet.


    A young man with a low ponytail emerges from the lilacs, tense and rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. A lute hangs by a strap from one of his shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry to have startled you, Your Highness,¡± he says with a bow. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see anyone else, least of all you, out here. I¡¯ll just be going¡ª¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to,¡± Fifi interrupts, offering him a slight smile. That¡¯s the crest of Lyrnola he¡¯s wearing. He¡¯s the one who acted like he¡¯d never been to court before, the one I didn¡¯t recognize as even vaguely familiar. ¡°It¡¯s horridly stuffy in there.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± His eyes dart nervously around the courtyard, and his posture is tense and uncertain.


    ¡°You might as well enjoy the reprieve while you can. Unless¡­. If you came out here to practice, before the music round, I can find somewhere else to¡ª¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°No, I¡­just came out for some fresh air.¡±


    ¡°Nervous?¡±


    He laughs a little. ¡°Not really. I¡¯m just not¡­used to being¡­here.¡± He gestures to the stone walls around them with their stained glass windows overlooking the courtyard, boxing them in. Fifi smiles again, pleased to see him relax a bit and to find that they have something in common.


    ¡°I thought I hadn¡¯t seen you at court before. Can I ask your name? Or shall I wait until they announce you this afternoon?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll call me Lord Nicolaas in there, but I go by Kai, mostly. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Princess Josefi¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just Fifi, please. Welcome to Adelhyod, Kai.¡±


    ***~O~***


    Kai smiles in spite of himself. He never dreamed, when his father forced him to come to Adelhyod to compete in Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s Quest for Favor, that he would exchange more than formal pleasantries with anyone in the Royal Family, let alone find that he has anything in common with any of them.


    ¡°Thank you¡­Fifi,¡± he answers the princess. The nickname suits her, he decides as he notices the sprinkling of freckles across her nose and cheeks. She must spend a fair bit of time outside, not just as an occasional escape from formal functions.


    ¡°You¡¯ve chosen a good talent,¡± Fifi tells him. ¡°Minna¡ªmy sister¡ªloves music of all kinds.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡­My father insisted I do something musical, for that very reason.¡±


    ¡°What would you have chosen to do, without your father¡¯s interference?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not¡­¡± What a question. Why is she asking? Why does she still want to talk to me? Just answer her! ¡°I enjoy the lute, and singing, well enough. It¡¯s not that I would have chosen another talent, just that¡­. I mean no offense to your sister, of course¡ªshe¡¯s just as lovely as everyone always said¡ªbut I¡ª¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t want to compete at all,¡± Fifi guesses.


    How did she know?! ¡°Please don¡¯t tell anyone. Especially not the king. I¡¯ll never hear the end of it if I¡¯m sent home before I¡¯ve even had a chance to compete. I came so that my father might stop badgering me to marry some wealthy or high-ranking woman or other, even just for a few days, and I¡¯ve got to make it look like I¡¯ve actually tried.¡± The words burst from him like water from a breached dam. Kai knows it¡¯s not the sort of thing he should admit aloud, especially not in a courtyard of the Royal Palace, but there¡¯s just something about Fifi that makes him feel like honesty might work in his favor.


    ¡°Your secret is safe with me. And if it¡¯s any consolation, even if you¡¯re the most incredible musician Minna¡¯s ever heard¡­. It¡¯s nothing against you, of course, but our father has made it very clear that he has a particular royal alliance he wishes her to make with her choice of a husband.¡±


    Kai laughs in disbelief before he can stop himself. ¡°Then why bother having a Quest for Favor at all? What¡¯s the point of going through all this if he means to choose for her anyway?¡±


    ¡°Mother insisted. The Quest for Favor is tradition, after all. And Minna still has freedom to choose¡­which prince, anyway. And from what we¡¯ve seen so far, that¡¯s no small blessing.¡±


    Kai coughs repeatedly to avoid snickering. So it¡¯s Syazonia King Ansgar wants an alliance with, then. If he were in Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s shoes, he would have already eliminated at least two Syazonian princes from the competition, but despite Fifi¡¯s engaging manners and the fact that her eye twitched when she mentioned tradition, he doesn¡¯t feel like he can say that aloud, not here, not now.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± Fifi asks, taking another step towards him.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine, thank you,¡± Kai answers. Good of her to be concerned, even though I was faking it. ¡°And before you ask, I assure you, I¡¯ll say nothing of this to any of the¡­competitors inside.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate that very much. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll cause a frightful row if the wrong people catch wind of the truth.¡±


    ¡°Aye. But they won¡¯t, at least, not from me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d have more chances to spill the beans than I would. I¡¯m not meant to have a chance to speak with any of you myself, at least, not before the Ball.¡±


    Fifi seems a bit put out by this admission, and as she glances around their courtyard refuge, Kai can¡¯t help but wonder why. She¡¯s not much younger than her sister. Like as not her own Quest for Favor will be sooner rather than later.


    ¡°How many of the suitors your sister doesn¡¯t choose do you s¡¯pose will come back to compete for you?¡± he blurts out, reddening at his own brazenness.


    Fifi shrugs and looks away from him. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Bones, now I¡¯ve gone and offended her. Kai shifts uncomfortably. I don¡¯t know how to fix it. I just wanted to know¡ª


    ¡°His Majesty the King will likely have specific instructions for my choice, as he has for Minna,¡± Fifi adds softly.


    Kai wants to make a joke about pushy fathers, but as he opens his mouth to speak, a trumpet sounds somewhere in the palace.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s the end of our reprieve,¡± Fifi sighs. ¡°Shall I tell Minna you¡¯re a horrid lout and beg her to send you home tonight? Or would it be better for you if you stay?¡±


    ¡°Tell her nothing at all, and let her judge me by my performance. Isn¡¯t that how this is meant to go?¡± Kai replies with forced cheer. Why should she want to help me?


    ¡°As you wish!¡± And with a giggle and a half-curtsey, Fifi takes her leave in a swirl of pink silk, leaving Kai staring after her next to the lilacs.


    ¡°I suppose I¡¯d better go back, too,¡± he mutters. He hadn¡¯t cared at all about the performance before meeting Fifi, but now that he¡¯s acquainted with a member of his audience, nerves bubble up inside him.


    ¡°Better go,¡± a raven agrees from a nearby tree, making Kai jump.


    ¡°Beg pardon?¡±


    The raven squawks¡ªis it laughing at me?¡ªand flies away. Sigurd warned me they all have personalities, he reminds himself. Without waiting for any other animals to reveal their thoughts, he steels his nerves and forces himself to go back to the Great Hall of Adelhyod and prepare for his performance.

 Dazzling

    Fifi winces under King Ansgar¡¯s exasperated glare as she rushes into the Great Hall, barely catching up to Queen Ingrid and Prince Emrik before they reach the dais where their seats are waiting for them. Let him think what he likes of me, Fifi thinks as she settles next to Minna. As he said, today isn¡¯t about me. I¡¯m here for Minna, not because he requires it.


    The Chief Royal Steward plays an ear-splitting trumpet fanfare, driving Fifi¡¯s thoughts away, and then the suitors strut back into the Great Hall. Next to her, Minna¡¯s face looks pained. I wonder what else was said in that luncheon, after I left. Is she okay?


    ¡°How was your reprieve?¡± Minna asks Fifi, her voice barely audible under the sounds of the suitors¡¯ footsteps echoing through the stone hall.


    ¡°Equal parts restful and instructive,¡± Fifi whispers, glancing towards the main entrance as she rearranges her skirts to make her seat more comfortable. ¡°Did I miss anything important during the rest of the meal?¡±


    Minna bites her lip, and Fifi knows she must wait until later to hear the truth. ¡°Nothing of consequence. What could possibly have been instructive to you from a quarter-hour in a courtyard?¡±


    ¡°And now we will begin the Music category of the Talent Round of the Quest for Favor!¡± the Chief Royal Steward declares with a flourish as the last suitor to enter the hall, a somewhat breathless Kai, takes his seat in the Great Hall. His eyes meet Fifi¡¯s for a moment. He must have stayed out there longer than I did, she guesses. Not that I blame him. I¡¯d be horribly nervous, in his shoes.


    ¡°The first to compete in this category will be¡­Lord Hjalmar of Trythnym!¡± the Chief Royal Steward continues. To Fifi¡¯s mind, he seems to enjoy his duties as Master of Ceremonies a little too much. Certainly no one else in the room exhibits the same enthusiasm for the day¡¯s events, least of all Lord Hjalmar, who steps to the center of the room clutching a zither and wearing a dour expression.


    ¡°One of your suitors was also there, seeking a few moments of peace,¡± Fifi tells Minna, who leans a little closer to her sister to hear her better as Lord Hjalmar starts loudly playing a folk song on his zither. Is that Stenbocken? Fifi wonders. I haven¡¯t heard it played so badly since the last time Mother made Emrik practice his lute. Minna must be hating this. On the other side of the dais, Emrik groans aloud and moves to cover his ears, but Queen Ingrid¡¯s hand catches one of his and forces it back down to his armrest.


    ¡°Not this one, I hope?¡± Minna inquires. Tightness in her jaw and a slight furrow in her brow are the only hints that she might be anything but pleasantly engaged in the performance, but Fifi knows her sister wouldn¡¯t show even that much displeasure if she found anything redeemable to observe. But Lord Hjalmar looks as miserable as his playing sounds, and Fifi, at least, could not find anything nice to say to him about it if her life depended on it.


    ¡°No, but he¡¯ll be competing in music. I¡¯ll point him out when his turn comes.¡± I¡¯m surprised she¡¯s talking to me while he¡¯s playing. Minna¡¯s usually far more polite and concerned with propriety than this, Fifi muses.


    ¡°Did you speak to him at all? Or hear him practicing?¡±


    ¡°We spoke some, but he declined to practice in front of me.¡± A slight smile graces Fifi¡¯s lips. If they weren¡¯t in public, this would earn her a scolding from her older sister.


    ¡°You best hope Father doesn¡¯t find out.¡±


    Fifi shrugs in reply. Their father¡¯s cold words still echo in her head, and she sees little reason to care what he thinks of her, if he bothers to think of her at all.


    ¡°Is he royal?¡± Minna continues.


    ¡°No. An Earl¡¯s son. Father would be quite displeased if your favor fell on him.¡±


    Minna looks like she wants to ask more, but just then Lord Hjalmar concludes his performance with a particularly jarring chord. As he stalks back to his seat, Emrik sticks out his tongue at the lord¡¯s retreating back. King Ansgar rumbles a warning at his son that Fifi can¡¯t catch due to the perfunctory applause from the audience for Lord Hjalmar. More grateful that he¡¯s done than anything else, Fifi surmises as she surveys the other suitors¡¯ relieved expressions. I know I am.


    ¡°And now we will hear from Prince Lisandro of Syazonia!¡± the Chief Royal Steward announces, wasting no time in moving the competition along.


    Prince Lisandro comes to the center of the room and offers a half-bow to the Aethyrozian Royal Family. His hair is a red-gold a few shades darker than Minna¡¯s, his eyes a warm brown, his face clean-shaven. He glances at the Chief Royal Steward, who signals for a servant to bring Prince Lisandro a chair as the prince carefully removes a dulcimer from a velvet-lined case hanging at his side.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Um. By your leave, Your Highness,¡± he addresses Minna, ¡°I will be performing ¡®In Our Pasture¡¯ for you today.¡±


    His earnest smile and manners, and the fact that he dared to speak, surprise Fifi, and beside her Minna seems equally caught off-guard.


    ¡°Proceed,¡± Minna invites the prince, whose smile broadens. He sits on the provided chair, plucks his dulcimer¡¯s strings to ensure they are in tune, and then begins to play and sing.


    ¡°Fair little flowers will ask for a dance.


    Come joy from the heart!


    If you want, I can make a crown of flowers¡­¡±


    Lisandro hasn¡¯t even finished the first verse before Fifi is absolutely certain that this is the Syazonian prince Minna will choose. Unlike the previous competitor, this one can carry a tune, and he plays pleasingly. He¡¯s also easy on the eyes, although not, in Fifi¡¯s opinion, the handsomest suitor in the room. They¡¯ll have their love of music in common, and he seems like a decent fellow, she muses.


    The applause for Prince Lisandro at the end of his performance is far more earnest than that which Lord Hjalmar received¡ªas it should be, Fifi believes. Minna could certainly do worse, anyway, whether or not she does what Father wants her to, she allows as the Syazonian prince returns to his seat.


    ¡°Next we will hear Lord Nicolaas of Lyrnola!¡± the Chief Royal Steward calls, and Fifi nudges Minna with her elbow.


    ¡°The one I met. He goes by Kai,¡± Fifi breathes as Kai replaces Lisandro in the center of the room, clutching his lute.


    ¡°A rule-breaker like you,¡± Minna answers in kind. Neither princess has failed to observe Kai¡¯s slight grimace at the use of his formal name.


    ¡°If it please you, Your Highness¡ª¡± he begins.


    ¡°Just play,¡± King Ansgar interrupts. Fifi glances indignantly towards her father, but seeing his displeased frown, decides not to make a scene. I guess he¡¯s decided there¡¯s no harm in visibly playing favorites, she gripes privately. I know Father doesn¡¯t like the Earl of Lyrnola, but he could at least give his son a chance to shine as himself. She sends Kai a pity-laden glance, wondering if maybe she should have warned him that King Ansgar hates his father, but Kai seems to have gained confidence from the king¡¯s glowering and starts his performance without further comment.


    ¡°I still treat you to all good things,


    You sweet angel fine.


    Though you have left me,


    You are in my memory¡­¡± Kai sings as he plays his lute. Just as skillful as Lisandro, Fifi observes with surprise. I wouldn¡¯t have thought it, from how he spoke in the courtyard. She finds his voice more pleasant than Lisandro¡¯s, as well, deeper with just a bit of rasp to it. He can¡¯t have known that I love this song. But he¡¯s glancing her way as he plays, rather than looking solely at Minna. Fifi smiles back at him, hoping he¡¯ll take it as encouragement. This performance should earn you a place at the Questioning, if that¡¯s what you want.


    Kai¡¯s song is short, and he wastes no time in bowing and retreating to his seat once he finishes. Neither Minna nor Fifi finds words during the applause before the next competitor is announced.


    ¡°And now we will have Prince Didier of Vyrunia!¡± the Chief Royal Steward declares. Twitters of admiration emanate from the galleries as the Prince strides confidently to the center of the room.


    ¡°He certainly lives up to the rumors of Vyrunian royals being unusually attractive,¡± Minna remarks under her breath to Fifi.


    ¡°A moment, if you please, Your Highness, while we get set up,¡± Prince Didier requests, then claps twice towards a corner of the room without waiting for a response. Five servants emerge from a hall hidden behind a tapestry, four carrying musical instruments and a fifth laden with canvas and easel and painting supplies.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?!¡± King Ansgar demands. ¡°The competition for Visual Arts has already passed. This is the music competition.¡±


    ¡°And, if Your Majesty will have patience with me, I promise the music shall be forthcoming.¡± Didier seems completely unruffled by the king¡¯s prickliness and proceeds to help his servants get set up. Their process is quick and efficient; Fifi suspects they have rehearsed this several times. ¡°Now, I hope you will forgive me, but I find myself unable to play an instrument, sing, and paint at the same time, so I have enlisted a bit of help, that my song may be tuneful for your Royal Majesties and Highnesses. I mean to make the music visible on canvas as I sing, and our song of choice is ¡®Winter Has Gone.¡¯¡±


    Prince Didier nods to his musicians, and they start to play the familiar, triumphant tune as he dips his brush in paint and makes bold strokes on his canvas. Fifi is captivated by his painting technique, and as soon as Didier starts singing in a smooth, rich baritone, there might as well be nothing else in the room aside from the performing prince and his accompanists. He never misses a note as his paintbrush flies across the canvas, in perfect time with the rhythm of the song.


    When the music fades, Didier makes a flourishing half-bow and presents his painting to the Royal Family, revealing a stunning sunset and sharp-peaked mountains.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± Emrik exclaims, and this time no one chides him. The Chief Royal Steward glares at a few errant paint splatters on the heretofore spotless stone floor, but Fifi thinks this a small price to pay for such a breathtaking performance. The other suitors grumble quietly amongst themselves, barely audible over their applause. Like as not they think him a show-off, and for all I know they might be right, Fifi tells herself. Even so, I pity the suitor that has to follow him.


    ¡°A gift for you, Princess Wilhelmina,¡± Prince Didier says with a dazzling smile. ¡°Only wait until the paint has dried to hang it in your chambers.¡± With that, he and his servants start to pack up, placing the easel and canvas next to the royal dais and even scrubbing the paint from the floor. Fifi cannot help but be impressed by their consideration and attention to detail, and beside her Minna barely seems to be breathing, her eyes fixed on the Vyrunian prince. Could she possibly be considering going against our father¡¯s will? Fifi wonders. Certainly none of the other suitors have so enthralled Minna, not even Prince Lisandro.

 Eliminations

    ¡°What a day,¡± Minna whispers to Fifi as they follow their parents and younger brother out of the Great Hall. The Performance Round has just concluded, and now they go to supper, where Minna must decide which suitors will stay for the Questioning and which must pack their bags and leave in disgrace.


    Fifi nods in agreement but says nothing; she¡¯s become increasingly introspective as the day has worn on, and Minna would be worried about her if she were not so preoccupied with the choices she must make. The suitors certainly haven¡¯t been making this process easy for her. Aside from the caricaturist in the Visual Arts Round, King Ansgar ejected only one other suitor¡ªDuke Gustav of Punthar. As if his dark cloak and vampiric features were not damning enough, his ¡®performance¡¯ was a bit of puppetry in which the puppet, a black cat Minna is convinced used to be alive and has been preserved after death in some unholy fashion, made several lewd and suggestive remarks towards Minna. She was horribly uncomfortable, but fortunately King Ansgar wasted no time in having the Hedersvakt remove him from the room. He even muttered something about stripping the Duke of his title as the doors of the Great Hall closed behind him.


    ¡°Minna, if you let that pompous Lord Felix of Donthur stay, you¡¯re a fool,¡± Emrik declares as soon as the Royal Family reaches their private dining room, where they cannot be overheard by any of the suitors. ¡°He talked for ages and never actually said anything!¡±


    ¡°I have no intention of letting him remain here past the evening meal,¡± Minna assures her younger brother, wincing at the memory of Felix¡¯s baffling ¡®performance.¡¯ How anyone could call it that and mean it Minna does not know; Felix simply spoke at length, weaving a gnarled tangle of convoluted nonsense he alone was daft enough to consider a logical discourse. ¡°I¡¯m rather surprised, Father, you didn¡¯t have him thrown out of the hall.¡±


    ¡°Although his blathering could be considered an insult to anyone possessing an intellect, he did not slander either of us directly,¡± King Ansgar justifies himself. ¡°He has no place in the next round. I am glad you see fit to remove him. Who else must go, in your opinion?


    ¡°That young man who twisted himself into a pretzel, for one. Lord Christoffer, was it?¡±


    ¡°Why, what did he do to offend?¡± Queen Ingrid inquires. ¡°I thought that act rather impressive.¡±


    ¡°As did I, Mother, but he has nothing else to recommend him.¡± Minna and Fifi exchange a glance, remembering ill-favored Lord Christoffer¡¯s greasy hair, patchy beard, and offensive body odor. Emrik actually gagged during his performance, much to his parents¡¯ displeasure.


    ¡°Are you looking to remove a lot of them, Minna?¡± Emrik asks.


    ¡°That depends. Do you have suggestions of whom to eliminate?¡±


    ¡°I just though, if you cut all the ones who lost in an Athletics category, that would narrow the field quite a lot.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t cut all of the ones who lost in an Athletics category,¡± King Ansgar warns. Because some of the royals did, Minna finishes her father¡¯s thought.


    ¡°Of course, if you insist, Father, Prince Casimiro will stay,¡± she sighs. ¡°He is such a conceited lout, though, from what we¡¯ve seen. Perhaps it would do him some good to face rejection¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not in this round or the next. It would place a terrible strain on the Syazonian delegation to have any of their princes eliminated before the final round, as you will¡ª¡±


    ¡°Pardon me, Father, but you made your view quite clear at dinner. I have no intention to offend any of my royal suitors.¡±


    Beside Minna, Fifi shakes her head. I¡¯ll tell her tonight, what she missed this noontide, Minna promises as their father¡¯s words echo in her head: Princess Wilhelmina. Your brother is right to focus so much on the princes of Syazonia. For the good of Aethyrozia, your favor must fall on one of them.


    Even so, as Fifi has pointed out, Minna knows she can¡¯t marry all five Syazonian princes, not that she would want to. And what is the point of giving the ones I¡¯ve already determined I cannot marry false hope? she wonders. Aside from the arrogant Prince Casimiro, his youngest brother, Prince Ramiro, is too young for her, and he looks younger than his purported sixteen years. His poetry recitation was heartfelt, though I would have enjoyed it more if it were set to music, Minna reflects, but he¡¯s still caught somewhere between a boy and a man.


    ¡°Dearest, I understand your desire to keep us in the Syazonians¡¯ good graces, but what can they have been thinking, sending that youngest prince here?¡± Ingrid interjects. ¡°He¡¯s too young for Minna, and too young for these marriage games at all¡ª¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Maybe so,¡± King Ansgar allows, ¡°but that is not for us to decide. He is here and competing, and so he shall remain with his brothers. No sense humiliating the lad.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps he could grow up enough for Fifi¡¯s turn,¡± Emrik suggests with a wicked glint of mischief in his eyes.


    ¡°Minna and I couldn¡¯t both marry princes of Syazonia,¡± Fifi protests immediately. She looks horrified that he¡¯s mentioned her. I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t want Father¡¯s attention, nor to think of her own Quest for Favor now, Minna thinks.


    ¡°Oh, nonsense. If it was a question of love, I¡¯m sure¡ª¡± Ingrid begins.


    ¡°It would still be out of the question. Josefina is right,¡± King Ansgar glowers. ¡°Not that it¡¯s possible for anyone to find love in a three day competition, anyway. Love has nothing to do with marriage.¡±


    Queen Ingrid sighs heavily, as does Fifi. Minna¡¯s heart aches; she strives to keep herself externally impassive, but inside she¡¯s trembling. Dare I ask? she wonders. Better to do it now, if I¡¯m going to do it at all, before they start arguing again.


    ¡°In that case, Father¡­.¡± Minna begins, steeling her nerves and trying to find courage. Fifi, please forgive me. I wanted to talk to you first, but I have to know now, while I have the chance. ¡°If a prince of another royal house, rather than Syazonia, were to find favor in my eyes, is it possible that Syazonia could wait until Fifi¡¯s turn¡ª¡±


    ¡°Smitten with Prince Didier, are you?¡± King Ansgar guesses. Beside Minna, Fifi squirms, and guilt tears through Minna¡¯s insides. ¡°Vyrunia¡¯s much further from home than Syazonia, and an alliance with Vyrunia would be far more beneficial to his father than to me. That prince is an excellent showman, but it should take more than that to tilt the scales in his favor.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see how the next round goes,¡± Ingrid suggests with desperate, forced cheer. ¡°It¡¯s no question that Prince Didier will advance to the Questioning, along with the princes of Syazonia.¡±


    ¡°And Grand Duke Maksym,¡± Minna adds, eager to help her mother restore peace and good feelings to their table. ¡°All the royal suitors. And I think we shall also keep that Viscount of Senthior, and Duke Oskar¡ª¡±


    ¡°The juggler?¡± Emrik asks, wrinkling his nose in disgust. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°He seems to have a good sense of humor. The Questioning will determine whether he has anything else to recommend him.¡±


    ¡°The charcoal artist,¡± Fifi whispers to Minna. ¡°Lord Mathias, I think.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bring Lord Hjalmar back, at least,¡± Emrik whines. ¡°His playing was terrible.¡±


    ¡°Agreed. He goes. But perhaps you¡¯d recommend me a couple of the nobles¡¯ sons from athletics, who lost to their royal competition but were otherwise competent, to keep?¡± Minna requests. ¡°I think the field stands to get too narrow if we cut out all the athletic ones who lost.¡±


    ¡°Aye, and we must keep the nobles happy,¡± King Ansgar grumbles. ¡°Except that Earl of Lyrnola¡ª¡±


    ¡°His son seemed quite unlike him in every way, and he played and sang most pleasingly,¡± Queen Ingrid interrupts, shooting her husband a meaningful glare. To Minna¡¯s surprise, King Ansgar harrumphs and lets his wife¡¯s word stand. ¡°Do keep him in, Minna. Lord Nicolaas, I believe he is called.¡±


    ¡°Kai,¡± Fifi corrects under her breath, barely loud enough for Minna to hear.


    ¡°I will,¡± Minna agrees. I think Fifi likes him. I hope I can keep him in for the Ball, if he remains amiable in the Questioning. Maybe this can be beneficial for her, even if I am forced to sacrifice my own happiness.


    ***~O~***


    Fifi stops listening after her mother and Minna have assured Kai¡¯s place in the Questioning. Why did Mother advocate for him? she wonders, shooting the Queen a sideways glance. Just to annoy Father, or for some other reason? She can¡¯t possibly think that he has a chance with Minna. Not that he wants one, anyway. I suppose he did perform well¡­. She smiles a bit, hoping she gets a chance to tell him that he chose one of her favorite songs. A pleasant surprise, through all this nonsense.


    Her mind wanders, thinking back over all the acts of the day. It¡¯s been a lot to take in, and she¡¯s exhausted. Minna has to be even more tired than I am, but you wouldn¡¯t know it by looking at her. She¡¯s every inch the perfect princess, as always, doing her duty for Aethyrozia with grace and a smile. Fifi is glad she has Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor to treat as practice for her own. Were their positions reversed, she doubts she could set a good example for a younger sister, and she¡¯s certain that King Ansgar would be immeasurably frustrated with her. The Visual Arts Round was her favorite, but there weren¡¯t many competitors in that group, and she was more bored than anything during the Athletics competition. But more than a few of the musicians were passable. Minna will probably keep several of them, Fifi muses. And then the Performance Round¡­so many odd ducks there. I¡¯m not sure what I would do, were the decision mine.


    But the decision isn¡¯t hers, for which she is thankful. Everyone speaks of the suitors as though most of them will try again when it¡¯s her turn. It doesn¡¯t seem fair, that I should have this chance to learn about them ahead of my Quest for Favor, when Minna hasn¡¯t had such an opportunity. But then again, she offered me to be Father¡¯s match for Syazonia in her place. She must really like Prince Didier. And I guess I don¡¯t blame her. If we¡¯d been able to talk about it first, I might have volunteered, but it seems so soon¡­. How can she be sure he¡¯s the one she wants, after only one round of the competition? Father¡¯s right. Three days isn¡¯t enough time to fall in love.


    Emrik kicks Fifi under the table, jolting her out of her thoughts. Their servants are clearing away their final course, meaning it¡¯s almost time for them to appear in the suitors¡¯ dining room so that Minna can make her announcement of who will advance to The Questioning.


    No chance I¡¯ll get to speak with Kai again, for any reason. The first time was a fluke, and it¡¯s not likely he¡¯ll make it to the Ball, since Father dislikes his father so much, Fifi tells herself. I¡¯m only ornamental, until my own Quest for Favor comes and Father sees fit to dispose of me.

 Announcement

    Kai sits at the end of a long table in the Great Royal Dining Hall, where the suitors are to take their evening repast, picking at his roasted root vegetables with little appetite. I¡¯m glad I got to perform before that Prince Didier, he muses, glancing over to the separate table for the royal competitors. Though he has no delusions about his own chances in this contest, nor any wish to win it himself, he does pity the Viscount who had to follow Prince Didier¡¯s act. No chance of his advancing. He was so nervous and intimidated he nearly broke his gittern, and he played more wrong notes than right ones.


    ¡°Looks right unpleasant over there, doesn¡¯t it?¡± the suitor to Kai¡¯s left remarks.


    ¡°Beg pardon?¡± Kai replies, surprised that anyone saw fit to speak to him.


    ¡°The royal table, I mean. All that posturing and preening and empty conversation.¡±


    ¡°A nightmare.¡±


    ¡°You suppose any of us peons will advance to the Questioning?¡±


    ¡°Like as not they¡¯ll keep some of us, if only for appearances. The Ball will be frightfully dull with only the seven of them,¡± the competitor across the table, whom Kai remembers as turning out an excellent performance on the virginal, chimes in while Kai wracks his brain for the name of the young man who started a conversation with him.


    ¡°Appearances? You can¡¯t possibly be implying that the Quest for Favor is rigged?¡±


    Sharp features, short¡­Jousting, Kai recalls. He still can¡¯t come up with a name, but he remembers how seamlessly this young man worked together with his spirited chestnut mare.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know that I¡¯d go that far, but His Majesty¡¯s face has told the whole story of how he hopes Princess Wilhelmina will choose, over the course of the day,¡± the one across the table points out. ¡°And that he sees the Quest for Favor as a waste of time.¡±


    ¡°Guess it¡¯s a question of how much influence the king has on his daughter¡¯s choice, then.¡±


    Trumpet fanfare overlaps this assertion, drowning out any possibility that either of Kai¡¯s acquaintances will ask his opinion on the matter, and then a pair of double doors swing open at the opposite end of the hall. King Ansgar leads the Royal Family of Aethyrozia into the room. A hush falls over the Great Royal Dining Hall as the suitors wait with bated breath for the announcement they know is to come.


    Would I rather stay or leave? Kai asks himself. Certainly his father would prefer that he stay, but Kai would have jumped at any excuse to get away from Adelhyod before he met Fifi in the courtyard. At least none of them asked me to betray her confidence.


    ¡°Greetings, competitors!¡± King Ansgar calls grandly. ¡°We hope you have enjoyed your supper, and we thank you all for your participation in the Talent Round of Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s Quest for Favor. Today has been a spectacular showcase of your various talents, and Princess Wilhelmina has thought long and hard about who shall remain here for tomorrow¡¯s Questioning, and whose time in the Quest for Favor ends tonight. Without further ado¡­Princess Wilhelmina, your choices?¡±


    Neither Princess likes to be the center of attention, Kai observes as the elder princess steps meekly forward. Fifi and Queen Ingrid stand behind her, lending silent support, but it¡¯s clear from their expressions that the queen is by far the most comfortable of the three. Fifi looks anxious on Minna¡¯s behalf. The two of them are close. The way they sat during the performances, I would swear they were communicating somehow, though I never saw their lips move.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°In no particular order, here are the names of the contestants who will stay for the Questioning,¡± Princess Wilhelmina begins. Her voice is much softer and sweeter than her father¡¯s. Several suitors lean towards her to try to hear her better. ¡°Prince Adalberto of Syazonia¡­Duke Alvar of Emskyr¡­Lord Birger of Besnuth¡­Prince Casimiro of Syazonia¡­¡±


    ¡°No particular order, my foot. Alphabetical by first name,¡± one of Kai¡¯s neighbors mutters.


    ¡°Prince Didier of Vyrunia¡­Lord Einar of Saisyn¡­Prince Emiliano of Syazonia¡­Duke Fredrick of Rothan¡­¡±


    Around them, those whose names the princess calls exult quietly. Princes Emiliano and Casimiro gain extra swagger when their names are listed. Kai sees Fifi roll her eyes in their general direction. They must be staying solely at the King¡¯s insistence, he muses. Like as not Princess Wilhelmina thinks the same of those royal braggadocios as Fifi does.


    ¡°Lord Hans of Hrathnyr¡­Lord Ingemar of Nulymr¡­¡± Princess Wilhelmina continues with steady cadence.


    ¡°Me? Really?¡± the virginal-playing contestant across from Kai whispers, surprise evident on his features.


    ¡°Lord Karl of Fyrlenth¡­¡±


    ¡°I thought I was out when Prince Emiliano unhorsed me,¡± the suitor next to Kai, apparently Lord Karl, marvels softly.


    ¡°Prince Lisandro of Syazonia¡­Grand Duke Maksym of Khandazar¡­Lord Mathias of Chasthyr¡­Lord Nicolaas of Lyrnola¡­¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Kai hisses between his teeth. Did Fifi ask her to keep me in the running? Is this some kind of cruel joke?!


    ¡°You played well, and it¡¯s said Princess Wilhelmina has quite an ear for music,¡± Karl says near Kai¡¯s ear. ¡°Congratulations. I guess we advance together.¡±


    ¡°Duke Oskar of Quelnuth¡­Lord Ragnar of Marduth¡­Prince Ramiro of Syazonia¡­Lord Rolf of Senthior¡­and Lord Ulrik of Sulthir,¡± Princess Wilhelmina finishes. ¡°To the rest of you, we thank you for coming and sharing your talents with us, and we wish you all the best in the future, but your time in the Quest for Favor has ended. We hope that your travels home are safe, swift, and pleasant.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Princess Wilhelmina,¡± King Ansgar takes over. ¡°We bid you all good night. The Chief Royal Steward and the Hedersvakt remain here to assist you with whatever you may need.¡± With that, the Royal Family of Aethyrozia sweeps out of the Great Royal Dining Hall as abruptly as they came in.


    No sooner than the double doors close behind them, the hall erupts with outbursts of celebration and outrage.


    ¡°Well, what do you know. We did it,¡± Ingemar remarks to Kai and Karl.


    ¡°One of life¡¯s great mysteries,¡± Kai mutters.


    ¡°Hey, neither of you fell on your face in the dirt in front of her, at least,¡± Karl points out.


    ¡°Only because we had the sense to compete in music, which everyone knows is one of Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s chief interests,¡± Ingemar retorts.


    ¡°Some of us are all thumbs and can¡¯t carry a tune in a bucket. We all have to play to our strengths.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, for this round. But the Questioning¡­. I never thought I¡¯d get that far,¡± Kai sighs. And it means I¡¯ll have to speak, he worries. Which King Ansgar doesn¡¯t seem to want me doing. Not that I¡¯m any good at it, anyway.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t spent much time at court, have you?¡± Ingemar asks.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then she¡¯ll probably stick to basic, getting-to-know-you type questions with you,¡± Karl encourages.


    ¡°With all of us, most likely,¡± Ingemar amends. ¡°None of us are of any real importance to the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°For whatever reason, Her Highness has given us a chance to change that.¡±


    ¡°Your optimism would be inspiring if it wasn¡¯t delusional.¡±


    ¡°Let tomorrow be the judge of that.¡±


    Kai lets them bicker without contributing further. Being spoken to as a peer is a nice change of pace for him, but he¡¯s always preferred the company of animals to that of people, and his advancement to the Questioning looms over him like dark storm clouds.


    At least it means another day away from home, he tells himself, whatever fresh challenges tomorrow may bring.

 Debate

    ¡°First day done,¡± Minna whispers in the darkness of the bedchamber she shares with Fifi, hoping her younger sister will respond. Fifi has been uncharacteristically quiet and withdrawn since supper. Since I betrayed her trust by asking if she could be sent to Syazonia instead of me, Minna scolds herself. But maybe now that the maids have left them alone for the night, in the privacy of their own rooms, they can set things right.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Fifi answers softly. Relief washes over Minna. ¡°Half the suitors gone already. I didn¡¯t realize it¡¯d go so quickly and yet so slowly.¡±


    ¡°Too slow for Father¡¯s liking, even so.¡± Minna sighs. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, by the way, that I suggested you choosing a Syazonian prince in my stead, without at least asking you first. I just¡­. I had to know¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know. I would be more upset if Father gave the idea any consideration. As things are, I¡¯m mostly sorry for you.¡±


    ¡°He has his reasons,¡± Minna excuses King Ansgar, forcing herself to sound cheerful. Please try to understand, Fifi. He can¡¯t just be our father. He has a whole kingdom to think of, to rule. We must do what¡¯s right for Aethyrozia. ¡°His priorities just¡­aren¡¯t exactly the same as mine. Or yours.¡±


    ¡°Minna, it¡¯s your marriage. Your life partner. Like Mother said, you get to make the final decision.¡±


    Another sigh escapes Minna¡¯s lips. Her eyes have adjusted to the darkness enough that the meager moonlight coming through the cloudy glass windows allows her to pick out the patterns in the canopy over her bed.


    ¡°Perhaps Prince Didier will win Father over during the Questioning,¡± Fifi suggests. ¡°He certainly has the charm and the manners to have at least a chance¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, hush,¡± Minna protests with a slight giggle. Don¡¯t get my hopes up. I need you to be serious about this. ¡°Which of the Syazonian princes do you think I ought to choose, if Father¡¯s judgment guides my choice?¡±


    ¡°I agree with what Mother said last night. Adalberto and Lisandro are the least objectionable.¡±


    Minna nods thoughtfully. ¡°Lisandro played and sang well, didn¡¯t he?¡± I could definitely do worse.


    ¡°Aye.¡± Fifi¡¯s brief response is heavy with unspoken thoughts and feelings. Don¡¯t, Sister. We¡¯ve argued about this before. You and I will never agree. Father wouldn¡¯t knowingly send either one of us into a lifetime of misery.


    ¡°And he¡¯s nice enough, and seems a pleasant fellow,¡± Minna continues. Can I be happy with him for the rest of my life? Will I like living in Syazonia?


    ¡°Maybe so, but next to Didier¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fifi, please¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡ª¡±


    ¡°Perhaps Father will let you choose him, if he comes back.¡± You deserve to be happy, at least as much as I do. If you really like him¡ªReading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°Father will probably set me up with that pompous Lord Felix,¡± Fifi snorts.


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°He thinks I¡¯m¡­just a useless ornamental burden to pawn off to the highest bidder.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Fifi, that¡¯s not true,¡± Minna assures her sister. Though she truly means it, she can practically hear Fifi rolling her eyes in the other bed. ¡°And even if it were, the Viscount of Donthur would never be the highest bidder in a competition for your hand.¡±


    Both sisters giggle a little. It¡¯s true, though, Minna adds silently. No Viscount has the resources to compete with a Duke or a Prince.


    ¡°He was truly ridiculous,¡± Fifi mutters.


    ¡°A good many of them were. I have to wonder what some of them were thinking, coming here and competing¡­.¡±


    ¡°Might as well take a chance. After all, you are the fairest and most eligible maiden in all the land.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Minna¡¯s insides twist uncomfortably. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s all that matters to them?¡±


    ¡°To a lot of them, certainly. Or to their parents who sent them here. But like as not at least some of them are looking for love, or at least a felicitous union.¡±


    ¡°Parents who sent them here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe for a second Prince Ramiro volunteered for this, and I know that Kai¡¯s father insisted he compete.¡±


    ¡°Should I have sent him home, do you think?¡±


    ¡°I asked him about that, and he told me to let you decide based on his performance. And then he performed so well¡ª¡±


    ¡°He did, but he seems so uncomfortable here at court. And Father hates his father so¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯m worried for him in the Questioning.¡±


    ¡°Do you fancy him?¡± The question slips out before Minna can stop it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know him well enough to say. Certainly no more than you fancy Prince Didier.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me. I just¡­. It seems like you must have had quite the conversation in the courtyard this noontide, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°I think we have a bit in common, and I wouldn¡¯t mind getting to know him more. I¡¯ll have to have someone here I can talk to once you¡¯ve gone away and gotten married.¡±


    ¡°Fifi¡­.¡± Minna wants to comfort her sister, but the words won¡¯t come. We¡¯ve known our whole lives this time would come, that I¡¯d have to go away and get married. Just like you will. ¡°If that¡¯s what you¡¯re after, maybe you should focus your attentions on the ones who actually spend time at court.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re probably right, but Kai was the one in the courtyard when I went out there.¡± There¡¯s an unusual hardness to Fifi¡¯s voice, making Minna question the wisdom of pushing the issue further. ¡°Tell me what I missed at dinner.¡±


    ¡°Truly there¡¯s nothing to tell. You saw the reprise at supper.¡±


    Fifi sighs heavily. ¡°Don¡¯t sacrifice your happiness for his whims. You deserve better, and he¡¯s not worth that.¡±


    ¡°He is the king, Fifi, not just our father. We can¡¯t think only of ourselves, but also of our country¡ª¡±


    ¡°Our country won¡¯t have to live with the man day in and day out like you will. And neither will Father. Just¡­remember that, as you make your choice.¡±


    Minna bites her lip hard. How could I forget it? I live with Mother and Father just like you do. I also wonder if Mother is happy with him. But we are princesses, not only people, and princesses must do what is best for king and country, not only ourselves.


    ¡°I will,¡± she tells Fifi after an agonizing silence.


    ¡°Good.¡± Fifi sounds satisfied, but Minna is far from it, weighing her sister¡¯s words with her father¡¯s adamant advising. We still have the Questioning and the Ball. At least two more days. Perhaps more, if a Redemption Round proves necessary. I still have time. Please, Chuezoh, guide me and make the right choice clear to me. Let the remaining two rounds be enough.


    She imagines King Ansgar will be furious if she decides to have a Redemption Round, and hopes to avoid such a thing. But at the same time, she hopes she can find a happy medium, a suitor who will suit her as a life partner and also satisfy her father¡¯s wishes, and if a Redemption Round is what it takes to do so, then in her mind, it will be worth his temporary wrath.


    But it is too early to worry about that. For now, she must focus on tomorrow¡¯s Questioning and choosing which suitors will continue to the Ball. One step at a time, Minna. One step at a time.

 Questioning

    ¡°Are you ready, Minna?¡± King Ansgar asks. His eyes tell her there can only be one answer, but she dreads to give it. All night she tossed and turned, wondering if she has enough questions prepared, worrying about what this round of the Quest for Favor will reveal about her suitors. What if I can¡¯t marry any of them? What if I can¡¯t decide? Even now, anxiety plagues her. Her chambermaids did well helping her with cosmetics and hairstyling to hide her restless night, but nothing can quell the trembling within her.


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± Minna lies. At least today will be less of a spectacle, Minna assures herself while King Ansgar tells the Chief Royal Steward to bring in the first competitor. Instead of holding the Questioning in the Great Hall, with all the suitors and the full court present, she will be interviewing the suitors one at a time in a Hall of Private Audience, with only her family and the Chief Royal Steward present as witnesses.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine,¡± Fifi whispers to Minna, earning her a reproving glare from their father. Minna smiles tightly in reply; she appreciates her sister¡¯s encouragement, but wishes she wouldn¡¯t provoke their father. I want him in good spirits, that he might see the best in any suitors that catch my attention, she pleads silently.


    ¡°First we will hear from Lord Ingemar, son of the Baron of Nulmyr,¡± the Chief Royal Steward announces. Thank Chuezoh he doesn¡¯t have his trumpet. In this small room, that would be torturous, Minna thinks as Lord Ingemar walks in, poised and confident. His virginal performance yesterday was impressive. And those eyes¡­. With his slim build, wavy brown hair, and sharp jawline dusted with a shadow of stubble, Lord Ingemar is easily one of the most attractive of Minna¡¯s suitors. A shame he¡¯s only a baron¡¯s son.


    ¡°Good morning, Lord Ingemar,¡± Minna greets him.


    ¡°Good morning, Your Highness,¡± the young man replies with an elegant bow. Baron¡¯s son or not, I must keep him for the Ball, unless he¡¯s insufferable in conversation. I¡¯m certain he¡¯s an excellent dancer.


    ¡°Since it¡¯s so early in the morning, let¡¯s start with something simple. What is your most treasured childhood possession and why?¡±


    Lord Ingemar¡¯s arresting amber eyes widen. ¡°¡­A leather-bound notebook. Embossed with a sketch of my sister and I hawking together. It was the last thing my mother gave me¡­before she died.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss. You have a sister?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my twin. We¡¯re very close.¡±


    Although the first question seemed to throw Lord Ingemar a bit, he remains unruffled and charming through the questions that follow. Minna learns that his horse is called Comet and loves to snack on apples, that hawking and playing the virginal are his favorite pastimes, that he likes to walk in the local village and converse with his vassals, and that he prefers to avoid violent solutions to conflict whenever possible. He also seeks a life partner to be his equal in all things, viewing marriage as a true partnership. How that would work, given the difference between us in rank, I¡¯m not sure, but it¡¯s a beautiful sentiment.


    ¡°What advantage would my union with you bring Aethyrozia?¡± Minna asks. Fifi flinches beside her, and Minna¡¯s jaw tightens. I know it¡¯s an unfair question for the son of a baron. But it¡¯s a question that must be asked.


    ¡° Nulmyr is home to Aethyrozians from all walks of life, Your Highness,¡± Lord Ingemar replies without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°A closer connection to Nulmyr is a closer connection to the needs of all of your subjects. Knowing the people of Nulmyr better will help you and your family better serve all of Aethyrozia.¡±


    His calm certainty is certainly admirable, Minna observes. ¡°Why should I choose you over any other?¡±


    ¡°I would hope on account of my myriad charms and your attraction to me, as well as my demonstrated poise and intellect. I have no desire for a loveless marriage.¡±


    King Ansgar harrumphs next to Minna, and she winces for a moment. He doesn¡¯t approve. But of course he wouldn¡¯t. However charming Lord Ingemar might be, he isn¡¯t royal, and so Father thinks he isn¡¯t good enough.


    ¡°Finally, what questions do you have for me?¡± Minna inquires.


    ¡°Would Your Highness ever deign to play a duet with me? I have heard great things about your skill with the harp and the violin.¡±


    Minna cannot help but smile. ¡°Should Chuezoh grant us an opportunity, I think such a duet would be most enjoyable.¡±


    Lord Ingemar returns her smile and bows again. ¡°I look forward to that day.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your time and your forthrightness, Lord Ingemar. My decision will be announced at supper.¡± I¡¯m sad to see him go, Minna muses as the Chief Royal Steward escorts Lord Ingemar out of the room. He was easy to talk to, a great start to the day.


    If only she could guarantee that every interview would proceed so smoothly. She knows they cannot all advance to the Ball, but Lord Ingemar certainly set the bar high for the rest of the competitors.


    ¡°Bring in the next one!¡± King Ansgar calls.


    ***~O~***


    Next to Minna, Fifi struggles to maintain perfect princess posture and to not look bored. She¡¯d been fine during Lord Ingemar¡¯s Questioning¡ªI know she won¡¯t choose him, but I¡¯ll have to find him at court once all of this is over and see if we can be friends¡ªbut Minna¡¯s interview with Lord Birger, Baron of Besnuth, has been far less interesting. His recitation of Saint Gustavus and the Dragon was quite good, Fifi recalls as she listens to the baron¡¯s stammering and fumbling, but it seems he has far more trouble stringing words together coherently when he has to make them up himself. It¡¯s all she can do to maintain a guise of polite interest. On the other end of their dais, Emrik isn¡¯t even trying; Queen Ingrid has had to nudge him awake more than once already. Once Lord Birger leaves the room, King Ansgar has a servant fetch his son some vellum and charcoal so he can doodle, if only so that snores won¡¯t interrupt The Questioning.


    Lord Karl, the son of the Viscount of Fyrlenth, follows Lord Birger. His sharp features and hazel eyes give Fifi hope that his interview will be more interesting than his predecessors, and indeed, she cannot help but smile as he tells them all about his horses and hunting dogs. An animal lover. Perhaps another friend, if he spends much time at court and I can arrange a meeting, Fifi plots. Then Minna¡¯s questions turn towards effectively ruling a kingdom, and Lord Karl looks as though she¡¯s slapped him in the face.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but your brother is next in line for the throne, not you, is he not? What does ruling a country have to do with a relationship between the two of us?¡± Karl protests. And that¡¯s the end of that. He¡¯s out of the running, Fifi observes from a shift in Minna¡¯s demeanor. The Hall of Private Audience becomes chilly and Minna¡¯s questions are brief and perfunctory. By the time he bows and departs, even Lord Karl knows he¡¯s made a mistake.


    After Lord Karl comes the massive Lord Rolf, Viscount of Senthior. The one who so impressed Emrik with his weightlifting prowess, Fifi remembers. He¡¯s much larger up close, nearly seven feet tall, in Fifi¡¯s estimation, and so broad-shouldered he must both duck and twist sideways to fit through the door into the room. His muscles are impressive, and Emrik sits up and takes notice when he enters the room, even setting his vellum and charcoal aside. Unfortunately, Lord Rolf is an abysmal conversationalist, at least in Fifi¡¯s opinion; he is ill-educated for his 30 years of life experience. The most interesting thing he tells them is that he is alone in the world, since his father passed recently, and so he is competing in the hopes of securing himself some companionship. That won¡¯t be enough to tempt Minna, Fifi shakes her head slightly as Minna concludes the interview.


    ¡°I liked him better yesterday,¡± Emrik whines as soon as the Chief Royal Steward has escorted Lord Rolf out of the room.


    ¡°Utterly unfit to wear a crown or wield power of any kind,¡± King Ansgar mutters. ¡°You won¡¯t invite him back, Minna.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine he¡¯s a graceful dancer, anyway,¡± Fifi murmurs, hoping only Minna can hear her. Minna¡¯s lips curve up slightly. Good. Some levity.


    Then comes Lord Ulrik, the son of the Earl of Sulthir¡ªthe woodcarver. A bold choice, woodcarving, Fifi muses, observing the boyish lord¡¯s hunched shoulders and wringing hands. Nervous again, though. Perhaps Minna can make him comfortable and he will have interesting things to say. However, his answer to Minna¡¯s first question is a mere two words, and so is his answer to her followup question. Emrik loudly rustles his vellum as he goes back to doodling, and Queen Ingrid sighs her disappointment in him. Lord Ulrik''s blue eyes focus on the floor in front of him, and he seems absolutely petrified to be there. Despite Minna¡¯s gentle attempts to coax more words out of him, Lord Ulrik remains stubbornly reticent, and Fifi struggles to feign even the thinnest veneer of polite interest. Would that I could also have vellum and charcoal, she wishes, but she knows better than to even ask. It would only anger their father, and she at least has something to gain by paying attention.


    Lord Ulrik is replaced by Lord Hans, Earl of Hrathnyr, a decent-looking man of twenty-eight years. He sang so beautifully yesterday, Fifi remembers. I¡¯m not surprised she brought him back for the Questioning. And he¡¯s not bad looking, but in Minna¡¯s place, I would end the interview early. There doesn¡¯t seem to be much going on behind his deep brown eyes. He asks clarifying questions about every single one of Minna¡¯s questions for him, and even with Minna¡¯s patient, helpful responses, his answers haven¡¯t made much sense. How is it possible that we¡¯ve interviewed six suitors now and only one of them is worth inviting back for the Ball?! Fifi asks herself. And that one is the son of a baron, which Father will never approve of. But he¡¯s witnessing this the same as we are. Surely he can see that birthright isn¡¯t the only measure of someone¡¯s worth or competence?


    ¡°Thank you, Lord Hans. My decision will be announced at supper,¡± Minna says, and the Chief Royal Steward wastes no time in taking the clueless Earl away.


    ¡°Good riddance,¡± King Ansgar mutters. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you turned the meritorious noblemen away last night, Minna.¡±


    You have no intention of letting her choose any of the noblemen, anyway, Fifi wants to retort, but she bites her tongue.


    ¡°There are still many to interview, Father,¡± Minna answers, calm and poised as ever. As if to confirm her statement, the Chief Royal Steward comes back into the Hall of Private Audience, this time with Kai following him. Fifi smiles at the sight of him. At least I know he isn¡¯t a complete fool, and that he can hold a conversation, she thinks, hopeful that this interview will be more enjoyable than the past several. By the grinding of King Ansgar¡¯s teeth, she knows he doesn¡¯t share her hopes, but she dismisses his opinion with a toss of her head. It¡¯s tradition that Minna give every suitor a fair chance.


    ¡°Presenting Lord Nicolaas, the son of the Earl of Lyrnola,¡± the Chief Royal Steward declares, his tone reflective of King Ansgar¡¯s displeasure.


    ¡°Welcome, Lord Nicolaas,¡± Minna greets him, the image of a perfect princess in her mint green gown. Maybe she¡¯ll win him over yet, Fifi muses. She can¡¯t recall seeing her sister look better.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Highness,¡± Kai answers with a smooth bow. ¡°May I request, before we begin, that you call me Kai?¡±


    King Ansgar¡¯s frown deepens, but Minna seems unperturbed. ¡°As you wish, Kai. To start¡­. What sorts of books from the Royal Library would you be most interested in reading?¡±


    ¡°Anything about Aethyrozia¡¯s horticulture and natural wonders and resources. I must confess I find everything about the natural world fascinating, Your Highness.¡±


    I wish he¡¯d come to court before this, Fifi muses. I¡¯m sure we would have run into each other in courtyards many times, and found much to talk about.


    ¡°A clear mind guides a decisive hand; how do you keep your mind clear?¡± Minna continues.


    ¡°By taking walks outdoors, mostly, Your Highness. I find fresh air indispensable for clearing the mind and settling one¡¯s thoughts.¡±


    ¡°Tell me about a time when you were frustrated with someone or something. How did you resolve that situation?¡±


    ¡°My father is often frustrated with me for failing to share his ambitions for my future, Your Highness. Sometimes we argue about it, which usually ends with me going for a walk to let both of us cool off. Most recently, it has resulted in me coming to court to humor him.¡±


    Fifi blinks in surprise. I¡¯m not sure such forthrightness will serve you well here, she worries. Then again, perhaps Father will see that you lack the flaws he¡¯s found so objectionable in your father.


    After that, Minna¡¯s questions are rapid-fire. Kai¡¯s horse is called Varsel and prefers to snack on fresh clover blossoms; Kai would try to handle a revolt amongst the common people first by calling a meeting with the leaders of the revolt and trying to negotiate; for him the most important trait in a life partner is honesty and open communication. The antics of songbirds and squirrels never fail to make him smile, but no one else he¡¯s met really seems to notice them. His most cherished childhood possession is a walking stick he still uses, hand-carved, a gift from an old friend. He¡¯s not cut out for court. He¡¯s meant for a life far from here, out of doors, free to go wherever the wind leads him, Fifi decides. He¡¯s not even trying to answer the questions so as to present himself in the most advantageous light. Just pure honesty. What he says he wants from a partner. Refreshing.


    ¡°Why should I choose you over any other suitor?¡± Minna asks Kai.


    ¡°Because you¡¯ve interviewed all of your suitors and decided, based on what you¡¯ve heard, that I am the candidate most likely to make you happy as a life partner,¡± Kai replies, then adds hastily, ¡°Should that be your opinion, once these interviews have concluded, Your Highness.¡± His cheeks flush slightly, the first break in his composure since the interview started.


    ¡°Finally, what questions do you have for me?¡±


    The young man is quiet for a moment, and his eyes meet Fifi¡¯s in the silence. I can¡¯t help you. I¡¯m meant to be seen and not heard. Choose your words carefully, she thinks, hoping her face conveys the message to him.


    ¡°What does Your Highness most like to do to clear your head and feed your soul?¡±


    ¡°Listening to and playing music have always been my respite. The harp is my favorite instrument.¡± Minna glances sideways at Fifi, who sees a hint of surprise in her sister¡¯s features. ¡°Thank you for your time, and for presenting your genuine self in this interview. My decision will be announced at supper.¡±


    Kai bows again, and the Chief Royal Steward leads him out of the Hall of Private Audience. For a moment, heavy silence weighs on the Royal Family of Aethyrozia. Even Emrik makes no sound.


    ¡°Well!¡± Queen Ingrid says brightly, a curious little smile playing about her lips. ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to say that Lord Nicolaas has very little in common with his father.¡±

 Nobility

    Weariness gnaws at Minna¡¯s nerves as the Chief Royal Steward leads the next competitor, Lord Ragnar, the son of the Marquis of Marduth, into the Hall of Private Audience. So far, the interviews have been very productive in eliminating suitors, but that¡¯s not how she hoped the Questioning would go. At least Lord Kai didn¡¯t make me pry answers out of him like Lord Ulrik did, Minna tells herself, trying to look on the bright side. Still, I doubt Father found any merit in his answers. Will he let me keep him in for the Ball, for Fifi¡¯s sake? I think they could be good friends.


    ¡°Welcome, Lord Ragnar,¡± Minna greets the next competitor. Goodness, but he¡¯s intimidating up close. Those muscles, and that stern expression¡­. His cornamuse performance yesterday was excellent, but now I¡¯m wondering why he didn¡¯t compete in the Athletics division, instead.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Highness,¡± Lord Ragnar replies with a bow and a smile. Oh. Wow. He¡¯s actually handsome, in his own way. Black hair like that has never been my preference, but¡­


    ¡°To start things off¡­. Do you have any enemies, and if so, how did you get them?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that I have enemies, per se, but I seem to have a¡­knack for making the wrong impression on people. I¡¯ve been told I look¡­.¡±


    ¡°Scary?¡± Emrik volunteers, breaking protocol and earning him a fierce glare from King Ansgar.


    Lord Ragnar chuckles nervously. ¡°An apt word, Your Highness. Thank you. But truly, I mean no one any harm, and I always try to be pleasant and helpful to those around me.¡±


    Lord Ragnar proves to be something of a sweetheart, in Minna¡¯s opinion, as their interview wears on. Well, there¡¯s another one we can invite to the Ball, she decides as the Chief Royal Steward escorts him out and the next competitor, Lord Einar the Marquis of Saisyn, is brought in. This one is a decade older than her, with a gaze that makes her think that he is appraising the value of everything and everyone in the room. He proved himself a very good archer in yesterday¡¯s competition, Minna remembers.


    ¡°Would you perhaps be willing, during the course of this competition or afterward, to offer Prince Emrik tutoring in archery? You showed yourself quite adept at it yestermorn,¡± Minna entreats him.


    ¡°I will do anything you wish, for a price,¡± Lord Einar answers.


    ¡°The favor of the crown is not reward enough?¡± King Ansgar interjects, saving Minna from coming up with a more tactful reply. Lord Einar arches an eyebrow in response.


    ¡°Perhaps we¡¯ll¡­revisit that question later,¡± Minna decides before moving on to her next one. Unfortunately, all of Lord Einar¡¯s thoughts seem to be focused on money and wealth and personal enrichment. By the end of the interview, Minna is convinced she could never be happy with him as a life partner.


    Next comes Lord Mathias, the son of the Marquis of Chasthyr, a self-assured young man with curly brown hair and hazel eyes, the charcoal artist whose work Fifi admired in the Talent Round. His bow is crisp, his greeting bright, and of everyone Minna has interviewed so far, Mathias seems the most pleased to be in the room.


    ¡°A just man is slow to anger, honest, and loyal; a just king should be ten times so. What proof can you offer me that you have such qualities?¡± Minna asks him after learning that his favorite meal is roast pheasant dressed with cranberries and mashed potatoes.


    ¡°Father has me sit with him to judge cases the vassals bring to him,¡± Mathias replies. ¡°A few weeks ago, I was presiding in our court and two farmers came, using language I cannot repeat in front of Your Highness, arguing over which of them should pay for a ruined fence between their properties. It took patient, calm questioning to determine that the fence was ruined when one farmer¡¯s hogs were frightened by the other¡¯s hounds, and more calm, measured debate to convince them that, since the fence benefits them both and was broken through mutual negligence¡ªthe hogs never should have been so close to it, and the hounds should have been kept under better control¡ªthe two of them ought to split the costs evenly between them. After they left, Father said he couldn¡¯t have handled it better himself, and that he is confident our territory will prosper under my jurisdiction. And, begging Your pardon for this presumption, Your Majesty, but I do believe King Ansgar can attest that my father is not the sort to mince words or offer false praise.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Accurate,¡± King Ansgar allows. Maybe this one has impressed him a bit, Minna hopes as she scrutinizes her father¡¯s face. If he¡¯s telling the truth, he¡¯d be a competent co-ruler, should such a responsibility ever fall to me. But of course, he¡¯s not a prince of Syazonia¡­. Even so, Minna cannot help but be impressed by Lord Mathias¡¯s continued confidence and well-answered questions, right up until the end of the interview.


    ¡°Finally, what questions do you have for me?¡± Minna inquires.


    ¡°I have three, if Your Highness will indulge me,¡± Lord Mathias responds. Minna nods. ¡°Does Your Highness prefer to rise early or later in the morning?¡±


    ¡°Before the sun, most days. I like the peace and quiet of dawn.¡±


    ¡°Does Your Highness like to spend time outdoors, and if so, doing what?¡±


    ¡°I do, mainly going for walks or playing my flute outside for the change of scenery.¡± When Fifi and I are able to sneak away together, Minna adds silently. Have we done that for the last time?


    ¡°What is Your Highness¡¯s favorite court dance?¡±


    ¡°The pavane, with a good partner.¡±


    ¡°I hope you have only good partners at tomorrow¡¯s Ball, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lord Mathias, for your time in this interview. My decision will be announced at supper.¡± And with that and a bow, Lord Mathias takes his leave, and less than a minute later Duke Oskar, the son of the Duke of Quelnuth and the suitor who juggled for the Talent Round, takes his place. As Minna expected, Duke Oskar does indeed have quite a sense of humor. However, he doesn¡¯t seem to be taking any of her questions seriously, treating the entire interview like it¡¯s some colossal joke. Emrik, at least, is enjoying this interview, laughing aloud at some of Duke Oskar¡¯s jokes. Minna, in contrast, steels herself to keep her disappointment hidden; another suitor to send home tonight. He¡¯s no match for me.


    Duke Oskar is followed by Duke Alvar of Emskyr, who looks to be about five-and-twenty but reveals himself to be a decade older. His posture is rigid and upright, his expression severe, and he directs his speech to King Ansgar, rather than looking at Minna.


    ¡°What expectations would you have of me as a wife, Duke Alvar?¡± Minna inquires, trying to gain the suitor¡¯s attention.


    The Duke¡¯s eyes flicker briefly towards Minna, but then he pointedly tells King Ansgar, ¡°My wife ought to submit to me in all things, as Chuezoh intended, and bring my home joy and comfort and heirs, which my past two wives have failed to do.¡±


    Despite her best efforts, the color drains from Minna¡¯s face. This one must go. There is no point in continuing the questions anymore, but I must maintain appearances. ¡°Past two wives?¡±


    ¡°Both victims of tragic accidents. My father allowed our family property to fall into some disrepair, and while I have been working diligently to rectify the faults in it, the process is slow going and some¡­dangerous places remain.¡±


    Minna shoots Fifi a frightened glance, and Fifi tips her head towards the door with a pointed look. At least we¡¯re of one mind about that, Minna thinks. She rushes through her remaining questions and breathes a heavy sigh of relief once Duke Alvar exits and the doors close behind him.


    ¡°Dearest. Is there any way you can see to it that the Duke of Emskyr never remarries?¡± Queen Ingrid asks her husband.


    ¡°He will not wed either of our daughters, that much is certain,¡± King Ansgar replies, and then the Chief Royal Steward brings Duke Fredrick, the son of the Duke of Rothan, into the Hall of Private Audience.


    The violinist, Minna remembers with a smile and greets him warmly. For him, almost all of her questions center on music and violin technique. Duke Fredrick¡¯s approach to music theory and playing the violin differ from her own, but she is eager to learn from him, even as she senses her family is growing tired of their debate on the intricacies and importance of proper pizzicato technique. Emrik groans loudly more than once in their conversation to express his displeasure, and King Ansgar actually terminates their interview before the discussion reaches a natural conclusion and orders Duke Fredrick out of the room.


    ¡°Minna. You can¡¯t be serious,¡± he chides.


    ¡°He is a talented artist,¡± Minna defends herself.


    ¡°Later,¡± Queen Ingrid warns as the doors open again and the Chief Royal Steward brings Grand Duke Maksym into the room.


    At last, the royal suitors, Minna sighs in relief. Just a few more, and then I¡¯ll have at least a few hours to think it over and decide.

 Desirable

    ¡°Grand Duke Maksym. Please try to relax,¡± Minna urges the lanky, dark-haired heir apparent of Khandazar. ¡°These questions are meant to help us get to know each other better, so that I can make the best choice for myself and my people, not as some kind of a torture exercise. Would you feel more comfortable sitting down?¡±


    Fifi coughs to keep herself from snickering. Grand Duke Maksym looks mortified, but in Minna¡¯s place, she probably would have said much the same, except perhaps less tactfully. The Grand Duke has stammered through multiple unhelpful answers to Minna¡¯s easiest questions; he¡¯s all but said, ¡®My answer is whatever you would most like to hear.¡¯


    ¡°No, thank you, Princess Wilhelmina,¡± Grand Duke Maksym replies, face apple-red. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡­.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite all right. Perhaps you can tell me what you value most? Is that a good¡ª¡±


    ¡°My family¡¯s honor and reputation. Things have been difficult in Khandazar, since the Grand Chancellery was overthrown and my family retook the throne. We¡¯ve been trying to regain the people¡¯s trust, to do better, and so¡­. There¡¯s a lot of pressure. Especially as I am my parents¡¯ only son.¡±


    Suddenly everything about Grand Duke Maksym makes more sense to Fifi. She glances at Minna, whose brow is furrowed ever so slightly in concern and pity.


    ¡°I would imagine so. What did you most enjoy studying, during your education?¡±


    ¡°¡­Philosophy. I mean, I love learning, so I did due diligence in all my studies, but¡­philosophy was most enjoyable.¡±


    Something seems to have unlocked in Grand Duke Maksym, to Fifi¡¯s eye. He¡¯s still nervous, stiff, but these last two answers were genuine, she observes. It seems Mother was right, and Minna is able to get him to open up. So much the better for both of them. Her perfunctory dance with him tomorrow night might be almost pleasant.


    ***~O~***


    ¡°And, Prince Didier, what advantage would my union with you bring to the Kingdom of Aethyrozia?¡± Minna inquires. So far, he has maintained his charm and poise and the general perfection he projected during the Talent Round. Please have a good answer. Win my father over, Minna prays.


    ¡°Vyrunia boasts plentiful resources for trade, agricultural products and timber and textiles, as I am certain you well know, Princess Wilhelmina. A closer relationship between our countries would mean that your people need never fear being hungry or lacking in shelter or clothing. Not that they do currently, of course, but they could only hope to increase their material prosperity from such a union,¡± Prince Didier answers, his focus as much on King Ansgar as on Minna. ¡°And our nation is large and wealthy with a growing population. Should you have any desire for military conquest in the future, Vyrunia would be the best nation in Lokva to deem a close ally.¡±


    ¡°You are in favor of military conquest, then?¡±


    ¡°Only as a last resort. Every other possible way to settle an issue between two nations ought to be attempted prior to military engagement, at least in my opinion. But it is not for me to tell you how to run your kingdom, of course.¡±


    Minna dares a breathless glance at King Ansgar. Her father appears to be equal parts annoyed, thoughtful, and grudgingly impressed. He¡¯s already picked up on how best to deal with Father¡¯s¡­prickliness, Minna bites her lip to keep from smiling.


    ¡°What is the first thing you would say to me in the morning, and the last thing you¡¯d say to me at night?¡±


    Beside Minna, Fifi squirms and her elbow hits Minna¡¯s ribs, but the elder sister doesn¡¯t mind. We promised to only use this question for the ones we really like, Minna remembers. And I haven¡¯t used it yet today.


    Prince Didier blushes slightly. ¡°Good morning, my angel. Did you rest well? And then at night¡­ Sweet dreams, my angel.¡±


    Minna¡¯s insides quiver as she shares a long look with the handsome green-eyed prince, ignoring Emrik¡¯s gagging noises. There¡¯s no question, in her mind, that he¡¯s the best looking of the young men who¡¯ve come to compete for her hand. More importantly, though, he seems to be both a competent statesman and an amiable person.


    Chuezoh, please sway my father¡¯s heart, Minna appeals without a sound, even as her father harrumphs disapprovingly beside her.


    ¡°Do you have any questions for me?¡± she says aloud.


    ¡°What is it you want most in a life partner, Princess Wilhelmina?¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°That he will be a good match for me and a blessing to my country. That he and I can live happily together all of our days and that our union will help Aethyrozia to prosper.¡±


    ¡°Spoken like a true Queen.¡±


    Minna cannot help but smile. ¡°Thank you so much for your time in this interview, Prince Didier. My decision will be announced at supper.¡±


    ¡°It was my pleasure, Princess Wilhelmina,¡± Prince Didier replies with his signature elaborate bow. We¡¯ll have at least one more night, Minna assures herself as she watches him leave.


    She just hopes it will be enough time.


    ***~O~***


    Fifi glares sideways at her father as Prince Ramiro is escorted out of the Hall of Private Audience by the Chief Royal Steward. Did we really have to keep him for the Questioning, Father? Are you satisfied? she demands silently. It was a waste of everyone¡¯s time. Not only is he unquestionably too young for Minna, he¡¯s an insufferable know-it-all. Emrik is more mature and pleasant to be around even on his worst days.


    As Prince Emiliano replaces his brother in front of Minna, Fifi wonders if all the Syazonian princes have been educated with the rigor Ramiro boasted, and if they have any sisters. Judging by this prince¡¯s wild red curls and restless shifting, he isn¡¯t the type to enjoy sitting still with a book.


    Sure enough, Minna¡¯s questions reveal him to be an avid hunter with little interest in reading or ruling. It¡¯s clear that he is used to winning, used to having his way. By the end of the interview, Fifi is certain that Prince Emiliano¡¯s only redeeming quality is his appreciation for his favorite horse, Tacito; it¡¯s clear from his stories that he shares a special relationship with his steed, whose stealth in the hunt allegedly rivals that of a cat.


    Not overly familiar with honesty, that one, Fifi judges as his interview concludes. I¡¯d be glad to see him sent home tonight. The set of King Ansgar¡¯s jaw indicates that such a thought should not be voiced, though; Fifi would guess that her father is also frustrated by how inept for ruling both Syazonian princes they¡¯ve interviewed so far seem, but would never admit it aloud or change his mind about insisting that all five brothers stay until the end of the Quest for Favor.


    Prince Lisandro is announced next, and although she seemed quite taken with Prince Didier during that interview, Minna seems pleased to see this competitor.


    ¡°Welcome, Prince Lisandro,¡± she greets him warmly.


    ¡°Thank you, Princess Wilhelmina,¡± he smiles with a half-bow.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with¡­. If you had a day to yourself with no responsibilities, what would you do with the day?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d probably spend it with my dulcimer, improvising and playing old favorites and just generally¡­enjoying the respite of music.¡±


    You couldn¡¯t have picked a better answer for Minna, Fifi wants to tell him. The look on her sister¡¯s face hints that she thinks this one might be too good to be true.


    ¡°If your greatest enemy was lying defenseless in front of you, what would you do?¡± Minna asks.


    ¡°It would depend on why he was my enemy, and in what capacity. For a rival musician, I would ask if he was all right and if I could do anything to help him. But someone who was a threat to Syazonia, or to the people I cared about, not just to me¡­. Such a person would have to be executed, given that opportunity.¡±


    ¡°Would you do it yourself, or ask someone else to do it?¡±


    ¡°I would probably ask Emiliano, my brother, to do it. He would make it quick and clean and merciful, if I asked him to, and he has no qualms about killing.¡±


    That makes sense, Fifi agrees silently. What must growing up with all those brothers have been like?


    ¡°Are you close with your brothers?¡±


    ¡°I used to be with Adalberto, until¡­. Well, that¡¯s his story to tell, if it comes up. And I try with Ramiro, but he¡¯s still finding himself. Casimiro and Emiliano¡­don¡¯t really share any interests with me. They¡¯re still my brothers, of course, and I love them, but¡­. We are not all kindred spirits.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Points in your favor, I would think, Fifi muses. Minna is leaning forward slightly, taking a real interest in Lisandro, and Fifi doesn¡¯t blame her. For the first time, the younger princess thinks maybe Minna won¡¯t be completely miserable if she yields to their father¡¯s judgment and chooses a prince of Syazonia, provided that prince is Lisandro.


    From the rest of the interview, Fifi learns that Prince Lisandro has no interest in going to war with another nation for any reason. He feels a revolt amongst the common people ought best to be settled by meeting with the leaders of that revolt and coming up with some sort of mutually agreeable compromise between the crown and the rebels. He wants his wife to share his love of music and to share his life as an equal. He believes he will be happy with as many children as Chuezoh sees fit to bless him and his future wife with.


    He seems sweet. A bit dull, but sweet, Fifi decides. Not a match for me, but maybe Minna can be happy with him.


    ¡°What is the first thing you would say to me in the morning, and the last thing you would say to me at night?¡± Minna asks. Fifi¡¯s breath catches in her throat. She asked it again. Does she actually think him on a level with Prince Didier, or is she just doing this for Father¡¯s benefit? I believe he¡¯s the most desirable of the Syazonian princes so far, but¡ª


    Prince Lisandro¡¯s cheeks flush crimson, and he stammers a bit before collecting his thoughts. ¡°In the morning, ¡®light of my life, have you slept well?¡¯ And at night, ¡®May Chuezoh grant me another pleasant day with you, my darling.¡¯¡±


    Now Minna¡¯s cheeks turn pink, and Fifi wants to gag. Once again, Emrik actually does, and Queen Ingrid scolds him under her breath. ¡°Finally, do you have any questions for me?¡±


    ¡°Do you like to compose or improvise music? Is that something that, perhaps someday, we might do together?¡±


    ¡°I do. And I think I would like that very much.¡±


    Prince Lisandro¡¯s smile becomes dazzling, and in that moment Fifi can see why someone might find him as attractive as Prince Didier or Lord Ingemar. He¡¯s not a bad choice for her, all things considered. But can she really be happy with him? How can anyone know, in so little time?


    She has another day to figure it out, Fifi reminds herself. After all, there¡¯s no question of this Syazonian Prince advancing to the Ball, even if his younger brothers could be eliminated based on lack of merit.

 Heartbroken

    Trying to interview Prince Casimiro is like pulling teeth, or trying to do fancywork embroidery in the dark. Minna bites her tongue so hard she tastes blood trying to hold back her frustration as the Syazonian prince swaggers around the Hall of Private Audience. She imagines he¡¯s looking for something shiny to check his reflection in, which she is thankful he does not find. As things are, it¡¯s clear that he¡¯s constantly shifting to afford Minna the best possible view of his muscles at all times, and that he believes he is Chuezoh¡¯s gift to womankind.


    ¡°Tell me about a time when you were frustrated with someone or something. How did you resolve that situation?¡± Minna asks, hoping he¡¯s too self-absorbed to recognize the tightly controlled frustration in her voice. If only for her father¡¯s sake, she would prefer not to offend this most irritating of the Syazonian princes.


    ¡°Emiliano used my best crossbow to go hunting and I thrashed him,¡± Prince Casimiro answers, striking yet another pose to highlight his chest and arm muscles.


    It¡¯s all Minna can do not to roll her eyes.


    The rest of the interview only serves to further prove that Prince Casimiro is unfit to wed Minna, and that Syazonia has much to fear if he should ever inherit his father¡¯s throne. The entire Aethyrozian Royal Family, even King Ansgar, breathes a collective sigh of relief once the Chief Royal Steward has escorted the prince from the room.


    ¡°Are you sure we can¡¯t send him home before his brothers, dearest?¡± Queen Ingrid asks her husband.


    ¡°Very,¡± the king replies through gritted teeth. Emrik groans for the umpteenth time that morning.


    ¡°Finally we have Prince Adalberto of Syazonia!¡± the Chief Royal Steward announces as he comes back into the Hall of Private Audience with the eldest Syazonian prince following behind him.


    The last one, Minna tells herself, surveying the tall, handsome prince with his well-groomed coppery beard. He¡¯s about seven years older than Minna, an age difference that scares her, but Queen Ingrid recommended him over most of his brothers, and the sadness in his dark eyes intrigues her.


    ¡°Thank you for receiving me, Your Majesties, Your Highnesses,¡± Prince Adalberto greets them with a stiff half-bow.


    ¡°Thank you for your patience, Prince Adalberto, and welcome,¡± Minna replies. ¡°Your swordsmanship yesterday was most impressive. Do you spend a lot of time practicing swordplay?¡±


    ¡°Whenever I have the time, Princess Wilhelmina. It is a comfort to me.¡±


    ¡°Would you perhaps be willing to offer Prince Emrik tutoring in swordsmanship? He quite admires you.¡±


    ¡°I would find that a welcome distraction. Simply name the time and place, Young Prince.¡± He dips his head towards Emrik, who squeals in delight and starts to thank him, only to be silenced by a look and a ¡®shhhhhh¡¯ from Queen Ingrid.


    ¡°You are most gracious, Prince Adalberto. Thank you. But I must ask¡­. You said a welcome distraction. From what, exactly? If your accommodations are lacking or¡ª¡±


    ¡°Nothing of the kind, Princess Wilhelmina. Adelhyod is lovely, and I have wanted for nothing material since my brothers and I arrived. I seek a distraction from grief.¡±


    Minna bites her lip. Do I ask? I have to know. It seems to be crushing him. But the last thing I want to do is cause him more pain, she worries. ¡°Forgive me for prying, Prince Adalberto, but as you are here contending for my hand in marriage, I would be¡­most thankful to know the cause of your grief.¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Prince Adalberto¡¯s spine stiffens and he squares his shoulders. ¡°I suppose it will not surprise you to learn, given the age difference between us, that I have been married once already. Her name was Valeriya, Grand Duchess of Khandazar, and though our parents arranged the match and we met the day before the wedding, she won my heart within a fortnight of the solemnities.¡± His expression softens as he speaks of her. ¡°We were well-suited to one another and spent most days together, riding or going for walks or even just reading in my study. And then my dear Valeriya became with child. We were overjoyed, anticipating the birth of our child, but then¡­when the time came¡­.¡±


    He swallows hard. His shoulders quiver. Minna aches for him. ¡°There was so much blood. Her screams still haunt me. The apothecaries and midwives said they did everything they could to ease her pain, to save her, but it was all for naught. She was gone, and our son with her. You will forgive me, but I still mourn her.¡±


    ¡°I am so terribly, deeply sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine how dreadful that must have been, nor how it must still pain you. Was this loss¡­recent?¡±


    ¡°What month is it now?¡±


    ¡°Bretor.¡±


    ¡°It was in Mirtor. The wind was howling and there was snow on the ground.¡±


    Four months ago, give or take, Minna realizes in horror. How could his family have seen fit to send him here so soon?!


    ¡°Chuezoh have mercy,¡± Queen Ingrid breathes, voicing Minna¡¯s feelings. ¡°And yet your parents sent you here¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± King Ansgar interrupts.


    ¡°As the Crown Prince and the heir to the throne of Syazonia, it is my duty to remarry and produce an heir. I could not stomach the idea of asking for the hand of one of my Valeriya¡¯s sisters, and so¡­I am here.¡±


    Minna¡¯s eyes lock with Prince Adalberto¡¯s. She feels like she is truly seeing him for the first time. He knows his duty. We would understand each other and respect each other, but I would never replace Valeriya for him. It would be a hollow marriage, without any hope of romantic affection.


    ¡°Forgive me for prying into your personal tragedy. The remaining questions should be less¡­difficult. Do you enjoy music at all?¡±


    ¡°I like to listen to it, and I have enjoyed dancing in the past, but I have little aptitude for playing any instrument.¡±


    ¡°What would you consider a just cause to start a war with another kingdom?¡±


    ¡°There is no cause great enough to rob others of their loved ones through the violence of war.¡±


    ¡°How would you handle a revolt amongst the common people?¡±


    ¡°By listening to their complaints and taking action to better their lives. A civil war and violent suppression are to be avoided at all costs.¡±


    ¡°Even if what they want is not in your power to give them?¡±


    ¡°What could inspire the common folk to revolt against the crown that the crown could not rectify?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps if they objected to your religious beliefs and policies, or something of that nature.¡±


    ¡°The needs of the people ought to come before the religious convictions of their sovereign. Rulers are entities as much as people, and must set the self aside for the good of the kingdom.¡±


    It is clear to Minna, as she continues and concludes her interview with Prince Adalberto, that he is level-headed and mature and that the loss of his Valeriya has deeply affected him. Of the five brothers, there is not a doubt in her mind that he would make the best king. But we do not share personal interests as Lisandro and I do, and he is still heartbroken¡­. she debates with herself. He would be good for Aethyrozia, and he will be great for Syazonia, but I am not convinced that he can be the best choice, out of all these suitors, for me.


    But there is still time, Minna reminds herself, to learn more about her suitors and make a more informed decision. She knew before this interview that Prince Adalberto would be staying for the Ball.


    ¡°Well, Minna. The Questioning is over,¡± King Ansgar points out once Prince Adalberto and the Chief Royal Steward have left the room. ¡°Do you know which suitors will stay for tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°If it please you, Father, I would prefer to discuss this over supper,¡± Minna answers. ¡°For now, as we have some time, perhaps I would be permitted to take a walk in a courtyard or spend some time with my instruments, to get some fresh air and clear my mind?¡±


    ¡°Whichever you please, as long as Fifi and at least two of your maids are with you,¡± Queen Ingrid allows before her husband can speak. ¡°Take care that none of your suitors seek another audience with you.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Mother. Thank you.¡±

 Indecisive

    Minna had hoped that a walk in the courtyard would help her thoughts settle and give her peace. However, walking with Fifi and Lise and Greta is more stressful than anything else, with the two maids trying to get the princesses to talk about Minna¡¯s suitors. While doing so is not expressly forbidden, Minna has no desire to feed any rumor mill or risk her opinions making their way to the suitors¡¯ ears, especially if they were to be distorted in the gossip chain. Fifi deflects their questions and chatters long, distracting tangents, but the maids are relentless, and so they all return to the princesses¡¯ suite with Minna clenching her teeth in frustration.


    There, Minna turns to her instruments for respite, but she cannot focus on any song long enough to finish playing it, no matter whether she plays the violin or the harpsichord or the flute. With a sigh of frustration, she sets the flute aside and drops her head into her hands.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to decide which one to marry tonight,¡± Fifi reminds Minna, sitting beside her.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°It seemed clear enough to me, during the interviews, which ones to keep and which ones to send home.¡±


    ¡°Yes. That much is plain to me, as well. That¡¯s not the issue.¡±


    ¡°Father is right about one thing. Three days isn¡¯t enough time to fall in love.¡±


    ¡°Or even to be sure the one I choose is a decent person. How can we know they are being genuine?¡±


    ¡°I think Casimiro and Emiliano are genuinely repugnant.¡±


    Minna laughs, but her laughter is hollow. I envy her boldness. Even here in our private rooms, I dare not say such things, in case someone is eavesdropping, she laments silently.


    ¡°I¡¯ll gladly tell them so, if you like,¡± Fifi continues. ¡°Father is already displeased with me most of the time. It¡¯s not like I can make it worse.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t. It would only antagonize him, which is unpleasant for everyone,¡± Minna replies. Her green eyes meet her sister¡¯s brown ones, willing Fifi to understand. ¡°And assuming I do as he wishes and marry one of their brothers, I¡¯ll still have to see them¡ª¡±


    ¡°All the more reason to choose someone else. Lord Mathias and Lord Ingemar were both admirable in their interviews, and there¡¯s always Prince Didier¡ª¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t what? You¡¯re the one who asked him¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know. But I also know how Father reacted, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°Father¡¯s not the one marrying one of these suitors, Minna! Father won¡¯t have to share a life with any of them. Father won¡¯t have to share a bed and have children with any of them. Why should Father¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s not just about me and my happiness! What¡¯s best for Aethyrozia should matter at least as much.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Fifi sighs and shakes her head, arms folded across her chest.


    Minna¡¯s head drops back into her hands. She¡¯ll never understand, she despairs. I¡¯m facing the biggest decision of my life, and for the first time Fifi¡¯s no help at all.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Fifi mutters. Purposeful footsteps leave Minna alone in their shared study. For what? Minna wonders. You¡¯ve made your points quite clear. And I understand where you¡¯re coming from. But I have to choose one of these men tomorrow night, and I¡¯ll be stuck with him for the rest of my life. Three days isn¡¯t enough time to fall in love, so I should at least do my best to make sure I¡¯m doing what¡¯s best for our country, for our people. Even if I¡¯m unhappy, I can at least take solace in that.


    Footsteps approach Minna, and then someone settles next to her on the settee. Minna looks up to find her mother beside her.


    ¡°Minna, darling,¡± Queen Ingrid greets her, opening her arms. Minna collapses against her mother¡¯s chest. Despite her best efforts, tears start pouring from her eyes and sobs tear from her throat. ¡°There, there, sweetheart. You¡¯re all right. This is hard, I know. But you still have a little time. You don¡¯t have to decide everything now.¡±


    For a while, Minna just cries in her mother¡¯s arms. In all her years of preparing for her Quest for Favor, she never expected to feel so hopeless and overwhelmed by the magnitude of the decision in front of her.


    ¡°Mother¡­. How do I know who best to choose?¡± Minna asks shakily once she runs out of tears.


    ¡°Oh, Minna. I can¡¯t answer that. I went to the Ball when your father was picking a bride just hoping to have a good time. I¡¯d only had a few conversations with him, always in passing, pleasantries at banquets and the like, before that night. And I wasn¡¯t consulted about it. Your father chose me, and my parents settled the details with his. Just¡­. Decide what it is you want most for your future self, and make your choice based on that.¡±


    ¡°What I want most¡­?¡±


    ¡°You really seem to like Prince Didier, and he¡¯s an admirable young man. Charming, tactful, and he¡¯ll likely make an excellent king in Vyrunia.¡±


    ¡°I do like him, but he¡¯s not a prince of Syazonia, and¡­.¡±


    ¡°Yes, your father has made his wishes quite clear. But your wishes also matter. Your sister is right that this is your choice and no one else¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re princesses, not just people. Fifi doesn¡¯t seem to understand that.¡±


    ¡°I think Fifi feels that you are people, not just princesses.¡± Queen Ingrid pauses a moment, letting her words hang in the air. ¡°But if it¡¯s status you¡¯re concerned with, and you want to honor your father¡¯s wishes, Prince Adalberto would also make you a queen one day. Is that what you want?¡±


    ¡°You as much as said it yourself. He shouldn¡¯t be here. He¡¯s still grieving so deeply, and I think I would be, too. He¡¯ll be an excellent king, but¡­I¡¯d always be competing with the ghost of Valeriya, I think.¡±


    ¡°That may be so. But he shares your concern for putting your country and your people before yourself. I think you could forge a true partnership with him, if you want to be a queen.¡±


    ¡°And¡­if I¡¯m not sure? If I don¡¯t want to be a queen?¡±


    ¡°You and Prince Lisandro share a love of music, and he¡¯s closer to your age, pleasant, handsome, and third in line for the throne. There would be less pressure, to be sure, than you might experience as the wife of Prince Didier or Prince Adalberto.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I could be happy with him? Would he be a good ruler?¡±


    ¡°You can ask him more questions while you dance with him tomorrow night to better know the latter. As for the former¡­I think the two of you are well suited. But ultimately only you can answer that question. And you¡¯re no more well suited to him than you are to some of the other young men who are competing for your hand.¡±


    Minna sighs heavily. ¡°Mother¡­. That doesn¡¯t help me decide.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t make the decision for you, Minna dear. Neither can¡ªor should¡ªanyone else.¡± Queen Ingrid¡¯s eyes flash a warning to her eldest daughter. ¡°And for right now, all you need to know for certain is which of the suitors you¡¯ve interviewed today aren¡¯t invited to tomorrow¡¯s Ball. Let tomorrow worry about itself, and use the Ball to your best advantage. Chuezoh willing, the right choice will be clear to you by tomorrow night.¡±

 Surprise

    ¡°You look beautiful,¡± Fifi assures her sister as she finishes twisting braids of rose-gold hair around Minna¡¯s coronet to stylishly keep it in place for the night¡¯s dancing.


    Minna smiles at Fifi in their dressing room mirror, but the smile doesn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    ¡°Really,¡± Fifi insists. Minna¡¯s earrings and necklace, gold set with emeralds and pearls, match her coronet, and her pine green gown is elegant and tailored to show her off. ¡°If every man you¡¯ve invited to the Ball isn¡¯t completely enamored with you by the end of the night, then I am no judge of beauty.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it would be better if I wasn¡¯t,¡± Minna whispers, toying with a strand of gold in her necklace. ¡°Some of them might be put off by the prospect of an ugly bride.¡±


    ¡°Minna¡­.¡± Fifi casts about for words. She hasn¡¯t tried to talk with Minna about her Quest for Favor since they argued the afternoon before and she sent their mother to Minna. The only mention she¡¯s made of it has been thanking Minna for insisting, along with their mother, that Kai be invited to the Ball despite their father¡¯s protests. ¡°You¡¯d still be a princess. And for many suitors I¡¯d expect that¡¯s more of an enticement than beauty.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re probably right. But that won¡¯t help me choose.¡± Minna sighs heavily. ¡°I always thought, when we were planning for our Quests for Favor, that I would know who the right one was.¡±


    ¡°You still might. The Ball might make things clear.¡± Fifi pauses and then giggles. ¡°Eliminate every suitor who steps on your feet or is otherwise a poor dancer.¡±


    This time Minna¡¯s smile is genuine. ¡°I¡¯d rather marry a poor dancer with an amiable personality than a man who dances well but is otherwise abhorrent.¡±


    ¡°But if you keep only good dancers with pleasant personalities in consideration, that ought to narrow the field significantly.¡±


    ¡°Minna! Fifi! It¡¯s time,¡± Queen Ingrid calls from their antechamber. Minna rises from her chair with perfect posture and glides across the floor. If she didn¡¯t know her sister, Fifi might think Minna at ease, but the tension in Minna¡¯s neck and the staccato clicks of her heels on the floor give her anxiety away.


    Fifi follows Minna to meet their mother and then make their way to the Great Hall, which the servants have converted to a majestic Ballroom since the Talent competition ended. Floral arrangements and sheer fabric drapery and crystal bowls of water with candles floating in them were everywhere within when Fifi snuck in earlier in the day. Her parents have been adamant that no expense or opulence be spared for Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Good,¡± King Ansgar nods approvingly as they approach him and Prince Emrik behind the immense doors of the Great Hall. Tradition dictates that the Royal Family of Aethyrozia must make a grand entrance, and so they do with a great fanfare from the Royal Orchestra. The King and Queen enter first, arm in arm and looking as though they might genuinely like each other. Fifi and Emrik follow them, smiling for Minna¡¯s remaining suitors and the nobility who have populated the galleries to observe the evening¡¯s festivities. Emrik thrives from the attention, strutting about in his gold and blue livery; Fifi feels out of place beside him, though her blush pink gown is nearly as elegant as her sister¡¯s and she knows how to play her part. Smile and wave, never upstage, she reminds herself. You might as well be part of the scenery tonight.


    After a vibrant musical flourish from the Royal Orchestra in their corner of the Great Hall, Minna sweeps into the room, and Fifi is the only one who looks at anyone else; she prefers to watch the suitors¡¯ reactions to her sister. Of the royal ones, only Prince Ramiro is totally unaffected by Minna¡¯s entrance; Grand Duke Maksym blushes at the sight of her, and Prince Emiliano stares open-mouthed, while Princes Lisandro, Adalberto, and Didier have better manners and appreciative glances. Prince Casimiro seems to view Minna¡¯s presence as competition for attention and strikes a pose. Beyond them, the remaining noble suitors¡ªFredrick, Ingemar, Kai, Mathias, and Ragnar¡ªalso watch Minna with varying degrees of interest. Do they know that the game is set against them, that they cannot hope to win? Fifi wonders as she watches them. In her estimation, Ragnar and Fredrick admire Minna most sincerely, while Kai¡¯s gaze is one of cool polite interest, and Mathias and Ingemar look more determined than anything else.


    According to the traditions of the Quest for Favor, Minna walks slowly past the line of suitors along one side of the room, making eye contact with each and every one. When she reaches the end of the line, she turns on her heel and starts to walk past them again. Minna must dance with each of them at least once in the course of the Ball, but she has the privilege of choosing her first dance partner of the evening.


    Near the Royal Family of Aethyrozia, a gaggle of sumptuously dressed daughters of the nobility whisper to one another. There are ten of them present as additional dance partners for the suitors, since Minna and Fifi can each dance with only one at a time. Fifi has never conversed much with any of them, but tonight she hopes to speak with as many of them as possible during each refreshment break, that she might learn more about the young men contending for Minna¡¯s hand.


    Finally, Minna curtseys to Prince Adalberto and extends her hand to him. He bows and takes her hand without a trace of a smile, not that Fifi would expect anything different, knowing how he grieves. Minna then leads him to the center of the dance floor.


    ¡°Princess Wilhelmina has chosen her first partner!¡± the Chief Royal Steward announces. ¡°The rest of you should do the same.¡±


    All at once, the suitors break out of their line and the young ladies near the Royal Family rush to meet them. Fifi moves more sedately, curious whether any of the suitors will seek her out as a partner.


    She is both surprised and relieved when Kai appears in front of her.


    ¡°May I have this dance?¡±

 Start

    Kai can¡¯t believe his own boldness, what he¡¯s just done. Did I really just ask her to dance with me? He feels horribly out of place, and he can count on one hand the number of times he¡¯s attended a formal ball. This occasion is far fancier than any he¡¯s experienced before, and though learning to dance was part of his education, he fears he will make a fool of himself.


    ¡°Yes, you may,¡± Fifi smiles.


    Kai¡¯s heart thunders in his chest, and around him the cacophony of the Great Hall floods his ears. She said yes?! Okay. Okay. How do I¡­. Right. He offers her his arm, and despite his stiff, nervous movement, she accepts it and then they¡¯re making their way to find space for themselves amongst the other couples for dancing.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Fifi whispers. ¡°I¡¯m not the sister who¡¯s on display tonight.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know. I just¡­¡± he fumbles, and then the question that¡¯s been preying on him since the previous evening tumbles out before he can stop it.¡°Why am I still here?¡±


    The orchestra starts playing a pavane, and the two of them begin to dance along. A song I know. Good. Maybe this won¡¯t be terrible, Kai tells himself as he waits anxiously for Fifi to answer his question.


    ¡°Minna was pleased with your interview.¡±


    ¡°The king certainly wasn¡¯t. Have I offended him in some way?¡±


    Fifi bites her lip and hesitates a moment before responding. ¡°Your performance here has been¡­remarkable. In the best way. Especially considering that you¡¯ve not spent much time at court.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your father he objects to.¡± She says it so softly he can hardly hear her over the music and the other couples¡¯ conversations.


    ¡°My father?¡± he repeats, and when Fifi nods, he cannot help but laugh. It¡¯s Father¡¯s doing that I¡¯ve come here at all. I never wanted to compete in this stupid Quest for Favor, and now¡ª


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny about it?¡±


    ¡°I told you before, I only came to compete because my father wants me to marry a woman who will¡­advance our family¡¯s prospects and fortune, and who could advance them more than a princess? I haven¡¯t even been trying to impress her, really¡ªcertainly not in the interview¡ªand now to find out that¡­.¡±


    ¡°She appreciates that you haven¡¯t been trying to impress her, actually. You¡¯ve been genuine. And you have good instincts about ruling. None of the ambition and self-seeking behavior that my father so detests in yours.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°I thought the king¡¯s word was law.¡±


    ¡°Generally speaking. But as my mother keeps pointing out, it¡¯s tradition that Minna gets the final say on everything in the Quest for Favor. She¡¯s left a lot of the event planning to Mother and the staff, but her decisions have stood on which suitors stayed and which ones left.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t want to eliminate some of the Syazonian princes?¡± As soon as he¡¯s asked the question, Kai regrets it, feeling like he¡¯s crossed a line.


    Fifi¡¯s eyes drop from his for a moment. ¡°I guess Father got his way about that much. But we shouldn¡¯t be speaking of this. We should be getting to know each other. Or discussing how you learned to dance so well without spending much time at Court.¡±


    Kai¡¯s cheeks heat up at the compliment and he nearly misses a step. ¡°Um. Thanks. I¡­had a very thorough education. At my father¡¯s insistence.¡±


    ¡°You must have put effort into the dancing lessons. I¡­didn¡¯t expect that. You seem like the type to prefer riding and hawking and other¡­outdoor pursuits.¡±


    Should I tell her? he wonders. She seems trustworthy, curious, open. But no, not here, not now. Of all the times and places, this would be the worst one.


    ¡°I do prefer to be outside. Although I don¡¯t like to hunt. But dancing was always better than history and arithmetic and the like. At least I was moving and doing something.¡±


    Fifi giggles a little. ¡°I enjoyed dancing lessons, too, for the same reason.¡±


    The song ends. Kai bows, and Fifi dips a slight curtsey.


    ¡°Will you come back to Court, when all this is over?¡± Fifi inquires, catching Kai off-guard.


    ¡°I¡­haven¡¯t thought about it,¡± he responds. He wants to ask her why she wants to know, what she¡¯s playing at, but then Ingemar is beside them, asking Fifi to dance, and Kai withdraws. She¡¯ll have a better time dancing with him, anyway, he tells himself. He hasn¡¯t missed the grace and elegance with which Ingemar moves. Guess I¡¯d better find another partner, and continue the charade. He knows there¡¯s no chance Princess Wilhelmina will choose him, based on what Fifi told him in the courtyard, and he doesn¡¯t understand, despite Fifi¡¯s explanation tonight, why bother keeping him and some of the others. None of us non-royals have a chance. I¡¯m sure I¡¯m not the only one who knows that, he gripes. Why bother with pretenses? Would anyone notice or care if I just¡­left?


    But that¡¯s not the best way to think of things just now. Kai knows his father would be furious if he left before the end, especially after making it so far in the Quest for Favor, and no amount of logic or argument would cool his temper. And Princess Wilhelmina is meant to dance with every suitor here tonight, he remembers. Maybe she¡¯ll have a better answer as to why I¡¯m still here, why we¡¯re bothering with this charade, than Fifi did.


    Fifi¡¯s question to him about coming back to Court rattles around inside his head, and he wonders if he¡¯ll have another chance tonight to dance with her. He has no idea how long Court Balls typically last.


    ¡°Excuse me. I know this is rather untoward,¡± a sweet-looking brunette girl in an orange gown interrupts Kai¡¯s musings. ¡°But if you are without a partner, I believe the next dance is about to start¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll dance with you, if you like,¡± he agrees. The girl smiles in reply, and he finds himself smiling back, if only because he¡¯s grateful for the opportunity to practice before he finds himself with a royal partner again.

 Princes

    Minna¡¯s heart pounds in her chest as Prince Adalberto takes her hand. Outside she is all smiles, leading him onto the dance floor to start the first pavane of the evening, but inside she¡¯s panicking and praying she won¡¯t trip over her own feet. His hand is larger than hers, warm and lightly calloused¡ªprobably from all that swordplay, she thinks¡ªand his grip is gentle but firm.


    ¡°Thank you for agreeing to work with my brother on his swordsmanship,¡± Minna tells Adalberto as the music starts and they begin to dance. ¡°He¡¯s spoken of almost nothing else since yesterday afternoon.¡±


    ¡°It was my pleasure. He is an apt pupil,¡± Adalberto answers.


    Minna is pleased not only that her partner is conversing with her, but that he is a good dancer, despite his grief and his claim to have little musical ability. His steps are light and graceful, his posture impeccable, and dancing with him feels effortless.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad he wasn¡¯t any trouble. Sometimes he¡­cannot resist the urge to make mischief,¡± Minna replies with a slight giggle. ¡°But then again, growing up with four younger brothers, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re used to such things.¡±


    ¡°Prince Emrik is quite well behaved compared to Emiliano at that age.¡±


    ¡°What was it like, growing up with all of them? Do you have any sisters?¡±


    ¡°One sister, Manuela, between Casimiro and Lisandro. She is married to a prince of Claiamean now, with a daughter of her own. My brothers and I have mostly competed with one another. Like we are now, I suppose.¡±


    A few moments pass with neither of them speaking. Minna gets the impression that Adalberto isn¡¯t much of a conversationalist, but she knows she cannot let this opportunity to get to know him better go to waste.


    ¡°Have you traveled abroad much, before coming here?¡±


    ¡°Only to Khandazar, twice.¡± He winces at the mention of his first wife¡¯s country of origin, and Minna¡¯s heart aches for him. ¡°But I¡¯ve traveled extensively within Syazonia.¡±


    ¡°What is your favorite place in your kingdom?¡±


    ¡°We have a smaller castle in the mountains, many leagues from Zosya. It¡¯s old-fashioned and the rooms are small, but you can see practically all of Syazonia from the upper windows. It gets a bit cold in the winter, but that¡¯s the best time for riding a knight¡¯s shield down the mountainside or hunting foxes and rabbits, and for cozy evenings reading by the fireplace.¡±


    ¡°And in the summer? Is it just as lovely?¡±


    ¡°Summer is the best time to go for long walks or rides in the surrounding countryside. Valeriya and I found a few waterfalls, when we rode together.¡± He pauses, frowning. ¡°Does it bother you, that I speak of her?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡­would expect no different. I can only imagine how difficult it has been for you, and how difficult it must be to be here.¡±


    ¡°You know well enough of duty, and what it means to be royal.¡± His eyes meet Minna¡¯s with poignant intensity. ¡°At least, from what I¡¯ve seen and heard the past two days. It cannot have been easy, enduring some of your suitors.¡±


    ¡°Compared to your burden, light and trivial.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to compare, except to say that I believe you understand¡­. We do what we must, that our kingdoms may prosper.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The song ends, and they make the customary obeisances to one another. ¡°But even so, we should still enjoy some happiness.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, in time¡ª¡±


    ¡°All right, brother, you¡¯ve had your turn,¡± Prince Casimiro interrupts, shouldering past his older brother, who rolls his eyes and backs away while Minna barely keeps herself from doing the same. ¡°The next dance, Princess?¡± Casimiro offers her his hand with elaborate showmanship.


    ¡°As you wish,¡± Minna agrees, but she really means ¡®if I must.¡¯ Casimiro wastes no time in pulling her after him as the next dance, a spirited galliard, begins. Every movement he makes seems to be calculated to attract attention to himself and show off his physique, with little concern for the needs of his dancing partner. Minna feels she must practically run to keep up with him. It¡¯s all she can do to keep her movements elegant, and she has no desire to speak with Casimiro.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°You¡¯re pretty good,¡± the prince tells her as he spins her around. ¡°It¡¯s not just any lady who can keep up with me.¡±


    Minna smiles tightly in reply.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s watching us,¡± he continues.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And why wouldn¡¯t they? We look absolutely stunning together.¡± He twirls Minna again, and her stomach flips.


    Because of your ridiculous idea of dancing? she wants to retort, but instead she bites her tongue.


    ¡°The Syazonian galliard is rather more¡­energetic than we dance it here,¡± she remarks a few moments later.


    ¡°Not really. This is the Casimiro galliard.¡± He shows off some fancy footwork.


    ¡°You have a dance named after you?¡±


    ¡°Just my variation on the traditional steps.¡±


    ¡°And I thought you spent all your time in athletic pursuits.¡±


    ¡°Is dancing not athletic?¡±


    The look in his eyes suggests to Minna that he would need very little encouragement to take her words as a challenge, and she finds dancing with him more than challenging enough as things are.


    ¡°A marriage of music and sport, perhaps,¡± she amends.


    ¡°Like ours would be.¡± He winks at her and tries to pull her closer than the dance would normally allow. Minna chooses to spin past him with a little fancy footwork of her own. She doesn¡¯t have any desire to compete with him in showy behavior, but she does hope that he might take a hint.


    ¡°Playing hard to get?¡± he asks, one eyebrow raised.


    ¡°Prince Casimiro, I mean no disrespect, but I would thank you to remember where you are, and be mindful of decorum.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize the Aethyrozians were so particular about such things.¡±


    ¡°You said yourself, everyone is watching us. Including my father.¡±


    Casimiro¡¯s eyes widen for a second before he laughs dismissively, but much to Minna¡¯s relief, the song ends and she can curtsey and walk away in search of another partner without seeming rude. However, she only makes it half a dozen paces before someone taps her on the shoulder.


    ¡°Princess Wilhelmina,¡± none other than Prince Didier greets her with a dazzling smile as she turns around. ¡°May I have the next dance?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± she agrees with breathlessness she tells herself is owed to Casimiro¡¯s strenuous dancing style. Didier offers her his arm and matches his gait to hers as they travel across the dance floor, away from the offending Syazonian prince.


    ¡°It seemed as though you might appreciate a change of pace,¡± he murmurs in a conspiratorial tone.


    ¡°Whatever would have given you that idea?¡± Minna replies with feigned innocence. The Royal Orchestra begins playing the next song, and Minna thanks Chuezoh that it¡¯s another pavane, slow and stately and not at all meant for wild leaping and spinning and complex steps.


    ¡°Just the impression I had. I could be mistaken.¡± He flashes her a charming but knowing smile. There¡¯s no fooling him, she realizes as she smiles back.


    ¡°Have you been enjoying the Ball so far?¡±


    ¡°Very much. I don¡¯t think I have had so much fun since my sister Arlette¡¯s wedding last year.¡±


    ¡°You have a sister? Older or younger?¡±


    ¡°Both. Arlette is older, and Gis¨¨le is only thirteen. I also have a younger brother, Ludovic, who is sixteen.¡±


    ¡°Are you close with any of them?¡±


    ¡°I get along well with all of them. But I wouldn¡¯t say that I¡¯m as close to any of them as you seem to be with your sister.¡±


    Minna blushes a bit. ¡°She¡¯s my best friend. Even though we¡¯re very different from one another. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without her.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s good to be reminded that¡­there¡¯s more than one way to see the world.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more.¡±


    Minna finds herself tongue-tied, unsure of what to say next. In contrast, Prince Didier seems perfectly at ease, and he¡¯s the best dancer she¡¯s been partnered with so far.


    ¡°I know the journey from the Palace of Roses to Adelhyod is a long one¡­. Is the weather much different?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s warmer, at least at this time of year, and more things are blooming. Bretor is one of the most beautiful times of year at home. Not that it isn¡¯t lovely here, of course.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no place like home, though,¡± Minna smiles with understanding. ¡°What¡¯s your favorite thing to do at home?¡±


    ¡°I actually quite enjoy being part of my father¡¯s meetings with his advisors. All the trade and finances, and hearing the petitions of the people¡­. It¡¯s all fascinating.¡±


    ¡°But for leisure?¡±


    Didier laughs. ¡°It depends on the day. Sometimes I paint or practice music, sometimes I go hunting or ride into the nearest village. But there is little leisure time for the heir to the throne.¡±


    ¡°I can imagine. And of course, a prince must always do his duty.¡±


    ¡°Without fail.¡±


    ¡°You said you get to hear petitions from the people?¡±


    ¡°A tradition started by my great-grandparents, after the Uprising of Discontent. The common folk may bring disputes and problems to the crown once a week, that we might solve them. As a result, they feel that their voices are heard and that their monarchs truly serve them.¡±


    ¡°How interesting. My father only hears the most extreme cases, the ones that his nobles could not solve, or else disputes amongst the nobles themselves.¡±


    ¡°I believe that is how most kingdoms do things. Vyrunia is simply¡­special.¡±


    Minna wants to ask him to elaborate, but the song ends, meaning they must separate and she, at least, must find another partner.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to tell me more about it when next we dance together,¡± she invites as she dips him a half-curtsey.


    ¡°It would be my pleasure.¡±

 Eavesdropping

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see Lord Ingemar at court again. It feels like he hasn¡¯t been here in forever.¡±


    ¡°I know, and he¡¯s looking so well, too! I had no idea he was such a good dancer.¡±


    ¡°He is, isn¡¯t he? And so is Lord Ragnar.¡±


    ¡°You danced with him? But he looks so mean!¡±


    ¡°I was afraid to say no, but he was actually really sweet and considerate. He¡¯s honestly been my best dance partner so far tonight.¡±


    Fifi smiles to herself, overhearing these remarks between the other young ladies who are present to dance with Minna¡¯s suitors. Her original intent had been to speak with them tonight, but she¡¯s just finished a taxing galliard with Prince Emiliano and would prefer to sit quietly at the edge of the room, overhearing what she can and enjoying a few honey-stewed apple slices.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re having a good time so far. Prince Ramiro was a rather sulky dance partner. I don¡¯t think he wants to be here anymore.¡±


    ¡°Why would he? It¡¯s clear he¡¯s too young for Princess Wilhelmina and he¡¯s not going to be her choice.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather dance with Prince Ramiro than dance with Prince Emiliano again. He seems to think he can touch his partner wherever and whenever he likes.¡±


    ¡°No! You¡¯re joking!¡±


    ¡°I wish I was.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯d best behave better dancing with the princesses. King Ansgar won¡¯t stand for any kind of disrespect.¡±


    Fifi bites her lip to keep from snickering. They¡¯re not wrong about Father. But Emiliano was better behaved, dancing with me. Just exhausting, she reflects. His long legs and seemingly boundless energy kept her constantly in swift motion the entire time, and his conversational skills leave quite a lot to be desired. His greatest flaw, in her opinion, is that he doesn¡¯t seem to be aware that other people can have perspectives and feelings and desires that are different from his own.


    The gaggle of young ladies moves away from Fifi¡¯s place of repose. Across the room, the Royal Orchestra members are stretching their legs and adjusting the tune on their instruments. Her parents and younger brother remain in their places of honor at one end of the dancing area; Emrik appears to have fallen asleep, and Fifi cannot blame him. He¡¯s never liked formal functions, and the past few days have been very hard for him. He begged to be allowed to dance tonight, but King Ansgar and Queen Ingrid agreed that he is too young to dance at this Ball and that inviting suitable partners for him would be an unnecessary hassle, and so he is trapped in his chair. Fifi wishes she could help him at all, but it¡¯s not worth starting a fight with their parents. He only has to endure tonight, and then his world will return to normal.


    He was thrilled that Prince Adalberto agreed to work with him on his swordsmanship, though. A shame none of the other suitors Minna asked were willing to tutor him, she muses before raucous laughter nearby attracts her attention. A glance to her right reveals that the royal brothers from Syazonia have chosen to gather near her niche between two tapestries. Unsurprisingly, Casimiro and Emiliano are the source of the noise.


    ¡°Enough, you two,¡± Adalberto orders. Though he speaks Syazonian, Fifi has no trouble understanding him; she and Minna have both studied all the languages spoken across Lokva, in preparation for their Quests for Favor. That man is done putting up with their nonsense, Fifi observes. ¡°You¡¯ve been taught better than this.¡±


    ¡°Lighten up, will you?¡± Casimiro brushes him off. ¡°You¡¯re like storm clouds during the feasts of Friggenter. We¡¯re at a party, remember?¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s a good party,¡± Emiliano adds. ¡°Lively dances, attractive ladies¡­¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°And we seem to have the king¡¯s favor. One of us ought to be claiming the prize tonight.¡±


    Fifi gags noiselessly. The worst thing would be to attract their attention now. Wait til they¡¯re gone, then tell Minna. Or maybe don¡¯t. She would never pick Casimiro or Emiliano, anyway, and she doesn¡¯t need anything else to be anxious about.


    ¡°D¡¯you suppose we have enough of his favor that he¡¯ll let us take both of his daughters?¡± Emiliano wonders. ¡°The younger one is pretty and light on her feet.¡±


    ¡°Do you even know her name?¡± Lisandro asks, voice laced with disgust.


    ¡°This is neither the time nor the place to discuss such things,¡± Adalberto warns. ¡°Anyone could overhear. And your hopes are misplaced. King Ansgar is a shrewd ruler, and he knows full well that there is a shortage of marriageable royal daughters across Lokva at present. He won¡¯t marry them both off to princes of the same country.¡±


    ¡°None of the other options can compare to us,¡± Casimiro boasts. ¡°I¡¯m sure both of them are already in love with me.¡±


    If you only knew, Fifi stifles a snort and almost chokes on the last bite of her snack.


    ¡°You¡¯re a fool,¡± Lisandro mutters, a sentiment Ramiro echoes more colorfully.


    ¡°The decision is Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s,¡± Adalberto reminds them all with finality. Then, to Fifi¡¯s immeasurable relief, the Royal Orchestra bursts to life with a prelude to the next round of dancing. The princes all go directly to the dance floor, leaving her space to move without their notice around the room to dispose of her bowl and, she hopes, find a more amiable dance partner than Prince Casimiro.


    ***~O~***


    Minna takes a deep breath as the Royal Orchestra starts playing in earnest again¡ªher cue to return to dancing with her suitors. Thus far, the scales have not yet tipped in any one suitor¡¯s favor, and it¡¯s all she can do to keep the anxiety rising in her chest from becoming visible to those around her.


    I¡¯m not ready. But I will do what I must, Minna tells herself. Who to dance with next¡­


    ¡°Princess Wilhelmina?¡± someone asks at Minna¡¯s elbow. She turns to find Prince Lisandro beside her. ¡°Would you do me the honor of dancing next with me?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± she smiles in reply, genuinely happy to see him. He takes her hand, and they begin to lead the next dance of the evening.


    ¡°Your Royal Orchestra is superb,¡± Lisandro compliments. ¡°Did you choose the music for tonight¡¯s festivities?¡±


    ¡°Thank you. And yes, I did. I wanted to make sure every song would be enjoyable for dancing.¡±


    ¡°Thus far you have succeeded.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you think so.¡± And glad that you¡¯re a good dancer, she adds silently. Her last partner, Lord Fredrick, was rigid and lacking style, despite his love of music. Lisandro, though, moves with fluid grace and seems to take joy in every step.


    ¡°This song is one of my favorites to play, actually.¡±


    ¡°On the dulcimer?¡±


    ¡°Sometimes, or the lute, or occasionally the hurdy-gurdy. But I don¡¯t use that one often, because my brothers hate it.¡±


    ¡°Really? All four of them?¡± Minna frowns. She¡¯s always rather liked the sound of the hurdy-gurdy, herself.


    ¡°Well, not quite. Adalberto has always encouraged me to play whatever instruments I want. But Ramiro always complains about noise while he¡¯s studying, which is more or less whenever he¡¯s awake. And Casimiro and Emiliano always tell me I should be out riding or hunting or practicing with some weapon or other instead of playing music.¡±


    ¡°How rude of them! But surely you have a place to practice at home. You played so well in the competition.¡±


    Lisandro blushes. ¡°Thank you. Yes, I use a drawing room in a part of the palace that we only really use when we have guests, which isn¡¯t frequent, so I¡¯m in no one¡¯s way¡­.¡±


    Minna¡¯s heart aches for Lisandro. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be allowed to make you feel that way. Everyone should be able to do things for themselves, just because those things make them happy, without feeling bad about it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not so bad as that. I didn¡¯t mean to¡­. The room is quite nice, with views of one of our best courtyards and the mountains beyond Zosya¡ªthat is, the Royal Seat of Syazonia¡ªand it¡¯s peaceful away from¡­everyone.¡±


    ¡°I take it that¡­Zosya has not always been a pleasant place for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve said¡­something wrong. It¡¯s beautiful, and the weather and landscape are much the same as what I¡¯ve seen of Aethyrozia. I¡¯m sure you would feel quite at home there, should you choose¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t. I¡¯m not basing my choice on palaces or climate. Other things are more important.¡±


    ¡°What could be more important than your own quality of life?¡±


    ¡°Quality of life depends at least as much on the people around you as your physical surroundings, I think.¡±


    ¡°True enough,¡± Lisandro mutters, but he won¡¯t meet Minna¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t expect you and your brothers always get along perfectly, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about,¡± Minna assures him. ¡°Josefina and I fight sometimes, and Emrik also has his¡­difficult moments.¡±


    ¡°We promised Father we wouldn¡¯t sabotage each other, during this competition. And so far all my brothers have upheld that promise. I don¡¯t want to be the one to violate the agreement.¡±


    ¡°You have said nothing about any of your brothers that influenced the opinions I have already formed of them, based on their performances in the Quest for Favor.¡±


    Lisandro chuckles, but there¡¯s no mirth in his smile, only grim satisfaction. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s some comfort.¡±

 Charming

    Fifi lingers near one of the refreshment tables even as Minna and Prince Lisandro start the next dance. Since she and Minna argued after the Questioning about which suitor Minna should choose, Fifi has felt more and more like her presence at the Ball is a mere formality. She has had her fill of people and dancing and small talk for quite some time, and she would dearly like to leave the Great Hall and seek solace in some courtyard or other, watching dusk turn to darkness and the stars come out. All that keeps her from sneaking away is the fear of what her father would do to her when he found out.


    And he¡¯d be bound to notice eventually, Fifi reminds herself. We¡¯re all meant to talk about the suitors tonight as a family, once the dancing finishes, before Minna announces her choice and we have supper with that lucky¡ª


    ¡°Ah, Princess Josefina,¡± a suave masculine voice interrupts Fifi¡¯s brooding. She turns to find Prince Didier standing nearby with a charming smile. ¡°I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve had the pleasure of dancing with you, as yet. Would you be so kind as to grant me that honor?¡±


    ¡°As you wish, if you¡¯ll be kind enough to call me Fifi henceforth,¡± she answers.


    ¡°Of course, Fifi.¡± He offers her his arm, and she takes it, letting him guide her to join the rest of the dancing couples towards the middle of the room. Her breath catches as they start to dance together; he¡¯s at least as good a dancer as Lord Ingemar, and his vibrant green eyes are positively enchanting up close.


    ¡°Your performance during the Talent Round was sensational,¡± Fifi compliments after a few moments. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone paint like that before.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I had hoped it would please.¡±


    ¡°My sister was also quite impressed. Although I think your singing captured her attention more than the painting.¡±


    ¡°But not so for you.¡±


    ¡°No. I like painting and drawing more than I enjoy music. Although my favorite is when Minna¡ªI mean, Princess Wilhelmina¡ªplays while I sketch.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°What do you most like to draw?¡±


    ¡°Flowers, or landscapes, or animals, if they will pose for me. Algot, my pet raven, is a good model, but rabbits are just impossible. They bound away at the slightest noise.¡±


    ¡°Are there rabbits in your courtyards?¡±


    ¡°No. I only see them when we¡¯re permitted to ride outside Adelhyod, and Father insists that we are accompanied by Hedersvakt, and the clanking of their armor scares most things away. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t have the same¡­restrictions, finding things to paint.¡±


    ¡°Not usually,¡± he admits. ¡°But I would just as soon paint a still life indoors as venture out in search of a worthy subject.¡±


    ¡°But why? I¡¯ve heard Vyrunia is such a beautiful country, especially around the Palace of Roses. You must have so many inspiring sights to choose from¡­¡±


    ¡°Aye, but not enough time to devote to leisurely pursuits. I spend many hours in meetings with my father and his Royal Advisors.¡±


    Fifi wrinkles her nose. ¡°Father won¡¯t let me sit in those meetings.¡±


    ¡°Why not? You¡¯ve just as much chance as your sister of being a Queen someday, and a Queen ought to share the burden of ruling with her King.¡±


    ¡°Because I was not content to keep my opinions and suggestions to myself. Father has¡­a different view on the role of a Queen than you do.¡± To Fifi¡¯s knowledge, her mother is not involved in ruling Aethyrozia at all, beyond intervening wherein her offspring are concerned.


    ¡°Is your sister also excluded from those meetings?¡±


    ¡°No. She¡¯s better at¡­fulfilling Father¡¯s expectations. Even when she disagrees with them. But she¡¯s observed how the meetings are conducted, how ruling is done. I¡¯m sure she¡¯d make an excellent Queen.¡±


    ¡°Only a fool would suggest otherwise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you see that. I¡¯ve heard others speak of her as a prize to be won, and¡­. I can¡¯t bear it. Minna¡¯s so much more than that, and deserves someone who will admire her for everything she is and¡­.¡± Fifi¡¯s voice trails off as her throat closes, choking back an uninvited sob. Pull it together, Fifi. You know better. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t be speaking to you of such things.¡±


    ¡°On the contrary, I find your honesty and genuine affection for your sister¡­refreshing. Being a prince or a princess shouldn¡¯t require abandoning one¡¯s true self, or hiding it away from the public eye.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more.¡± I just wish everyone saw things the same way, Fifi wants to add, but the song has ended and she dares not say anything else, lest the wrong person overhear.


    ¡°Thank you, Fifi, for the pleasure of your company,¡± Prince Didier says with a bow and a smile. ¡°Until we meet again.¡±

 Deciding

    A sigh of relief escapes Minna¡¯s lips as she and her family withdraw to a small private room off the Great Hall. The suitors and the young ladies invited to dance with them are still mingling in that large room, and the Royal Orchestra is still playing, but Minna has danced with all her suitors. Now the time has come for her to make her choice. Though the decision is meant to be hers alone, tradition dictates that she should discuss the competitors with her family prior to making her announcement.


    ¡°Good job, Minna,¡± Queen Ingrid tells her eldest daughter softly. ¡°I know this has been difficult for you.¡±


    Minna smiles in reply, trying to make it genuine. A knot of dread tightens in her stomach. Fifi comes to her side and squeezes her hand. I wish we¡¯d talked more about it, before this. I wish we hadn¡¯t both shut down after we argued, Minna muses. She knows it¡¯s Fifi who sent their mother to comfort her after they fought, after the Questioning. I¡¯ll have to thank her, at some point. Once all of this is over.


    ¡°Well. To business,¡± King Ansgar prompts. ¡°I presume we can start by eliminating all of the suitors of less than royal birth from consideration?¡±


    ¡°Rather harsh, dearest,¡± Queen Ingrid reproaches.


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Minna relents, ¡°although I was most impressed with Lords Ingemar, Mathias, and¡­Nicolaas.¡± She almost called him Kai, but stopped herself at the last moment.


    ¡°They were all admirable dancers, and answered well in the Questioning.¡±


    ¡°All this I will grant. But a Princess¡¯s marriage cannot be based solely on personal inclination,¡± King Ansgar declares. ¡°The noblemen¡¯s sons are out of the running.¡±


    Fifi grimaces, but none of them further push the king on the matter. She sits down in a corner next to Emrik, who looks bored to tears with everything. Minna drops into the seat beside her, more than ready for a break. But there¡¯s no rest to be had; she still has a decision to make, the biggest decision of her entire life.


    ¡°What about Grand Duke Maksym, Minna?¡± Queen Ingrid prompts.


    ¡°I¡­don¡¯t think he¡¯s a good match for me,¡± Minna admits. ¡°He¡¯s very sweet, but so stiff and self-conscious in public¡­. I know he is older than I am, but I think he still has growing to do before he¡¯s ready to take a wife.¡±


    ¡°I would agree,¡± Fifi murmurs, almost inaudible. ¡°I could barely get him to talk to me.¡±


    ¡°A sound decision,¡± King Ansgar agrees. ¡°And I have no desire to make any sort of alliance with Khandazar. The impact of the Dark Revolution still weighs them down. They are more of a liability than an asset.¡±


    ¡°Dear, that was generations ago, and no fault of this young man¡­¡± Queen Ingrid starts, but her husband¡¯s dark glare makes her voice trail off into silence.


    ¡°Please say you¡¯re kicking out that swaggering Casimiro,¡± Prince Emrik pipes up. ¡°Don¡¯t marry him.¡±


    ¡°I have no intention of marrying him,¡± Minna assures her brother. ¡°Neither have I any interest in Prince Emiliano or Prince Ramiro. They are all out of consideration.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Fifi mutters. ¡°They¡¯re awful.¡±


    Minna cannot help but smile. Were Fifi¡¯s dances with them any better than mine? she wonders, but now isn¡¯t the time to ask.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°That leaves Prince Lisandro and Prince Adalberto,¡± King Ansgar calculates. His eyes seem to be burning holes in Minna.


    ¡°And Prince Didier,¡± she reminds him, heat rising in her cheeks. ¡°Father, he¡¯s been more than exemplary in every aspect, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s withdrawn from the Quest for Favor.¡±


    The air in the room is suddenly stiff and heavy, as though a storm is about to break.


    ¡°What?¡± Minna can hardly believe her ears. Is it possible he¡¯s just saying this, to keep me from choosing Didier? The thought comes unbidden to her mind. Her eyes dart to Fifi beside her, who seems to be entertaining similar notions.


    ¡°He came to me at the end of the last dance, before we took our leave from the Great Hall, and told me he no longer wishes to compete and that he will be on his way home to Vyrunia this very night. He was very gracious, and thanked me for our hospitality¡ª¡±


    ¡°Begging your pardon, Father, but did he say why?¡±


    ¡°He said he doesn¡¯t believe you¡¯d ultimately be the best match for him and for Vyrunia.¡± King Ansgar¡¯s jaw is tight with finality, but Minna suspects he¡¯s holding something back, hiding something from her. Her chest is tight, and pressure builds behind her eyes. He didn¡¯t even say goodbye. And I thought we were getting along so well¡­. What did I do to offend him? What could have possibly convinced him to withdraw?


    Fifi¡¯s hand touches Minna¡¯s shoulder, offering comfort, lending strength. Hold it together, Minna, she tells herself. Tonight, once everything¡¯s over, you can cry and talk with Fifi.


    ¡°It¡¯s just as well,¡± King Ansgar continues. ¡°Aethyrozia most needs an alliance with Syazonia, not Vyrunia, and your marriage will cement that alliance. So, which one will it be? Lisandro or Adalberto?¡±


    ¡°Neither one is right for you,¡± Fifi bursts out. ¡°Adalberto is too heartbroken to love you the way you deserve to be loved, and Lisandro is boring. Nice enough, and a talented musician, to be sure, but he didn¡¯t have anything interesting to say the whole time I danced with him¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fifi. This is not about you,¡± King Ansgar snaps. ¡°You¡¯ll have your turn soon enough.¡±


    ¡°She has a right to say what she thinks,¡± Queen Ingrid defends Fifi. ¡°That¡¯s the purpose of this discussion, is it not? They¡¯re sisters and quite close friends. I¡¯m sure Fifi¡¯s opinion matters to Minna.¡±


    ¡°It does,¡± Minna confirms woodenly. To the extent that anything matters now. Didier was the best choice. And he¡¯s gone. Not that it matters. Father would have been furious if I¡¯d insisted on him.


    ¡°I like Adalberto,¡± Emrik votes. ¡°He was so nice when he was teaching me sword techniques.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s so much older than Minna, though,¡± Fifi protests.


    ¡°Lisandro is closer in age,¡± Queen Ingrid agrees, ¡°but that isn¡¯t the only thing that matters in choosing a husband. Adalberto would make a better king, and he is first in line for the throne.¡±


    ¡°What matters more? Potential to find love, or becoming a Queen?¡± Fifi¡¯s question is spoken light as a feather, but it¡¯s sharper than any sword in the Royal Armory. Straight to the point. The heart of the matter, Minna smiles slightly in spite of herself.


    ¡°It matters not to me which one you choose. Either will seal the alliance,¡± King Ansgar says, wearing a smug, self-satisfied smirk.


    Minna¡¯s insides are churning. The choice before her feels impossible. I wish I had more time. I wish I could speak with Didier again. But there¡¯s no use wishing, not now.


    ¡°Minna, darling. Talk to us,¡± Queen Ingrid coaxes. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve all made good points. Both of them are decent choices. Both of them suit Father¡¯s preferences for my future husband. Neither one is¡­ideal.¡±


    ¡°I know, sweetheart. I¡¯m sorry that¡ª¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± Minna takes a deep breath to steady herself. Later. We can talk about that later. She pleads with her eyes for her mother to understand. ¡°What I need to decide is which of them is best for me, and which is best for Aethyrozia. And which of those things matters more.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t sacrifice your happiness for anything,¡± Fifi hisses. King Ansgar glares at her, but she doesn¡¯t seem to care. What will this discussion be like when it¡¯s her turn? Minna wonders. Fifi¡¯s never been one to back down from a fight with their father.


    ¡°What if we put it in terms of¡­a life partnership, rather than love?¡± Queen Ingrid suggests. ¡°Does that help at all, Minna?¡±


    A life partnership. Which one would be a better partner, a better companion?


    It only takes Minna a few moments¡¯ consideration to make up her mind. Please, Chuezoh, let this be the right thing to do.


    ¡°Yes, Mother, it does. I have made my decision.¡±

 Reactions

    Kai leans against a wall in the Great Hall, hoping that if he stands very, very still, no one will notice him or ask him to dance. Now that the Royal Family has withdrawn for the elder Aethyrozian princess to make her final selection, the temptation to sneak away is stronger than ever. Only morbid curiosity about Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s choice and the thought that sleeping in a bed might be more comfortable than sleeping under the stars keep him here.


    He wishes he¡¯d gotten another chance to dance with Fifi, but other competitors were bolder than he was and sought her out more assertively. Maybe they wanted to get information about her sister from her, or maybe they¡¯re hoping for a leg up on the competition when her Quest for Favor comes, he muses. At least one of the suitors must have learned something to sway his intentions during the Ball; Kai did not miss how Prince Didier paid his respects to King Ansgar and departed in haste at the conclusion of the formal dancing. Was it Princess Wilhelmina, or Fifi, or someone else who convinced him to leave?


    He suspects he¡¯ll never know, but he doubts Fifi had anything to do with it. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s enjoying this any more than I am. On the dance floor, she¡¯s acted the perfect princess, at least in his observations, but he also saw how she avoided interacting with anyone during the break in the dancing. He¡¯d thought to go talk to her then, but he would have had to walk past the Princes of Syazonia to do so, and he would rather wrestle a bear than interact with some of them. Even now he¡¯s staying as far from them as possible. Why Princess Wilhelmina has kept certain princes in the competition, he still doesn¡¯t know, even after asking her when he danced with her. She simply said she had her reasons and went back to asking him about Lyrnola and his interests and why he hasn¡¯t spent much time at court.


    And then she said she thinks I have a lot in common with her sister, Kai recalls. She even suggested that we could be friends, if I¡¯d come to Court more often. He¡¯s not sure it would be worth it. He wouldn¡¯t mind spending more time with Fifi, but he hasn¡¯t enjoyed much of what he¡¯s seen at Court, other than establishing friendly acquaintanceships with Karl and Ingemar. He¡¯d far rather return to Lyrnola and spend his days in the woods with Sigurd. There¡¯s still so much to do out there¡­. Much as she¡¯d seemed to enjoy the courtyard where he first met her, Kai has no doubt that Fifi would love the woods surrounding his father¡¯s manor. But he knows she would never be allowed to travel with him to see it. There¡¯s a decent chance, as far as he knows, that even if he did spend more time at Court, the two of them wouldn¡¯t be allowed to interact much. Ingemar told him the two princesses spend most of their time together, rather than socializing with the nobility, and speculated that this is by their father¡¯s edict, to keep them from developing attachments to courtiers before their Quests for Favor.


    A hush falls over the Great Hall and the Royal Orchestra abruptly stops playing, attracting Kai¡¯s attention. King Ansgar emerges from the room where he and his family have been conferring about Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s decision. Queen Ingrid, Princess Wilhelmina, Prince Emrik, and Fifi follow, and they all arrange themselves at the end of the room, facing the suitors and the nobles in the galleries. Everyone present waits in silence for the long-anticipated announcement.


    ¡°Once again, I would like to thank all of you for coming and competing in my Quest for Favor,¡± Princess Wilhelmina begins, her voice steady and clear as a bell. She looks every inch the fairytale princess, the type of beauty men have fought wars over. Kai wonders if King Ansgar has taken that into account; his daughter may take only one husband, and at least some suitors she passes over will likely be bitterly disappointed.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°You have not made my decision easy. All of you are here because you have demonstrated certain admirable qualities, and I am grateful to Chuezoh for providing me with so many excellent candidates in this competition,¡± the elder princess continues. ¡°I respect you too much to keep you long in suspense by continuing this discourse much further. You have all performed wonderfully, and I bear no ill will towards any ofyou, but the winner of my Quest for Favor and our honored guest for supper tonight is¡­.Prince Adalberto of Syazonia.¡±


    The other suitors and the nobles present applaud politely. Kai even joins in for a few moments, if only because watching Princes Casimiro and Emiliano struggle to contain their outrage and disappointment brings him joy.


    Then his eyes wander to Fifi again, who happens to be looking straight at him. She¡¯s doing her best to look like she¡¯s happy for her sister, but her lower lip trembles slightly, and her eyes are filled with acute distress. She doesn¡¯t agree with her sister¡¯s choice, Kai guesses.


    Prince Adalberto, for his part, seems stunned by Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s announcement.


    ¡°You¡¯re certain, Your Highness?¡± he asks, barely loud enough to hear.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Princess Wilhelmina replies without hesitation. She extends a hand to him once again, and he joins her and her family with stiff trepidation. I¡¯d be nervous, too, if I had to have supper with King Ansgar, Kai thinks.


    ¡°Again, thank you to all of you who competed,¡± King Ansgar takes over. ¡°As all of you are finalists, we invite you to spend the night in your current accommodations in Adelhyod before returning home. Supper will be provided for you in this room tonight, and breakfast will also be offered here in the morning. We bid you all good night.¡±


    With that, the Royal Family of Aethyrozia and Prince Adalberto of Syazonia depart, presumably to a separate dining area. Exclamations of protest and fury erupt from Princes Casimiro and Emiliano as soon as the doors close behind them. Kai cannot help observing that the sons of nobility who were also finalists are accepting disappointment with far more royal grace than those two supposed princes.


    ¡°How?! How is it possible? There¡¯s no way she thinks he¡¯s handsomer than me!¡± Casimiro laments.


    ¡°Adalberto always gets everything,¡± Emiliano grumbles. ¡°He¡¯s even been married once before, and somehow he¡¯s still her choice.¡±


    ¡°Stop it,¡± Prince Lisandro snaps. Of all the rejected finalists, to Kai¡¯s eyes he seems the most genuinely disappointed. ¡°I¡¯d bet you a hundred gold durgen that it¡¯s your attitudes that made her decide not to choose you.¡±


    ¡°Watch it, runt,¡± Casimiro retorts. ¡°You lost, too.¡±


    ¡°At least, this one,¡± Emiliano amends. ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll all get another chance at victory when the other one turns nineteen. She¡¯s prettier, anyway. And a better dancer.¡±


    ¡°You remember Adalberto said¡ª¡± Ramiro starts, but Kai¡¯s lost interest in listening to the brothers quarrel. He can¡¯t imagine a worse fate than what Fifi might face, having met and danced with Emiliano and Casimiro during her sister¡¯s Quest for Favor and then having them come to compete for her.


    Like a bird, trapped in a cage, he observes. And as close as she is with her sister, she¡¯s likely to be very lonely once Princess Wilhelmina goes away to Syazonia. If he were in her place, he¡¯d want a way out, no question.


    And maybe I can help her find one. Father certainly won¡¯t be upset if I volunteer to spend more time at Court.


    Sigurd and the woods will just have to do without him for a while longer.

 Chosen

    Even with his life on the line, Prince Adalberto could not have said which suitor he expected Princess Wilhelmina to pick after deliberating with her family. He was reasonably sure that it would be one of his brothers, and equally certain that she could not possibly, under any circumstances, choose him. There has to be some mistake, he tells himself over and over again, even as the princess¡¯s soft, pale hand pulls him to accompany her and her family to a private dining area.


    He falls in step beside her, behind her parents and siblings. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± he asks again. ¡°Lisandro¡ª¡±


    ¡°Is very nice, and I still hope to play duets with him someday,¡± she interrupts. She¡¯s so calm, so poised, so controlled, he marvels. Valeriya wore her heart on her sleeve, but this princess is more guarded. ¡°But between you and me¡ªplease don¡¯t say anything that might make this harder for him¡ªI think you¡¯re the¡­wiser choice, as a life partner.¡±


    ¡°She goes by Minna, by the way,¡± Princess Josefina¡ªFifi, she said when they danced earlier¡ªtells Adalberto over her shoulder.


    ¡°Oh. Um. Thank you,¡± he replies. He doesn¡¯t know how to act around Fifi, or around any of them, really, now that Princess Wilhelmina¡ªMinna¡ªhas made her decision. He wasn¡¯t expecting to be in this position. He certainly didn¡¯t prepare to have supper with the Aethyrozian Royal Family tonight, all but engaged to King Ansgar¡¯s eldest daughter.


    ¡°Relax,¡± the king invites, waving a hand at the table in front of them. ¡°I think Wilhelmina has chosen well. Have a seat.¡±


    Adalberto dips his head to the king in reply; smiling is still beyond his capabilities. He sits next to Minna, wishing it could be just the two of them, that they could talk about what she¡¯s decided without an audience.


    ¡°Are you all right, Adalberto?¡± Queen Ingrid inquires, catching him off-guard. He hadn¡¯t expected her to speak; he cannot recall her doing so more than once in the past three days.


    ¡°Yes, I believe so, thank you. I just didn¡¯t expect to¡­be¡­here,¡± he answers. I could have said that better.


    ¡°Do you want to be?¡± Minna asks. Her eyes are vibrant green, and their intensity makes his breath catch in his throat.


    ¡°I will not refuse you. I have every reason to believe that you will be a good life partner and a good Queen. I¡¯m just¡­surprised that you like me.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be,¡± Emrik interjects from across the table. ¡°You¡¯re way nicer than a lot of the others.¡±


    ¡°I find you admirable in almost every aspect,¡± Minna tells him. His younger self might have flushed at the compliment; instead his heart aches less for a moment. ¡°And the ability to rule a kingdom well is far more important than the ability to play an instrument.¡±


    ¡°Certainly, of the two, playing an instrument is easier to learn, as well,¡± King Ansgar adds. He claps for the servants to bring them their first course. ¡°But that isn¡¯t what I wish to discuss with you, Adalberto. How is Syazonia¡¯s relationship with Barhesta, at present? Your father, King Celestino, has been rather vague on the matter in our correspondence.¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°If he has been vague, I doubt he sees it as my place to tell you what he will not,¡± Adalberto replies, all at once calm and diplomatic. Practical matters set him at ease; they are far easier to handle than emotional ones.


    ¡°We are, in theory, establishing an alliance between our two countries, cemented by your marriage to my daughter Wilhelmina. I want to know exactly what we are getting ourselves into. This is not unreasonable.¡±


    Adalberto hesitates a moment. He doesn¡¯t want to betray his father¡¯s confidence, but he was given explicit instructions, before leaving Zosya, to do whatever he could to see to it that an alliance between Syazonia and Aethyrozia was assured by the end of the Quest for Favor. Surely he¡¯ll understand that I found it necessary, in the moment, that he might achieve his greater goal¡­.


    ¡°The situation at the border is tense. The noblemen in charge of our regions bordering Barhesta have requested military reinforcements, in case of an uprising. But I believe my father is planning to travel to that region soon, once my brothers and I return, to meet with the leaders of those who are currently dissatisfied and try to find a mutually agreeable solution.¡±


    ¡°While he is traveling, who rules in his stead?¡±


    ¡°It is my understanding that I will be handling many of the matters of state in his absence. Although ultimately that is his decision, not mine.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course. Do you have your own dwelling in Syazonia, apart from the royal seat at Zosya?¡±


    ¡°Yes. My father has gifted me the duchy of Nysia, which has its own castle. Not quite a palace, but beautiful and comfortable, and the duchy has a sizable income.¡±


    ¡°Do you spend much time there?¡± the Queen inquires.


    ¡°I used to. Before¡­.¡± A lump rises in his throat and he focuses intently on the plate in front of him. ¡°I¡¯ve been at court, in Zosya, since¡­since Mirtor.¡± Since I lost her. His despair has been easier to bear with distractions, even distractions as insufferable as his brothers can be.


    Minna¡¯s hand gently touches his under the table. Fifi, Queen Ingrid, and even Emrik look on Adalberto with pity.


    ¡°Do you have a good Chief Steward there in your stead?¡± King Ansgar inquires. His gruff voice is grounding.


    ¡°Yes. Gaspar is¡­beyond competent. I left him with instructions that all the furnishings should be replaced. The Nysia castle should be essentially new, whenever I return.¡±


    ¡°Will you be comfortable doing so?¡± Minna asks in a concerned whisper. ¡°I don¡¯t want to rush you. I can only imagine how hard it¡¯s been, how hard it still is.¡±


    ¡°I do not want to start our life together living in a suite in the same corridor as my brothers. Which is the alternative.¡±


    ¡°That would benefit no one,¡± Fifi agrees. Minna shoots her a look, and Fifi shrugs as if to say ¡®What? It¡¯s true.¡¯ She¡¯s not wrong, Adalberto agrees without speaking. It¡¯s funny how different they are, while being so close. The differences between my brothers and I cause only strife.


    ¡°Do you like it there? Is it as charming as the place you described while we were dancing?¡± Minna asks.


    ¡°They are one and the same.¡± Something in him softens, looking at Minna. She doesn¡¯t seem bothered at all that he¡¯s loved and lost before meeting her. She¡¯s concerned about him and his well-being. Maybe, in time, we really could find happiness together. Unfamiliar emotions swell within him. He never dared to hope so much, when his father insisted that he come here and compete with his brothers.


    ¡°So you have your own castle? Is the hunting good?¡± Emrik demands through a mouthful of potatoes. Fifi elbows him in the ribs. The corners of Adalberto¡¯s mouth twitch up for a moment.


    ¡°Yes, especially in autumn. Perhaps you can come to visit for part of the season, if your parents allow it. I¡¯m sure¡­Minna would appreciate the visit.¡±


    Beside him, Minna blushes and smiles at his use of her nickname.


    ¡°Fifi has to come, too, to stay with Minna while we hunt!¡±


    ¡°We can discuss it in the autumn,¡± King Ansgar tells his son, sending Adalberto a look that he¡¯s not sure how to interpret, but he would guess means that the king is somewhat opposed to his children traveling to Syazonia for frivolous purposes. Perhaps he can be persuaded. He didn¡¯t miss Minna¡¯s hopeful smile when Emrik demanded Fifi come visit. She deserves to be happy. Whether or not I can be.

 Rift

    ¡°Well, Fifi?¡± Minna prompts as the door to their suite closes behind them. Both sisters sigh in relief and drop into the nearest chairs. At long last, supper with Prince Adalberto is over and they¡¯ve been permitted to retire for the evening.


    ¡°Well what?¡± Fifi replies, refusing to make eye contact. Please don¡¯t do this, she begs her sister silently. She doesn¡¯t want to fight. Just let us enjoy what little time we have left together before you go to Syazonia.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been very quiet, ever since I announced my decision.¡±


    ¡°I¡­just don¡¯t understand. Why Adalberto. You deserve to be loved, and he¡¯s¡ª¡±


    ¡°Still mourning, yes. But I feel that we¡­understand each other, in a way that I didn¡¯t connect with any of his brothers, even Lisandro.¡± Minna smiles, but it¡¯s tinged with sadness. ¡°You were right. I would get bored of Lisandro as a partner, I think.¡±


    ¡°Even so¡­.¡± Fifi bites her tongue. I shouldn¡¯t say it. She looked so hurt, when Father told us¡ª


    ¡°What, Fifi? We¡¯re alone. You can say whatever¡ª¡±


    ¡°Didier was the best choice for you. That¡¯s all.¡±


    Minna flinches and studies the floor. ¡°I thought so, too. But evidently he didn¡¯t agree. Or something.¡±


    ¡°Maybe Father sent him away because he was afraid you¡¯d insist on him.¡±


    ¡°That thought also occurred to me. But I don¡¯t want to believe that he would do such a thing.¡±


    ¡°Do you suppose he¡¯s left already? Maybe it¡¯s not too late to¡ª¡±


    ¡°It is, though. I made the announcement in front of everyone, and Adalberto got along well with all of us during supper. There¡¯s no reason to rescind my decision.¡±


    ¡°A chance at love isn¡¯t a reason¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fifi. There¡¯s no guarantee that any of them, however amiable, will love me the way you¡¯re thinking. I cannot expect to be so fortunate. Adalberto is a good man, a kind man, and we have similar values. He will be a great king one day. I believe we can do a lot of good together.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize¡­that you want to be a Queen one day.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that being Queen is my goal, exactly, but I do want to help people. I believe Adalberto will let his Queen rule with him, rather than being ornamental or the equivalent of a brood mare. I cannot say the same for any of his brothers.¡±


    ¡°Some of the others might have done the same.¡±


    ¡°Aye, noblemen¡¯s sons, and Prince Didier. But it doesn¡¯t matter. Because I wouldn¡¯t have been permitted to choose any suitor of less than royal blood. You heard¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, I heard. It¡¯s rubbish. One¡¯s family name has nothing to do with their ability to rule.¡±


    ¡°But it does have much to do with what Aethyrozia can gain from the match. And I know what you¡¯re going to say, that I have to remember I¡¯m a person and not just a princess and that I deserve to be happy. But I really do think that, of the options who were left¡­of the ones who stayed¡­. I¡¯ve selected the best life partner, as Mother put it.¡±


    A knock sounds at their antechamber door, and Fifi is on her feet in an instant, happy for the distraction. But who could possibly have business with us now? she wonders. It¡¯s nearly midnight, and most of the servants have been sent to bed. But although it is after her usual working hours, their maid Lise stands outside the door.


    ¡°Pardon, Your Highnesses,¡± she greets them with a curtsey. ¡°I was just gathering my things to help you to bed, and one of the princes stopped me and gave me this¡­.¡±


    Lise hands Fifi a piece of parchment, folded neatly with ¡®Princess Josefina¡¯ written on it in elegant script.


    ¡°I tried to tell him no, I couldn¡¯t possibly, but he was so charming and polite and I just¡­¡± Lise continues.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right, Lise,¡± Fifi assures her as she takes the parchment. ¡°You should have been in bed hours ago. Just leave the things. We can manage tonight.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Fifi,¡± Minna reproaches.


    ¡°Oh, no, Your Highness. I should have been up here earlier,¡± Lise insists. ¡°You must both be exhausted, and you¡¯ll need help getting out of those gowns.¡±


    ¡°Start with Minna, then,¡± Fifi relents absently. She¡¯s trying to deduce which prince might have bothered to write her a note, or if perhaps Lise is mistaken and the note is from one of the other suitors. She doesn¡¯t recognize the handwriting, but that means little; her social circle has always been rather small, despite her effervescence, because her family insists that Fifi ought not to be overly familiar with those who rank below her.


    Her feet carry her across the room to their largest window. Candles burning on the table beneath it provide ample light by which to read. Fifi unfolds the parchment carefully, filled with equal parts curiosity and dread. If it¡¯s from Prince Emiliano¡­. she shudders, but dread becomes bemusement as she discovers that the note is written in Vyrunian.


    Surely this must have been meant for Minna, she thinks, but as it is addressed to her, she decides to read it anyway.


    To Princess Josefina of Aethyrozia,


    First, I must apologize for writing to you in Vyrunian, and I hope that you are able to read this yourself, without consulting anyone else. I am afraid that I speak Aethyrozian far better than I write it, and I did not trust myself, with the limited time at my disposal, to make my message to you clear in your native tongue.


    Second, I must request that you not share this with your sister. Princess Wilhelmina is lovely in every aspect, and I regret that she may have been hurt by my sudden leave taking. I do not wish to cause her any further pain with this message, but it is a message I feel compelled to send. Please forgive me for any hurt I have inflicted upon her with my withdrawal from her Quest for Favor.


    As she has been reading, Minna has come up behind Fifi while Lise works to loosen the stays in her gown. Fifi briefly debates hiding the message, but she feels that would do more harm than good. Didier should have known better than to make such a request. Fifi and Minna have not been hiding their closeness from the competitors, and she has no interest in jeopardizing their relationship for anyone.


    Although your sister is an admirable young woman, and I have no doubt that she will make one of her suitors an excellent wife and, perhaps, Queen, the note continues, I must confess that I find myself more drawn to you. Your confidence in yourself and your convictions, and how deeply you care for your sister, are most appealing to me. Furthermore, Vyrunia is used to having Queens who are equal partners with Kings in governing, Queens willing to speak their minds, and I have not met another Princess who can match you for forthrightness.


    Accordingly, I should very much like to get to know you better, and I hope that this note will be the start of correspondence between us. I do not think three days is enough time to determine whether someone would be a good life partner, but as of this writing I have every intention of returning to Aethyrozia for your Quest for Favor, and I hope that writing letters to each other will provide both of us with more clarity.


    Warm regards,


    Prince Didier of Vyrunia


    Fifi can hardly believe what she¡¯s read. She had only one conversation with him, while they were dancing. Did he hear more about her from other suitors, or other dance partners? What led him to this conclusion, to such a rash course of action?


    ¡°Did you know about this?¡± Minna asks behind Fifi, her voice low and hard and trembling with suppressed tears.


    ¡°No, Minna, I would never¡­.¡± Fifi protests, turning to face her sister. Lise is nowhere to be found; Minna must have dismissed her while Fifi was reading. ¡°I knew from his performance in the Talent Round that you were drawn to him, and I would never, ever try to sabotage you. I¡¯m just as surprised as you are, that he¡­. All I¡¯ve wanted is for you to find the best possible match for you, and I really and truly thought that Prince Didier¡ª¡±


    ¡°What did you speak of, when you danced with him?¡±


    ¡°A little about painting, and how he doesn¡¯t have much leisure because he¡¯s always attending meetings with his father and the Royal Advisors. I told him I¡¯m not allowed in those meetings anymore, but that you¡¯ve attended many¡ª¡±


    ¡°And you told him why you¡¯re not allowed in those meetings?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Father thinks we should be seen and not heard, and I think Chuezoh wouldn¡¯t have given us tongues if we weren¡¯t meant to talk.¡±


    Minna scoffs and shakes her head.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to be a princess,¡± Fifi tells Minna earnestly. ¡°I didn¡¯t put on any airs or pretenses with him. I even told him you would make an excellent Queen, which I truly believe you would. I was just¡­myself. I didn¡¯t think that would appeal to him, the way he¡¯s been presenting himself the past few days.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Fifi,¡± Minna groans, and then she¡¯s sobbing in Fifi¡¯s arms.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Minna,¡± Fifi whispers into Minna¡¯s hair, grateful that she¡¯s no longer wearing her coronet. ¡°I never meant for this to happen.¡±


    ¡°Do you like him?¡± Minna chokes out.


    ¡°Not like that. I was hoping to have him as a brother-in-law, but I haven¡¯t¡­. Every dance, every conversation, I¡¯ve been looking at them as your suitors, trying to decide who would be the best match for you. Like Father keeps saying, none of this is about me.¡±


    ¡°And yet¡­.¡± Her tears have stopped flowing, but she and Fifi remain locked in their embrace, clinging to each other for support.


    ¡°Would you like to write the reply to him?¡± Fifi offers.


    ¡°What would I even say to him?¡±


    ¡°Whatever you want. Maybe start with how foolish it was to suggest that I would keep a secret from you, and that he can hardly expect a favorable response from me after¡­this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡±


    ¡°Take all the time you need. Let him wonder if he¡¯ll receive any reply at all. He deserves to suffer, for making you so unhappy.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Fifi.¡± Her cheeks are still tearstained, but Minna is smiling as she pulls herself out of her sister¡¯s arms. ¡°Will you call Lise back? I should like to get out of this gown and go to bed.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Sister.¡±

 Permission

    The first rays of dawn find Kai riding Varsel at a gallop away from Adelhyod. He woke early and saw no reason to wait around or mingle. A kind servant gave him some bread and cheese for the road, and he packed his few personal belongings and slipped out before anyone else was awake.


    Daybreak is his favorite time of day. He loves being outside as the world wakes up, breathing in the fresh clear air, listening to birdsong, seeing dew sparkle in the early morning sunlight. His father¡¯s manor is not terribly far from Adelhyod¡ªhe could arrive at the manor house before nightfall, if he wanted, riding at this pace and going cross-country instead of taking the main roads¡ªbut he intends to enjoy the journey, and to spend some time in the forests on his father¡¯s land before speaking to any of his family.


    Kai and Varsel are of one mind as they ride¡ªjust glad to be alive and free, out of doors, without society¡¯s expectations weighing them down. The young man allows the horse to choose their path, trusting he can find the way home without help. Kai would rather watch the world come alive around them as the sun rises higher in the sky than pay attention to where they are going. Rabbits and small rodents flee from Varsel¡¯s thundering hooves. Birds serenade them overhead. Maybe I should have left Lyrnola years ago, Kai muses. There¡¯s so much to see, so much of the natural world to explore and study. There¡¯s so much more than just Sigurd¡¯s grove.


    ¡°Ah, Kai. You¡¯ve come home,¡± a creaking old voice greets Kai as Varsel trots down a deer path into a thick wood, leagues away from Adelhyod. A moment later, a wizened but tall old man in earthy robes with a long, tangled beard steps out of the trees.


    ¡°Sigurd!¡± Kai exclaims, leaping off Varsel¡¯s back to embrace his mentor. In the same moment, Varsel skids to a halt and nickers at Sigurd, shoving his nose into the old man¡¯s hand in search of a treat. ¡°Bit far from the manor, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°There was a moose who needed help calving, half a league or so from here. And then the birds told me you were on your way.¡±


    ¡°How is the moose? The calf?¡±


    ¡°Both healthy and doing well, when I left them. Perhaps you¡¯ll have time to meet them soon. But I sense there is much on your mind. What happened at Court?¡±


    Kai gives Sigurd an abbreviated version of the events of the past few days, focusing on how much there is to dislike at Court but also how he pities Fifi, how she seems trapped there.


    ¡°You think she is a kindred spirit, called by Cybarei?¡± Sigurd asks.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t told her anything, shown her anything, about¡­us. But she seemed far more at ease in the courtyard than inside Adelhyod,¡± Kai answers, remembering how she took time to appreciate individual blossoms and watch the fish trapped in the ornamental pond.


    ¡°You play with fire, Kai. A princess is not free to choose her own path. Do not forget it was her great-grandfather who ordered the executions of many fellow cybrinn years ago.¡±


    ¡°I know, Sigurd. I will do nothing rash. But all the same, she is not her great-grandfather, and everyone ought to have a choice as to what kind of life they will lead.¡±


    Both are silent for a few moments, remembering how Kai stumbled across Sigurd¡¯s hut in the woods years ago.


    ¡°My life is better for having found you, for choosing this,¡± Kai adds softly, gesturing to the forest around them.


    ¡°You have only the one life. Do not wager it on a whim.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t, Sigurd. I¡¯ll come back to visit often. But I have to spend more time at Court, to know¡­.¡±


    ¡°I understand. And it will help with your father, as well.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Go, then. I and the moose and all our friends will be waiting for you out here.¡± With that, Sigurd melts back into the trees, vanishing as abruptly as he¡¯d appeared. Someday he¡¯ll teach me how to do that, Kai hopes as he jumps onto Varsel¡¯s back again and they resume their ride to his father¡¯s manor house.


    The sprawling dwelling is an hour¡¯s canter from the grove where Sigurd found them. Kai and Varsel pass through the small town of Lonyr on their way there. Farmers greet Kai warmly, and he answers in kind, inquiring about the health of their crops. More than once he and Sigurd have intervened to help the crops in Lyrnola flourish so that the farmers will not perish from the Earl of Lyrnola¡¯s exorbitant taxes, and though the farmers don¡¯t know the extent or means by which Kai has helped them, they know he has always taken an interest in their craft and general well-being, and they view him as a rare friendly face amongst the aristocracy.


    All is quiet at the manor house when Kai and Varsel arrive, despite the glorious sunset outside. Birgitta has never been one to enjoy the outdoors, Kai remembers, but Magnus and Markus would normally be playing outside until after sundown on a day like today, given the option. Unless something is amiss¡­. But in the stables, the horses all seem to be at ease, and the house butler, Albin, greets him warmly as he enters the manor house through the back door.


    ¡°Good to have you home, Master Nicolaas,¡± he smiles, his voice hoarse from the ravages of time.


    Father really ought to let him retire soon, Kai remarks to himself, noting the butler¡¯s hunched back and slow gait. ¡°Thank you, Albin. Have a seat and rest. I¡¯ll be distracting my father and Birgitta for a while this evening. Do you know where I might find them?¡±


    ¡°I believe they are in the drawing room with the large fireplace, off the main hall.¡±


    ¡°Much appreciated. And the boys?¡±


    ¡°With their tutor upstairs, I think.¡±


    ¡°Good. Take care of yourself, Albin.¡± With that, Kai takes his leave and wastes no time in making his way to the drawing room Albin mentioned. It used to be the family¡¯s dining room, when Kai¡¯s mother was still alive, but since she died and his father married Birgitta, it has become a room for the Particular Use of the Lady of the House, the Countess of Lyrnola. Birgitta is at least as ambitious as her husband and aspires well above her station¡ªqualities Kai finds irksome, to say the least. He and his stepmother tolerate each other, although she is the driving force behind the demands that he find some rich, high-ranking woman to marry ¡®for the benefit of the family.¡¯This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    The drawing room, once cozy and full of love, now boasts gilded furnishings and imported wall hangings. The windows are hidden behind red velvet curtains. To Kai, it is the room of someone prideful, someone bent on showing off their wealth. The Earl and Countess of Lyrnola sit within on plush furniture, enjoying the warmth of the fire in the marble fireplace. Their attire is nearly as splendid as anything Kai saw the Royal Family wearing during the Quest for Favor, and Birgitta¡¯s blonde tresses are studded with several jewels, Kai notices with disdain as he enters the room without knocking.


    ¡°Nicolaas! Welcome home,¡± Kai¡¯s father greets him, pulling his dark beard into a sharper point. ¡°What news?¡±


    ¡°Her Highness, Princess Wilhelmina, chose her future husband last night,¡± Kai answers, frowning at his father¡¯s use of his given name. Birgitta¡¯s doing, he gripes privately, noting his stepmother¡¯s disdainful glance his way. He used to call me Kai, at least when we were out of the public eye.


    ¡°Oh really? When will the wedding be?¡± Birgitta asks, looking up from her embroidery with hawkish interest.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. She chose one of the princes of Syazonia.¡±


    Birgitta clucks her tongue in disappointment.


    ¡°I did my best, really I did. I was there for the Ball last night,¡± Kai adds.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Kai¡¯s father allows with gruff approval. ¡°I would guess not many of less than royal birth can say the same.¡±


    ¡°There were only five of us, plus seven princes,¡± Kai affirms.


    ¡°Oh, Fritjof,¡± Birgitta laments, laying the back of her hand across her forehead and leaning back in her chair. ¡°I can¡¯t bear it. To have been so close to greatness¡ªimagine, to have a princess as a daughter-in-law! To think our grandchildren could have ruled Aethyrozia! And then to have it ripped away for some foreigner¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know, my dove,¡± Fritjof¡ªor Father, as Kai thinks of him¡ªcomforts his wife. ¡°But there will be another Quest for Favor in the not too distant future. Our king has another daughter who will soon come of age. And Nicolaas has done so well in this first one, we can certainly hope for a more¡­favorable result in the second.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. Especially, Nicolaas, if you would spend less time in the woods and more time at Court.¡± His stepmother seems to have forgotten her grief at his failure to seduce a princess and glares at him meaningfully. ¡°Even if competing in a second Quest for Favor proves fruitless, you would be making connections and meeting other eligible ladies.¡±


    ¡°I actually wanted to ask if I could go to Court in your stead, Father, at least for a season,¡± Kai agrees, looking to his father for approval.


    ¡°Beg pardon?¡± Fritjof demands.


    ¡°Chuezoh be praised!¡± Birgitta exclaims.


    ¡°I know it sounds¡­rather unlike me. But I¡¯ve made some acquaintances during the Quest for Favor, and if I can spend more time with them, it might be beneficial¡­for all of us.¡± This isn¡¯t entirely true, at least the way his family will interpret it; Karl is the son of a Viscount, and Ingemar is a Baron¡¯s son. The only person he¡¯s met and liked during the Quest for Favor who outranks him is Fifi, and he can¡¯t guarantee he¡¯ll get to spend time with her again. But what Father and Birgitta don¡¯t know won¡¯t hurt them¡­. he hopes.


    ¡°Finally! I don¡¯t know what happened to you during your time away, but at last, you¡¯ve come to your senses!¡± Birgitta rejoices. ¡°You¡¯ll let him go, won¡¯t you, dearest?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Fritjof answers, eyeing Kai with suspicion. ¡°If you can tell me how you let a princess slip through your grasp in the last act. How could you get so close and then fail?¡±


    ¡°Many of the other competitors were speculating that King Ansgar would exert undue influence over his daughter¡¯s choice,¡± Kai shrugs. ¡°And, at least during the Talent Round and the Ball, he seemed to almost smile when the Princes of Syazonia were displaying their skills or dancing with Princess Wilhelmina, rather than wearing his usual dour expression.¡±


    Kai hopes this will be enough to satisfy his father. He doesn¡¯t want to betray Fifi¡¯s confidence, and he¡¯s skating dangerously close to doing so as things are.


    ¡°Why bother with a competition if he intends to choose for them?¡± Fritjof grumbles.


    ¡°I¡¯ve wondered the same thing. I¡¯d like to believe Princess Wilhelmina made her own choice, but¡­who¡¯s to say? To be one of twelve finalists, when there were about forty of us to start with¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, impressive, I know. Just not enough. These acquaintances you say you¡¯ve made. Are any of them marriageable young ladies?¡±


    ¡°I know at least some of them have sisters who are.¡±


    ¡°Thank Chuezoh, that¡¯s our shot!¡± Birgitta exclaims. ¡°Having a friendship with a lady¡¯s brother will surely influence her in Nicolaas¡¯s favor. You have to send him to Court, Fritjof. It¡¯s the only way. Magnus and Markus are still too young, and Nicolaas must fly so that they may soar.¡±


    Kai tenses and bites his tongue; it¡¯s all he can do not to roll his eyes. Of course her interest in me is only to brighten her own sons¡¯ futures, he thinks. The twin sons Birgitta gave his father are adorable and bright, and he has nothing against them, but thanks to their mother they think Kai is very strange and call him Skogsbror¡ªforest brother. He wouldn¡¯t mind the name if it wasn¡¯t so clearly meant as an insult; the forest is more of a home to him than the manor house, and Sigurd is a far more accepting and supportive father to him than the Earl of Lyrnola ever has been.


    But that doesn¡¯t matter right now, he reminds himself. Just agree, Father, and never mind why. You¡¯ll be happier with me out of the house anyway. And who knows? Maybe your goals will be accomplished, as well as mine. He¡¯s not looking to get married anytime soon¡ªnot even looking for love or a relationship¡ªbut he believes that fate and Cybarei work in mysterious ways, and he isn¡¯t the type to rule out possibilities.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t spent much time at Court, and I can¡¯t imagine it suits you,¡± Fritjof argues. ¡°Perhaps we both ought to go, if you¡¯re so bent on being there all of a sudden.¡±


    ¡°Begging your pardon, Father, but I don¡¯t think that would be wise,¡± Kai answers. Having his father at Court with him, nagging at him constantly, would be a fate worse than death. Perhaps some good will come of telling him the truth. ¡°I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I have it on good authority that King Ansgar has been¡­less than pleased with your behavior at Court as of late. Perhaps our family¡¯s fortunes and favor with the Crown will improve if you remain here and attend to the needs of Lyrnola for a while.¡±


    ¡°Insolent boy! Who told you such a bald-faced lie?! This is slander, I tell you! Who is this ¡®good authority¡¯?! I¡¯ll make them wish they¡¯d held their tongue!¡±


    ¡°Alas, Father¡­. Both princesses remarked, when I danced with them at the Ball, that their father had been rather opposed to my staying in the competition up to that point, on account of his interactions with you.¡±


    ¡°You danced with both princesses? Not just Princess Wilhelmina?¡± Birgitta inquires, interest piqued once again.


    ¡°Aye. Princess Josefina was present and danced with all of her sister¡¯s suitors at the Ball. It seems the two of them are quite close and value each other¡¯s opinions in all things.¡±


    ¡°But why would either of them tell you anything of the King¡¯s thoughts?¡± Fritjof wonders.


    ¡°I could not say, Father. All I know is that both seemed to like me, and I was doing my best to make a favorable impression.¡± It¡¯s the right thing to say, even if the latter part isn¡¯t entirely true.


    Fritjof sighs and sinks into a chair, expression unreadable, shoulders slumped.


    ¡°Fritjof, my heart. If he danced with both princesses, and both seemed to like him, surely more time at Court would raise him in the younger one¡¯s esteem, so that when the time comes for Princess Josefina¡¯s Quest for Favor¡­.¡± Birgitta wheedles. She leans over and places a hand on her husband¡¯s arm. Her eyes blaze bright with daydreams of wealth and power.


    ¡°You know I can deny you nothing, light of my life,¡± Fritjof relents after a long silence. ¡°And you raise a good point. Nicolaas, you will remain here at least a week before you return. You wouldn¡¯t want to seem too eager, and we ought to allow plenty of time for the Syazonians to finalize their arrangements and take their leave. But after a week, you have my blessing to return to Court.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Father,¡± Kai says, biting back a triumphant smile. ¡°I will not disappoint you again.¡±

 Planning

    A melancholy tune floats out of Minna¡¯s lute under her skilled fingertips, capturing her mood exactly. Across the room, Fifi is coaxing Algot to look in a particular direction by bribing him with grapes with one hand while she sketches him with the other. In their study sits a draft of a reply to Prince Didier, hidden between Minna¡¯s well-worn copy of the Lanourehm¡ªthat is, the sacred texts of Chuezohm¡ªand a similarly disheveled history of Aethyrozia. The princesses have no desire for their maids to find the letter and start any rumors. If word should get out that I truly did prefer Prince Didier, and Prince Adalberto were to find out about it¡­. Minna stifles a shudder, which would have disrupted her playing and made Fifi ask questions. That would be the worst thing. He doesn¡¯t deserve to suffer any more heartbreak.


    She wishes she¡¯d gotten to speak to him again, alone, before he left for Zosya with his brothers. But such a thing would be most improper to request, and no opportune moments such as what Fifi had with Kai in the courtyard presented themselves. Indeed, Adalberto met with King Ansgar for perhaps half an hour after breakfast, and then the Syazonians took their leave. Emiliano and Casimiro refused to even look at her, not that she expected anything better from them. The saving grace, to Minna¡¯s mind, of their departure was that, when Adalberto said goodbye to her, he briefly clasped her hand, closing it around a small piece of parchment with closely written instructions for getting a letter into his possession, should she see fit to write to him.


    She hasn¡¯t told Fifi about it. Minna and Fifi have never kept secrets from each other, but Minna cannot help wondering¡ªwould she have told me, if I hadn¡¯t read that note from Prince Didier over her shoulder? Or would she have kept it a secret, to avoid causing me pain? It¡¯s hard for her to say; both feel like equally likely choices for Fifi to make. Especially now. She¡¯d never thought to be afraid that their relationship would change, because of her Quest for Favor, but now everything feels different and strange. We aren¡¯t sharing the same adventure anymore, Minna realizes sadly. I haven¡¯t left yet, but I¡¯m betrothed now, and there will be wedding planning to do, and Fifi¡¯s still where I was before all this started.


    Minna can¡¯t help wondering if Fifi will be all right without her, and if she¡¯ll be all right without Fifi. They¡¯ve practically always had each other, except when Minna was very tiny. Of course, they¡¯ll still be able to write to one another, but that¡¯s not the same as living together, seeing each other every day, whispering to each other in the dark every night. Fifi will be busy with her own Quest for Favor, and Minna will be adjusting to a new home and being a wife.


    A knock at their door startles Minna into playing a jarring chord. Across the room, Fifi drops her pen, splattering ink on the wooden floor, and Algot squawks and flies into the princesses¡¯ dressing room. Queen Ingrid lets herself into their suite before either of her daughters can answer the door.


    ¡°Hello Minna, Fifi. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re both here,¡± she greets them. ¡°I¡¯ve just been speaking with your father. We have much to discuss.¡±


    ¡°One moment, Mother. Let me just clean this up,¡± Fifi replies, pulling a rag from a pocket in her skirt to wipe up the spilled ink. It¡¯s not the first time her artistic endeavors have resulted in some sort of mess.


    Minna rises slowly from her chair, having too many questions to be able to voice any of them. She sets her lute down gently where she once sat and just looks at her mother, overwhelmed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go into your study. I believe we¡¯ll be more comfortable there,¡± Queen Ingrid suggests. ¡°And yes, Minna, it¡¯s all to do with your wedding. Prince Adalberto came here with a letter from King Celestino in case you were to choose any of the Syazonian princes, so as to streamline planning.¡±


    ¡°Of course he did,¡± Fifi mutters. Minna and their mother both choose to ignore her, at least until they¡¯ve all settled themselves in the study with the door closed. Minna sits next to the desk with the hidden letter to Prince Didier, trembling. ¡°So what was in the letter?¡±


    ¡°Just expectations about Minna¡¯s trousseau and what goods our countries will exchange as part of the marriage contract,¡± Queen Ingrid replies. ¡°Nothing unreasonable, and really nothing you need to concern yourselves with. Your father will make sure the Syazonians get their jewels and furs and parchment, and that we receive our gold and silver and iron.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Then what else did they discuss?¡± Minna asks.


    ¡°Firstly, they¡¯ve selected a date for the wedding. The ceremony will be held on the twelfth day of Santor, with days of feasting and merriment to follow.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s less than four months away!¡± Fifi exclaims, eyes wide with horror.


    ¡°The Syazonians will be planning the festivities,¡± Queen Ingrid continues with a meaningful glare towards her younger daughter, ¡°and given that Adalberto has been so recently widowed, they believe all the festivities ought to be more subdued than is traditional, provided you agree, Minna.¡±


    ¡°Of course. That is more than reasonable.¡±


    ¡°I thought you would feel that way. Of course you deserve the best they have to offer, but there¡¯s no sense in torturing that prince.¡±


    Minna smiles, but it doesn¡¯t reach her eyes. She almost wants to ask, again, if her mother thinks she made the right choice, but both of her parents showered her with compliments on her sound judgment after their supper with Adalberto. I just hope we¡¯re able to find happiness together, someday, she prays.


    ¡°Beyond that, the Syazonians wish you to bring no fewer than twenty-eight gowns with you¡ªfourteen formal gowns, including the one you will be married in, and the rest more everyday wear, with shoes to match each,¡± Queen Ingrid says, checking a piece of parchment in her hand to make sure she has the numbers right.


    ¡°Goodness gracious,¡± Minna gasps.


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll be spending quite a lot of time with the seamstresses over the next few months. I believe you should have a mixture of gowns suited for warmer weather and gowns suited for colder weather, and of course you¡¯ll need caps and cloaks, and kirtles and farthingales and partlets and petticoats, and stockings and gloves, and nightclothes¡­. Goodness, there¡¯s so much to plan and make for you!¡±


    ¡°Can I not take any of my current wardrobe?¡±


    ¡°We will be going through all of that to start. You should be able to take some of it, but I don¡¯t want to send you with anything that¡¯s worn or dingy. Your father is quite insistent that the Syazonians must believe they are making a good investment.¡±


    ¡°Minna is not an investment!¡± Fifi protests.


    ¡°The treaty is, though, Fifi sweetheart. To that end, Minna, you may take some of your jewels, but none of the Aethyrozian crown jewels¡ªyour father was quite insistent on that point.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, Fifi, have you seen that gold bracelet with the pearls you gave me at Friggenter last summer?¡± Minna asks. ¡°I can¡¯t seem to find it, nor the ring with the emeralds¡­¡±


    ¡°Have you been leaving jewelry on the dressing tables again?¡± Fifi replies. ¡°You know how Algot likes shiny things¡­.¡±


    ¡°You really ought to keep that bird confined to his cage, Fifi, or else release him outside and let him fly free,¡± Queen Ingrid chides.


    ¡°I¡¯ve tried, Mother. You¡¯ve watched me. He just flies right back through the window as soon as we open it. He likes it here, for whatever reason.¡± As she speaks, Fifi drags a chair into the corner to stand on so that she can see into a niche in the stonework of the wall.


    ¡°Fifi, dear, do be careful¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ah, here are some things. Minna, come take them.¡±


    With a sigh, Minna gets up and crosses the room to Fifi on her unladylike perch.


    ¡°Are any of these what you¡¯re missing?¡± Fifi asks.


    ¡°Unbelievable,¡± Minna mutters as Fifi hands her not only the bracelet and the ring she¡¯d mentioned, but multiple gold chains, two brooches, and several earrings, some hers, some Fifi¡¯s. ¡°How did you know where to look?¡±


    ¡°Just by watching him. He likes to sit up there, talking to himself. But enough of that. We¡¯ve found what you wanted. What else do we need to do before your wedding?¡±


    ¡°Will there be time, between all the meetings with the seamstresses and the other preparations, for everyone to sit for portraits?¡± Minna turns to her mother, eyes pleading. ¡°I cannot hope to see you and Father and Fifi and Emrik often, once I go, and¡­I think it would be a great comfort to me, to bring miniatures with me to Syazonia.¡±


    ¡°We will make time for it,¡± Queen Ingrid agrees immediately. ¡°Whatever it takes. You should absolutely have that blessing.¡±


    ¡°Will we be going with her, for the wedding?¡± Fifi asks.


    ¡°Of course you may go along, Fifi. I¡¯m sure Minna wouldn¡¯t have it any other way. Your father and I haven¡¯t discussed who else may stay or go. Aethyrozia will not rule itself just because a royal wedding is occurring. But we will see what can be arranged.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother,¡± Minna smiles, embracing her. She¡¯s always loved her parents, but never before has she been so thankful to have her mother¡¯s support and kindness.


    ¡°Of course. You are doing your country a great service, and I know the Quest for Favor did not go entirely as you might have hoped. You deserve to have every possible comfort and reward. And I want to spoil you a little before you go to Syazonia.¡±


    ¡°So all her new gowns will be purple and cloth of gold, then?¡± Fifi quips.


    ¡°Maybe one,¡± Queen Ingrid laughs. ¡°But let¡¯s not push our luck. Minna, tell me what¡¯s most important to you for your wedding arrangements, and I will do all I can to make sure your wishes are granted.¡±

 Expression

    Fifi kneels on the ground beside a stone bench, laying out her drawing tools on the bench¡¯s surface. Greta will likely be annoyed by dirt on Fifi¡¯s gown and kirtle, but Fifi can¡¯t help that she has to sit on the ground to have the best angle from which to draw the nearby fountain and the wood anemone blossoms.


    She hadn¡¯t originally intended to spend the day here, in a courtyard closest to the hall where visiting nobility spend their days, lounging around waiting for the king to call them into a meeting or need them for something. However, she hasn¡¯t found anywhere else she¡¯d rather be. King Ansgar and Queen Ingrid are sitting in Adelhyod¡¯s most resplendent drawing room with their artist-in-residence, posing for the miniature of them Minna requested to be painted, and as much as she loves Minna, Fifi hates having her portrait painted and intends to evade sitting for her portrait for as long as possible. Minna is in their suite with a flock of seamstresses being fitted for dresses, which Fifi cannot bear to witness, as it reminds her that Minna will be going away in a few short months, never to return. Emrik is with his tutor, listening to a lecture on the witch burnings their great-grandfather ordered near a hundred years ago, a topic Fifi finds both sad and dull. And so she decided to escape the confines of Adelhyod¡¯s walls, for though she prefers company to solitude, the chance to be outside and escape from life as a princess for a while is more attractive to her than socializing.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± she murmurs to herself, watching the water burble in the fountain and the wood anemone flowers waver in the light breeze. Keeping her eye on the scene, she selects a pen from her supplies and starts to sketch, beginning with the blossoms. Many of her sketchbook¡¯s pages are already filled with renditions of poppies and calla lilies, willowherbs and cinquefoils, and many other flowers whose names she hasn¡¯t learned. Adelhyod¡¯s library is sadly sparse on botany texts, and those it does possess have few illustrations.


    Although flowers are her favorite thing to draw, Fifi is hoping to learn something, through trial and error, about capturing water realistically on a page with her pens and inks. Just as she finishes the wood anemones and is about to start on the water, though, a wren perches on the fountain¡¯s stone edge, and Fifi cannot help but start to sketch it, hoping it will stay long enough for her to capture at least its essence. To her delight, the wren hops around a little and then seems to be posing, except for when it dips its head to drink from the water in the fountain¡¯s basin. She smiles as she draws; Minna¡¯s upcoming wedding and the frenzied preparations inside Adelhyod¡¯s walls have quite left her thoughts, and all that matters to her in this moment are the bird and the sketchbook.


    Footsteps crunch on the gravel path behind Fifi, startling her out of her reverie. The wren flutters away as she turns to look behind her, concerned that someone has come to demand her presence inside.


    ¡°Forgive me, Princess, for startling you,¡± Kai greets her with a bow, still several paces away. Unlike during Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor, his hair is in a tight knot on the back of his head, and stubble dusts his jaw.


    ¡°Kai! I¡­wasn¡¯t expecting to see you again. Here.¡± Fifi fumbles to set her pen and sketchbook on the bench while getting to her feet and brushing the dirt from her skirts.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t exert yourself on my account. I can go elsewhere¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s¡­good to see you. What brings you back to Court so soon?¡± Fifi sits on one side of the bench, scooting her sketchbook and pens to the edge, and indicates that Kai should sit on the opposite end. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he settles himself on the bench, as well.


    ¡°I, uh. Told my father that the king is displeased with him, and that it may be in Lyrnola¡¯s best interests if I took his place here for a while. And my stepmother took my side, because I¡¯m more likely to meet a rich lady to marry here than at home.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Fifi finds herself without words at Kai¡¯s admission. ¡°Your stepmother must¡­share your father¡¯s ambitions, then.¡±


    ¡°Hers may even exceed his, yes. It can make home¡­uncomfortable.¡±


    ¡°And is Court a more comfortable place for you?¡±


    ¡°Less irksome, at present. I met a few other nobles¡¯ sons, during the Quest for Favor, who could be friends. I had hoped to see them today, but they weren¡¯t in the hall with the other nobles, so I came out here for some fresh air. I didn¡¯t expect to find you in a courtyard again.¡±


    Fifi blushes slightly. ¡°Yes, I¡­feel my presence is not wanted inside, just now.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s busy with preparations for Minna¡¯s wedding, and I¡­. I don¡¯t want her to go away, but the wedding is in less than four months, and we¡¯ll have to leave before that to get to Zosya in time.¡± Fifi pauses, finding the ground between her feet easier to look at than Kai¡¯s concerned gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve never been without her, you know. My whole life she¡¯s always been there, and we¡¯ve told each other everything, and now she¡¯s going away and getting married and might never come back and they all expect me to just¡­be fine with that.¡±


    ¡°You have good reason to be upset. I think I would be too, in your place.¡±


    Fifi starts, unused to sympathy from anyone except her mother and Minna. Her eyes leap back to Kai¡¯s face, and she notices that his eyes, which she had thought were brown up to this moment, actually have quite a bit of green in them.


    ¡°Thank you. So, with everyone busy, I decided to come out here and draw. I¡¯ve been wanting to get better at water, but then that wren came¡­¡±


    ¡°You draw?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and I want to paint, as well. Music has always been Minna¡¯s joy, but I prefer to see my art.¡± Fifi picks up her sketchbook from the bench beside her. Her fingers trace the geometric etchings on the leather cover.


    ¡°May I?¡± Kai asks, gesturing towards the book. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Fifi gingerly hands it to him. He handles it as though it is some fragile, precious thing, opening the cover as if he is worried he might startle whatever is inside.


    The rabbit on the first page does indeed look startled, but it¡¯s not in any way because of Kai. Although it is the first sketch in the book, and Fifi sees a hundred flaws in it at a glance, the animal¡¯s fur is realistically rendered, and its eyes capture the paranoid alertness so common in such creatures. The next page contains a closeup of a rhododendron blossom, and the next a cluster of delicate lily-of-the-valley flowers. As Kai turns the pages, Fifi¡¯s muscles are stiff and her fingers tap frenzied patterns on the bench. It¡¯s the first time she¡¯s let anyone other than her sister see her sketchbook, and she¡¯s desperate to know what Kai is thinking about her art.


    ¡°You¡¯re so true to life with these plants,¡± Kai remarks, stopping on a closeup of pinecones in spruce branches. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything so lifelike on parchment.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­. You mean it?¡± Fifi doesn¡¯t know how to react to his praise; looking at the drawing herself, there¡¯s at least half a dozen lines she wishes she¡¯d drawn differently.


    ¡°Truly. How long have you been drawing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Years. Minna and I were taught the basics by a tutor when we were very young, and ever since I¡¯ve been drawing whenever I can.¡±


    ¡°These are impressive. You ought to be proud of your skill. And I can see how you¡¯ve honed your craft over time, looking through this.¡± He turns a couple more pages and pauses on a sketch of a nuthatch. ¡°The feathers on this one are masterful.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not, though. These lines should be lighter, and follow a more natural curve¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re being too hard on yourself.¡±


    ¡°What do you know about it? Do you draw?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t, no, but I¡¯ve studied other arts, and I understand the endless quest for perfection, and feeling like nothing I try is good enough.¡±


    Fifi¡¯s first instinct is to dismiss him, but his earnest expression stills her tongue. For the first time in her life, she feels like someone other than her sister and her mother might actually understand her.


    ¡°Besides,¡± Kai continues, plucking a leaf from one of the nearby wood anemones and holding it so they both can examine it, ¡°nothing in nature is perfect. At first these look symmetrical, but when you study it more closely, there are dozens of tiny, subtle irregularities.¡±


    ¡°I suppose. I just always look at my work and see all the things that need to be practiced more, developed more¡ªall the things I have yet to learn.¡±


    ¡°I know that feeling well.¡± He looks like he wants to say more, but no more words are forthcoming. Fifi wishes she knew what was going on in his head¡ªwhy he approached her, why he took an interest in her art, what it is that he¡¯s thinking but won¡¯t say.


    Then she hears someone calling her name from somewhere inside Adelhyod. It¡¯s faint, and just one voice, but she knows it won¡¯t stay that way if she doesn¡¯t go back inside soon¡ªand that her parents, at least, would be rather displeased to find her socializing unchaperoned with an Earl¡¯s son.


    ¡°I have to go,¡± she tells Kai, tone apologetic.


    ¡°I understand. Perhaps we shall meet again, if you have a habit of frequenting courtyards.¡± He hands Fifi her sketchbook, and she gets up and collects her pens and inks.


    ¡°Perhaps we will.¡± She dips her head to him, and then she¡¯s rushing towards the nearest door, a knot of dread tightening in her midsection at the prospect of having to deal with Minna¡¯s wedding and pretend all she feels is joy.


    ***~O~***


    To Prince Didier of Vyrunia,


    I hope that your journey back to the Palace of Roses was uneventful and that you have arrived in good health. However, here pleasantries between us must end. Your request that I hide your note from my sister was beyond foolish. My sister and I both made it quite clear, throughout her Quest for Favor, how close we are. We hide nothing from one another. In fact, her apartments and mine are the same rooms, and she was with me when I read your message.


    Because of your rashness, Minna was indeed hurt. You made quite a favorable impression on both of us, as I¡¯ve no doubt you intended to do, during her Quest for Favor, but my opinion of you is much the worse for your note. I cannot in good conscience consider a man who caused my beloved sister pain to be anything but my enemy. My intent is that this reply should be the end of correspondence between us. I have nothing further to say to you.


    Sincerely,


    Princess Josefina of Aethyrozia

 Secret

    One of the hardest things to get used to about Adelhyod, in Kai¡¯s opinion, is the sheer size of the place. The servants have always been helpful when he¡¯s made a wrong turn trying to find his way outside or to the room where King Ansgar meets with nobles about matters of policy or even back to his own suite, but Kai feels bad asking for help. Everyone else acts like Adelhyod is normal, like they belong here. Maybe coming here was a mistake, he worries. At least three of my father¡¯s manor house could fit in here. I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll ever fit in.


    But his goal isn¡¯t to fit in, not long term, and Karl and Ingemar, at least, were glad to see him in yesterday¡¯s meeting on taxation policy. Karl is at Court now with his father, learning everything he will need to know to fill the role of Viscount someday. Ingemar, like Kai, is here in place of his father. All three of their families had the same idea after Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor, Kai assumes: Send your sons to Court to improve their chances with the younger princess.


    The idea makes Kai¡¯s stomach turn. On the one hand, he knows that having some choice, rather than none whatsoever, in whom they will marry is a boon for the princesses. However, he hates the idea of treating people as prizes to be competed for and squabbled over, the way some of Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s suitors behaved. Father and Birgitta will likely be adamant that I compete anyway, he muses as he meanders through the wing of Adelhyod that houses all the nobles who are at Court to serve the King. Today King Ansgar is closeted with the Ambassador from Syazonia, discussing wedding and travel arrangements, Kai would guess, which has left him and the other nobles with nothing to do. While others are drinking or gambling or reading or talking to one another, Kai has chosen to wander and get lost in thought, hoping that he may perhaps run into Karl or Ingemar or someone else worth speaking to.


    There should be plenty of time before Fifi¡¯s Quest for Favor. Time to help her find a way out, if she wants one. He hasn¡¯t asked her if she does, and has no idea what he might suggest if she said she did. Sigurd¡¯s warning to be cautious echoes in his head. Am I crazy for thinking she might want out? Certainly her life is more opulent than his has ever been; Adelhyod is sumptuously furnished, and the meals are regular and delicious. Still, he cannot help but think that Fifi might want a different kind of life, especially after seeing her sketchbook. Her work shows deep appreciation and understanding of nature, and Kai cannot imagine that, as a princess, she has been free to explore the natural world as she might like to. Compared to the forests of Lyrnola and the vibrant countryside he rode through between the castle and his father¡¯s estate, the courtyards of Adelhyod are lacking in Kai¡¯s estimation, but they¡¯re the only nature Fifi has regular access to. Is she taking advantage of a courtyard now? Best not to explore that, not yet. If their positions were reversed, Kai would be using the courtyards all the time as a place where he could be alone, without servants or wedding plans demanding his attention, and he wouldn¡¯t want to ruin that for her. No guarantee she would want to see me, anyway.


    Kai pauses outside of one of the doors along the corridor, the door to Ingemar¡¯s suite. He knows that Karl prefers not to rise before noon, but Ingemar has professed no such distaste for mornings. On a whim, Kai knocks on the door, which opens as if of its own accord. Must not have been securely latched, Kai guesses. He¡¯s probably inside.


    ¡°Hello? Ingemar?¡± he calls. No one answers. Perturbed, Kai ventures into the suite. It looks much like his own: elegant, highly polished wooden furniture with embroidered cushions, wooden floors with woven woolen rugs, a fire crackling on the hearth. Ingemar¡¯s suite is cleaner than Kai¡¯s, though, and Kai¡¯s doesn¡¯t have a folding paper screen painted with intricate geometric patterns. Did he bring that from home?


    Kai moves closer to examine the screen¡¯s craftsmanship. The floorboards creak under his feet. Behind the screen, a chair screeches on the floor, making Kai jump.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ingemar¡¯s voice snaps as he comes around the screen, a cosmetic brush in one hand and a dagger in the other. His characteristic stubble is missing from one side of his face, and without his doublet and jerkin over his linen shirt, his slim physique suddenly looks more feminine than masculine.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The door was open,¡± Kai explains, averting his eyes. ¡°I called for you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Close it.¡± Ingemar jerks his knife towards the door.


    ¡°I can just leave if¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not now that you¡¯ve seen me like this. Close the door.¡± He advances a step towards Kai, brandishing his weapon.


    Kai complies with slow movements, keeping his eyes on the floor. He doesn¡¯t want to upset Ingemar further. Is that his¡ªher?¡ªreal name? What is going on? he wonders, but he doesn¡¯t know how to ask. His hair is shorter than mine. The voice¡­a little high for a man, but deep for a woman.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ingemar says once the door thumps closed and the latch clicks shut. He circles Kai slowly, like a cat closing in on its prey. ¡°Now. Terms. You will tell no one what you¡¯ve seen here today. Or I will kill you.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I can keep a secret,¡± Kai assures Ingemar. ¡°But¡­I have to ask¡­. Who are you, really?¡±


    Ingemar freezes and draws himself to his full height, taller than Kai by a small margin. For a long moment, they stare at each other, eyes locked. Ingemar looks to be considering his options. We¡¯ve been on friendly terms. They won¡¯t try to kill me, not over a simple mistake like this, Kai tells himself.


    ¡°Swear to me that you will speak nothing of this. Swear on something sacred, something meaningful. A vow not easily broken.¡± Amber eyes bore into Kai with ferocious intensity. Whoever this person is, Kai has no doubt they will use the dagger with deadly force.


    ¡°I swear on my mother¡¯s grave I will say nothing to anyone of what transpires, and has transpired, here this morning.¡±


    The other person¡¯s face softens and their muscles relax, though the dagger remains ready in one hand. ¡°I would have preferred a vow on Chuezoh¡¯s head, but I suppose that will do.¡±


    ¡°What name should I call you?¡±


    ¡°Ingemar, of course.¡±


    ¡°I mean, yes, out there, obviously.¡± Kai gestures towards the door. ¡°But¡­that¡¯s not¡­.¡±


    ¡°No. It¡¯s my brother¡¯s name. My twin. He¡¯s¡­sick. Very sick. Wracking cough, sunken eyes, dreadfully thin. He can barely manage to walk himself to the privy and back to bed without help. It¡¯s¡­heartbreaking.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. If I knew a healer who could help¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve tried everything. Even found a cybrinn.¡±


    Kai arches an eyebrow, surprised; most people who follow Chuezoh view cybrinn as heretics and would sooner see them executed than seek their aid.


    ¡°All he could do was ease the symptoms,¡± Ingemar¡¯s twin continues with slumped shoulders and despondent eyes, oblivious to Kai¡¯s reaction. ¡°He said we¡¯d just have to pray and wait and see. My brother has good days and bad days. But our mother died of an illness like his years ago, and our father can¡¯t bear to look at Ingemar in his current state. He¡¯s always working on some new improvement project at the manor or drowning his sorrows in ale. And so, when it came time for Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor¡­.¡±


    ¡°You decided to come in Ingemar¡¯s place,¡± Kai guesses.


    ¡°And in my father¡¯s, since this has been working so well. Until you barged in here.¡±


    ¡°I swear, the door just fell open when I knocked.¡±


    ¡°Vashrua¡¯s hair, one would think the servants here would take more care than to leave doors unlatched in their comings and goings.¡± A heavy sigh escapes the imposter¡¯s lips. ¡°I suppose I should count my blessings, that you¡¯re the one who discovered me, if someone had to. I¡¯ve no doubt that many other men would have run to report me to the King or the priest as a witch. You will never use my true name if anyone else is present, but I was born Solveig of Nulmyr.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to properly meet you, Solveig. As I swore, I will tell no one. We all have our secrets to keep, and I understand, to some degree, your predicament. My family is placing tremendous pressure on me to be here and improve our fortunes. I simply wonder that yours hasn¡¯t arranged a marriage for you to that end, that you¡¯ve been able to come here like this at all.¡±


    A sharp, bitter laugh escapes Solveig¡¯s lips. ¡°I don¡¯t think Father has noticed my absence, and Ingemar¡¯s too sick to stop me even if he wanted to. Neither of them will be arranging anything for me. I don¡¯t mind, anyway. Pretending to be my brother has been much more fun than acting as the lady of the house. After watching Princess Wilhelmina entertain her suitors, I want no part in such things. As Ingemar, I have freedom to make my own choices.¡±


    Kai doesn¡¯t know how to respond. He knows only too well what it is to hide his true self from the world, but he dares not tell a seemingly devout follower of Chuezoh that he is a cybrinn, and he¡¯s never been society¡¯s captive the way noble daughters are.


    ¡°Well. As much fun as this has been. You should go, so I can finish getting ready,¡± Solveig prompts, pointing towards the door with her cosmetic brush. ¡°If the King has no need of us today, perhaps we can go for a ride with Karl this afternoon?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be in the courtyard by the main gate whenever you¡¯re ready and he¡¯s awake.¡±

 Anxiety

    To Prince Adalberto of Syazonia, may Chuezoh¡¯s light shine upon him,


    I hope that this letter finds you in good health and that your journey back to Zosya was a pleasant one, or at least uneventful. I know some of your brothers were rather upset with my choice, and the last thing I want is for my Quest for Favor to have spoiled your relationship with any of them. I know they will soon be my brothers, as well, and I would like to be able to get along well, or at least cordially, with all of them, if possible. Please, if you have any advice on that matter, don¡¯t hesitate to share it.


    Similarly, I would dearly like to be able to make a good impression on your parents, when I meet them in a few months. Would any particular gifts or pleasantries be appreciated? Do they have pet peeves I should know to avoid in my mannerisms or dress or speech? The last thing in the world I want is for our union to cause you any discomfort or make anything more difficult for you.


    To that end, I assume that preparations for our wedding now occupy much of your time, as they do mine. I now spend the bulk of each day sorting through my personal belongings and standing in dress fittings, and my family members have graciously agreed to sit for miniature portraits to be painted of them, so that I can keep them with me, in a sense, when I come to join you in Syazonia. Can you tell me anything about the plans thus far, or will everything be a surprise? Is there anything I can assist with, to make things easier?


    Forgive me if I am overstepping any boundaries. I just remember you mentioned that you might be handling matters of state while your father travels to deal with problems in the regions of Syazonia bordering Barhesta, and if that has indeed come to pass, I can only imagine how busy you must be. I seek only to lighten your load, to help bear your burdens in whatever way I can.


    And so I find myself conflicted, because I don¡¯t want to burden you with an unnecessarily long letter, but I have so many questions, and I think it is important that we get to know each other to some extent before we are married. I also flatter myself to think that perhaps reading this letter will bring you some respite from all of your duties and obligations¡ªI truly hope that is the case.


    If nothing else, I must ask¡ªare there any restrictions on who or how many people may accompany me when I come to Syazonia for our wedding? May I keep any maids from Aethyrozia with me, or must I bid them all farewell? Please, if nothing else¡ªplease let Fifi come with me for the wedding. I know she cannot stay much past that¡ªindeed, I have heard Father say something about her Quest for Favor happening soon after our wedding, but you mustn¡¯t breathe a word of that to anyone¡ªbut we have been practically inseparable for most of my life and all of hers. She is taking the idea of my departure rather hard, and I would like for us to be able to stay together for as long as possible.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    And¡ªif I may be so bold¡ªdid you mean it, when you invited Emrik to come visit in autumn and said Fifi might come too? I think it¡¯s important for you and I to spend time together just us, to figure out how to be good life partners for one another, but oh, it would mean the world to me to be able to see my siblings again from time to time after we are married. I know my father didn¡¯t seem terribly keen on the idea, but if you are serious about it, I have faith that we can persuade him together.


    I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve rambled on for so long. I hope you¡¯ve made it to the end of this letter, and that my Syazonian is passable. I hope to receive a reply from you whenever you find the time to write.


    Yours Truly,


    Minna


    Minna sighs and looks over the parchment on her desk. It¡¯s her fifth draft of her first letter to her new fianc¨¦ and she¡¯s still not at all confident she¡¯s done it right. Have I written too much? Too little? Did I ask too many questions? Have I been too forward and affectionate, or not affectionate enough? Will he think it an impertinence to his late wife? What if¡ª


    ¡°Working on the letter again?¡± Fifi interrupts Minna¡¯s worrying as she comes into their study.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Minna groans, hiding her face in her hands.


    ¡°May I see it?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I don¡¯t want you to read what I¡¯ve written about you, Minna adds silently.


    ¡°How many times have you written it and then thrown it in the fireplace? Six?¡±


    ¡°Only four, and I¡¯ll thank you to¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. I promise. As you¡¯ve said, he¡¯s a good man, a kind man. And he¡¯s probably at least as busy as you are right now. In his shoes, I¡¯d love to have a letter from you so that I could take a few minutes to be a person instead of being in charge of things.¡±


    ¡°You think he will feel that way, though? You and he aren¡¯t exactly similar¡ª¡±


    ¡°No one likes working all the time. You yourself have been telling me every night how tired you are of dress fittings and sorting chemises. And you¡¯re more like Adalberto than I am.¡±


    Minna smiles in spite of herself. Trust Fifi to know exactly what to say to make me feel better. Like always.


    ¡°All right, you win. I¡¯ll send this one and stop worrying about it.¡± She folds the letter up and seals it with hot wax before she can change her mind.


    Fifi¡¯s face lights up. ¡°Good. Do we have time, then, to lock ourselves in here for a while? You can play whatever instrument you want, and I¡¯ll see if I can find something worth drawing. Unless you have more fittings or something¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, I sent them away for the day. Today we were just debating fabrics, anyway. It didn¡¯t take long. I¡¯d love to spend time with you. I know you said whatever instrument I want, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°I meant it. I just want to listen to you play. It helps me draw better.¡±


    Minna laughs for the first time in days. ¡°If you say so, Fifi.¡±

 Bloom

    After a couple of weeks at Court, Kai is finally certain that he¡¯s seen all of Adelhyod¡¯s courtyards. He had expected that they would all be more or less the same, but to his surprise and delight, each has its own special features; some boast ornate fountains, while others have fish ponds and still others have no water features at all, and each is home to a different variety of plants. Kai has never seen many of the plants in the Royal Courtyards before. He couldn¡¯t have predicted, when he decided to come to Court, that being here could be instructive in his training as a cybrinn, but he¡¯s made more progress in that area than he has in either befriending a wealthy, high-ranking woman or in getting King Ansgar to acknowledge him in his meetings with the Aethyrozian nobility.


    His favorite time to be out of doors is around sunset, when the insects are settling down and the light is golden and everything is appearing to its best advantage, and so this evening he is wandering the courtyard he¡¯s decided is his favorite, the one with the most unfamiliar plants and multiple fish ponds in it. Most everyone else in Adelhyod, as far as he can tell, is still having supper, which is fine by Kai. He¡¯s never minded solitude, and he welcomes the time to think and enjoy the natural world.


    A crow flies past him, laughing to itself about something or other and reminding him of Fifi, who mentioned her pet raven the last time he met her by chance in a courtyard. Kai smiles, remembering how he¡¯d found her that day: halfway up a tree, skirts tied between her legs, one arm wrapped around a branch and holding her sketchbook while she tried with the other to sketch a bird feeding its young in a nest further up the tree. He¡¯d wondered aloud how she¡¯d gotten there without disturbing the birds, which startled Fifi so that she almost dropped her sketchbook and the adult bird flew away, scolding Kai for his intrusion. Fifi was similarly put out, at least at first, but she stayed and talked with him for a few minutes before going inside to ¡°face her responsibilities,¡± as she put it.


    Every time I¡¯ve found her outside, since that first courtyard meeting, she¡¯s been sketching a plant or a bird or some fish, Kai realizes, and she never seems the least bit concerned about acting like a princess, beyond being embarrassed to be found with muddy skirts and tangled hair. He doesn¡¯t mind seeing her that way; she seems much more comfortable and genuinely herself in the courtyards than she did during the formal events of her sister¡¯s Quest for Favor. Does anyone else see that in her? he wonders.


    At least Solveig, when she¡¯s not pretending to be Ingemar, does. Kai recently learned that she was part of the princesses¡¯ household for some months, before her brother took ill and she went back to Nulmyr to care for him. Such employment is typical for daughters of noble families, and Solveig enjoyed it while it lasted; she found both princesses pleasant to be around, and neither acted superior or treated their subordinates with anything but kindness and respect. She wasn¡¯t at all surprised by the outcome of Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s Quest for Favor, saying the elder princess has always been the type to put her family and her country before herself. Fifi, she said, is more unpredictable¡ªthe type to forget etiquette and sneak out of official functions, and not the least bit afraid of King Ansgar.


    That in itself speaks volumes, in Kai¡¯s opinion; in his meetings with the nobility about Aethyrozian policy, King Ansgar is gruff and serious, and anytime Kai dares to speak, he is met by a harrowing glare from the king. Ingemar and Karl have taken to repeating Kai¡¯s suggestions so that King Ansgar might actually hear and consider them. It hasn¡¯t escaped their notice that the king has a particular prejudice against the representative of Lyrnola. What none of them can say for certain is why the king is so rude to Kai. By all accounts, he only resembles his father in outward appearance. Does he hate my father so much that showing any favor to Lyrnola is unthinkable for him? Kai wonders. Or has he somehow learned that I¡¯ve spoken with Fifi outside of Court functions? That can¡¯t be; he would have sent me away or worse¡ªThis narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Fancy seeing you here,¡± Fifi interrupts Kai¡¯s musings as he rounds a thick clump of elderberry bushes. She¡¯s straddling a bench next to a pond studded with lily pads, sketchbook and pens around her, a short distance down the stone path from him. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to wonder if you actually spend any time indoors.¡±


    ¡°I could say the same for you,¡± he replies. ¡°Did you have no¡­royal obligations this evening?¡±


    Fifi shrugs. ¡°Family supper, as always. But Father and Mother started arguing about particulars of their agreement with Syazonia about Minna and¡­. Well, these water lilies are far more agreeable company. And I haven¡¯t gotten to sketch yet today, since I¡¯ve been sitting to have my portrait painted, so if you don¡¯t mind¡­.¡± Her focus shifts to the pond beside her, sketchbook and pen in hand.


    ¡°I would never stand in your way, Princess.¡± He takes a step back. Her head snaps up and she glares at him.


    ¡°Fifi. You agreed to call me Fifi.¡±


    Kai¡¯s cheeks heat up. Why did I use her title?! ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Fifi. I don¡¯t want to keep you from drawing, so¡ª¡±


    ¡°I can draw and talk. Unless you¡¯d prefer solitude. Or better company.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I haven¡¯t met anyone else at Court who has such a genuine appreciation for the natural world.¡±


    Fifi smiles but doesn¡¯t answer; a tiny frog has hopped onto a lily pad near her seat, capturing her attention. Her pen moves across a sheet of parchment with quick, sure strokes to depict its pose. Moving as quietly as he can, Kai slowly closes the distance between himself and Fifi¡¯s bench and settles himself on the opposite end of it. To his relief, the frog does not seem bothered by his proximity. Its throat sac inflates and deflates as it croaks a warning to others in the area: Stay Away, This Place Is Mine.


    ¡°I think he¡¯s posing for you,¡± Kai breathes, barely audible.


    ¡°I¡¯m grateful,¡± Fifi answers in kind, then bites her lip in concentration as she sketches the outline of the frog¡¯s webbed foot. ¡°I haven¡¯t drawn frogs much. They don¡¯t often sit still like this while I¡¯m watching.¡±


    ¡°How strange.¡± The frog looks directly at Kai, and he mouths, ¡®Stay there for her,¡¯ to it. The frog tilts its head to one side and croaks again: For Now.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I would think frogs would be more cooperative than birds.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had a lot of practice, with Algot, figuring out how to get birds to pose for me.¡±


    ¡°Is Algot doing well?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Driving the maids crazy, as usual. Any shiny object left on a table is fair game for him. I have to fetch jewelry from his hiding places every other day or so, seems like.¡±


    ¡°And yet people keep leaving jewelry on tables?¡±


    Fifi smiles. ¡°I¡¯ve told them not to. Habits are hard to break, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, good sir frog, for choosing such a lovely perch. If only that water lily behind you was blooming¡­¡± She sighs, looking at the water lily bud near the posing amphibian.


    Without thinking, Kai reaches toward the bud. ¡°Bloa¡¯ma,¡± he whispers, willing the bud to open. A moment later, the pale pink petals unfold with grace into a stunning blossom.


    Fifi¡¯s breath catches. Kai¡¯s eyes widen and the blood drains from his face. Bones and briars, I forgot myself, he curses internally. He looks at her, bracing himself for the worst.


    ¡°You¡­?¡± she asks, gesturing towards the flower, warm brown eyes full of wonder. The frog croaks in amusement and leaps into the pond with a splash.


    An agonizing moment passes with neither of them moving or speaking. She watched it happen. No point in denying it now, Kai tells himself, then nods once, praying to Cybarei that honesty will not be his undoing.

 Dangerous

    Fifi¡¯s eyes dart back and forth between the water lily and Kai, who looks as tense and wide-eyed as a rabbit about to bolt away from intruders in its meadow. A million thoughts clamor for her attention. Slowly, she reaches out and touches the full water lily blossom that was a closed bud mere moments ago. It looks and feels like all the water lilies she¡¯s seen and touched before¡ªbut how can that be?


    ¡°How¡­?¡± Fifi asks. She wants to say more, but too many questions demand to be voiced all at once and that one word is all she manages to make heard.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to report me to the king?¡± Kai questions, his voice low. Every line of his body looks as taut as a bowstring.


    Fifi shakes her head. ¡°Why would I do that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­forbidden. What you witnessed. Your great-grandfather¡ª¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    Some of the tension leaves Kai¡¯s body, but his brow is still furrowed with either concern or skepticism¡ªFifi cannot tell which.


    ¡°How did you do it?¡± she asks again. ¡°And why take that risk, if you were so concerned¡ª¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking. You wanted the flower to be in bloom, for your sketch, and it¡¯s an easy thing to do, so I¡ª¡±


    ¡°An easy thing?!¡±


    ¡°I mean¡­it was one of the first things I learned to do. When I started learning¡­.¡±


    ¡°On your own? With a book? Did someone teach you?¡± It¡¯s all Fifi can do to sit still. Her forgotten sketchbook sits precariously close to the edge of the bench, prone to falling into the pond at the slightest provocation. Kai pushes it towards her and away from the peril of the water.


    ¡°Careful.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Their hands brush each other as Fifi takes the sketchbook, glad to have it as an anchor while she tries to process this new information about Kai. Her cheeks flush and she looks away from him, back at the water lily. Maybe, if I go back to sketching, if all my focus isn¡¯t on him, he¡¯ll be willing to say more¡­ she thinks, picking up a pen to add the water lily to her sketch of the frog.


    ¡°This is dangerous, you know,¡± Kai mutters after several moments. ¡°For both of us.¡±


    Fifi dares a glance up at him before returning her gaze to her sketchbook. His hazel eyes look almost black in the fading daylight, and his jaw is tense, his expression serious. But breaking rules has never bothered Fifi.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°It¡¯s already against the rules to be out here together without a chaperone,¡± she points out.


    ¡°Easily passed off as an accident. We can always pretend we¡¯ve never met like this before, if someone were to see us. But what you¡¯re asking for¡­.¡±


    ¡°I just want to know.¡±


    ¡°That knowledge is considered criminal. And you¡¯re a princess. Your father¡ª¡±


    ¡°Will never hear anything about it. Even if I wanted to tell him, which I don¡¯t, he never listens to me anyway.¡± Fifi¡¯s grip on the pen tightens. ¡°If it¡¯s so dangerous, why show me? Why be involved in it at all?¡±


    ¡°Like I said, I wasn¡¯t thinking. I guess¡­in that moment, I felt¡­safe. To be myself.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m honored.¡± She means it wholeheartedly. Until the bud opened at Kai¡¯s command, she felt the same way with him. His hesitations and guarded moments from the other times they¡¯ve talked make sense to her now, but she wonders what else he might be hiding. Dangerous, he said, she muses. But he¡¯s not the type to hurt people. Not like Emiliano or many of the so-called nobility. So then what could he mean?


    ¡°As for why¡­why I am¡­.¡± He shakes his head. ¡°Sigurd would be so mad¡­.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Sigurd? Your father?¡±


    Kai snorts. ¡°I wish. My mentor. He taught me¡­everything, really. Everything worth knowing, anyway. None of the skills I used in the Quest for Favor, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°But what you just did. He taught you.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Can you teach me?¡±


    Kai starts and looks her over with new skepticism. ¡°Teach you?¡±


    ¡°To do¡­whatever it¡¯s called that you did. Magic, I know, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°Cybarein.¡±


    Like Cybarei, Fifi realizes. The priest of Chuezoh in the Royal Zoche has warned those who worship there on many occasions against acknowledgement of Cybarei, the personification of nature¡¯s power, as anything more than a folk tale. There is no god but Chuezoh, his voice echoes in her head. But she doesn¡¯t believe him. Chuezohm has never resonated with her the way it seems to resonate with others at Court.


    ¡°Cybarein,¡± she repeats. ¡°Will you teach it to me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just making flowers bloom. It¡¯s a way of living, a sort of spirituality. Are you prepared for that?¡±


    Fifi hesitates, uncomfortable under the intensity of Kai¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know. No one ever asks me that. I¡¯m just told what¡¯s happening and that I must be ready, whether I want to be or not.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t like anything else,¡± Kai assures her. His voice is softer and gentler than before, almost like he pities her. ¡°You¡¯re free to choose, to commit or not to. My one requirement, if I am to teach you anything, is that you say nothing about it to anyone else. Even your sister.¡±


    Fifi bites her lip. Until Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor and betrothal, the two of them shared everything. But now Minna has her own adventures, and she¡¯s always taken the priest more seriously than I have, she reasons. Why shouldn¡¯t I have an adventure of my own?


    ¡°I promise I will tell no one, regardless. And¡­as for preparation¡­am I free to see as I go, whether I¡¯m prepared or not?¡±


    ¡°You have complete control over how long you follow this path.¡±


    A brilliant smile overtakes Fifi¡¯s face. ¡°Then when do we start?¡±


    ¡°That depends on you. I believe your schedule is more¡­structured than mine.¡±


    ¡°Not tonight. It¡¯s getting dark, and they¡¯ll be looking for me if I¡¯m not back to my rooms soon.¡±


    ¡°No, not tonight. Do you have a favorite courtyard?¡±


    ¡°This one, actually.¡±


    Kai smiles as though her answer is somehow funny to him. ¡°Then¡­shall we try to meet on purpose here, tomorrow after supper?¡±


    ¡°I will do my best to get away. Until then¡­¡± Words fail Fifi as she gathers up her sketchbook and pens, suddenly shy.


    ¡°Bring those with you tomorrow,¡± Kai instructs with a slight smile. ¡°Just in case.¡±


    ¡°Right. See you then.¡±

 Mistake

    Prince Didier strides around his antechamber, one hand clutching his head and mussing his hair, the other gripping a smallish piece of parchment. The cold words Princess Josefina¡ªshould he still think of her as Fifi, even though she signed her given name?¡ªwrote to him echo in his mind, though he¡¯s only read her note once. Should I show it to Father? he debates. That he has to tell his father what¡¯s happened is absolutely certain, to his mind; the only questions remaining are how, and what the consequences might be.


    Since his son¡¯s return from Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s Quest for Favor, King Edmond has spoken of little in his meetings with his advisors except for his desire to form an alliance with Aethyrozia. Until his pageboy delivered the note in his hands earlier this afternoon, Didier had been convinced that achieving that goal of his father¡¯s would be only a matter of time, even though the king and the ambassadors to Aethyrozia seemed less than optimistic. Now, though, the threat of failure looms large over Didier¡¯s shoulder.


    He hadn¡¯t meant to offend either princess, though of course he knew it was a possibility, when he left before Princess Wilhelmina announced her final decision. He didn¡¯t get a chance to dance with her again after he¡¯d danced with Princess Josefina, so he couldn¡¯t tell her personally. He¡¯d thought about writing the elder Princess a note, as well, but there wasn¡¯t time. In his mind, leaving early was kinder than having to turn her down in front of everyone, if by chance she announced him as her choice.


    Would she have done that, if I hadn¡¯t dropped out? he wonders. It seemed perfectly clear to him that, in spite of his best efforts to impress and present a strong diplomatic case for an alliance between Vyrunia and Aethyrozia, King Ansgar was unmoved by his performance. In fact, the king appeared to openly favor the five Syazonian princes over Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s other suitors, despite that, in Didier¡¯s opinion, at least two of the five ought to have been ejected for lack of merit and decorum. Princess Wilhelmina was supposed to make her choice of husband without anyone else¡¯s influence, but Didier cannot help but think that her father might have had something to do with the announcement that she would wed Prince Adalberto¡ªan announcement delivered to the palace a few days ago by Syazonian couriers.


    ¡°No use delaying the inevitable,¡± Didier mutters to himself. ¡°Maybe Father or his advisors will have an idea for how to fix this.¡± He takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and leaves his suite, bound for King Edmond¡¯s study.


    The walk is not a long one, and someone answers Didier¡¯s knock right away.


    ¡°Ah, my son. Come in,¡± the king greets Prince Didier from behind his large cherrywood desk. Although there is grey in King Edmond¡¯s warm brown hair, they look very much alike, with similar facial structures and the same green eyes. ¡°What troubles you?¡±


    Didier hesitates, pretending to be distracted by choosing an elegantly crafted chair in which to sit. ¡°Any news from Aethyrozia?¡±


    ¡°More of the same. King Ansgar is most dismissive when he writes to me, arguing that an alliance between our countries would benefit Vyrunia more than Aethyrozia. Our ambassadors despair of changing his mind. They say he spends most of his time now negotiating with Syazonia about Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s wedding.¡±


    ¡°As would be natural. Perhaps he will be more amenable once the wedding is over.¡± Didier bites his lip, and his fingers tighten around the note from Princess Josefina.


    ¡°We might have been spared this had you remained in Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s Quest for Favor until the end,¡± King Edmond points out. Didier shifts uncomfortably in his chair. ¡°I know you said you didn¡¯t think she was right for you¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. And I think¡­I think King Ansgar was pressuring her to choose one of the princes of Syazonia anyway. It might not have made a difference. But while I was there, her younger sister, Princess Josefina, caught my attention¡­.¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°You mentioned that, and that you¡¯d left her a note. Has she replied?¡±


    ¡°Aye. And¡­not favorably.¡±


    King Edmond¡¯s brow furrows in a deep frown. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I promise you, I never meant to offend either one of them. I truly did not know that the two princesses share a suite. But¡­Princess Wilhelmina read the note I wrote Princess Josefina over her sister¡¯s shoulder, which I can only guess caused some conflict between them.¡±


    ¡°That is indeed¡­unfortunate.¡±


    ¡°I caused Princess Wilhelmina distress by leaving early¡ªPrincess Josefina did say I¡¯d made a favorable impression on both of them, during the Quest for Favor¡ªand the sisters are quite close.¡±


    ¡°She is angry with you, then,¡± King Edmond guesses.


    ¡°Aye.¡±


    ¡°You must make things right, if you are to have any chance when it comes time for Princess Josefina¡¯s Quest for Favor.¡±


    ¡°I want to, more than anything. She¡¯s confident and witty and speaks her mind, and she¡¯s beautiful. She¡¯d make an excellent Queen of Vyrunia, if I can convince her to give me a chance¡­.¡±


    ¡°Hmmmm.¡± King Edmond strokes his beard thoughtfully. ¡°Do you have her reply? May I see what she wrote?¡±


    Didier gets up and hands his father the note, his movements slow and stiff with embarrassment. Part of him would rather not share this with his father, but he came here for advice, and he would never refuse so polite a request from the king.


    King Edmond¡¯s eyes scan the brief note with interest. ¡°Her main concern is her sister, it would seem.¡±


    ¡°Aye. One of the things I admire about her is how much she cares about her sister, and how openly she spoke of that affection.¡±


    ¡°Then perhaps an apology to Princess Wilhelmina is in order?¡±


    ¡°It would do no harm, most likely.¡± Didier kicks himself internally; he should have done that as soon as he¡¯d arrived back at the Palace of Roses, since he¡¯d wanted to leave her a note anyway. It would have been the right thing to do. Perhaps his apology letter could have arrived before Princess Josefina sent her note and they wouldn¡¯t be in this situation now, if he¡¯d just been smarter or more considerate.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you have much that you wish you¡¯d said already.¡±


    ¡°I do, but¡­. Will an apology be enough, do you think?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not for you, much as you enjoy theatrics.¡± The corners of the king¡¯s eyes crinkle, telling Didier that his father is poking a bit of fun at him. ¡°What if we sent your apology along with a wedding gift for Princess Wilhelmina? Would that suit your fancies?¡±


    ¡°A double gesture of goodwill? I don¡¯t think her favor can be bought, but I certainly do wish her every possible happiness¡ª¡±


    ¡°Save the pleasantries for your letter to her. I¡¯m sure you can paint the picture you want with your words. But what sort of gift do you think she¡¯d appreciate?¡±


    Didier paces, considering. What might she possibly want? he wonders. She didn¡¯t strike him as being particularly materialistic, as princesses go. I know she loves music, but I doubt we could send her any instrument or anything musical that she doesn¡¯t already have.


    Then his mind flashes to when his older sister Arlette was first betrothed. From the day the agreements were drawn up between Vyrunia and Claiamean until the day she left for her new home, Arlette had spent most of her time working on assembling all of the clothes and other personal belongings she would be taking with her. Princess Wilhelmina might well be experiencing something similar¡­.


    ¡°Perhaps some of Vyrunia¡¯s finest textiles?¡± the prince suggests. ¡°If she¡¯s having a good many gowns made, like Arlette did, I can only imagine¡ª¡±


    ¡°An excellent idea, and easily fulfilled. I will write a request to the Royal Couturiers at once,¡± the king agrees, pulling a piece of parchment from a desk drawer and readying his quill pen. ¡°Simply tell me what sorts of fabrics she might find most appealing, and they will bring you an assortment to choose from by this time tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°She wore mostly greens and blues, during her Quest for Favor. But perhaps also something more regal, like purple or gold, since her betrothed is a Crown Prince¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve taught you well. Go draft your letter to Princess Wilhelmina. I wish to review it before you send it with the gift.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father. One last question, if I may?¡± He waits for his father¡¯s impatient nod before continuing. ¡°Do you think I should write to Princess Josefina, as well?¡±


    King Edmond considers the notion for a moment. ¡°Not until we¡¯ve received word that our gifts have been delivered. You ought to apologize to her, as well. Perhaps I will also write to King Ansgar and let him know of your¡­personal inclinations. I know it gave me comfort, when Arlette married Prince Fearghal, that he was smitten with her.¡±


    Didier frowns but holds his tongue; ¡®smitten¡¯ isn¡¯t the word he¡¯d use for his feelings for Princess Josefina, but he won¡¯t turn down his father¡¯s help in solving this problem he¡¯s inadvertently created.


    ¡°Right. Thank you. I will have that letter drafted by sunset tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Very good. With Chuezoh¡¯s blessing, we can have everything prepared for our ambassadors to carry it all to Aethyrozia with them in three days¡¯ time.¡±

 Miracle

    Fifi paces back and forth beside the pond where Kai performed a tiny miracle, clutching her sketchbook to her chest. For once, she finds no inspiration to sketch in the colors of the sunset or the myriad blossoms and other vegetation around her. She hasn¡¯t been able to focus on much of anything for more than a few minutes at a time since the last time she was here, when Kai said a strange word and a bud became a flower. Earlier, when she was sitting for her portrait again, both her mother and the artist commented on how still she was¡ªmost unusual, for Fifi, and she couldn¡¯t tell them that she was thinking about that moment, making mental lists of questions, that her thoughts were racing faster than her hands or feet have ever moved.


    Will he come tonight? Will I really be able to learn to do what he did? What if it was some sort of trick or trap? What if I fail? Fifi worries. Her pens clatter against one another in her pockets as her skirts swirl around her pacing legs. What if we¡¯re caught? What if Father finds out? Is Kai as nervous as I am?


    He¡¯d certainly seemed nervous, right after he¡¯d made magic in front of her. She can¡¯t say she blames him, knowing how Aethyrozia has treated magic users in the past. And yet she¡¯s a little hurt, that he would fear she¡¯d report him or something. I¡¯ve made it pretty clear to him that I don¡¯t much care for following rules, she huffs. But old habits must die hard, and he indicated secrecy is expected of him from his mentor¡ªSigurd, was it? I hope I get to meet him someday.


    Fifi doubts there will be any chance of meeting Kai¡¯s mentor if she doesn¡¯t learn to do any magic. And with each step of her pacing, doubt starts to creep in¡ªdoubt that Kai was serious about teaching her, doubt that he¡¯ll show up at all. Maybe he fled from Court, went back to Lyrnola so that I couldn¡¯t¡ª


    ¡°You made it,¡± Kai interrupts Fifi¡¯s thought spiral. She whirls to see him on the path behind her, smiling as though he might actually be happy to see her.


    ¡°Yes, I¡­I¡¯ve thought of almost nothing else, since last night,¡± she admits, heat coming into her cheeks. Somehow it¡¯s more embarrassing to tell him this truth than it has been for him to see her with leaves tangled in her hair and muddy skirts.


    ¡°Excited? Or afraid?¡± His voice is low and just a little raspy. Something inside Fifi shivers.


    ¡°Both. Where do we start? I¡¯m sure, once it¡¯s dark, they¡¯ll be calling for me¡­.¡±


    ¡°The bench where we sat yesterday will do for now.¡± They sit at opposite ends of it, maintaining a decorous distance, although if they are caught doing magic the amount of space between them will be the least of anyone¡¯s concerns.


    ¡°All right. Next?¡± Fifi prompts.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to think¡­how Sigurd started me¡­.¡±


    ¡°How did you meet him? Does he work for your father? Or¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t. He might have, once, or for my grandfather. But he¡¯s been living in the woods for many years now. I found him by accident.¡± He glances at Fifi and the corner of his mouth turns up as he sees her looking at him intently, elbows on her knees and chin in her hands, waiting for him to continue. ¡°I was running away from home. Another fight with my father, probably about my stepmother¡ªI don¡¯t remember anymore. I do remember finding this old man with a long silvery beard, chanting strange words and waving leaves over a rabbit with a poultice on its leg. He told me later that it had been caught in a trap. I didn¡¯t see the trap, but I did see the rabbit sitting still for him, completely calm, and I watched its flesh knit back together and strength come back into its body.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­.¡± Fifi tries to picture the scene, wondering how old Kai was at the time. The miracle he describes Sigurd doing is so much more than making a flower bloom. What more can this Cybarein accomplish? Are there limits to it? Is Kai a healer, too?


    ¡°That was my reaction, too,¡± Kai continues. ¡°I must have gasped or something. Sigurd didn¡¯t notice me until I made a noise of some kind. He was too engrossed in the ritual. But he was afraid I¡¯d report him to my father, or someone equally awful. I told him I never would, I was running away from home, and then I asked if he could teach me to be like him.¡±


    ¡°And he agreed.¡±


    Kai chuckles. ¡°It took a lot of begging and pleading and promises that I¡¯d hang around and annoy him until the day he died if he refused. But he agreed.¡±


    ¡°How long ago was that?¡±


    ¡°Years. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d seen ten winters yet, when I first met Sigurd.¡±


    ¡°And how many have you seen now?¡±


    ¡°Eighteen. But that has nothing to do with your training. We¡¯ll start with meditation. Set your sketchbook down, here.¡± He pats the bench between them. Fifi does as he¡¯s told her without protest. ¡°Now, touch a leaf or a blossom or something¡ªthe rhododendron beside you will be fine¡ªand close your eyes.¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Fifi lets her fingertips rest on a waxy rhododendron leaf. Her eyes close. ¡°And now?¡±


    ¡°Focus on your breathing, and try to feel the energy in the rhododendron, pulsing and shimmering inside it. Some of us sense colors or textures with that energy, and for some it¡¯s more of a vague knowing¡­. But breathe and be patient, and it will show itself to you.¡±


    Fifi¡¯s brow furrows in confusion, but she gets the impression that Kai has never tried to teach this before and might not have a better explanation for the idea he¡¯s trying to convey. And so she breathes long, slow, deep breaths, trying to match her own energy to what she imagines a rhododendron¡¯s might be. It¡¯s okay. You can trust me, she finds herself telling the plant without speaking. I just want to understand you better, the same as when I¡¯ve drawn you and your kindred.


    Beneath her fingertips, the leaf seems to come alive to Fifi in a way it hasn¡¯t before. Little sparks of energy tickle her fingers through the leaf¡¯s veins. Beyond them, she feels a thrumming of the plant¡¯s life force. She imagines it as a sort of fuchsia aura, subtle but the same color as its blossoms.


    ¡°I feel it,¡± she whispers, elated. Despite her fascination with nature, she never imagined something like this might be possible. ¡°But¡­what do I do with it? I don¡¯t want to hurt it¡­.¡±


    ¡°Of course not. If I thought you did, I wouldn¡¯t have agreed to teach you,¡± Kai mutters, then continues more kindly. ¡°That¡¯s good, though, to feel it. Cybarein depends on the energy of all things in nature. We use nature and natural items to help us¡­do magic, as you put it. To make a flower bud bloom, you would draw the plant¡¯s life force into the bud, calling it to yourself and telling it what you want it to do. Other skills are more complicated. They might require certain leaves, or feathers, or water from a sacred spring¡­other materials. But we¡¯ll stick to simple things now.¡±


    Fifi opens her eyes and turns to Kai. Her hand drops from the rhododendron leaf to the stone of the bench. ¡°Telling it what you want it to do? That word you used yesterday, when the flower¡­. I¡¯d never heard it before.¡±


    ¡°We use Barivyce, the sacred language of Cybarei, to ask nature to cooperate with us. The word I used, bloa¡¯ma, just means ¡®bloom,¡¯ and it has no power without a gesture or contact and force of will.¡±


    ¡°Should I be studying¡­Bar-ee-vaiss? Before I try to do any¡­Cybarein?¡±


    Kai smiles. ¡°I will teach you words as they become relevant for what you want to do. It¡¯s not a language we really use outside of practicing Cybarein, for the most part.¡±


    ¡°You keep saying ¡®we.¡¯ Who is we?¡±


    ¡°Cybrinn, we call ourselves. Followers of Cybarei. But it¡¯s not¡­formal, like going to the zoche and listening to the priest drone about Chuezoh. This¡ªthe meditation, the practice¡ªis all part of Cybarein.¡±


    Fifi nods like she understands, although she¡¯s not entirely sure what Kai means. But she¡¯s never liked going to the zoche and listening to the priest drone about Chuezoh; finding the life force in the rhododendron is much more fulfilling and satisfying for her.


    ¡°Another meditation. The water this time. Put your hand in the pond and close your eyes. Listen to it, feel it. Ordinarily observation would be part of it, but you do that already, with your drawing, and it¡¯s meant to be¡­holistic¡­.¡±


    Kai might have said more, but all of Fifi¡¯s focus has shifted to the water of the pond, trying to hear and feel it and find its energy. It¡¯s not alive in the same way that the rhododendron is, but Fifi trusts that Kai knows what he¡¯s talking about.


    She has no idea how much time passes, but behind her eyelids Fifi gets the impression of silvery ellipses, imitations of ripples, in time with harp-like trills that she feels in her skin rather than hearing. As she moves her hand, the water seems to dance with it.


    ¡°Open your eyes, and pull your hand out of the water while saying stui¡¯gya to make the water rise with your hand,¡± Kai¡¯s voice interrupts Fifi¡¯s meditation.


    ¡°How do you say it? Stwee gyuh?¡± she asks. Most of her focus is still on the water, although even with her eyes open it¡¯s getting hard to see it. The sun has likely set completely, from the way the sky looks. We¡¯re running out of time, at least for this lesson. But worrying about that won¡¯t help her practice any more than it does with drawing or music, Fifi suspects.


    ¡°Stui¡¯gya.¡± He repeats it a few more times, making Fifi say it after him each time. The word feels clumsy and awkward on Fifi¡¯s tongue. ¡°There it is. That¡¯s right. Now say it one more time as you draw your hand out of the water.¡±


    ¡°Stui¡¯gya,¡± Fifi murmurs, slowly pulling her hand skyward. For a few moments, a thin stream of water, like what might pour out of a bottle, follows her hand before giving up and splashing back into the pond. A squeak of surprise escapes Fifi¡¯s lips and she looks at Kai, eyes alight with wonder and a little pride.


    ¡°Congratulations. You did it,¡± Kai commends Fifi. His smile lights up the darkening courtyard. ¡°I know it probably doesn¡¯t feel like much¡ª¡±


    ¡°Two days ago I didn¡¯t know even this much was possible,¡± Fifi interrupts, beaming. ¡°And now¡­.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve completed your first lesson as a cybrinn. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I want to do more. I know we can¡¯t tonight¡ªit¡¯s gotten so dark¡ªbut if you don¡¯t mind continuing to teach me¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a fast learner. I don¡¯t mind. But we shouldn¡¯t¡­become too predictable. Your attendants might suspect something is amiss.¡±


    Fifi nods and picks up her sketchbook. It feels good to have something to hold onto, to steady the excited pounding of her heart. ¡°Right. Not tomorrow evening, but the evening after? In a different courtyard?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The one with the statues of past kings, perhaps?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been there in a while. I¡¯d be happy to see which plants are in bloom.¡±


    ¡°Then I will see you there, eve after next. But you should go, before someone starts looking for you.¡±


    ¡°Right. Until next lesson, then.¡± Fifi gets up and walks towards the nearest door, but she can¡¯t bring herself to move with any urgency. She¡¯s too caught up in listening to the breeze and the plants around her, breathing the flower-scented air of the courtyard. Learning just a little of Cybarein has unlocked something in her, something she feels she¡¯s always yearned for but couldn¡¯t name or put into words. Going inside seems like something of a betrayal, like leaving that part of herself behind.


    It¡¯s only for a little while, she reminds herself. Even without a lesson the next day, there¡¯s nothing to stop her from going into a courtyard on her own and practicing what she¡¯s already learned.

 Brothers

    Prince Adalberto settles in a chair next to one of the narrow windows in his suite, overlooking a dilapidated courtyard below. His dinner¡ªsome sort of leek, cabbage, and rabbit pie, by the look and smell of it¡ªsits waiting on a table next to the chair, steam wafting from slits in its crust. Also on the table are various pieces of parchment; most are notes he took during meetings with the royal advisors, or notes from the advisors themselves, but at least one is a letter from King Celestino. Right now none of the words on the pages make any sense to him. He awoke before dawn and has spent most of his time since then discussing various issues with the royal advisors. Now, at noontide, he¡¯s exhausted, and the prospect of an afternoon filled with more work is daunting, to say the least.


    But he mustn¡¯t get discouraged. Ruling a kingdom is hard work, and he knew that when his father entrusted him with taking on many kingly responsibilities while he is near the border with Barhesta. He doesn¡¯t trust any of my brothers to take any of it on, not even Lisandro, Adalberto reminds himself, shaking his head as he sighs. He¡¯s often heard that a crown is a heavy burden, but hearing about it and bearing it are two different things.


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be too much longer,¡± he mutters to himself. His father¡¯s most recent letter had an optimistic tone. He and the nobles in the provinces near Barhesta seem to be closing in on an agreement. Once it¡¯s settled, the king will return to Zosya, and Adalberto will be able to spend all of his time on wedding plans, instead of just a few hours each afternoon.


    He¡¯s just about to take a bite of his dinner when someone knocks at the door. Another heavy sigh escapes his lips. Never a moment of peace, he laments internally.


    ¡°Enter,¡± he calls. He is expecting the interruption to come from a servant, or perhaps one of the nobles. Instead, to Adalberto¡¯s surprise, Prince Lisandro comes through the door, a dulcimer hanging by a strap from his shoulder. One of his hands clutches a piece of parchment, which bears a red wax seal.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you, brother,¡± Lisandro begins, stiff and awkward, the way he¡¯s been around Adalberto since Minna announced her decision. ¡°I crossed paths with a courier on the way here, and he had¡­this for you, and I thought¡­. We haven¡¯t seen each other much lately, and I¡­.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not bothering me,¡± Adalberto assures his brother, rising from his chair. ¡°How are you doing, Lisandro?¡±


    Lisandro won¡¯t meet Adalberto¡¯s eyes. ¡°Oh. Um. I¡­. It¡¯s been harder, to find places to practice without bothering anyone, since we¡¯ve come back. Emiliano and Casimiro are more¡­volatile lately. And Ramiro just wants to read and gripes when anyone disturbs him.¡±


    ¡°I know. You¡¯re always welcome here. Meetings with the royal advisors would be more bearable with music.¡±


    Lisandro smiles slightly, but then his expression turns guilty. ¡°I should be asking you, how you¡¯re doing. You¡¯ve been so busy¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not too busy to see you, if you need something. Being busy is¡­helpful. It¡¯s harder to get¡­lost.¡±


    ¡°Right. I¡¯m sure. That¡¯s part of why I¡¯ve been looking for places I can play undisturbed¡­. Although, I shouldn¡¯t compare¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay to be upset. I know you really like her.¡±


    Lisandro ducks his head and blushes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°She said, while we were still at Adelhyod, that she would still like to play duets with you someday. If that¡¯s any consolation.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­very nice of her. And good to hear. Um¡­. This is for you. From her, I think.¡± He hands Adalberto the parchment with the wax seal. The elder prince recognizes the Aethyrozian seal in the wax at a glance.


    ¡°Either her or her father,¡± Adalberto confirms.


    ¡°I doubt King Ansgar uses such flourishes when he writes,¡± Lisandro argues, pointing to the swirling letters spelling his older brother¡¯s name on the parchment.


    ¡°True. It¡¯s not his handwriting.¡± Adalberto isn¡¯t sure how to proceed. If it¡¯s from Minna, he doesn¡¯t want to read it in front of Lisandro; such an action would seem to be salt in a wound. But he doesn¡¯t want it to get lost in the rest of the papers on the table beside his chair, either, and so setting it down seems unwise.


    ¡°Go ahead and read it. I don¡¯t mind,¡± Lisandro urges. ¡°She chose you. And you deserve to be happy again. I can respect what¡¯s been decided. Just¡­treat her well.¡±


    ¡°I will do everything in my power to make sure she is happy here.¡± Adalberto speaks slowly, choosing his words with care.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Lisandro nods, but his lower lip quivers and his jaw tightens. ¡°I would expect no less. You¡¯ve always¡­done your best to help¡­all of us. Even those who don¡¯t appreciate it.¡± He sends a venomous glare out the window behind Adalberto, who takes it to mean that Casimiro and Emiliano must be in one of Zosya¡¯s courtyards, jousting or fencing or something of that nature. ¡°Anyway. Will I be in the way in the drawing room, there?¡± Lisandro gestures to a closed door on his left, a few paces away.


    ¡°That room is always reserved for you, as your personal practice space, whenever you wish it.¡± Adalberto means it. None of their brothers will bother Lisandro as long as he stays in Adalberto¡¯s suite, whether or not they can hear his music. Even swaggering Casimiro knows that Adalberto can best him in a fight, should a disagreement between them come to blows.


    ¡°Thank you, brother.¡± Lisandro disappears into the drawing room quickly, closing the door behind him. Sweet dulcimer music emanates from that doorway moments later.


    Satisfied that he is once again alone, Adalberto considers briefly whether to focus next on Minna¡¯s letter or his dinner. But curiosity far outweighs hunger, and so he takes his letter-opener from the table¡ªsilver with two larks entwined in flight as the pommel, a gift from Valeriya¡ªand slides it under the sealing wax, removing it in one piece. The letter unrolls readily, inviting him to read it, and so he does.


    He wasn¡¯t sure Minna would write to him at all, though he hoped she would. The three days of her Quest for Favor weren¡¯t enough time for them to really get to know each other. At Adelhyod, Adalberto had been struck by Minna¡¯s poise and control and unfailing good nature towards all her suitors. The Minna revealed in her letter is different, but no less admirable. Her words are kind and considerate, even with her many questions, but above all else, she seems to be focused on how to make his life easier and their eventual union positive for everyone.


    Tears prick the backs of Adalberto¡¯s eyes and he blinks them away, irritated that they would dare to make their presence known. For the first time in a long time, he decides that his official work can wait. He takes his dinner and Minna¡¯s letter into his private study and locks the door behind him, intending to draft his reply to her immediately.


    ***~O~***


    To Princess Wilhelmina, Minna, of Aethyrozia, may this letter find her in good health and good spirits,


    Thank you so much for taking the time to write to me, and for your kindness and consideration. I have indeed been quite busy, handling the business of ruling Syazonia and planning our wedding while my father negotiates with the nobles near the border with Barhesta. Your letter has provided me with some respite from those burdens, and I am grateful.


    Our journey was uneventful. Casimiro and Emiliano were somewhat sulky, but I think at least Emiliano has his eye on your younger sister, and both will recover quickly. They are more annoyed that they lost to me in a competition than anything else, and that annoyance will fade as they find other things with which to occupy their time. I have no doubt that you, with your myriad charms and social graces, will be perfectly able to get along cordially, if not better, with every member of my family.


    Regarding my parents, nothing could please my mother more than a bouquet of Aethyrozian flowers. She adores flowers and her suite is constantly overflowing with them. She took ill a few years ago and never quite recovered her strength from that illness, so going into the courtyards is difficult for her. My father¡ªmuch like yours, as I understand it¡ªis thrilled that our marriage will cement an alliance between our two countries and that is more than gift enough for him. Your manners and poise will be icing on that metaphorical cake.


    Set your heart at ease; you have overstepped no boundaries. I see marriage as a partnership between two people, and you honor me with your willingness to start acting as a partner even though we are many leagues apart. Unfortunately, I know of nothing that I can delegate to you at this distance, but Chuezoh willing, my father will return to Zosya soon and resume ruling, and I will be able to focus more on the wedding plans.


    At present, all I can tell you regarding the wedding is that we will have a traditional ceremony in the Royal Zoche, and there will be days of feasting and revelry to follow. If there are any dishes or dances you would like to feature, please let me know and I will do my best to see that they are included. I will ask your father about this, but I am of the opinion that the Royal Orchestra of Aethyrozia is superior to our court musicians here in Syazonia, and if they can be part of the entourage that accompanies you here, I think it would greatly improve the festivities. That would also allow you to take on some planning. Your selections for the Ball in your Quest for Favor were unerringly superb, and I believe your taste to be better than mine in such matters.


    Similarly, I think having miniatures painted of your family members to bring with you to Syazonia is an excellent idea. Of course Fifi may come with you for the wedding, and any other members of your family or friends you like. Per my father¡¯s wishes, no more than half of your servants here may be Aethyrozian, but feel free to bring a few of your maids. I want this to become a true home for you, and though I expect the transition will be difficult in some ways, I intend to ease it in every way that I can.


    I absolutely meant it when I extended that invitation to Emrik, and Fifi is more than welcome to come visit, as well, anytime your parents allow it. I will broach the issue again in my next letter to your father, along with the inquiry about borrowing your Royal Orchestra. Autumn in Syazonia is beautiful, my favorite time of year, and the hunt never disappoints. With Chuezoh¡¯s blessing, perhaps we can time their visit for Oggerheim, when there will be much feasting and merriment with the fruits of the harvest.


    As a final note¡ªyou have no cause to be self-conscious about your Syazonian. The language, at least, should cause you little difficulty when you join me here.


    Should you see fit to write me again, I would love to know more about you¡ªyour hopes, your fears, your interests, what you enjoy doing when duty does not impose upon your time. I will answer you in kind, and perhaps in that way we can build something of a foundation for our future together.


    Kindest regards,


    Adalberto

 Distraction

    Bretor has long since given way to Tzitor, which is almost over, bringing more warmth and fragrant blossoms to the courtyard where Kai first met Fifi. The clump of lilacs from which he¡¯d first seen her outdoors has lost almost all its flowers, but a few late blooms still perfume the air with their heady scent. Kai smiles, looking from the lilacs to the stone bench where she¡¯d been sitting by the fish pond that day, during the break in the Talent Round. He hadn¡¯t meant for them to meet at all; he had come to the courtyard seeking fresh air and perhaps a place to practice, and he¡¯d hidden as soon as he¡¯d realized someone else was present. But his stifled sneeze had ruffled the lilac bushes, attracting her attention, and somehow that had led them to this moment, with him waiting for her to arrive for her next lesson in Cybarein.


    To Kai¡¯s surprise, their first few lessons have gone rather well, despite his complete lack of experience as a teacher and his constant, gnawing fear that she would report him and the Hedersvakt would come to the courtyard in her stead to take him away. Those fears, at least, have proven unfounded. She seems to have connected to it in the same way I did, he muses, not for the first time, as he wanders in the general direction of the bench and fish pond. And she really does have the Chyal¡¯lelseh, the Calling, to be a cybrinn. She¡¯s been able to find the energy, to move water and make buds bloom.


    He was at least as surprised as she was, when she ¡°made magic¡± for the first time. And she¡¯d come to their second lesson having practiced on her own, something Kai hadn¡¯t expected. He knew she was interested, eager to learn, but thought she¡¯d be too busy, or too supervised, to practice Cybarein without him. That was when he decided to send Sigurd a message by way of a raven¡ªnot Fifi¡¯s Algot, but another he¡¯s befriended on the grounds of Adelhyod. The message was simple: She is cybrinn. Help me teach her.


    The next day, the raven returned, clutching a thin strip of birch bark that even now sits in Kai¡¯s pocket. The birch bark bears a warning: Tread carefully. But the raven also brought him oral instructions on teaching Cybarein, which Kai committed to memory and has been using since. Even with Sigurd¡¯s guidance, teaching does not come naturally to Kai. He feels Fifi¡¯s progress is because of her perceptiveness and intuition, the way she really listens to him to discern his meaning instead of relying on his words alone. It certainly can¡¯t be because of any merit I might possess, he tells himself.


    ¡°Liar,¡± his raven friend calls, circling overhead, then flies away cackling to itself.


    Kai rolls his eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you,¡± he mutters, wondering if he¡¯s voiced his thoughts aloud.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Fifi calls, coming into view as she rounds a stand of ornamental trees.


    ¡°Glad you made it,¡± Kai greets her, glancing at the mid-afternoon sun. They have been meeting every other day or so, always at different times and in different courtyards. No one much cares what Kai does¡ªexcept for Ingemar and Karl, who are currently socializing with a couple of the promising young noblewomen at court¡ªbut Fifi has most of her days scheduled for her.


    ¡°So am I. Minna¡¯s dress fittings¡­.¡± Fifi sighs and shakes her head. ¡°The only thing worse is sitting to have my portrait painted.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°The wedding is still some time away, is it not?¡±


    ¡°Yes, in Santor, but we¡¯ll have to be ready to start the journey to Syazonia right after the Friggenter celebration is over. About two months. And making dresses takes a long time¡­.¡± Her voice trails off and she shakes her head. ¡°This isn¡¯t what we¡¯re here for.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s bothering you. And that will affect¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t. The distraction will be good. Please.¡± Her voice wavers a little, and her eyes hold a hint of unshed tears.


    ¡°Right. Um. You¡¯ve been doing well, with what we¡¯ve tried so far. So¡­what do you want to be able to do?¡±


    ¡°Stop time,¡± she answers automatically, then stops short and blinks a couple of times. ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± They¡¯ve drifted over to the bench by the pond. ¡°Do you want to sit down?¡±


    Fifi nods and takes a long, shaky breath as they each claim an end of the bench, leaving enough room for someone else to sit between them.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Really,¡± she assures him.


    Kai pretends not to notice the slight break in her voice. I wish I knew how to be around her, what to say, what to do, he thinks. Sometimes it¡¯s easy to pretend that they¡¯re just two people who enjoy nature, but at this moment, the fact that she¡¯s a princess and he¡¯s not royal fills the space between them, paralyzing him.


    ¡°But¡­is it possible? For cybrinn to stop time?¡± she asks after a few moments.


    ¡°Not that I know of,¡± he admits. ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories of some who can slow their own aging, but¡­not stopping time for everyone.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Probably just as well.¡± She forces a smile, bright and unnatural. ¡°But what can cybrinn do? You said Sigurd can heal, and we¡¯ve moved water and stone, made buds bloom¡­. But is that everything?¡±


    ¡°No. Healing is the most common. It¡¯s¡­useful to people. Even those who would prefer to see us destroyed. But beyond that¡­. We can make plants grow, not just bloom. Sigurd and I have¡­boosted the crops in Lyrnola, so that the people can afford my father¡¯s taxes and still live well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­good, that you¡¯re able to help them. Are there limits on that power? Does the plant already have to be sprouting, or can you start from a seed, or can you make an already big tree get bigger? How many plants can you affect at once?¡±


    ¡°How many plants a cybrinn can impact at a time depends on practice and focus. But the size or progression of the plant doesn¡¯t matter. We can revive dead plants, do any of the things you¡¯ve described¡­it just depends on what¡¯s available for us to draw energy from.¡±


    Fifi¡¯s brow furrows, like she¡¯s trying to commit everything she¡¯s heard to memory. Kai waits a moment before continuing. ¡°We can communicate with animals, also. They can carry messages for us, or we can connect with them to see through their eyes for a short time.¡±


    Fifi sighs in delight. ¡°Oh, to see what Algot sees, when he takes a flight around the grounds¡­¡±


    ¡°You could just see for yourself, maybe.¡±


    ¡°We can fly?!¡±


    ¡°We can shapeshift, to take the form of an animal we choose. One we¡¯ve seen before. It doesn¡¯t last a long time, perhaps a few hours at most, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°Teach me.¡±


    Her eyes are fixed on him, bright with expectation. For a moment, pressure threatens to suffocate Kai. She needs this, a way to escape. Even King Ansgar¡¯s gaze hasn¡¯t made him feel so inadequate to the task at hand.


    But the feeling only lasts a moment. She¡¯s a good listener. A fast learner. And she wants to learn this, he assures himself. Use the words Sigurd used to teach you.


    ¡°I will do my best. It might take time. Multiple tries. More than one lesson,¡± Kai cautions.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready. Whatever it takes.¡± There¡¯s fire in her eyes, a determination Kai recognizes from his own training with Sigurd.


    ¡°One step at a time. To begin, choose an animal.¡±


    ¡°A raven.¡±


    Kai can¡¯t help smiling. He would have expected nothing else from her. And she¡¯s so certain, so confident¡­.


    Maybe this won¡¯t be difficult, after all.

 Gift

    Minna sighs in relief as the Royal Seamstresses sweep out of the dressing room she shares with Fifi. They chatter amongst themselves about the new undergarments they¡¯ll be sewing for her that afternoon, mixing in some bawdy wedding night jokes that make Minna cringe. She doesn¡¯t want to think about the undergarments, let alone certain realities of married life, of having a husband and an expectation to bear his children, royal heirs. Oh to turn back time, to be a little girl again, she wishes, and she wraps her arms around herself in a poor imitation of a comforting embrace.


    The only good thing about having the seamstresses around for hours each day, in Minna¡¯s opinion, is that their constant conversation drowns out her thoughts. However, they bring her no true companionship, and although she is seldom alone, she feels lost and lonely. She longs to spend time with her mother, to talk about what she can expect of her future, but Queen Ingrid has been quite busy with preparations for Minna¡¯s wedding, and Minna feels she cannot ask her for more. Under any other circumstances, she and Fifi would turn to each other for comfort and help each other overcome life¡¯s challenges. But Fifi has been distant lately, and almost never in their suite except to sleep. Even if she was here, would she understand? Would she want to talk with me? Minna wonders. All mention of the upcoming Royal Wedding twists Fifi¡¯s face into a tight grimace and makes her shoulders stiff. No wonder she stays away. Minna spends almost all her time on wedding plans, most days.


    She walks slowly into their antechamber, then nods in satisfaction; the seamstresses are gone for the day. She is grateful to have a moment of peace, even if she doesn¡¯t know what to do with it. It¡¯d be nice to play my violin or harp, she thinks. She¡¯s not sure when she last played. She keeps most of her instruments in the study, and so she crosses the antechamber with quick, purposeful steps, eager for the comfort and escape music so often offer her.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, Algot!¡± Fifi¡¯s voice coos from behind the study door. She¡¯s here?! Minna pauses, bewildered. She thought Fifi had left their suite when the seamstresses came in.


    ¡°Who¡¯s a good boy?¡± Fifi exults. ¡°Who¡¯s the smartest raven in the world? That¡¯s right! You are!¡±


    Minna opens the study door as slowly as she can. Inside, Algot is perched on the back of a chair, plucking a grape from her sister¡¯s fingers. Fifi is beaming; Minna hasn¡¯t seen her so happy since before the Quest for Favor. Algot ruffles his wings in delight as he swallows the grape, then turns to see Minna in the doorway. With a squawk, he lifts one clawed foot from the back of the chair and stretches it towards Fifi. Minna¡¯s eyes widen as her sister puts a finger against his foot and his claws wrap around it. Fifi bobs her finger up and down a few times in an approximation of a handshake with her pet.


    ¡°What a good boy! You did it again! You¡¯re so smart!¡± she exclaims, giving the raven another grape. Only then does she glance away from Algot and directly at Minna. ¡°Oh! I didn¡¯t hear you come in.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind. That¡¯s a neat trick,¡± Minna compliments. ¡°I¡¯m glad I got to see it. I didn¡¯t know ravens could learn things like that.¡±


    ¡°I just¡­decided it would be something fun to try. While you were busy.¡± Fifi pats Algot¡¯s head and pours some nuts and seeds from a bag on the table into a small gilded dish, which she slides towards the raven. He eagerly hops over to it and starts eating.


    ¡°Does he do any other tricks?¡±


    ¡°I guess that depends what you mean. He usually comes when I call him, and he¡¯ll talk to me sometimes.¡± Algot looks up from his meal and squawks in agreement. ¡°Yes you do! What a smart boy.¡±


    Minna cannot help but smile at her younger sister. ¡°Is this how you¡¯ve spent all your time, while I¡¯ve been¡­busy?¡±


    Fifi¡¯s expression turns guarded. ¡°Not all. I¡¯ve done a lot of drawing. Do you want to see?¡± She pulls her sketchbook from one of the piles of books and parchment on her desk without waiting for an answer. ¡°A frog posed for me not too long ago. Here.¡±


    Minna crosses to meet her sister by her desk, mindful not to make any sudden moves that might disturb Algot. She wants to ask what Fifi¡¯s not telling her, but her breath catches as she looks at Fifi¡¯s drawing. ¡°Wow.¡± Minna struggles for words for a moment. How long has it been since I¡¯ve looked at her sketches? she muses, thoughts of everything else forgotten. She can¡¯t remember any of Fifi¡¯s work having this level of realism and artistry. Despite the lack of color, the frog appears to be almost glistening with moisture, and the water lily behind it is perfectly proportioned, at least to Minna¡¯s inexpert eye. ¡°This is so good. You¡¯ve been practicing a lot. And how fortunate, to get to look at the frog long enough¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know. I couldn¡¯t believe it at the time. But you¡¯re too kind. I wish I could paint them¡­.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯d be a wonderful painter. Have you asked Mother for supplies?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and painting lessons, but she told me Father won¡¯t allow it.¡± Fifi¡¯s face scrunches into an imitation of their father¡¯s stern frown. ¡°It is an unnecessary expense as we prepare for Minna¡¯s wedding, and she ought to be focused on helping her sister and planning for her own future, not such frivolities.¡±


    Normally Minna would not tolerate such disrespect to their father as Fifi¡¯s mockery, but there¡¯s real pain in her eyes, behind her attempts to make light of it. ¡°Oh, Fifi. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t. It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll content myself with drawing and teaching Algot tricks. Unless there¡¯s something I can be helping you with?¡±


    ¡°No. I just came to¡­see if perhaps a maid had dropped off a letter for me. And perhaps to play my harp.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen any letters. Hoping to hear from Adalberto?¡±


    Minna¡¯s cheeks heat up in spite of herself. ¡°Perhaps. He should have gotten my letter at least a week ago¡­.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll write back. As you¡¯ve said, he¡¯s quite busy. The harp would be a good distraction, and if you don¡¯t mind the company, I¡¯ll stay and sketch. Maybe Algot will model for me?¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    The raven¡¯s head pops out of his food dish and he stares at Fifi imperiously for a moment before digging his beak into his back feathers, preening.


    ¡°That will work. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve drawn you doing that¡ª¡± Fifi starts.


    ¡°Pardon me, Your Highnesses,¡± Greta interrupts, panting and wiping her hands on her apron as she stands in the doorway to their study. Algot caws angrily and flies off Fifi¡¯s desk, tipping over the remains of his food dish. Seeds and nuts bounce across the floor. Fifi huffs in irritation.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Greta?¡± Minna asks while Fifi starts cleaning up Algot¡¯s mess.


    ¡°Queen Ingrid is on her way here, with the ambassador of Vyrunia and¡­and¡­. You¡¯ll just have to see for yourself. I¡¯ve never seen the like,¡± Greta explains. Vyrunia? Minna¡¯s heart pounds in her chest. ¡°She sent me to tell you to be ready¡ª¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Greta. Help me fix my hair?¡± Did Didier change his mind? Would it matter if he did?


    ¡°Of course, Your Highness. Sorry I startled your bird, Princess Josefina. Princess Wilhelmina, perhaps we can go to your dressing room?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I was thinking the same thing.¡± Minna wasn¡¯t thinking about the dressing room at all. It wouldn¡¯t matter, of course. I chose Adalberto, and the wedding plans are underway, she reminds herself. Nothing can change that now. But why¡ª


    They¡¯re only halfway back across the antechamber when the door to the hallway opens and Queen Ingrid sails into the room, her gown gliding over the floor, every hair perfectly in place.


    ¡°Ah, Minna, my dear. What a surprise we have for you!¡± she smiles at her eldest daughter. ¡°Thank you, Greta. Will you go and fetch the seamstresses? I know they were just here, but oh! They¡¯ll want to see this.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Your Majesty,¡± Greta answers with a curtsey, and then she¡¯s gone and Minna knows her hair will stay just the way it is to meet the Vyrunian ambassador.


    ¡°A surprise, Mother?¡± she asks.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll see. The ambassador and his assistants will be here any moment. I suspect what they bring has something to do with this.¡± She pulls a piece of parchment bearing the Royal Seal of Vyrunia from somewhere in the folds of her skirts and hands it to Minna. ¡°I haven¡¯t read it, of course, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then allow me.¡± In spite of her best efforts, her fingers tremble as she breaks the wax seal. The handwriting within is the same as the note Fifi received the night Minna announced her choice, neat and elegant, but in Aethyrozian this time. He had time to think about this one, Minna guesses, unsure whether that should count in his favor, as her eyes quickly scan Prince Didier¡¯s words to her.


    To Princess Wilhelmina of Aethyrozia, may Chuezoh¡¯s light shine always upon her,


    I should have written this days ago, and my failure to do so is yet another misdeed for which I must apologize to you. You are truly admirable in every aspect, and I never intended to cause you any pain or distress. I wanted to speak to you in person, before I left that night, but alas, I was not afforded that opportunity, through no fault of yours or mine; you had many suitors to entertain, and it seemed no secret that certain princes among them were favored in your father¡¯s eyes for the privilege of your attention. I confess it was for that reason, as well as my attraction to your younger sister, that I felt compelled to depart before your announcement of your choice. But that is no excuse for offending you, and so I pray that you will allow me to make it up to you.


    With this note comes a gift I hope will prove useful to you as you prepare for your wedding. I have no delusions that your favor can be bought, nor do I have any intention of swaying your affections from Prince Adalberto. He is a worthy man, and I wish you both every possible happiness in your new life together. Please accept this gift as a proof of my regret for having caused you vexation. Perhaps it is too much to hope for your forgiveness, but I humbly request that you will, in time, accept my apologies, and that one day we might consider each other friends, or at least be on friendly terms.


    Sincerest Regards,


    Prince Didier of Vyrunia


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Fifi asks behind Minna. At the same moment, a tall, dignified man with perfect posture, a curling waxed mustache, and Vyrunian livery enters the room and makes an elaborate bow. Behind him come seven servants, each carrying a bolt of fine fabric. At a glance, even without the ambassador, Minna can tell these are Vyrunian textiles of the highest quality. Each is in a good color for her, as well: sky blue, forest green, jade, turquoise, azure, lavender, and an elegant purple damask with gold threads woven through it.


    ¡°A gift for Princess Wilhelmina of Aethyrozia, in anticipation of her marriage, from Prince Didier of Vyrunia,¡± the ambassador announces with a slight Vyrunian accent. His eyes meet Minna¡¯s as he continues. ¡°His Highness, Prince Didier, bid me to assure you, Princess Wilhelmina, that he wishes only the best for you and your future husband, and that he holds you and your family in the highest possible esteem.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Minna breathes, unsure of what to say or what to think. From the corner of her eye, she sees Fifi looking over the Vyrunians and their gifts, eyes narrow, shoulders tight.


    ¡°He wants something,¡± she mutters. Minna turns to her, surprised, but no one else seems to have heard. Fifi bites her lip and shakes her head. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± She withdraws back into the study. The door closes hard behind her. Minna hears the lock click and bites back a sigh that might have come with tears. I wish we¡¯d had more time together, just the two of us, before Greta interrupted. Before the Quest for Favor, she might have hoped they could talk more at night before falling asleep. Lately, their nighttime conversations have been brief and superficial, with no solace or comfort at all for Minna.


    ¡°This is certainly impressive, Ambassador,¡± Queen Ingrid says, seeing that her daughter is overwhelmed. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen such magnificent textiles.¡±


    ¡°He hopes they will be useful in assembling Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s trousseau, if they are to her liking,¡± the ambassador replies. Both he and Queen Ingrid look at Minna, all but demanding her opinion.


    ¡°They¡¯re beautiful. He has¡­quite good taste in colors,¡± she admits, fighting to keep her voice steady. If only Father hadn¡¯t¡­. If Didier hadn¡¯t danced with Fifi¡­. But there¡¯s no use considering what ifs, she reminds herself again. ¡°May I touch them?¡±


    ¡°Certainly. They are yours, to do with as you see fit, along with Prince Didier¡¯s goodwill and well-wishes.¡±


    Minna runs her fingers along each bolt of fabric. Some are perfect for warmer weather, while others are thick and soft for colder seasons. The purple with gold threads is somewhere in between, an elegant choice for a formal event in any season. Perhaps a coronation, she finds herself thinking, impressed by Didier¡¯s attention to detail and thoughtfulness.


    ¡°Of course I accept Prince Didier¡¯s gift. I will write him a note, as well, given a day or two¡­.¡± Minna says after a few moments¡¯ deliberation.


    ¡°Take all the time you need, Princess. We know you are very busy. Where would you like these to be placed?¡±


    ¡°Anywhere in this room is fine. Wherever you think best.¡±


    The ambassador nods and begins giving directions to the servants in rapid Vyrunian. Queen Ingrid comes to her daughter¡¯s side, one eyebrow arched.


    ¡°Your father is also quite impressed by this gift from Vyrunia,¡± she murmurs so that only Minna can hear.


    ¡°Is he?¡± Minna inquires. Does he regret how he behaved during my Quest for Favor?


    ¡°Very much so. All this came with another letter, one from King Edmond addressed to King Ansgar directly. Do you have any idea why a suitor who left your Quest for Favor early might do something like this? I¡¯ve never heard of the like, in all Aethyrozia¡¯s history.¡±


    A knot of conflicted emotions tightens in Minna¡¯s midsection. For Fifi, she almost tells her mother, but something holds her back, and instead she just shakes her head. If the letter Father received is anything like the one I got from Didier, she¡¯ll know soon enough.

 Library

    Fifi leans against the door of hers and Minna¡¯s study, one hand resting on the key she just turned in the lock. Behind the door, the ambassador continues to talk with Minna and Queen Ingrid. Rain hammers against the wooden shutters over the study windows, telling her that fleeing to a courtyard is out of the question.


    ¡°But I can¡¯t stay here,¡± Fifi whispers, and then her feet are carrying her across the room, to a corner next to the fireplace. Pressing the side of the wooden wall panel causes it to pop open a little, and Fifi pulls it open further, revealing a narrow, dark passage. I have to get away. She plunges inside without a candle or a torch, relying on muscle memory to find her way around corners and down a treacherous flight of stairs. Though it¡¯s been years since she used this passage, and the walls are so close they almost brush Fifi¡¯s shoulders as she rushes through, she never misses a step. What did that prince write to Minna? What does he want? She shivers and then moves faster, as if trying to outrun the answer.


    The passage isn¡¯t a particularly long one, and soon Fifi bursts into a seldom-used hallway in the kitchen servants¡¯ quarters through another wall panel door. From her left come the sounds and smells of many people working together to prepare a meal. She turns right and makes her way down a few different corridors. All the while her thoughts are racing. Has this ever happened in a Quest for Favor before? she wonders. And if it has, did anyone bother to write it down?


    Fifi knows there¡¯s only one way to find out, one place to look. She rounds another corner and comes face to face with a set of oaken double doors, ornately carved with scenes of faeries and wood sprites. With effort, she pushes one of them open, letting herself into the Royal Library. The room itself is about the size of hers and Minna¡¯s antechamber, but long and narrow and lined with floor to ceiling bookshelves on every wall. Opposite the doors she¡¯s come through is a massive stained glass window, depicting Saint Gustavus making peace with the dragon. Tables and chairs are evenly spaced through the middle of the room. On each side, a small spiral staircase leads up to the galleries around the perimeter that provide access to the second level of books. On the main floor, the walls jut back in places to create alcoves furnished with comfortable chairs and small tables for candles and books. Between the bookshelves are niches for fat candles that provide additional light for reading.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long,¡± Fifi murmurs. She and Minna used to come here often, when they had lessons together, but those stopped years ago. Since then, Fifi has much preferred courtyards to the library, but the courtyards can¡¯t tell her what she¡¯s hoping to learn today, and the rain drumming against Saint Gustavus forbids her to go outside.


    No one else is in the Royal Library, and Fifi has no trouble finding the section she wants¡ªan alcove close to the window, devoted to the history of Aethyrozia. A whole shelf contains tomes and scrolls about the Aethyrozian royal family, and Fifi starts to go through them, one by one.


    Should I have read that note over Minna¡¯s shoulder, the way she read his to me? Fifi considers as her eyes scan through one of the books. It¡¯s just records of kings and battles and taxes, nothing helpful. Do I even want to know what he said to her? She can¡¯t imagine he¡¯s trying to get her to reconsider her betrothal to Prince Adalberto. And even if he was, even though she liked him more, she wouldn¡¯t do it, not now, Fifi knows.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just an over-the-top apology, for withdrawing from the Quest for Favor before the end and without saying goodbye to her,¡± she tries to assure herself. But she can¡¯t shake the feeling that he wants something more, and she cannot stomach the thought of what that might be. Minna doesn¡¯t deserve this. I don¡¯t want this. There has to be another way¡­.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Flipping through a book of Aethyrozian kings, a beautifully illuminated page catches Fifi¡¯s attention: King Eskil and the Quest for Favor.


    In the Days of Dragons, King Eskil ruled Aethyrozia. Though he prayed thrice daily to Chuezoh, asking for his seed to be blessed, he had but one child, a daughter. When the time came for her to marry, King Eskil intended that she should marry Prince Ciar¨¢n of Mordalce, but she refused, saying she would have the son of the Baron of Quelnuth or no husband at all.


    ¡°Baron?¡± Fifi wonders aloud. ¡°Quelnuth is a duchy now¡­¡±


    After much arguing, King Eskil and his daughter agreed that every man who wished to marry her would compete for her hand in three rounds: A talent competition, an interview, and a royal ball. Whoever performed most admirably in the competition would be her husband. This was the first Quest for Favor. But to King Eskil¡¯s dismay, Lord Josef of Quelnuth proved himself the best swordsman in the talent competition, the best statesman in the interview, and the best dancer at the ball, by popular opinion. Thus Lord Josef married the daughter of King Eskil, becoming Prince Josef and, upon King Eskil¡¯s death, King Josef the Just.


    ¡°Nice of the historian to record the daughter¡¯s name,¡± Fifi gripes. The book also has no mention of whether King Eskil was as bent on having his own way as King Ansgar is.


    Still, Fifi hopes, King Josef is my ancestor, my grandfather¡¯s grandfather¡¯s father. Maybe, when my turn comes, if I go in with someone in mind¡­. But here the comfort stops. King Ansgar¡¯s repeated declarations that Minna must choose a royal suitor echo in her head, and she can¡¯t bring herself to finish the thought. None of the princes who competed for Minna appeal to her, and the idea of accepting Didier in particular, after he hurt Minna and caused so much strife, makes her insides twist in revulsion.


    Tears prick the backs of her eyes. How did this even happen? Why did he decide he wants me instead of Minna? she despairs, not for the first time. We danced once, had one conversation. That can¡¯t be enough to sway a man¡¯s affections. And Minna is so much prettier, more graceful, more tactful¡­. She¡¯d make a much better Queen. A much better choice.


    Shoes shuffle on the stone floor nearby. Fifi looks up from the book she¡¯s been trying not to cry on just in time to see Kai round the corner into her alcove. Their eyes lock. Fifi can¡¯t breathe, can¡¯t move. At first his hazel eyes are wide with surprise, but after only a moment concern and sympathy fill them instead. Guilt stabs through Fifi¡¯s chest and her eyes drop to the book in her hands. I don¡¯t deserve his concern. It¡¯s my fault that Minna¡ª


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kai asks, his voice low and gentle.


    Fifi shakes her head. Her lower lip trembles. Despite her best efforts, a tear slides down her cheek.


    ¡°I was just leaving,¡± she whispers, not trusting herself to speak louder, as she puts the book back on the shelf. As she moves to pass Kai and find another place to be alone, his hand catches hers. Fifi¡¯s head jerks up in surprise and her eyes meet his again. All at once, the sobs she¡¯s been holding back burst from her throat. Moments later, her tears are soaking into Kai¡¯s doublet as his arms wrap gently around her, offering comfort.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. Let it out,¡± Kai murmurs into Fifi¡¯s hair, near her ear. ¡°You¡¯ve been keeping this in for a while.¡±


    You don¡¯t even know¡­ Fifi wants to tell him, but she¡¯s still crying too hard to talk, and it doesn¡¯t matter anyway. For the first time since Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor began, Fifi feels safe in every way¡ªsafe to feel her feelings, safe to be completely honest, safe to let go. And so she just cries, mourning for her relationship with Minna and pouring out her anxiety for her own future.


    What if I choose Kai? The thought comes unbidden to her mind as her sobs turn to hiccupy gasps. Don¡¯t be ridiculous. There¡¯s no guarantee he even competes, and Father hates his father. You¡¯d have better luck asking to marry Algot. But Kai¡¯s arms are still around her, and he doesn¡¯t seem to mind that there¡¯s a wet patch on his shoulder or that she probably looks like a wreck. And so the thought remains, bouncing around in her head: What if I choose him, when my turn comes?

 Haunted

    ¡°You¡¯re all right,¡± Kai mumbles into Fifi¡¯s hair as she continues to cry against his shoulder. He¡¯s trying to reassure himself as much as he¡¯s trying to comfort her. How did we even get here? he wonders, thinking back over the events that led to a princess crying in his arms. His hand had caught hers as she passed him without conscious thought, and gentle as a dove. She could have easily pulled away, kept going, and left him here¡ªbut she didn¡¯t, and now¡­. If anyone sees us like this, I¡¯ll be lucky if I¡¯m banished instead of executed. He does his best to shift them further into the alcove where he found Fifi. It¡¯s not much, and she¡¯s not crying quietly, but he hopes the distance will buy them enough time, if he hears a door open or footsteps, to save his skin.


    A gust of wind slaps the window featuring Saint Gustavus with a sheet of rain, reminding Kai why he came to the Royal Library instead of studying plants in a courtyard or going riding with Ingemar and Karl. He¡¯d remembered Princess Wilhelmina asking him, during the Questioning, what books he¡¯d want to read in the Royal Library, and decided that if he couldn¡¯t be outside, reading about the natural world would be the next best thing. Did Fifi come here for the same reason? he asks himself, but he doubts it. A botany text shouldn¡¯t cause this level of distress, this much grief. Every sob makes his heart ache for her. I wish I knew what was wrong, or that I could help somehow. But while she weeps, holding her is the most he can do, and so he does, though his spine is rigid and he¡¯s listening intently for any sign of someone else entering the Royal Library.


    The rain continues its assault on Adelhyod. Kai and Fifi remain undisturbed. The flow of Fifi¡¯s tears slows to a trickle and then nothing at all. For a moment, neither of them moves, and the rest of the world fades away. I¡¯m glad I found her here. No one should have to get through that kind of sadness alone, Kai thinks. He pulls her a little closer for a moment before remembering who and where they are and dropping his arms to his sides.


    Fifi takes a step back and looks up at him with tearstained eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have¡­.¡±


    ¡°You have nothing to apologize for,¡± Kai tells her, and he means it. ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    Fifi shrugs and sniffles. ¡°I will be. Probably. But¡­.¡± She glances around, and her eyes widen. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be here. Like this.¡±


    ¡°Probably not.¡± She takes another step away from him, and he turns towards the nearest bookshelf. ¡°I was just looking for a book on botany or zoology or the like, because of the rain¡­.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much, but they¡¯re on the other side of the room, next alcove towards the door, bottom shelf.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Kai takes a step in that direction, then stops and looks back at her. ¡°Can I ask¡­what you¡­.?¡±


    ¡°Not here,¡± Fifi whispers, then pauses for a moment, as if listening for something.


    ¡°Have you heard the story of the ghost of Mathilde?¡± she asks him in a normal speaking voice, catching him off-guard.


    ¡°No?¡±


    ¡°She was a great-great-great aunt of mine, or something. They say she died of the wasting sickness, and that her spirit still haunts her old rooms in this very castle. It¡¯s the suite at the northwest corner, on the second floor. Supposedly rainy spring days like this are when she¡¯s most active. I wonder if it¡¯s true¡­.¡±


    With that, Fifi starts to meander towards the door. On the way, she points towards one of the alcoves in the bookshelves. ¡°The ones you¡¯re looking for are in there,¡± she calls over her shoulder, and then she¡¯s pushed through the ornate doors, leaving Kai staring after her.


    ¡°What brought that on?¡± he mutters, trudging towards the alcove she indicated. She was right; there aren¡¯t many books on natural sciences or the natural world at all. He picks one up and starts to flip through it, but nothing in its pages catches his eye; his thoughts are elsewhere. Why bring that up? Was she here reading ghost stories? Does she even believe in ghosts? he wonders, but none of that seems to fit. Fifi is mischievous, a rule breaker, but not superstitious in any way.


    She said she wouldn¡¯t talk here¡­and then¡­. Realization strikes him¡ªthe odd story was an invitation, cryptic and seemingly innocuous in case someone happened to walk in and find them talking. Kai puts the useless book in his hands back on the shelf where he found it and leaves the Royal Library, hoping he can find the supposedly haunted suite without asking for directions. A passing servant had been more than happy to direct him to the Royal Library, but he suspects asking for help tracking down a ghost might be less well received.


    Kai pauses and considers for a moment. The window depicting Saint Gustavus and his dragon faces west, based on the light, and she said the northwest corner, second floor¡­. He starts walking north down the corridor. Perhaps two dozen paces later, he finds a door left ajar. Behind it is a narrow staircase, leading up. Before teaching Fifi Cybarein in the courtyards of Adelhyod, Kai might have thought this was a trap, but now he takes the stairs to the second floor without hesitation. At the top he turns north again. A single door faces him, just a few paces away. He approaches it slowly and tries the handle.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    To his surprise, the door swings open with a creak and a groan, revealing a room that has fallen into some disrepair. The air is stale and musty. Cobwebs adorn every corner. The furniture and floor are covered with dust, except for a trail that seems to have been left by a lady¡¯s skirts. Sure enough, Fifi stands at the end of the trail between two narrow windows.


    ¡°I thought you could take a hint,¡± she smiles as he closes the door behind him.


    ¡°Weird hint,¡± he remarks. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were the type to believe in ghosts.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not. We¡ªMinna, Emrik, and I¡ªheard about Mathilde, along with many other, more boring relatives, in our history lessons one winter. Our tutor was very superstitious and swore that Mathilde¡¯s ghost lingers here, and Emrik and I decided it would be good fun to¡­take advantage of that. Any chance we got, we would come here and make wailing noises, rearrange furniture, light the fireplace and the candles¡­anything we could think of.¡±


    Kai laughs incredulously. ¡°Minna didn¡¯t join in?¡±


    Fifi wrinkles her nose and shakes her head. ¡°Minna didn¡¯t approve. It¡¯s honestly a miracle she didn¡¯t tattle on us. But she didn¡¯t, for whatever reason, and Emrik and I were good enough at covering our tracks that the servants all started to believe these rooms are haunted. Now none of them will even come to clean. Guests never stay here. It¡¯s wasted space. But safe.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, for considering¡­.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want either of us to be in any trouble. Especially¡­. You didn¡¯t have to stay, to ask, or anything¡ª¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t leave you there, upset like that.¡±


    ¡°You could have. I deserve¡­worse, probably. Much worse.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Fifi sighs and gently settles herself on a dust-draped chair. Kai glances around at the dilapidated space and decides he would rather remain standing, at least for the time being.


    ¡°It started at Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor. You probably guessed that,¡± Fifi begins, staring into middle distance, her voice low. ¡°But Prince Didier¡­¡±


    Kai listens attentively as she tells him how much her sister liked Prince Didier and how hurt she was when he left before the end. His guts clench into knots when she tells him about the note she got from Prince Didier that night, and hearing her tell of the betrayal and pain in Minna¡¯s reaction is heartbreaking. Hearing how she replied to the prince brings Kai grim satisfaction¡ªserves him right.


    ¡°I thought that¡¯d be the end of it. Who would still have hope, after a note like that?¡± Fifi says. ¡°But then, today¡­. Mother and the Vyrunian ambassador came to our suite, and they had a note for Minna and all this expensive fabric¡ªwedding gifts from that Vyrunian prince! As if they could make up for¡­.¡± She chokes up and shakes her head.


    That must have been what the fanfare I heard was for, when I was asking that servant for directions, Kai realizes.


    ¡°Did he mean them as an apology?¡± he asks.


    ¡°Maybe. I didn¡¯t read the note, didn¡¯t stay for the explanation, because¡­. Because of his first note¡­. I never had any interest in him, never tried to win him over. I would never betray Minna like that, and as Father kept saying, her Quest for Favor wasn¡¯t about me. But now I¡¯m afraid¡­.¡±


    Cold, leaden understanding settles over Kai like a damp cloak. She¡¯s afraid he¡¯s trying to win her over, he thinks, but something keeps him from saying it out loud.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. None of this is. You¡¯re not responsible for that prince¡¯s choices,¡± he assures her instead.


    Fifi shakes her head, and tears come back into her eyes. ¡°Minna doesn¡¯t deserve this. And I¡¯d almost prefer that awful lout Emiliano to someone like Didier, trying to buy his way into others¡¯ good graces¡­. It¡¯s despicable.¡±


    ¡°I agree. But you should have several more options than just those two, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± He can personally attest to the intentions of at least half a dozen members of the nobility to compete for her.


    ¡°I hope so.¡± Fifi laughs bitterly. ¡°Or else I might be the one to leave my Quest for Favor early.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want to do¡­.¡± Kai hesitates. What he wants to say feels too soon, too drastic, too crazy¡ªfar beyond any ideas he¡¯s had before about helping her find a way out.


    ¡°What? Leave my Quest for Favor early?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. Just¡­escape from all of¡­this in general. Is that¡­something you want?¡±


    Fifi tips her head back to stare at the cobwebby beams of the ceiling. ¡°If you¡¯d asked me before Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor, I would have said no without even thinking about it. But now¡­. Everything¡¯s different. She¡¯s going away. Mother¡¯s busy all the time. Emrik has his lessons and wouldn¡¯t understand, anyway. And Father¡­. Well, he made it very clear what he wanted Minna to do in her Quest for Favor, and I¡­.¡± She looks at Kai again with a glare that rivals King Ansgar¡¯s, and he flinches. ¡°I¡¯d rather die than marry someone without love, just because he said so. That¡¯s no life for me.¡±


    ¡°Understandable. I¡¯m sure I couldn¡¯t live that way, either.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to. No one else in this dratted castle is expected to, except Minna, who doesn¡¯t see it the same way I do. You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s actually listened to me without making me feel like I¡¯m crazy or being unreasonable.¡± Her gaze is intense, searching him for answers he doesn¡¯t have. Kai finds himself looking at the dusty floor so that he can figure out what to say to her.


    ¡°Some people just aren¡¯t meant to live in the circumstances they¡¯re born to.¡± He would know; he feels the same way about his family and their expectations for him.


    ¡°But what choice do any of us have? We¡¯re cast in our roles and forced to play them, whether or not the part really fits.¡±


    ¡°Maybe¡­Cybarei will offer you another role. Another way.¡±


    ¡°Like what? Turning into a raven permanently?¡±


    Kai can¡¯t help but smile a little bit. ¡°I don¡¯t know of any cybrinn who can do that. But Cybarei still might offer¡­other ways to escape. If you decide you want to.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Fifi pauses, then turns alert. In the same moment, Kai hears indistinct voices, somewhere outside the room. His heart is suddenly in his throat.


    ¡°Tell me more next lesson,¡± she whispers, then glides to the door, motioning for him to stay where he is. They wait without speaking until the voices fade away. ¡°Count to 1,000 before you leave here.¡±


    And then she slips out of the room, leaving Kai with the dust and the cobwebs and a heart full of conflicted feelings.

 Reconciled

    Minna dabs at her pickled herring with a crusty piece of bread, eyes fixed on Fifi¡¯s empty chair across the table from her. What could she be doing in there? she wonders for the eighty-ninth time since she was finally left alone in their suite with the fabric from Vyrunia. Minna had expected her to emerge from the study once the ambassador and his entourage and their mother had gone, but the study door stayed locked, and Minna hasn¡¯t seen or heard anything from her sister for hours. I really thought, when Lise called us for supper, that Fifi would come out. It¡¯s not like her to miss a meal, Minna worries. Maybe she fell asleep? But it¡¯s not like her to nap during the day, and their study is not well-suited for napping.


    To Minna¡¯s left, at the end of the table, Emrik is making faces at his plate and trying to remove the fried egg from his herring and potatoes without getting yolk on any of it. Normally, this would attract attention from Queen Ingrid, who has been trying for years to get Emrik to eat his eggs, but tonight she has more important things on her mind.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad that plans with the Syazonians are going well, dearest,¡± she is saying to King Ansgar as Minna nibbles her bread without appetite, ¡°and that they weren¡¯t disturbed by the arrival of the Vyrunian ambassador with that wedding gift from Prince Didier. Have you seen the fabrics he sent Minna?¡±


    ¡°High quality. Our daughter deserves nothing less,¡± the king answers. His gruff voice and his focus on his plate tell Minna he does not want to discuss this here and now, but her mother is undeterred.


    ¡°Of course. I would never suggest otherwise. I¡¯ve just never heard of a suitor in a Quest for Favor leaving the competition early, only to send an extravagant wedding gift¡ª¡±


    ¡°Such a thing has not happened before, to my knowledge. But these are special circumstances.¡±


    ¡°In what way?¡±


    ¡°The Vyrunians are determined to form an alliance with us. As if the letters from King Edmond before Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor were not enough, that prince¡¯s performance should have made their goals clear.¡±


    ¡°Clear enough, until Prince Didier withdrew from the competition. The Vyrunians are still seeking an alliance, even though he gave up that chance?¡±


    ¡°It seems, from King Edmond¡¯s most recent letter, that our younger daughter has made quite a favorable impression on his son.¡± King Ansgar¡¯s iron gaze falls on Fifi¡¯s empty chair for the first time since their meal began.


    Bile rises in Minna¡¯s throat. I can¡¯t be here. I can¡¯t be hearing this, she panics.


    ¡°Wilhelmina, where is your sister?¡± the king asks her.


    ¡°I¡­am not sure,¡± Minna answers carefully. ¡°I lost track of her in the excitement about the textiles from Vyrunia¡­.¡±


    Queen Ingrid¡¯s green eyes, wide with concern, meet Minna¡¯s across the table for a moment before she turns back to her husband. ¡°Dearest, should we really be entertaining the idea of such an alliance with Vyrunia? It cannot be good for our daughters, given the events of Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor¡ª¡±


    ¡°Time will tell,¡± King Ansgar interrupts. ¡°I had thought they were all appearances with no real benefit, but it seems the Vyrunians are willing to deliver when it suits them. We will see how far they are willing to go to establish this alliance, and plan from there.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°But Fifi will still get to choose¡ª¡±


    ¡°We will discuss it later. The Quest for Favor is a great waste of time and resources, indeed, if the princess chooses poorly, or not to Aethyrozia¡¯s best advantage.¡±


    ¡°Please excuse me,¡± Minna says, quiet but firm, before leaving the table without waiting for a response. Her feet carry her swiftly out of the dining room, down the corridor, and up one of the servants¡¯ staircases. She almost never breaks protocol like this, but all she can think about is getting away as quickly as she can. No wonder Fifi left earlier, if this is how she was feeling, Minna realizes, blinking back tears. I hope she¡¯s okay. It¡¯s been so quiet in that study, before supper¡­.


    Minna flings open the door to the antechamber of her suite and finds herself face to face with her younger sister, who is holding a hunk of break in one hand and a piece of cheese in the other. Her eyes are a bit red and puffy, as though she was crying not too long ago.


    ¡°Fifi!¡± Minna exclaims. She¡¯s relieved to see her sister, but angry at the same time. ¡°What have you been doing in there? I¡¯ve been so worried¡ª And where did you get that food? We¡¯ve been having supper¡ª¡±


    ¡°I went to the kitchen, after you left,¡± Fifi interrupts. ¡°I just couldn¡¯t¡­. If our parents were discussing those gifts from¡­him¡­. Well, I couldn¡¯t have kept quiet, and there would have been a huge argument, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°There might be, anyway. Mother and Father were discussing exactly that, when I left.¡±


    ¡°Minna, I¡¯m so sorry. I never intended¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know, Fifi. You couldn¡¯t have known how that prince, or any suitor, would react to either of us. I don¡¯t blame you. And Chuezoh has a way of working things out for our benefit.¡±


    Fifi¡¯s jaw tightens at the mention of Chuezoh, but her shoulders relax a little. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m glad¡­that you don¡¯t blame me. And honestly, now¡­seeing what he¡¯s like¡­. I¡¯m glad you picked Adalberto. He¡¯s a better man.¡±


    Minna smiles a little bit. ¡°That means a lot, coming from you.¡± Her voice sticks in her throat. Should I tell her what Father said? In her place, I would want to know what¡¯s to come, so that I could prepare¡­.


    ¡°Whatever Father said about Vyrunia, before you left, I don¡¯t want to know,¡± Fifi tells her, as though sensing her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll tell me himself at some point. And then¡­.¡± Her face hardens, and there¡¯s a glint in her eyes that Minna hasn¡¯t seen before.


    ¡°You mean to win an argument with him?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll find out which of us is more stubborn. That¡¯s all.¡± Fifi takes another bite of bread and cheese. ¡°Did you eat enough? Do you want some?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡± Minna¡¯s stomach is in knots, and she feels like she may never want to eat again.


    ¡°All right, well¡­. Before all this fabric showed up, you were going to play your harp, and I was going to draw. Do you still want to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯d love to.¡± Minna had wanted to play before supper, but all her instruments were locked in the study while Fifi was doing¡­whatever it was she was doing in there.


    ¡°Great!¡± Fifi¡¯s whole face lights up with a genuine smile, which Minna returns, grateful for a chance to act and maybe even feel like things are normal between them, that her Quest for Favor didn¡¯t change everything.


    They¡¯ve only just settled into their seats in the study when Greta comes in before Minna can even pluck a harp string to make sure it¡¯s in tune. The maid holds a piece of parchment in one hand, sealed with wax imprinted with the royal seal of Syazonia.


    ¡°Sorry to interrupt, Your Highnesses. I just have a letter for you, Princess Wilhelmina,¡± she says with a curtsey.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Minna exclaims, rising quickly from her stool and crossing the room to meet Greta. Her proper name is written on the parchment in Prince Adalberto¡¯s handwriting. ¡°Thank you so much.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Your Highness.¡± Greta curtsies again and leaves. Minna returns to her harp while Fifi sighs.


    ¡°Go ahead. Read it,¡± she tells Minna, crossing the room herself to close and lock the study door. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. But after that, no more interruptions. The rest of the world can wait for a while.¡±


    ¡°So can the letter,¡± Minna decides. ¡°It will still be there in the morning.¡± And I¡¯ll have the rest of my life to spend with him, but I¡¯m running out of time to spend with you, she adds silently.


    ¡°You mean it?¡± Fifi¡¯s hopeful smile erases any lingering desire Minna has to open Adalberto¡¯s letter right away.


    ¡°Yes, I mean it. What song should I start with?¡±


    ¡°Any song you want, as long as it¡¯s a happy one.¡±


    ¡°Agreed. Only happy songs tonight.¡± At least for now, we can shut the problems out, Minna tells herself, and as she starts to play, her only regret is that she and Fifi didn¡¯t make time for this sooner.

 Blessing

    To Prince Adalberto of Syazonia, may Chuezoh richly bless him and his family,


    Minna pauses, her pen hovering over the parchment. She read her fianc¨¦¡¯s letter to her early this morning, before getting dressed, and has been mulling over her reply all day, during all the fittings and negotiations with the seamstresses about how to use the fabrics from Vyrunia in her trousseau. While she was standing still and debating colors, she had a million things she wanted to make sure she wrote to Adalberto. But now that her work is done for the day and she is alone¡ªFifi is once again nowhere to be found, and even Algot is asleep on a cushion he¡¯s claimed as a sort of nest¡ªwords fail her. And I still need to reply to Prince Didier, as well¡­.


    With an angry sigh, she crumples up the parchment and tosses it into the fireplace. Ink from her pen spatters her desk and her dress as it clatters to the floor.


    ¡°Great,¡± Minna mutters. ¡°I guess I¡¯m not taking this one to Syazonia.¡± The thought pains her; this simple grey frock has been one of her favorites for everyday wear.


    ¡°Is everything all right, Princess Wilhelmina?¡± Greta asks, coming into the study from the antechamber.


    ¡°No¡­.¡± Minna turns to face Greta and gestures with exasperation at the ink on her bodice and skirt.


    ¡°Oh, I should say not! Let me help you into something clean. If I get this one downstairs while the ink¡¯s still wet, we might be able to save it¡­.¡±


    ¡°Really? I thought ink like this would be permanent.¡±


    ¡°It can be. But we have a few tricks. Hurry, now. Let me unlace you, and we¡¯ll pick something else for the evening, or else just put you in your nightclothes early.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already had supper. My nightclothes will be fine. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I know how you like this dress. And it¡¯s my job to help.¡±


    ¡°Do you like your job?¡± The question comes out before Minna can stop it. She immediately bites her lip, wishing she could take it back. Asking such a thing is far more like Fifi than like her.


    ¡°Why, of course, Your Highness!¡± Greta exclaims. ¡°You and your sister aren¡¯t half so uppity as some of the duchesses and marchionesses of Aethyrozia. From what I¡¯ve heard. Begging your pardon for saying so, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°I¡­appreciate your honesty. And the compliment. And I¡¯m sorry for asking such a question. I just¡­.¡± She pauses, casting about for words, as Greta finishes unlacing her gown. ¡°My intended says I may bring a few maids with me, and I haven¡¯t asked my father yet, but I just wondered¡­if you might be willing¡­. I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, and a long journey, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°You mean it, Princess?¡± Greta interrupts, then flushes pink. ¡°Forgive me, Your Highness. I didn¡¯t mean to cut you off¡­.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind at all. You would go with me to Syazonia?¡±


    ¡°Far better for me I do that than stay here. My parents want me to marry that awful Baron of Nunsingham from your Quest for Favor, the one who made that drawing¡ª¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Minna gasps. ¡°I thought Father put him in prison.¡±


    ¡°I suppose not, or he bribed his way out. Mum says he¡¯s offered my father three thousand gold durgen for my hand in marriage, which is quite a lot of money for us, but he¡¯s horrific. I don¡¯t think I can do it, not for any amount of money.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°And you shouldn¡¯t have to. I¡¯ll speak with my father about it tomorrow, but if it¡¯s a boon to you to come with me, I would love to keep you in my household in Syazonia.¡±


    ¡°It would be an honor and a blessing, Princess. Thank you ever so much. I¡¯ll just be going to get this ink out of your dress now. May Chuezoh¡¯s light shine always upon you!¡±


    Greta practically runs out of the room with Minna¡¯s dress, leaving the princess in her nightclothes to once again contemplate her letter to Prince Adalberto.


    ***~O~***


    To Prince Adalberto of Syazonia, may the blessings and light of Chuezoh be always upon him,


    I am so grateful that you found time and saw fit to reply to my letter. Your words have brought comfort and smiles to me. I am so thankful that it will be possible for me to bring maids with me, and I will happily work with you to convince my father to allow Emrik and Fifi to visit once we are married, preferably for the feast of Oggerheim. My mother will also be arguing our case on this matter; she is completely in favor of the idea. I haven¡¯t spoken to my father yet about the maids, but my maid Greta is most eager to come with me to Syazonia, and I aim to persuade him to allow that, as well.


    I did speak to him about bringing the Aethyrozian Royal Orchestra for our wedding, and I believe he will write you the same tidings, but they shall be our musicians for the festivities. I have already begun to work on choosing music and dances. Thank you for making this request, and for allowing me to handle this part of the planning. All things musical are such a delight to me, and I hope to be able to pass brief interludes playing with the Royal Orchestra when I meet with them about these plans. If there is anything else I can do to help you in any way, please do let me know.


    On another note, providing Aethyrozian flowers for your mother will be no problem at all, and my pleasure. We will also bring some seeds, so that we can perhaps plant such flowers in a courtyard at Zosya, if they are pleasing to her, or else at Nysia. How is your mother doing, by the way? And the rest of your family?I hope everyone is well.


    And what of your father, at the border near Barhesta? Are the negotiations going well? I confess I take great interest in political affairs, and I want to be able to help the common people, if princesses and queens are permitted to be involved in such things in any way. My father allows me to sit in on his meetings with ambassadors and advisors from time to time, but I must remain silent throughout. This is a command I can keep, if I must. Fifi cannot, and so she is no longer permitted to attend those meetings at all.


    I must confess I am rather worried about my sister. She disappears for hours on end nearly every day, and she hates all mention of our wedding. We have been able to spend time together again, just us, on a few odd afternoons, and pretend like all is as it was, but I¡¯m afraid our relationship will never be the same. I wish I knew how to talk to her about it. I don¡¯t know where she¡¯s been going, what she¡¯s been doing¡ªbut we used to tell each other everything. This distance between us breaks my heart. And so I am grateful, beyond the power of written words to express, that she may come to the wedding. I know it will be hard for her, but it will at least allow us to spend more time together, before our lives split off into entirely separate directions.


    To that end, I feel you must know that Fifi has not even the faintest interest in Emiliano, nor in any of your other brothers. Even if she did, my father has made it quite clear that we will not both be permitted to marry into your family. I can only believe that it would make things easier for everyone if we found a way to dissuade them from competing in Fifi¡¯s Quest for Favor, whenever it takes place. I don¡¯t know if such a thing is possible, but I do think it would be wise to attempt. Please forgive me if this offends¡ªbut I do feel that honesty between man and wife is a necessity, and I tell you this in the hopes of making things easier for everyone in the long term.


    I do not mean to take up too much of your time with a lengthy letter, and I¡¯m not at all convinced that I have answered all of your questions. I hope that, should you find the time and words to write back to me, you will tell me more about you. I am particularly interested in hearing what it was like to grow up with so many younger siblings, but I will be content with whatever you see fit to tell me. I am looking forward to your next letter, whenever you get a chance to write again.


    Yours Truly,


    Minna

 Emergency

    A warm breeze ruffles Kai¡¯s hair as it dances through the leaves of the trees around him, reminding him that Fantor, the start of summer, has come. Summer has always been his favorite season¡ªhe loves the warmth, the long daylight hours and the excuse they give him to be outdoors, the way everything around him is so alive. However, this year there¡¯s a little trepidation under his enjoyment of the afternoon sunshine as he meanders through the courtyard. Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s wedding will be in Santor, less than two months away, and that means there¡¯s even less time before she and Fifi leave for Syazonia.


    Of course, Fifi will come back. He knows that. But as distressed as she¡¯s been about the planning for her sister¡¯s wedding, Kai can¡¯t imagine how sad she might be afterward. And he hates to see her upset. His thoughts haven¡¯t been far from her since that rainy afternoon when he held her while she cried. Until she was in his arms, he¡¯d been completely sure about what he wanted from life, and it had nothing to do with a castle or a title or even a marriage. Sigurd seems to be perfectly happy in a solitary life in the woods, and Kai thought he would be the same way. Even when he¡¯d decided to spend time at Adelhyod to help Fifi find a way out of her cage, if she wanted one, his vision never went beyond helping an acquaintance, someone who¡¯d been kind to him. He certainly never thought he might want anything that would line up with his father¡¯s ambitions for him.


    But something has changed as he¡¯s gotten to know her. He admires the way Fifi has taken to Cybarein, her love for the natural world, her kindness, her energy, the way she speaks her mind. The thought of any of the princes from her sister¡¯s Quest for Favor competing for Fifi and her choosing one of them makes his chest tighten and his stomach clench. Joining the competition for her hand himself would seem a fool¡¯s errand¡ªher father¡¯s dislike for his, and outright coldness to him, hasn¡¯t changed in the weeks he¡¯s spent at court, despite his best efforts and help from Karl and Ingemar. But what other hope can Kai possibly have of even continuing to be friends with her, past her own marriage? Sneaking around in the courtyards to practice Cybarein won¡¯t last forever. Secrets are always found out.


    ¡°Well. Maybe not always,¡± he mutters to himself. His father and stepmother have never caught on that he¡¯s cybrinn, although they certainly think he¡¯s a bit odd. But maybe I shouldn¡¯t speak too soon. There¡¯s still time¡ª


    ¡°Hang on, little one,¡± Fifi¡¯s voice says, somewhere else in the courtyard. Her voice trembles with concern. Quick footsteps and swishing fabric accompany it. ¡°Not long now. I know someone who can help you¡­¡±


    ¡°Fifi?¡± Kai calls. He rounds a clump of leafy boxwood with new purpose, trying to ignore how his heart has leapt into his throat, and nearly crashes into Fifi. She stumbles back, wide-eyed and disheveled, holding her hands protectively against her chest. Light gray feathers and a small clawed foot stick out around her fingers.


    ¡°Kai! Thank goodness. I was on my way out for our lesson, and I heard all this commotion in the kitchen, so I stopped to see what was going on and¡­¡± She slowly holds her hands out towards him, revealing a trembling dove with wings bent at unnatural angles, breathing shallowly, blood in its feathers. Kai¡¯s breath catches and his insides twist in horror.


    ¡°She was in the kitchen?¡± His mind races as he gently touches the injured bird, trying to sense her energy and come up with a plan.


    ¡°I guess they left the door open to get a breeze, since it¡¯s such a nice day. It does get awfully hot in the kitchen. But she flew in, and the cooks and scullery maids and pageboys all panicked and started chasing her, swinging at her with pots and pans and rolling pins and anything else they had in hand. By the time I arrived, she could barely stay in the air and was too dazed to have any hope of finding a way out. She practically fell into my hands when I ran in to try to help her. Do you think there¡¯s any hope of saving her?¡±


    Kai¡¯s jaw tightens as he considers. The bird is weak, quivering, radiating pain. ¡°We can try.¡± Do I have any of the healing herbs with me? Do any of them grow in this courtyard? he wonders, rummaging through his pockets. We can¡¯t take the dove back inside, and Fifi can¡¯t be seen anywhere near my rooms¡­.


    ¡°What do I need to do?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to sit down. This will take some energy, some concentration, some¡ªaha!¡± His fingers close around a small pouch of powdered tree bark and dried herbs. Here¡¯s hoping this will do the trick. ¡°Do you know if there¡¯s any lavender in this courtyard?¡±


    Fifi frowns and bites her lip. ¡°Maybe, back that way?¡± She gestures with her head. ¡°This has all happened so fast, and I don¡¯t know how much time she might have left¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just walk that way, then. Try to project calm for her. Stress won¡¯t help with healing.¡± Even as he says it, the erratic thumping of his heart calls him a hypocrite. I¡¯ve never done any healing without Sigurd. She¡¯s never done any at all. And if we fail¡­.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Fifi glances up at the sky and takes a slow, deep breath. In the same moment, Kai sees a patch of purple flowers thrust skyward on spiky stems, a few paces off the path ahead of them to the left. Bees and butterflies attend the flowers. A soothing, unmistakable scent reaches them a moment later.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°We probably shouldn¡¯t get too close, with the bees¡­¡± Kai mutters.


    ¡°I¡¯ll sit here, under this birch tree, if you¡¯ll get the lavender and anything else we need? I wish I knew more¡­¡± Fifi shakes her head in despair.


    ¡°We¡¯ll do our best for her. I promise.¡± He doesn¡¯t feel the confidence he¡¯s trying to display, but his movements are quick and sure as he plucks lavender from the patch in the courtyard without disturbing the insects buzzing around it. A few moments among some nearby dogwood shrubs yield a few twigs for splinting and some long, flexible pieces of grass, and then he returns to Fifi, who has settled the dove on a cushion of fallen leaves and flower petals. The bird warbles a pained, distressed coo as Kai approaches.


    ¡°Shhh, shhh, little one,¡± Fifi tries to soothe her. ¡°He¡¯s here to help. We¡¯re going to help you.¡± She runs a gentle finger over the dove¡¯s head and back as she speaks.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to do the ritual,¡± Kai decides as he watches the bird relax under Fifi¡¯s touch. Something warm and unfamiliar is stirring in the pit of his stomach, but he tries to ignore it and focus on the task at hand.


    ¡°Me?! But I¡¯ve never¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know. But she¡¯s more comfortable with you, and I¡¯ll be right here. I¡¯ll give you everything you need.¡± He hands her one of the sprigs of lavender. ¡°Put it near her head, for calming. I¡¯ll use the rest to make the poultice. Can you try to splint her wings with these?¡± Their fingers brush as he gives her the twigs and grass.


    ¡°You mean, use them to hold her wings the way they¡¯re supposed to go?¡± she asks.


    Kai nods.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± She proceeds to whisper to the dove, who cries and flutters weakly at every attempt to touch her wings. Kai keeps an eye on her while he mixes lavender with some of the powder from the pouch in his pocket and a bit of spit. Water from a sacred spring, or even a fountain, would be better, but this courtyard has neither and they don¡¯t have time for searching.


    ¡°You¡¯re all right, little one. I know it hurts. We have to do this to help you get better,¡± Fifi tells the bird, jaw tight but with an aura of calm patience. One of her hands lightly runs over the dove¡¯s body, checking for other injuries, while the other holds one wing steady in its twig splint. The bird pecks at her and squeaks in pain. ¡°Sorry, sorry. I¡¯m just trying to see¡­.what it is we need to do¡­.¡±


    ¡°What have you found?¡± Kai asks, stirring the poultice in the palm of one hand with his finger. ¡°Good job on the splinting, by the way. I know I didn¡¯t explain¡­.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more broken bones, inside, I think. She¡¯s definitely in pain. What¡¯s that, in your hand?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain after. It works with the words, and energy, to heal what¡¯s been hurt. We just need to put it on her¡­.¡±


    ¡°All over, or just the injured places?¡±


    ¡°In this case, wherever you can get it on her, but on the injuries if possible.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to help. I can¡¯t hold her still and do that at the same time.¡±


    ¡°All right. Keep talking to her, then? She seems to like it.¡±


    Fifi obliges, holding the dove like she¡¯s made of glass while telling her what a good girl she is and how she¡¯ll feel much better soon. Meanwhile, Kai uses one fingertip to apply the poultice along her wings and torso and tries to remember to keep breathing. As they¡¯ve worked, the dove has been losing energy, her eyes becoming dull and listless. There¡¯s a gash in her left side that¡¯s oozing blood, and Kai puts as much of the poultice as he can on it, around the bird¡¯s weak protests.


    ¡°Okay. And now¡­. I hate to ask, but we¡¯ll need something for the energy. Gemstones are good for healing. Do you happen to have an amethyst or a diamond or something¡­.¡± Kai¡¯s voice trails off in embarrassment, but Fifi just nods. Keeping one hand on the dove, she fiddles with the brooch on her bodice until it comes off, then hands it to him. It¡¯s made of gold and shaped like the sun, set with a trio of sparkling clear stones at the center.


    ¡°I hope that will work,¡± she murmurs. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    ¡°It should work.¡± I hope. I don¡¯t know for sure what stones those are, but they should have enough for this bird¡­ ¡°Um. One hand on her, the other on this.¡± He sets the brooch on the ground so that the gems are against the dove as he speaks.


    ¡°And now?¡± Fifi prompts as she complies.


    ¡°Repeat after me.¡± He takes a deep breath and mirrors her pose: one hand on the dove, the other on the brooch. ¡°Ley¡¯keh o¡¯ loch¡¯yeh, zh¡¯yohras hiel.¡±


    ¡°Lay keh o lohk yuh, jorus heal¡­.¡±


    ¡°Try it again. Ley¡¯keh o¡¯ loch¡¯yeh, zh¡¯yohras hiel.¡±


    Fifi tries again, closer this time, and so they continue, Kai and then Fifi, repeating the Barivyce phrases: Heal and mend, be made whole.


    Beneath their fingertips, the dove becomes still and calm. The brooch grows warm, and shimmery threads seem to stretch between the gemstones and the bird¡¯s chest. The poultice seeps into her feathers. The gash in her side weaves itself closed as they chant.


    ¡°Ley¡¯keh o¡¯ loch¡¯yeh, zh¡¯yohras hiel¡­Shhhhhhh,¡± Kai breathes. He deftly removes a twig splint from one wing, and Fifi removes the other. The dove immediately folds her wings at her sides and ruffles her feathers, then looks at them with bright eyes. Then she coos and flutters her wings as though she was never hurt.


    Fifi gasps in delight and offers the dove a hand, which she hops onto with no hesitation. Kai looks on while Fifi, beaming, gets to her feet and lifts the dove towards the sky. She belongs to Cybarei, not a crown, he decides as the bird takes off from Fifi¡¯s hand and flies away without a backward glance. She watches after the dove, all smiling radiance, chestnut hair and grass-stained skirts blowing in the breeze, eyes aglow with joy and gratitude and satisfaction.


    Kai, in contrast, remains on the ground, content to just sit with his feelings¡ªrelief that they were successful, pride in that success, and a powerful aching wish that neither of them had been born to a title, that they could have met somewhere else under other circumstances. She¡¯s beautiful, a born cybrinn, and all at once his visions of his future show them working together as partners, side by side. He wants to say something to her, to tell her somehow, but the tiara resting on her head reminds him that it¡¯s impossible and stills his tongue. Her father will never agree. Even if I were to compete, he¡¯d have me thrown out or worse if he thought she might choose me, he tells himself, but the ache of longing only sharpens in response.


    Does her father have to agree? he finds himself wondering, and at that moment Fifi turns towards him again. His blood rushes in his ears, drowning out everything else as their eyes meet. Sigurd¡¯s warning in his pocket echoes in his mind: Tread carefully.


    But looking into her warm brown eyes, so full of life and joy, he knows that¡¯s a warning he can¡¯t possibly follow anymore.

 Joy

    ¡°We did it!¡± Fifi exults, twirling with joy as the dove they saved vanishes into the sky above Adelhyod. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. We really did it!¡± Nothing has ever made her feel so fulfilled and joyful as watching the dove regain its strength and fly away as though it was never injured. She turns to Kai, beaming, expecting that he feels the same way she does in this moment and wanting to share it with him.


    To her surprise, Kai is still on the ground under the birch tree, looking at her with a small smile that doesn¡¯t hide the sadness in his eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± she asks. In an instant, all her joy has become concern for him, and she¡¯s beside him on the ground again a moment later.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he answers with brightness Fifi knows is forced. ¡°That was¡­amazing.¡±


    ¡°We saved her, thanks to you.¡±


    ¡°No, thanks to you. I hardly did anything¡ª¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have known what to do, where to begin, without you. I knew that you could help her, but I never dreamed that I¡¯d be able to have even the smallest part in healing anything¡­¡±


    ¡°You have the Chyal¡¯lelseh.¡± He says the unfamiliar word matter-of-factly, as though she should know exactly what it means.


    ¡°The¡­chyal lel seh?¡± she repeats.


    ¡°The Calling of Cybarei. You¡¯re a true cybrinn. And¡­I¡¯m proud of you. The way you handled yourself¡­. You¡¯re a natural.¡± He¡¯s smiling again, but it still doesn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    What aren¡¯t you telling me? Fifi wonders.


    ¡°Thank you. Um¡­. Have you ever done that before?¡±


    ¡°Not without Sigurd,¡± he admits, turning his gaze to the ground between his feet. ¡°I think I was just as scared as you were. And we¡¯re really lucky that no one else was out here, that no one saw¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t thinking about anything except saving her.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. Under this tree is a good place.¡± He glances around them. ¡°No direct views from any windows, with these rhododendrons and boxwood on all sides. You chose a good spot.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad. And grateful to you, for knowing what to do and being willing to try¡ª¡±


    ¡°It was the right thing to do. The only thing I could do, once I saw¡­.¡± His eyes meet hers for a moment and then return to the ground. A muscle in his jaw twitches and his hands ball up into fists by his sides.


    ¡°Kai¡­.¡±


    He flinches when she says his name, and her voice trails off. For a moment, neither of them speaks. Fifi is practically bursting with concern and curiosity.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to talk about it if you don¡¯t want to,¡± she tells him. ¡°But¡­if I can help at all, with whatever¡¯s bothering you¡­. I¡¯m here.¡±


    A soft groan escapes Kai¡¯s lips. ¡°I want to kiss you,¡± he admits, so soft that for a moment Fifi wonders if she¡¯s misheard. But the longing in his deep hazel eyes as he looks at her again is unmistakable.


    Butterflies fill her midsection and her cheeks flush warm. ¡°Then kiss me,¡± she invites with a shy smile. Her heart flutters in her chest and her nerves tingle with anticipation.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Kai¡¯s eyes widen and his mouth opens and closes a few times, searching for words. ¡°I¡­um¡­. Do you¡­I mean¡­. Are you sure? If your father¡ª¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll never know.¡± Impulsively, Fifi leans closer to Kai, almost close enough for their lips to touch but not quite. A moment later, Kai¡¯s lips meet hers, as gentle as he¡¯d been with the dove. Her eyes close of their own accord. She kisses back, shy and unsure¡ªam I doing this right? Has he done this before?¡ªand then he scoots closer to her, cupping her face with one hand. Warmth rushes through her. One of her hands finds his shoulder and then tangles in his hair, pulling it loose from the leather string that held it in a knot at the back of his head.


    ¡°He could have me killed for this,¡± Kai mutters against Fifi¡¯s lips as they break for air, but then he kisses her again hungrily, as though he can¡¯t help himself.


    ¡°He won¡¯t. I won¡¯t let him,¡± Fifi promises, pulling slightly away. With his hair loose around his face, he looks more wild and unsuited to Court than she¡¯s ever seen him. ¡°You should wear your hair like this all the time.¡±


    ¡°I do, in the woods at home.¡± Their lips meet again, soft and sweet.


    ¡°I like it this way.¡± Her fingertips dance in his hair, tracing circles on the back of his head.


    ¡°I like you.¡± More kisses, leaning into each other.


    ¡°I like you, too.¡±


    A window shutter bangs somewhere in the courtyard, startling them apart. The breeze in Fifi¡¯s hair tells her it might have just been the wind, but that doesn¡¯t stop her eyes from darting around them, and Kai is doing the same.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have done that. Not here, in daylight, when anyone could have walked by and seen¡­.¡± he says under his breath.


    ¡°Maybe not. But we did. And¡­I would do it again,¡± Fifi admits.


    Kai smiles and his eyes drop to her lips, as though he wants to take her up on that. ¡°I would, too. Every time.¡± He finds his leather hair string on the ground and starts to scrape his hair into a low ponytail.


    ¡°Do you have to do that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Like it or not, we¡¯re still at Court. And you¡¯re still a princess.¡±


    Fifi sighs and turns away from him. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°Maybe not. But it does.¡±


    ¡°To you?¡±


    ¡°Only in that it makes¡­this more difficult.¡± His hand finds hers on the ground between them.


    ¡°With you I¡¯m just Fifi. No title, no etiquette, no pretense¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know. That¡¯s part of why I¡¯m so drawn to you.¡± She turns to look at him again. He¡¯s wearing the same sad smile he was after she¡¯d released the dove to the sky. ¡°If we were the same rank, I would go to your father and ask for permission to court you properly. But as things are¡­.¡±


    Fifi nods. She can imagine how her father might react to such a request from Kai. His fears that he might have him killed for kissing her aren¡¯t unfounded.


    ¡°Will you compete, when my Quest for Favor comes?¡± she asks after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.


    ¡°My father will insist upon it, regardless of my personal inclinations.¡±


    Fifi arches an eyebrow at him. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not¡­. I just don¡¯t think you should be treated as a prize to be won.¡±


    ¡°Maybe not. But this way I get some choice in the question of marriage. Other princesses aren¡¯t so lucky.¡±


    ¡°Some choice,¡± Kai repeats. ¡°Would your father even let you choose me?¡±


    Anger flares hot in Fifi¡¯s chest. ¡°It¡¯s not his decision whom I choose.¡±


    ¡°You say that, but you also said your sister¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not Minna.¡± Tears prick the backs of her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I won¡¯t marry someone just because he wants me to.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not trying to offend you. I¡¯m just¡­concerned. For both of us.¡±


    ¡°Cybarein is at least as much of a risk.¡±


    ¡°All the more reason to be concerned. And careful.¡±


    Fifi sighs, hating that Kai is right. Although they¡¯re in one of Adelhyod¡¯s largest courtyards, she feels like the walls are closing in on her. ¡°So we¡¯ll be careful. More careful than we have been.¡±


    ¡°Do you still want to meet for lessons?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re still willing to teach me.¡±


    ¡°Your gift deserves honing.¡± He smiles again, this time with a bit of mischief in it. ¡°And I want to see you again.¡±


    ¡°You will. Day after tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°The courtyard with the fish pond, where we first met?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Fifi gets up and brushes dust and grass from her skirts, frowning a bit at the stains on them. Greta and Lise won¡¯t be pleased, she thinks. Oh well. They¡¯d be less pleased if they knew how she got them, but she doesn¡¯t intend to breathe a word about this afternoon to anyone. ¡°Until then¡­¡± She waves to Kai briefly, then walks away from him without so much as a backward glance, despite the aching thudding of her heart in her chest.


    Caution has never been Fifi¡¯s style. But this is unlike anything else she¡¯s ever done before. Keeping Kai safe, and continuing to learn Cybarein, is worth every ounce of caution she can muster.

 Confirmation

    Sunlight streams through the rippled, cloudy glass of the drawing room windows, splashing Fifi¡¯s face and gown. She stands holding a single rose in one hand and resting the other on the back of a chair, looking in the general direction of the windows despite the bright light. Normally she would be going crazy from boredom while she poses to have her portrait painted, but today she is still as a statue, her mind far away. Over and over she relives healing the dove with Kai and the feeling of his lips on hers afterward. Her lips curve in a soft smile as she remembers how gently he¡¯d cupped her face. She always thought her first kiss would be at the altar on her wedding day, but she wouldn¡¯t change anything about her kisses with Kai.


    Except, perhaps, making their mutual attraction less dangerous, for him especially.


    I wish we¡¯d turned ourselves into birds and followed that dove into the sky, far away from here, she muses, stifling a sigh. The Royal Artist-in-Residence, a diminutive man called Peder who wears ridiculously long tapered shoes and a pointy grey goatee, hates it when she stirs even slightly from the pose he¡¯s prescribed for her. He has often scolded her in past painting sessions for her inability to hold still, but today he has been quiet and focused on his work, leaving Fifi freedom to daydream. Although, I guess it¡¯s better we didn¡¯t try. I haven¡¯t been able to transform myself yet.


    It¡¯s a skill she plans to practice at every future lesson until she can do it easily, if Kai agrees. No one tells a rat how to spend its days or dictates which birds must take each other for mates. Fifi envies their freedom. Before Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor, before she met Kai and started learning Cybarein, she was content to be a princess who bent the rules when it suited her. Now, though, bending the rules isn¡¯t enough. Imagining herself in Minna¡¯s position, preparing for a royal marriage and set to be a wife and mother and perhaps even a queen in the near future, makes her feel like she¡¯s in a carriage pulled by wildly galloping horses, careening towards the edge of a cliff.


    As long as Kai competes, I can choose him, Fifi assures herself, but the words ring hollow against the memory of King Ansgar¡¯s glare. Father will be furious. He¡¯ll try to force me to choose some prince or other. She wants to believe she could hold her ground against him, but doubt tightens her chest and thickens the air around her.


    Would it be the right thing to choose him? she finds herself wondering. She doesn¡¯t want to give up their friendship or Cybarein. But what if Minna¡¯s right, and I have to be a princess and not just a person? The idea makes her sick to her stomach. She¡¯s not sure there¡¯s anything in the world that would make her accept someone like Prince Casimiro as a husband.


    A knock at the drawing room door breaks Fifi out of her reverie. Without moving her head, she slides her eyes towards the door to find Agda, one of hers and Minna¡¯s maids, coming in. A piece of parchment with a green wax seal is in her right hand. Fifi¡¯s stomach drops to the floor.


    ¡°Pardon the interruption, Your Lordship, Your Highness,¡± Agda says after standing there a few moments. ¡°I have a message for Princess Josefina¡­.¡±


    Peder looks at Agda with surprise; Fifi guesses he was too intensely focused on painting her portrait to hear her come in.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Peder glances a few times between the maid and his canvas before continuing. ¡°Well. Princess Josefina, I suppose, since you have been so still and silent today, you may have a break to read it, if you wish. I need to mix up some new paint¡­.¡± He continues to mutter unintelligibly under his breath about hues and pigments.


    Fifi crosses to Agda with reluctant steps. ¡°A message for me?¡± she asks, hoping there¡¯s some mistake. She only knows of one country whose royals use green sealing wax.


    ¡°Yes, Your Highness,¡± Agda bows and hands Fifi the parchment, which bears her name and title in sickeningly familiar, elegant script. She holds it as though she¡¯s afraid it might bite her, frozen with indecision. What if I just throw it away? What can he possibly have to say to me? I made myself quite clear, when I replied to his note¡­. she thinks.


    ¡°Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but His Majesty the King insisted that I deliver this to you right away, that it was more important than¡­this¡­.¡± Agda gestures to Peder and his easel.


    Fifi nods and drifts to the nearest chair. Only once she has settled herself on the embroidered cushion and taken a few deep breaths does she break the green seal and open the parchment.


    To Princess Josefina, Fifi, of Aethyrozia, may Chuezoh always bless her in every conceivable way,


    I trust this message finds you in good health and in good spirits. I know how a household turns upside-down when a sister is preparing for marriage, and I hope that you have not suffered as a result. Close as you and your sister are, this must be difficult for you, and I apologize, from the bottom of my heart, for the impact my rash, ill-considered actions have had on you both. Truly, I meant no harm and no disrespect. I felt it would be better for everyone to remove myself from the competition once I realized that I would prefer another. I see now that I should have gone about doing so in a different, more considerate fashion. For that reason I have endeavored to make it up to you, although I have no delusions that either yours or your sister¡¯s good graces can be bought. The wedding gift is merely a physical manifestation of the goodwill I bear towards you.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me for the harm I have caused, and that by and by we might start over, so to speak. I find you admirable in every respect, and it is my most ardent wish to get to know each other better through written correspondence before your Quest for Favor. A three day competition is not sufficient to get to know each other, I know, and so in this way I seek to remedy that deficiency. Should an alliance between our countries become mutually desirable, I should think it best that we not be forced together as near strangers, but rather that we establish some foundation for a lasting partnership.


    Whether or not you agree, I eagerly anticipate your reply. No conflict can be resolved without communication.


    With contrition and hope,


    Prince Didier of Vyrunia


    The parchment drops to the floor from Fifi¡¯s hand as she reads the closing. All the color leaves her face and she closes her eyes, trying to remind herself how to breathe. I was right, she despairs silently. He sent the fabric because of me. He hasn¡¯t given up. He¡¯s going to come back. He¡¯s trying to persuade Father, too, and I¡­.


    ¡°Princess? Are you all right?¡± Agda inquires. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve taken ill¡ª¡±


    ¡°I have to go. Please excuse me,¡± Fifi interrupts. She retrieves the offending note from the floor, then rises unsteadily to her feet. Her heart pounds erratically in her chest and blood rushes in her ears.


    ¡°Please, Princess, I can fetch the apothecary for you. Just sit back down¡­¡± Agda calls, but Fifi moves past her like a woman possessed, blind and deaf to the maid¡¯s protests.


    I have to get out of here, Fifi thinks, over and over again, drowning out everything else. Her feet carry her faster and faster down the corridor until she¡¯s almost running, holding her skirts indecorously aloft to avoid tripping on them. Outside. A courtyard. I¡¯ll keep trying to turn into a bird, with or without Kai¡¯s help, and then¡ª


    ¡°Goodness, Fifi, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Queen Ingrid exclaims, coming around a corner into her distraught younger daughter¡¯s path. Fifi stumbles and nearly falls, trying to avoid running into her mother. The queen grabs her arm, helping her steady herself. ¡°I was just coming to see how the portrait is coming along. What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Fifi looks into her mother¡¯s green eyes and just shakes her head, then hands her Didier¡¯s note. She swallows hard, trying not to cry, while the queen skims over the prince¡¯s message.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to my chambers,¡± Ingrid invites Fifi. ¡°No one will disturb us there. Then we can talk.¡±


    Fifi nods and clings to her mother¡¯s hand like she used to as a little girl. Neither of them speaks as they make their way to the queen¡¯s suite. All the while, Fifi¡¯s mind is racing. I can¡¯t tell her about Kai. I can¡¯t even hint that there might be someone else. Will it be enough to tell her that I can¡¯t accept him, after Minna liked him so much and he hurt her that way and then tried to buy our forgiveness? She suspects that this reasoning will make perfect sense to her mother but will matter little to her father. One step at a time, Fifi.


    ¡°We can use my solar, here,¡± Ingrid says, leading Fifi into the room in her suite with the most windows. ¡°Should I call for some tea or mulled wine?¡±


    ¡°No thank you,¡± Fifi whispers. She doesn¡¯t think she can speak louder without bursting into tears, the way she did in the Royal Library the day the textiles came. The day Kai held me and, for a moment, I felt safe.


    ¡°All right.¡± The queen closes the door and locks it. She and Fifi settle next to each other on an elegant settee near the windows. For a few moments, neither one of them speaks. ¡°Prince Didier seems to really like you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why,¡± Fifi blurts out. The rest comes out like an avalanche: how she¡¯d only danced with him once and didn¡¯t speak with him outside of that, how she never saw him as anything but Minna¡¯s suitor, how she knew how much Minna liked him and would never betray her sister like that, and about his first note and how she¡¯d replied.


    Ingrid listens attentively, her expression grave. ¡°I was afraid it was something like that,¡± she murmurs once Fifi runs out of words. ¡°You and Minna haven¡¯t been the same since her Quest for Favor, and I am sorry for it. You¡¯ve always been so close¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Fifi¡¯s voice cracks.


    ¡°And this¡­has not made anything easier for either one of you, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    Fifi nods. A tear slips down her cheek.


    ¡°Oh, sweetheart.¡± Ingrid wraps her arms around her younger daughter. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Not a single bit of it. You¡¯ve always had such a good heart, and I know how much you love your sister. She knows, too. I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t blame you.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t,¡± Fifi confirms, grateful that she and Minna were able to talk about it again.


    ¡°Of course not. She just wants you to be happy, the same way you wanted her to choose someone who would make her happy.¡±


    ¡°She made the right choice. I believe that now.¡±


    Ingrid smiles. ¡°I¡¯m glad. But, as to Didier¡­. Do you believe he can be the right choice for you?¡±


    Fifi shakes her head vehemently. ¡°Never. I know he says he doesn¡¯t think our favor can be bought, but to hurt her like that and then send¡­. I don¡¯t believe him. I don¡¯t trust him.¡±


    Queen Ingrid sighs and nods. ¡°I understand. But Fifi, dear¡­. We all make mistakes. And he seems to be sorry for this one.¡±


    ¡°And Father wants me to marry him,¡± Fifi guesses. The words taste bitter in her mouth.


    ¡°He is¡­certainly looking upon an alliance with Vyrunia in a more favorable light, since Didier¡¯s wedding gift for Minna arrived.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, if he hadn¡¯t been openly favoring the Syazonians during Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor and had been more open-minded about letting her make her own choice from all the contestants¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hush, Fifi. I know. But even here you can¡¯t say that too loudly.¡± Queen Ingrid glances at the door. ¡°He will want you to write back to Didier, and to be civil about it.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a great opportunity, you know, to get to know a suitor before your Quest for Favor. Minna didn¡¯t have that.¡±


    ¡°Maybe she should have. But it doesn¡¯t matter. I already know I can¡¯t marry him.¡±


    ¡°Fifi, sweetheart¡­. With your father, it¡¯s wisest to choose your battles. Use the letters to find reasons why Didier and Vyrunia will not be good allies for Aethyrozia, and¡­perhaps you¡¯ll prevail in the battle that matters.¡±


    Fifi considers her mother¡¯s words. Didier made a strong case for an alliance between Aethyrozia and Vyrunia in the Questioning, as she recalls. But he was putting on a show then. Maybe he¡¯ll mention things in passing¡­. she muses. The letters might also be performances. How am I to know? But she might be right. Getting my way in my Quest for Favor matters more. And behaving for now means I¡¯ll have more time to think of other options, and they won¡¯t punish me by forcing me to stay inside¡­.


    ¡°I¡¯ll write him back. And be civil,¡± she mutters.


    ¡°Thank you, Fifi. In the next few days, please, if you can,¡± Queen Ingrid embraces her daughter again.


    ¡°Can I talk to Minna about it?¡±


    ¡°I see no reason why not.¡±

 Conflicted

    Minna opens the door to her antechamber as slowly and quietly as she can, holding her breath and hoping that Fifi isn¡¯t inside. To her relief, the room is empty, and the only sounds she hears are birds chirping outside and her own light footfalls on the floor as she goes inside, closing the door the same way she opened it. Her shoulders slump and she drops into the nearest chair, clutching her head with both hands. Her fingers brush her tiara and then clench in a fist by her temple as she resists the urge to tear it off and throw it across the room. Never before in her life has she resented the circumstances of her birth, but after the meeting she¡¯s just had with her parents and the Syazonian ambassador, she would give anything to be something other than a princess.


    At least things with Syazonia are going well, she tries to console herself. She¡¯s secured permission for Greta to come with her and be part of her household there, and her work with the Royal Orchestra has met with universal approval. And I¡¯ll be going there soon, away from the rest of this. But poor Fifi¡­. How can I possibly do what Father has asked of me?


    As if cued by Minna¡¯s thoughts, Fifi comes into the antechamber from their study, sketchbook under one arm. Please don¡¯t notice me. I¡¯m not ready, Minna prays, closing her eyes and wishing she could disappear. Fifi¡¯s footsteps are quick and purposeful, but then they stop short.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Fifi asks, coming next to her sister¡¯s chair.


    Minna draws in a long, shaky breath before opening her eyes to meet Fifi¡¯s concerned brown ones. There are a million things she wants to say, but she just looks at her sister for a few moments and then shakes her head.


    ¡°You had a meeting with Father, right?¡± Fifi prompts.


    Minna nods once. ¡°Please, Fifi¡ª¡±


    ¡°I was on my way out to one of the courtyards. Do you want to come with me? The fresh air might be nice. You¡¯ve been spending so much time cooped up in meetings and dress fittings¡­.¡±


    Minna considers the idea as her sister¡¯s voice trails off. A change of scenery would be nice. And maybe I¡¯ll feel safer out there, be able to find the right words¡­ she thinks.


    ¡°I think I¡¯d like that.¡±


    Fifi smiles. ¡°Good! I think so, too. Here, let me fix your hair.¡± She does, and then the two of them walk together through the corridors of Adelhyod. Fifi chatters the whole time about Algot and how she¡¯s taught him to bring her shiny things from his stash on command, in addition to shaking hands and speaking. Minna thanks Chuezoh that Fifi has found a way for them to seem normal to any servants or other passersby without her putting forth much effort. Only once they¡¯ve made it outside into a courtyard does Fifi¡¯s demeanor turn serious again.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me anything about what¡¯s bothering you,¡± she tells Minna, ¡°but I¡¯m here if you need me. I¡¯m just going to sit by that pond and see if I can get any better at drawing fish.¡± She walks down the cobbled path to a stone bench opposite the door they¡¯ve come through while Minna stays put, indecisive. She tips her head up to enjoy the warm summer sun and the breeze in her hair. Around her, the vegetation is gloriously green and studded with flowers. No wonder she wanted to come out here, Minna realizes as she drifts after Fifi. She used to come out with Fifi more often, before her Quest for Favor turned their world upside-down.


    ¡°I forgot how nice this courtyard is,¡± she remarks as she settles next to Fifi on the bench. ¡°Good choice.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s one of my favorites,¡± Fifi replies. Her gaze is fixed on the water of the pond next to the bench, and the tip of her tongue pokes out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrates on drawing the curve of a fish¡¯s side on a page of her sketchbook.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Will you be offended if I take Greta to Syazonia and she stays there with me?¡± Minna asks after a few moments with neither of them speaking.


    ¡°Not at all. You should have friends there with you, and I¡¯m sure Mother and Father won¡¯t let me stay after your wedding.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right about that. Neither one of them is coming, and neither is Emrik. But they¡¯re sending special guards for you, to keep you out of trouble and accompany you home with the Royal Orchestra.¡±


    Fifi snorts in contempt. ¡°Are they afraid I¡¯ll run away with Emiliano or something?¡±


    Minna laughs, but there¡¯s no joy in it. ¡°Not exactly. Although Adalberto told me he thinks Emiliano is interested in you, Father said in no uncertain terms that I should discourage that idea in every possible way. He has¡­other plans for you.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± The darkness in Fifi¡¯s voice chills Minna.


    ¡°Has he spoken to you?¡±


    ¡°No, but Mother has, and I got a letter¡­.¡±


    Minna¡¯s insides twist and churn. She feels like she might be sick. She closes her eyes and takes some deep breaths. It isn¡¯t fair. It isn¡¯t right. He shouldn¡¯t be able to do this to us, she finds herself thinking, even though she immediately feels guilty for it. That¡¯s the way Fifi will think of it, certainly. He¡¯s just trying to act in the best interests of Aethyrozia, though, and that changes based on what he knows¡­. Despite her best efforts, a tear escapes one of her eyes and slides down her cheek.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend, out here,¡± Fifi assures Minna, her voice low. ¡°It¡¯s safe to feel however you feel.¡±


    A cry of frustration tears from Minna¡¯s throat, and then she drops her face into her hands as her shoulders shake with suppressed sobs. Fifi¡¯s arms wrap around her, offering comfort she isn¡¯t sure she wants to accept. It¡¯s not her fault. I know it¡¯s not her fault. But the fact that he wants to match her with him, when he knows I liked him so much, when I even asked¡­. Minna¡¯s tears fall faster and harder; she hates herself for even having these thoughts.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Minna,¡± Fifi whispers near her ear. ¡°It isn¡¯t fair, and it isn¡¯t right, and he shouldn¡¯t be asking this of either of us.¡±


    ¡°But he is. And he¡¯s the king,¡± Minna chokes out.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t give him a right to disregard our feelings and treat us like pieces on a game board.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it, though?¡±


    ¡°Only if you let him,¡± Fifi says after a few moments.


    Minna looks up at Fifi in surprise, wiping tears off her face with her sleeves. ¡°I thought you said I¡¯d made the right choice, with Adalberto.¡±


    ¡°I do. I think you did what was right for you, especially after¡­someone else made their choice that night.¡±


    ¡°The letter you got¡­.¡±


    Fifi¡¯s jaw tightens. ¡°It came while I was posing for Peder again. I hope he¡¯s almost done with that portrait for you.¡±


    ¡°But the letter was from Didier?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    Minna sighs. So it has begun. She dares not venture a guess whether Fifi or their father will turn out to be more stubborn in this matter, nor how genuine and persistent Didier might be in his affections.


    ¡°He apologized for what he did to you,¡± Fifi says after a few moments. ¡°For whatever that¡¯s worth.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe him?¡±


    ¡°No. I think it¡¯s all part of whatever political game we¡¯re playing.¡±


    ¡°If it was just about politics, he would have stayed in my Quest for Favor until the end.¡± In spite of her best effort, Minna¡¯s voice is bitter as she says it. ¡°He likes you, Fifi.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s his problem. Just because he likes me doesn¡¯t mean I have to like him back.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re going to write back to him?¡± The words are heavy and foul-tasting on Minna¡¯s tongue as she says them. I promised I¡¯d try, she tells herself, no matter how much it pains me.


    ¡°Mother says I have to, and that I have to be nice about it. So I¡¯ll write him, but I won¡¯t change my mind.¡±


    ¡°You should at least give him a chance.¡±


    ¡°Father put you up to saying that.¡±


    ¡°He asked me to, yes, but it¡¯s also¡­my genuine advice.¡± Minna swallows hard. ¡°You liked him, too, in my Quest for Favor, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°As a match for you. I never gave him a thought as a match for me, and now¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know it¡¯s hard. But we can¡¯t go backwards, Fifi. I¡¯ve made my choice, and like it or not¡­. Father always gets his way. Get to know Didier now, so that you won¡¯t be completely miserable later.¡±


    Fifi pulls away from Minna and picks up her sketchbook again. Minna doesn¡¯t like the look in her sister¡¯s eyes; something in her has turned hard and fierce and bitter as she contemplates the future their father has prescribed for her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see what happens,¡± Fifi replies as she starts sketching again. Her words hang ominously in the air. Minna shivers, although the weather is warm and there¡¯s not a cloud in the sky.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid,¡± she tells her sister softly. Fifi just smiles, brilliant and forced, and says nothing. Minna is anything but reassured. I¡¯ll have to try to keep a closer eye on her, while I still can, she resolves, turning her face to the sky once more.

 Suggestion

    Kai walks with quick, purposeful steps down one of Adelhyod¡¯s corridors, bound for the courtyard where he¡¯s planned to meet Fifi this afternoon. Ever since they parted ways a couple days ago, Kai has been equal parts eager to see her again and terrified that someone else would find out that he kissed her. And she wanted me to, he marvels. It won¡¯t matter to her father, if he ever finds out, but he had hardly dared to hope that she might also be interested in him as anything other than a friend and fellow cybrinn. Remembering the way she¡¯d smiled at him, the way she¡¯d responded to his touch, makes his face heat up and his nerves flash fire. But then he immediately turns cold as he fears someone might see him and ask why he¡¯s blushing. No one can know. What we¡¯ve done is forbidden, he reminds himself, but he can¡¯t help smiling at the memory of her fingers tangling in his hair and her lips on his.


    As far as he knows, no one saw them. For now, they are safe. We just have to keep it that way, he resolves. How easy or difficult that might be, he has no idea. Every meeting they have is a risk, but a risk he¡¯s more than willing to take. Does she feel the same way? Has she been thinking about it like I have? he wonders.


    ¡°Kai! There you are!¡± Ingemar¡¯s voice behind him interrupts his musings.


    ¡°Come riding with us,¡± Karl invites as Kai turns around.


    ¡°Another time,¡± Kai replies, hoping they will let it go. What if they don¡¯t, though? I can¡¯t tell them about Fifi. There has to be something else¡ª


    ¡°Why not now? The weather¡¯s perfect.¡±


    ¡°That meeting with King Ansgar earlier.¡± That should do it. They were both there, and it¡¯s believable enough, Kai decides. ¡°I have to write my father¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why bother? You don¡¯t like him. The letter can wait,¡± Ingemar argues.


    ¡°If this news only affected him, I would agree, but the whole household will have to prepare. An afternoon ride is no reason to make the servants suffer.¡±


    Ingemar arches an eyebrow. ¡°Maybe so. But I think there¡¯s something else at play. Or maybe someone else¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who else could there be?¡± Karl interrupts scornfully. ¡°Kai doesn¡¯t go out of his way to make friends.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll ride with you, I promise,¡± Kai says, ignoring Karl¡¯s jibe. Ingemar¡¯s a little too close to the truth for my liking. We have to end this here. He¡¯s actually already written the letter he¡¯s claiming as an excuse, but his friends don¡¯t need to know that. ¡°I just have to get this done. Our house butler is too old to be run ragged with last-minute demands, and my father and Lady Birgitta will both want to be sure we make the best possible impression¡ª¡±


    ¡°You know it won¡¯t matter to the king,¡± Ingemar grumbles. ¡°You¡¯ve been making a stellar effort to distinguish yourself as competent and far more likable than your father, by all accounts, and a fat lot of good it¡¯s done you. He¡¯s just as cold to you now as he was on your first day at court.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Kai sighs. ¡°But it¡¯s not about him. It¡¯s about helping the people who did right by me growing up in that wretched house. Tomorrow I¡¯ll ride with you. For now, please excuse me.¡± He hurries away from them, thanking Cybarei as he goes that his chambers are in the same general direction as the courtyard where he¡¯s meant to be meeting Fifi. I¡¯m probably late. I hope she¡¯s not offended. I hope she¡¯s there, he worries. He¡¯s been unable to sit still since he finished the letter to his father, and so he¡¯s been wandering the halls of Adelhyod, not wanting to seem overeager by arriving to the courtyard early. It might have been better if I had. Ingemar¡ªSolveig¡ªsees too much and forgets nothing. I¡¯ll have to come up with something better to tell them, in case this happens again¡­which it might. In all honesty, the more he thinks about it, the real surprise is that his plans with Fifi haven¡¯t conflicted with his friends¡¯ plans before this afternoon. He mutters curses under his breath at their carelessness, but the curses die on his lips as he steps into the courtyard.


    Some distance in front of him, sitting on a stone bench next to the fish pond, are Fifi and Princess Wilhelmina, arms wrapped around each other. The sound of the elder princess¡¯s sobs reaches his ears a moment later. Fifi glances up from her sister¡¯s shoulder and her eyes lock with Kai¡¯s.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she mouths.


    Kai shakes his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± he mouths back. Concern and disappointment battle for supremacy in his chest. He takes a step back, meaning to go back into the palace and give them some privacy.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go. Wait.¡± Her silent plea stops him in his tracks. He glances around. This courtyard is rather small, leaving him few places to go where Fifi¡¯s sister won¡¯t see him while he waits. But the corner furthest from the fish pond is thick with verdant foliage, and so that is where he goes, keeping his steps light on the stone path. As he gets closer, he discovers another stone bench hidden amongst the leaves. It¡¯s small and dilapidated with moss growing in its cracks, but when Kai sits on it, the two royal sisters are completely out of his sight, which means he should be hidden from them, as well.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    As he leans back to look at the clear blue sky through the emerald leaves overhead, though, he finds he can hear the princesses talking¡ªnot distinctly, but the sounds of their voices mingled with the breeze and birdsong. Kai winces; he was hoping to avoid that. While he wants to honor Fifi¡¯s request, he doesn¡¯t want to violate her sister¡¯s privacy by eavesdropping. His fingers brush the moss on the bench. I haven¡¯t studied moss much, he realizes, and so he decides to concentrate on the moss, meditating the way he¡¯d asked Fifi to do with the rhododendron in their first lesson.


    The rest of the world fades away as he closes his eyes and tries to feel the energy of the moss. Its essence reveals itself as tiny twinkles of green and brown, tickling his fingertips with myriad slight pulses, and it responds to his call with almost no effort. At his unspoken direction, as he opens his eyes, the moss grows thicker and softer and spreads outward from him to cover more of the bench. Its progress is almost imperceptibly gradual and absorbs all of his attention as the afternoon wears on.


    The sunlight has turned to the gold herald of sunset when nearby footsteps pull Kai¡¯s focus away from the moss-covered bench.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Fifi says as she comes into his view. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for you to wait so long. I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d want to stay¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Kai assures her, rising from his seat. ¡°How is she?¡±


    Fifi shakes her head. ¡°Hard to say. Better than when we first came out here, at least. She was definitely more willing to talk out here than she is inside, so that was nice. I brought her because I didn¡¯t have another way to tell you what had happened, and I didn¡¯t want you to think that I didn¡¯t want to see you or something.¡± She¡¯s only a step away from him now, her eyes searching his face.


    ¡°This courtyard¡¯s too small. We have to be careful,¡± he murmurs, glancing towards the windows in the walls around them. Most of them are stained glass, rather than shuttered, but he doesn¡¯t want to take any unnecessary risks. ¡°But I¡¯m glad to see you. And glad that you wanted to see me.¡±


    Fifi blushes and turns away. ¡°Since the bird¡­and¡­. I haven¡¯t thought of much else.¡±


    ¡°Nor have I.¡±


    ¡°Except¡­.¡± She turns back towards him, eyes full of apologies. ¡°I have to tell you¡­.¡±


    Hearing about her most recent letter from Prince Didier makes Kai¡¯s fists clench at his sides as tightly as the knots in his stomach. She¡¯d have a more comfortable life with him than with me, and he has her family¡¯s support, he thinks. Cold dread gnaws at his insides.


    ¡°I can¡¯t marry him. No matter what they say. I can¡¯t,¡± Fifi finishes, and hope springs anew within Kai.


    ¡°Run away with me,¡± he invites impulsively.


    Fifi¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have the perfect chance for it, with your sister¡¯s marriage. King Ansgar told me today that the route for her entourage¡ªand your return trip, I assume¡ªwill require spending the night in Lyrnola, at my father¡¯s manor house. I¡¯d never ask you to miss her wedding, but on the return trip, if you want¡ª¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t it cause horrible problems for your family, if I disappear while staying there? And what if we¡¯re caught? You keep saying we have to be careful, and then you suggest¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know. You don¡¯t have to decide now. There¡¯s¡­a lot of details to figure out.¡± The magnitude of what he¡¯s suggested to her slaps him in the face, and his gaze falls to the ground as the tops of his ears start burning. ¡°Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have¡­. We haven¡¯t known each other all that long, and I don¡¯t want to pressure you or rush you into anything¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re just trying to help. And I appreciate that.¡± She looks to the sky as if hoping to find the answers written there.


    ¡°We can forget I said anything about it, if that¡¯s easier.¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯ve been looking for a way out, some way I wouldn¡¯t have to marry him, and every path I¡¯ve thought of includes having to win an argument with my father. And then you¡­.¡± Fifi sighs. Kai dares to look at her again. She¡¯s still only a step away, her expression unreadable. ¡°Where would we go?¡±


    ¡°To Sigurd, first. He knows far more than I do. I¡¯m sure he can help us find a way to evade the search parties, and then¡­. I guess it¡¯s up to you, whether we try to live in a village as commoners or live in the forest as true cybrinn. Either way, it would be very different from the life you¡¯re used to. I would completely understand if¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Her eyes scan the courtyard around them and come to rest on his face again. ¡°You¡¯re asking me to trade a crown for freedom.¡±


    ¡°¡­Simply put, yes.¡± Does she think I¡¯m crazy? I know my family would, no question, and this is the opposite of what they had in mind when they demanded that I win her over, Kai muses. But this isn¡¯t about them. ¡°Fifi¡­. I decided to come back to court because you remind me of a bird trapped in a cage, and I wanted to help you find a way out, if you wanted one. I never dreamed that we¡­. I mean, I don¡¯t regret¡­but it was never my intention, for¡­us¡­¡± Why is this so difficult?!


    ¡°Even setting my father¡¯s plans for my future aside, tradition and crown would have me married to a near stranger at nineteen. I¡¯m grateful, and incredibly lucky, that we¡­found each other, and got to know each other, and¡­.¡± Her voice trails off, but her eyes have more to say. Kai¡¯s heart pounds in his chest and it¡¯s all he can do to stay still, to keep the distance between them. ¡°You said I don¡¯t have to decide now.¡±


    ¡°And I mean it. Really. Giving up everything you¡¯ve ever known isn¡¯t an easy decision.¡±


    ¡°Not quite everything.¡± She closes the distance between them and kisses his cheek before stepping away again. Heat courses through him and for a moment he reaches after her before restraining himself. Not here, not now. No matter how much you want to. ¡°But it¡¯s still a lot. And I have to think about it.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry we didn¡¯t get to have our lesson today. I have to go back inside, though. I told Minna I wouldn¡¯t be long¡­.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all right. We can try again in a couple days, if you want.¡±


    ¡°After supper, in the one where we healed the dove. Day after tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡±

 Quandary

    To Prince Didier of Vyrunia, may this message find him in good health and good spirits,


    I write to thank you for your thoughtful and extravagant gifts. They will indeed be of use as we prepare my trousseau, and your selections are exactly to my taste. I am most impressed by your attention to detail and the utility of your choices.


    Do not think, however, that I am unaware of your intentions with this gift. I know that your generosity has less to do with me and my wedding than it does with my sister, and perhaps with persuading my father that an alliance between Aethyrozia and Vyrunia is both desirable and worthwhile. In this second objective you have been at least somewhat successful; he is more willing to consider the possibility of such an alliance than he was previously. I believe he has written, or will be writing shortly, to your father to that effect. My sister, on the other hand, remains unmoved by your gifts and believes, despite your protestations otherwise, that you are trying to buy our favor and goodwill.


    I am perfectly ambivalent to you in every way, but in the hopes that Josefina will be happy and well looked after in the future, here is some food for thought: She found your performance in my Quest for Favor both impressive and admirable, and appealing to her love of nature and appreciation of visual arts may be beneficial to you. But that is all I will write to you on this matter or any other. Please do not write to me again. Etiquette and propriety and my own sensibilities all dictate that we should be cordially distant from one another.


    Sincerely,


    Princess Wilhelmina of Aethyrozia


    ***~O~***


    Didier leans on his elbows on his desk, scrutinizing Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s letter to see if he¡¯s missed anything. He¡¯s read it a dozen times if he¡¯s read it once, but no amount of rereading makes her message easier to digest. His father stands by the window of Didier¡¯s study, regarding his son with a thoughtful gaze.


    ¡°What are you looking for, Didier? Her message seems quite clear to me,¡± King Edmond prompts.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Didier admits. ¡°When I met her, she was so¡­guarded. Charming and polite and everything a princess ought to be, of course, but revealing nothing of her own thoughts, although her father had no problem making his preferences known. But this letter¡­¡±


    ¡°She knows how to play her part in public. As do you. She might have been a perfect match for you.¡± Though gentle, the king¡¯s tone is accusatory and Didier winces.


    ¡°She will make Adalberto an excellent queen in Syazonia. It¡¯s too late to change what¡¯s done. And her younger sister is at least as admirable.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately for you, King Ansgar is indeed more agreeable to the idea of matching you with Princess Josefina, as her sister wrote.¡± King Edmond produces another letter with the Aethyrozian Royal Seal from his pocket. ¡°He intends to have Princess Josefina¡¯s Quest for Favor soon, in Guetor, as a celebration of his daughter¡¯s eighteenth birthday.¡±


    ¡°I thought their tradition was to hold the Quest for Favor near the princess¡¯s nineteenth birthday, not the eighteenth.¡±


    ¡°King Ansgar is not a patient man. He believes in striking while the iron is hot.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Didier¡¯s heart pounds in his ears. ¡°So, then¡­. We¡¯ve won him over?¡± Was it really so easy as a thoughtful wedding gift?


    ¡°Not entirely. He wants to discuss the terms of a potential alliance with me before committing to anything. And, of course, you will still have to woo his daughter. He doesn¡¯t think this will be difficult for you to do.¡±


    ¡°But her sister indicated otherwise.¡± Didier frowns at the ceiling. Sending Josefina¡ªshould he think of her as Fifi? He still doesn¡¯t know¡ªpaintings and writing to her about the natural beauty of Vyrunia are simple enough to do. But if she thinks I¡¯m trying to buy her favor, what good will more gifts do to convince her otherwise?


    ¡°Ansgar has also given his permission for you to write to Josefina, should you see fit to do so. I believe you should,¡± King Edmond continues.


    ¡°I already wrote to her, after we sent Wilhelmina¡¯s wedding gift. If her reply is agreeable¡­.¡±


    ¡°Whether it is or not, you must keep trying.¡±


    ¡°I intend to, Father. I know our goals for Vyrunia depend on it. And I do like her. But, given what her sister has written¡­. How can I convince her of that? Gifts aren¡¯t likely to be of use.¡±


    ¡°Your letters must be the primary means of persuasion. But everyone has a price. The right gift, with the right timing, might prove quite useful, if your letters hit the mark.¡±


    Didier nods, then massages his temples with his fingertips. What his father is asking puts a lot of pressure on him, and he feels ill-equipped for the task at hand. This princess hasn¡¯t responded to him the way he expected her to, which is equal parts alluring and frustrating.


    A knock sounds at the door, which then swings open, revealing one of the Royal Valets.


    ¡°Letter for you, Your Highness,¡± he says, sweeping a bow.


    Didier rises from his seat and crosses to the valet, heart pounding in his chest. He¡¯s not expecting correspondence today. Could this be from her? from her father? against all odds, another letter from her sister?


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Didier replies, taking the parchment from the valet¡¯s hand. The swirling red Royal Seal of Aethyrozia greets his eyes as he turns it over. The handwriting is feminine and familiar, with elaborate capitals at the start of each sentence. The valet takes his leave, but Didier hardly notices, his attention completely absorbed by the message addressed to him.


    To Prince Didier of Vyrunia, may this letter find him well,


    Like you said, no problems can be solved without communication, and so perhaps it is best to try to start over. Everyone here speaks highly of you, since your gift to my sister arrived. All of the textiles are excellent choices for her. Verily she is touched by your thoughtfulness, and mayhap she will forgive the pain you have caused her. Each textile you sent will be incorporated into her trousseau.


    Most of my sister¡¯s time is spent preparing for her wedding. Every chance I get, I spend my time drawing, outside if the weather permits. Almost nothing brings me more joy than spending time in nature. Let me know what the weather is like in Vyrunia this time of year and what you do for leisure. Only work and no play makes for a dull prince. No matter what fate may have in store for me, I refuse to live a boring life. Excitement and adventures best please me, and I hope to hear of yours when next you write.


    Regards,


    Princess Josefina of Aethyrozia


    At first, Didier smiles, glad that she actually wrote to him. Her words are more agreeable than the first note he received from her, and she even closed with an invitation for him to write again, which is more than he had hoped for. But something isn¡¯t quite right, he realizes as he looks the note over again. Her opening and closing are minimal, and the last time she wrote, she didn¡¯t illuminate her capital letters at all.


    Then the significance of the elaborate capitals strikes him, and the smile flees his face.


    ¡°Is everything all right, son?¡± King Edmond asks.


    ¡°I have a lot of work and thinking to do,¡± the prince answers, passing Josefina¡¯s letter to his father in the hopes that he might have advice on how to proceed. Despair and worry gnaw at his insides. For the first time in a long time, Didier has no idea what to do.

 Contemplation

    Fifi stares into her armoire in the dressing room she shares with Minna, biting her lower lip as she regards her dresses. She¡¯s been asked to decide which ones she will take with her to Syazonia for Minna¡¯s wedding festivities, but that question won¡¯t stay in her mind for more than a moment or two at a time. Instead she wonders which, if any, items from her current wardrobe might be suitable for running away into the forest.


    He asked me to run away with him, she marvels for the fifty-ninth time as she contemplates a simple light brown frock with bluebells embroidered around the neckline, cuffs, and hem. I think even this dress is too fitted and embellished to pass for a commoner¡¯s clothes. But how would I know? Fifi can count on one hand the number of times she has left Adelhyod for more than a brief foray into the countryside for a picnic. She has seen little of life outside the palace, though she longs to know more.


    Would we even be able to live that way? Fifi wonders, cold dread settling in her stomach as she realizes that she and Kai would be alone, with no servants to wash clothes or cook or do anything for them. Her lessons have been in arts and languages and mathematics, not practical household skills. And as an Earl¡¯s son and heir, it¡¯s likely that his education has been similarly impractical for living on our own in the woods, she realizes. He¡¯s been a cybrinn longer, and we could probably grow whatever plants we need to eat, but will that be enough? She has no idea how to answer her own question, nor whom she might ask. Revealing that she has been seeing someone would be the end of Kai, and the end of any chance she might have at freedom and choosing her own fate.


    ¡°What have you decided, Princess Josefina?¡± Lise asks as she walks into the dressing room, startling Fifi out of her reverie. She turns to face her maid, still holding the soft dove-grey bell sleeve of one of her simple dresses in one hand.


    ¡°That one¡¯s a bit plain for your sister¡¯s wedding, don¡¯t you think?¡± Lise remarks.


    ¡°Yes, but not for traveling,¡± Fifi counters, her expression thoughtful. Maybe there¡¯s a way to ask her¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve never been so far from Adelhyod before as Zosya. And I¡¯ll be away from home for weeks¡­. I¡¯ll need to pack more than just gowns for the festivities.¡±


    ¡°Aye, that¡¯s true. This is a good traveling dress. But we can pack traveling clothes from what you already have, to be sure. The question we must answer today is whether you need any new gowns made while our seamstresses are making Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s trousseau.¡± Lise¡¯s tone is patient, but Fifi hasn¡¯t missed the exasperation in the little lines around her mouth and eyes.


    ¡°I know, and I¡¯m trying, but¡­I¡¯ll get to see so many new things! Have you traveled that way before? What is life like for people without titles, outside of Adelhyod?¡±


    ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯ve asked me that question a dozen times if you¡¯ve asked me once since I joined your household. Is now really the time?¡±


    ¡°Bear with me, please, Lise,¡± Fifi pleads. She¡¯s long since given up on getting Lise, the oldest and most experienced member of her household, to call her by anything other than her title. ¡°You¡¯ve told me about cottages and farms and market days, and I¡¯m grateful for that. But I can¡¯t help wondering¡­. What if, as we¡¯re traveling, the carriages break down or get stuck in the mud, or we get lost, or I get kidnapped by bandits? I¡¯ve always had you and Greta and Agda, and others, and the cooks, and the seamstresses, and so on to take care of me, and I¡¯m afraid¡ª¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Princess, you¡¯ll be perfectly safe, I assure you. I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ll have no fewer than six-and-thirty armed guards accompanying you on your journey, along with yours and your sister¡¯s attendants.¡±


    ¡°Six-and-thirty!¡± Fifi exclaims. ¡°So many. Then Father must be expecting danger of some kind. What if something does go horribly wrong? Do you think I could make it on my own? Even for just a few days?¡± Please just answer the question, she adds silently, hoping that Lise will buy her performance.


    Lise sighs. ¡°I¡¯ve never known you to be so worried about anything, Your Highness. But I think you¡¯d do all right, if you found a village. You¡¯d have things to trade for food and lodging, and you¡¯ve always been kind and considerate. People would want to help you.¡±


    ¡°And in the wilderness?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s another thing. I¡¯m no better equipped for that than you are. But you don¡¯t have to worry about that,¡± Lise replies with finality. ¡°Your guards will protect you every step of the way and bring you safely home. We just have to decide what you¡¯ll have to wear in Syazonia.¡±


    Fifi nods. She¡¯s not entirely satisfied with Lise¡¯s answer, but she doesn¡¯t think she¡¯ll get anything better from her, especially if she doesn¡¯t cooperate and start thinking about her gowns and Minna¡¯s wedding. ¡°Minna¡¯s decided on the purple and gold fabric from Vyrunia for her wedding dress, right?¡±


    ¡°Aye, and she couldn¡¯t have chosen better. She¡¯ll be a vision of loveliness.¡±


    ¡°She always is. I don¡¯t want to compete at all¡­¡± Fifi runs her fingers over her gowns, considering. ¡°Maybe I could wear this one?¡± She pulls out a sage green gown with slashed sleeves, revealing carnation pink satin underneath. The sage overskirt opens in the front to reveal pink satin underneath, embroidered with intricate swirls of sage green ivy. Lace and fancy stitching embellish the bodice.


    ¡°Yes, I think Her Majesty will approve of that. It¡¯s very flattering but won¡¯t outdo Princess Wilhelmina,¡± Lise agrees. ¡°But there will be multiple days of celebration, and you¡¯ll need at least one gown for each¡­¡±


    ¡°So many,¡± Fifi groans. ¡°Why not just pack the whole armoire and be done with it?¡±


    ¡°It might come to that. You¡¯ve never been as patient with fittings, or as interested in your clothes, as Princess Wilhelmina. And you certainly don¡¯t consider the laundresses when you spend time in the courtyards.¡±


    Fifi blushes with shame. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. When I see something I want to draw, I forget everything else in an instant. I can¡¯t help it. But I¡¯ll try to be more careful¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯d appreciate that. But for now, let¡¯s focus.¡± Lise takes the sage and carnation gown from Fifi and drapes it over a chair. ¡°Which of your gowns do you like best for dancing in? I know your sister has been hard at work with the Royal Orchestra¡­¡±


    Fifi and Lise work together to create two piles of dresses for Fifi¡ªone group for dancing and other festivities, the other for traveling. Fifi also finds the matching shoes for her fancy dresses buried in a corner of the armoire and sets them out neatly to be packed.


    ¡°Well then! That wasn¡¯t so bad. And we won¡¯t have to make you anything new, which I¡¯m sure will be as much relief to the seamstresses as it is to you. Thank you, Princess. I¡¯ll have Jonas bring some of your mother¡¯s trunks, and we can start getting these packed properly tomorrow,¡± Lise says, surveying the gowns and shoes they¡¯ve laid out.


    ¡°Thank you for all of your help. I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m so¡­distracted,¡± Fifi replies, glancing towards the door to the antechamber, where a puddle of sunlight on the floor indicates she still has daylight to spend outdoors.


    ¡°You¡¯re more often distracted than not, Your Highness. I¡¯m not offended. Go outside and draw. Today you¡¯ve earned it.¡± Lise trundles out of the princesses¡¯ suite, humming to herself, and Fifi wastes no time in dashing through the antechamber to the study to get her sketchbook and pens. She hasn¡¯t made plans to meet Kai today, but she¡¯s hoping to run into him in a courtyard anyway. She has a lot she¡¯d like to discuss with him.

 Friendship

    Kai sits near the fireplace in his room, staring into the flames with a book open on his lap, all but forgotten. Although it is late Fantor, the air coming through his window is chilly tonight, and fire seems an apt companion for the text he¡¯s borrowed from the Royal Library: A History of Magick and Witchcraft in Lokva. Certainly many a cybrinn has been burned alive for ¡°practicing magick,¡± as followers of Chuezohm and the author of the book put it. But despite his interest in the words on the page, he cannot focus on them; his thoughts are back in the courtyard where he and Fifi met for another sunset lesson earlier this evening.


    She¡¯s right. Of course she¡¯s right. Running away together would be crazy, he tells himself, remembering how she¡¯d admitted that she¡¯d be basically useless in the wilderness. And my skills aren¡¯t enough to compensate. I¡¯ve only tried cooking a handful of times, and more often to make medicines than to eat. Growing food and making shelter are easier, with Cybarein, and Sigurd will probably help us some, but even so¡­ He shakes his head, wondering how he didn¡¯t see the flaws in his plan before saying something to Fifi about it. She¡¯d been sweet about it, of course, telling him that the idea is more than welcome and very romantic as well as impractical, but her sweetness gives him only slight comfort. Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s wedding gets closer with each passing day, and Kai has heard rumors that King Ansgar is planning to have Fifi¡¯s Quest for Favor soon afterward, near Oggerheim. She didn¡¯t mention that. I wonder if he¡¯s told her, if she knows, Kai muses as the flames dance on the hearth before him. Whether she does or not, we¡¯re running out of time.


    The door of Kai¡¯s room slams behind him, jolting him out of his thoughts. His book hits the floor as he jumps from his chair and turns around.


    Ingemar stands in his room by the door, his posture perfect, looking as though he had nothing and yet everything to do with the loud noise. His piercing gaze is fixed on Kai.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡± Kai asks, doing his best to keep his tone measured and civil. I thought I locked that door. How did you get in here? he adds silently. Although Ingemar is his friend, Kai is unsettled by this unexpected visit.


    Ingemar crosses the room with noiseless steps to join Kai by the fireplace.


    ¡°Tonight I am Solveig,¡± she says, her voice low, amber eyes looking at the fire instead of him. ¡°Sit. I¡¯m sorry I startled you.¡±


    ¡°I guess I deserve it, for walking in on you weeks ago.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± The corners of Solveig¡¯s lips turn up, as though she¡¯s amused in some way by the idea. She sits in the other chair by the fire. Kai retrieves his book and sets it on the mantle, out of the way, before resuming his seat.


    ¡°May I ask¡­why you¡¯re Solveig tonight?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a night for secrets.¡±


    Kai arches an eyebrow, searching Solveig¡¯s face for clues. What is she playing at? She still stares into the fireplace, wearing the same slight smirk.


    ¡°Beg pardon?¡± Kai prompts. He has no interest in playing mind games.


    Solveig meets his gaze for a moment, and Kai¡¯s blood turns to ice at the knowing, accusatory look he finds in her eyes. ¡°I was right about why you couldn¡¯t go riding with Karl and me a few days ago. It was because you had plans with someone else.¡±


    Solveig¡¯s words make Kai¡¯s muscles tense as tight as lute strings. Thoughts racing, he decides the fireplace is easier to look at than Solveig¡¯s self-satisfied smirk and fake stubble.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°Princess Josefina,¡± Solveig adds after an agonizing pause with no sounds between them except the crackling of the fire. ¡°Or Fifi, as I¡¯m sure she¡¯s told you to call her, since she hates her given name and title.¡±


    Silence might as well be an admission of guilt. You have to say something. ¡°What makes you think that Princess Josefina would have anything to do with me, outside of her sister¡¯s Quest for Favor?¡±


    ¡°I saw you this evening, in the courtyard.¡±


    Doing what?! Did she see our hands touch, or how we brought the dead rosebush back to life? Kai panics without movement or sound. His heart races as though it might burst, and sweat gathers at his joints. He knows he should say something, anything to try to deny it, but the power of speech eludes him.


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have been walking with you and talking if it was the first time you¡¯d met in a courtyard like that,¡± Solveig continues. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised, though. She¡¯s always liked to be outside, usually drawing, and I think you spend more time in courtyards than anywhere else. It was only a matter of time before you ran into each other, and you have a bit in common.¡±


    ¡°A bit,¡± Kai mumbles, still terrified of what else Solveig might have seen or noticed.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s good. For both of you. So long as the king doesn¡¯t find out. She¡¯s never been able to have friends outside of the royal household, and I can¡¯t imagine she¡¯s taking the idea of Minna leaving well.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­She¡¯s not.¡± Kai decides honesty might serve him better than evasion at this point, although he still thinks the less he admits, the better. ¡°Were you close with her, when you were in her household?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly, but closer with her than with Minna. I¡¯ve been debating whether I should compete in her Quest for Favor for that reason, honestly. Fifi has a better chance of seeing through my portrayal of Ingemar than Minna, even though I¡¯ll be more practiced by then. An artist¡¯s eye misses nothing.¡±


    Kai nods. ¡°Maybe you¡¯d be better off, since you seem so concerned about her, to rejoin her household. As Solveig.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that now. Too much is at stake. My brother¡¯s health is unchanged, and my father still drowns his woes in drink. And, as Ingemar, I have a promising courtship with the daughter of a Marquis. My family¡¯s fate is in my hands.¡± Solveig glances sideways at Kai. ¡°As your family¡¯s fate is in your hands. Does your father know you¡¯ve made friends with a princess?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told him nothing. I¡¯ve told no one anything, except you, since you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Good. The king would be less than pleased, to say the least, if he knew that Fifi was spending time in courtyards with any man.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t tell him?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. So long as you keep my secret.¡±


    ¡°I intend to carry it to my grave.¡±


    ¡°Then you have nothing to fear from me.¡± Solveig smiles, and this time it¡¯s genuine. ¡°You¡¯re a good friend. Fifi needs someone like you. It¡¯s too bad King Ansgar hates your family. I think you¡¯d have a genuine chance in her Quest for Favor otherwise.¡±


    Kai smiles, but it doesn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Thanks.¡± If you only knew. Maybe there¡¯s no harm in telling Solveig, now that she knows part of the truth, but something stills his tongue. ¡°You¡¯re a good friend, too. Do you mind¡­if I ask, about this Marquis¡¯s daughter?¡±


    ¡°You remember Lord Ragnar of Marduth from Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor?¡±


    ¡°Aye, the dark-haired one who looks angry all the time?¡±


    ¡°He has a sister, a couple years younger than him. Beautiful and charming and highly eligible. I¡¯m not her only suitor, but we¡¯ve had tea together more than once, and taken a couple of walks in the courtyard with the statues of the kings. Evidently it¡¯s her favorite, though I¡¯ve never liked that one much.¡±


    A hint of where not to go with Fifi. I¡¯d be a fool to ignore it. ¡°It¡¯s not my favorite, either. Would you marry her yourself, if it came to that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d stand in for my brother at the altar, but I¡¯d tell him what I arranged for him, and it would be him in the bedroom for the consummation. Convincing though my ruse may be, I cannot cause a woman to conceive.¡±


    Kai shakes his head, wondering at the relationship between Solveig and Ingemar. How much has she told her ailing brother of her plans? Has he agreed to this?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He knows his duty, and that he cannot hope to fulfill it alone, in his condition,¡± Solveig assures Kai. ¡°But that¡¯s neither here nor there. I¡¯ve intruded on your solitude for too long.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate the warning that I have not been as discreet as I ought to be. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I always do what I can to help my friends. Good night.¡± Solveig rises from her chair and slips out of Kai¡¯s room, silent as a ghost. No wonder I didn¡¯t notice Ingemar in the courtyard, if she walks like that all the time, Kai notes. We¡¯ll have to be much more careful in the future, and maybe find somewhere else to meet.


    The sickening knot in the pit of his stomach makes him question whether caution will be enough to evade King Ansgar¡¯s wrath.

 Grief

    Prince Adalberto takes a deep breath as he trudges down the corridor towards his father¡¯s chambers. Exhaustion and trepidation slow his steps. It is late; a valet roused him from a sound sleep with the news that the King required his presence immediately. Why couldn¡¯t we have spoken when he arrived at sunset and I met him at the gates? Adalberto gripes, trying to wake himself up. Or, better yet, couldn¡¯t this have waited until morning? But he knows better than to ask such things aloud. King Celestino has an iron will, and Adalberto has not become the favorite, most trusted son by questioning his father.


    Still, the eldest Syazonian prince is far from pleased to be out of bed in the darkest part of the night. The stone corridors of Zosya feel chilly and damp regardless of the season outside, and Adalberto shivers, wishing he¡¯d thought to grab a cloak when dressing in haste for this meeting. A piece of parchment in his pocket rustles because of the shiver, and a slight smile graces his lips for a moment as he remembers the latest letter from his fianc¨¦e. She¡¯s so sweet, smart, considerate of others, he reflects, much like my Valeriya was. The old familiar ache of loss and grief returns to his chest, tugging the corners of his lips down and creasing his brow. Why, Chuezoh, did you see fit to take her from me like that? And the little one¡­


    His footsteps stop and he leans against the cool stone wall, overcome by memories of Valeriya¡¯s screams, the hopeless faces of the apothecaries and midwives, the smell of blood in the air. He¡¯d rushed to her side, ignoring the protests of the maids, to hold her and try to comfort her, hoping against hope that they could find a way to save her. When her eyes met his, though, that hope died, and her spirit left her not long after.


    The last thing she said to him was ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± over and over again.


    His heart shattered that night, but that hadn¡¯t mattered to King Celestino. Syazonian tradition would have given Adalberto at least a year to mourn, but when the announcement of Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s Quest for Favor arrived, the king could not be persuaded to let that tradition stand. His eldest son must go and compete, despite his grief, and so Adalberto did, and now, somehow, he is engaged again to another, set to be married in a month.


    ¡°Forgive me, Valeriya,¡± he whispers, as he has done at least once each night since Minna announced her choice. This time, Adalberto can almost feel the warm, gentle touch of Valeriya¡¯s hand on his shoulder, assuring him that she wants him to keep living, to find happiness again, however impossible that might seem.


    Can I love again? he finds himself wondering as he fingers the parchment in his pocket. Minna¡¯s letters make him think it might be possible, someday, if she proves to be as sweet and compassionate and patient as she seems on paper. That was the way she acted, at that supper and when we said goodbye¡ª


    ¡°Your Highness? Are you all right?¡± a valet, Enrique, inquires from the door to King Celestino¡¯s chambers. He¡¯s the same valet who summoned him earlier, Adalberto realizes. Chuezoh bless that long-suffering man.


    Prince Adalberto jerks himself away from the wall and starts walking towards his father¡¯s chambers and the valet again. ¡°Yes, Enrique. Sorry. The hour is late, and¡­.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Your Highness.¡± Enrique¡¯s eyes meet Adalberto¡¯s with a knowing kind of pity. ¡°But His Majesty is waiting.¡±


    Adalberto nods and focuses on regaining his composure. His father has no patience for emotions of any kind. He was different, before Mother took ill, Adalberto remembers. But since then, Zosya¡¯s gargoyles have been known to show more expression and empathy. Far too soon for the prince¡¯s liking, Enrique is opening a door for him and he steps across the threshold into King Celestino¡¯s antechamber. The king sits in one of two chairs near his fireplace, holding a letter up to read by firelight. A pile of other correspondence rests near his feet on the thick bearskin rug.


    ¡°You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?¡± Prince Adalberto asks with a bow. Though they are father and son, the king insists on this formality.


    ¡°Yes. Come in. Sit,¡± King Celestino invites with a wave towards the chair near his. Adalberto complies, doing his best to appear both awake and impassive.


    ¡°Have you already recovered from your travels? I did not expect a summons from you before tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°There is no rest for the head that wears the crown. You understand, now, having handled things in my absence, the weight of that burden.¡±


    ¡°To some extent. I hope you have found my handling of things to be satisfactory.¡±


    ¡°Generally exemplary, based on these reports from my advisors.¡± The king gestures to the pile of parchment at his feet. Adalberto¡¯s cheeks heat up at this rare praise from his father. ¡°Your wedding plans seem to be on schedule. Your brothers have not killed each other. My advisors speak highly of your capabilities as a ruler. Syazonia prospers, but for the fools in our duchy of Andelios who think they should rather be part of Barhesta.¡±


    ¡°Were you not able to come to an agreement with the people of Andelios? Your last letter was rather optimistic.¡±


    King Celestino shakes his head, glaring into his fireplace. ¡°They must simply learn to be content where they are. Syazonia¡¯s best gold mines are in Andelios, and I will not part with that territory for any cause or any price.¡±


    ¡°But the people are not content.¡± Adalberto¡¯s brow furrows in concern.


    ¡°The Duke of Andelios will see to that. I granted him authorization to deal with the discontents by whatever means he deems necessary. Twelve score knights are riding to his castle as we speak, with attendant lesser soldiers of their choosing.¡±


    ¡°You are expecting a violent uprising?¡±


    ¡°Better to prepare for the worst and not encounter it than to be caught unawares by it.¡±


    ¡°Dead citizens cannot work in the gold mines, Your Majesty,¡± Adalberto points out. The idea of people losing their loved ones because of his father¡¯s stubbornness and greed makes his stomach churn.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°That is true. But Barhesta is hungry for power and land. Ceding Andelios to them would not only be a great loss for Syazonia, it would be a show of weakness. Then the question would be when Barhesta would start stirring up discontentment again and demanding more, not whether such a thing would occur.¡± King Celestino¡¯s care-worn features are stony, and his eyes flash fiery determination. ¡°Letting them take Andelios would be the start down a slippery slope towards Syazonia ceasing to exist. This country is your inheritance, son. I intend to give you as much or more than my father gave me, when my time comes.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Your Majesty.¡± Adalberto can say nothing else. He knows gratitude is expected, but he cannot bring himself to express it. Valeriya would not have stood for this, after all the wretchedness Khandazar has been through on account of miserable citizens, Adalberto muses behind a slight frown. And Minna¡ªhow would she handle this? What would she say to my father?


    ¡°Good. I knew you would.¡± King Celestino nods with approval. ¡°Now, let us speak of this agreement with King Ansgar, as pertains to the alliance we will make through your marriage to Princess Wilhelmina.¡±


    Prince Adalberto nods and begins to enumerate the particulars of what he has authorized and what remains to be done. Normally he would welcome losing himself in a discussion of business matters, but this time he finds that he cannot. Worry about the situation in Andelios, and an ardent desire to pen a reply to his fianc¨¦e¡¯s most recent letter, dominate his thoughts instead.


    ***~O~***


    To Princess Wilhelmina, Minna, of Aethyrozia, may Chuezoh always bless her in every conceivable way,


    Please rest assured that I will always make time for your letters. Your kindness and consideration in your most recent letter have brought warmth and joy to my heart. Thank you for inquiring about my family. Mother has been doing better of late; she even walked briefly in a courtyard with me yesterday after dinner. Warmer weather always seems to do her good. I have not heard from my sister, Manuela, recently, but she is busy with her young daughter and was never much for writing letters, anyway. My brothers are doing about as well as can be expected; Ramiro is almost always studying¡ªI believe that he has been fixated on complex mathematics and geography recently¡ªand Casimiro is his usual self. Lisandro has been spending most of his time composing with his dulcimer, and the results are quite pleasing to the ear; he has even been writing poems to set to his tunes, which I have not known him to do before. Emiliano has been sulky since I conveyed to him your warnings about your sister, but that is to be expected and he will soon be over it. I have already heard rumors that he has decided to turn to one of my mother¡¯s handmaidens for comfort.


    As for my father and the situation in Andelios, our duchy on the border with Barhesta, the king returned yestereve. I met with him in the darkest part of last night, and I confess I fear for the worst. He is not willing to part with Andelios for any reason, and he has authorized the Duke of Andelios to handle any unrest by whatever means he deems necessary, and is sending knights and soldiers there. I am gravely concerned that there may be much violence and further unhappiness in that region, and that such harsh treatment from the crown will ultimately do more harm than good. I can think of no good reason to risk depriving anyone of their loved ones. I should like to be able to go there myself, to speak to the people and assess the situation and see what the best option might be, but such a thing will have to wait until after our wedding. When you have sat in on your father¡¯s meetings with his advisors, have you witnessed his handling of any similar situations? Given your interest in politics and helping people, I would be most interested in hearing what you think ought to be done, and I hope that you would be willing to accompany me on such a journey. The crown is a heavy burden, but I believe it would be lighter and more manageable if I could find in you an equal partner.


    I am sorry that distance has grown between you and Fifi on account of your Quest for Favor and wedding plans, and sorry for my inadvertent role in that. I know how important such relationships are, and I hope that you are able to regain the closeness you had before. If you are able to take time away from wedding plans to go for a walk or a ride with her, someplace where you might both speak freely, that might work wonders for you. Such ventures have been beneficial for Lisandro and me recently. I share your hopes that her attendance at our wedding festivities will be beneficial for both of you, and we are also making preparations to host both her and Emrik at Nysia for Oggerheim. It is my favorite festival of the year, with the hunting and the fall colors and the wide variety of food at the feasts, and I find it more enjoyable at Nysia than here at Zosya, for many reasons. Please assure Fifi that our marriage will not be the end of her relationship with you.


    I am glad that you have staff who are willing to come here with you and that working with the Royal Orchestra has brought you joy. I am not sure what else to suggest you do in regards to preparing for the wedding, beyond what I know you are already doing for your trousseau and other such things. I can still take suggestions for the feasting menu, if you have any. Beyond that, I think things are well in hand. Our Royal High Priest of Chuezoh will perform the ceremony. We have a smaller guest list than is customary, which I hope will not offend you, but all the royals of Lokva have been invited, as well as the Syazonian nobility. Zosya is large enough to accommodate them all. And once the festivities are over, we will leave court and go to Nysia, which Gaspar has assured me is in excellent condition in anticipation ofyour arrival.


    I want to make this transition, which I know will be monumental for you, as easy and comfortable as possible. To that end, I feel that there is a sensitive matter we must discuss. I am sure you are aware of what a husband and wife are meant to do on their wedding night. As my father¡¯s eldest son and heir, there is considerable pressure for me to produce an heir of my own. However, I lost my Valeriya in the pursuit of that precise aim, and I must confess that I am terrified of such a thing happening again. I know it is not traditional that the wife should take the lead in the marital bedchamber, but given our circumstances, and to maximize your comfort, that is exactly how I should like to proceed, if you agree. Of course this would be better discussed in person, but I do not know how we might accomplish that before the wedding night itself, and so I wanted to broach the subject here, however awkward and unseemly doing so might be. I hope that writing about this has not offended you.


    Finally, to your request¡ªmy siblings and I were constantly engaged in our lessons growing up. Manuela¡¯s were more often than not separate from ours, and she spent more time with our mother than we boys did. Casimiro has always seen me as a rival, which has led to much conflict, and Emiliano now sees Casimiro as both rival and idol, compounding that. Lisandro and Ramiro are quieter and less contentious, although Ramiro can be quite argumentative in matters of academics. As the eldest, it has always been my duty to set a good example for my younger brothers and to play peacemaker when disagreements arose. Once I turned sixteen, though, my lessons were at my father¡¯s side in meetings with his advisors, rather than in a study with tutors. I am the only one of my father¡¯s sons to receive such instruction thus far, which is both flattering and concerning.


    At present I cannot think of any specific stories from our childhood that might amuse or interest you. My heart and mind are overburdened with the preparations for Friggenter and then our wedding, worries about the fate of Barhesta, and the weight of lingering grief. But we will have time to share such stories with one another. For now, I hope this letter and the enclosed gift¡ªin honor of Friggenter¡ªare sufficient for you, and I look forward to seeing you soon.


    Warmest regards,


    Adalberto

 Friggenter

    Minna sits at her dressing table, quivering as she contemplates Adalberto¡¯s words on the parchment in front of her. She came here to freshen up for the Friggenter celebration this evening, the shortest night of the year, but then Agda came with this letter and a small bag made of wine-colored velvet, and she couldn¡¯t keep from opening them right away. I wish he was here, or that I was there, so that we could speak in person, Minna frets, but there¡¯s no way to make that wish come true. I¡¯ll be seeing him soon enough, she tries to comfort herself, knowing that she and her retinue are meant to leave Adelhyod in two days¡¯ time. Adalberto¡¯s words and his gift make her more certain than ever that she¡¯s chosen well in her Quest for Favor, and her heart feels full to bursting. I know I¡¯ll miss home so much, but now I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be happy with him, and in time I hope he will be happy with me. Please, Chuezoh, make it so, she prays.


    ¡°Minna, are you ready yet?¡± Fifi asks from the dressing room doorway, tearing Minna¡¯s attention away from her fianc¨¦¡¯s letter. ¡°They¡¯ll be expecting us in the grand courtyard soon, and I want to give you your gift here, without everyone watching.¡±


    ¡°I just need a moment,¡± Minna tells her sister, pulling an intricate gold chain crafted in a design of roses from the velvet bag on the dressing table that came with Adalberto¡¯s letter. ¡°Will you help me put this on?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Fifi crosses to Minna and takes the bracelet from her trembling fingers. ¡°Oh, this is lovely. Your fianc¨¦ has good taste.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Minna extends her left wrist for Fifi to fasten the bracelet. ¡°I feel bad that his gift won¡¯t arrive to Zosya in time for the celebration¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll find it worth the wait. Emrik agreed that a hunting dagger would find a good home with him, and I¡¯m quite partial to the ruby-studded design for the hilt.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be upset if you weren¡¯t, since you sketched it for me.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of¡­.¡± Fifi crosses to the armoire and pulls a slim leather letter-bag from between two gowns. ¡°Here. These are for you. With Friggenter¡¯s blessings.¡±


    Minna takes the letter-bag with a quizzical expression. The design in the leatherwork is one of pine branches laden with pinecones, almost certainly done from one of Fifi¡¯s sketches. She opens the bag and pulls out a piece of parchment¡ªa drawing of a frog posing near a water lily, glistening with moisture as its throat sac inflates. Another drawing follows, this one a closeup of rhododendrons in bloom.


    ¡°Your drawings? You¡¯re giving me your drawings?¡± Minna breathes, noting the clean, sharp edges of the pages where her sister must have cut them from her beloved sketchbook.


    ¡°Some of the best ones. To take with you to Syazonia. I¡¯ll send you new ones every so often, but¡­I want you to have these. To keep part of me with you in your new life.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Fifi¡­¡± Minna gently sets the letter-bag and the drawings on her dressing table before getting up and crushing her sister in a hug. I must not cry. I must not cry, she tells herself, knowing how displeased Agda and Lise would be if she or Fifi did anything to disturb their cosmetics or their gowns. ¡°They¡¯re wonderful. Thank you. I have yours, too¡­.¡± Minna opens her own armoire and takes out a leather bag that hangs heavy from her hand.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to, with the wedding and everything¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hush. None of that nonsense. Just open it. For you, with Friggenter¡¯s blessings.¡±


    Fifi takes the leather bag and opens it, then draws out a gilded music box, shaped as an octagon with a design of birds in flight on the lid. ¡°Oh, Minna, it¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Turn the key,¡± Minna urges, biting her lip to contain an expectant smile.


    Fifi winds up the music box and then lets it play. The notes of a sweet summertime melody that Minna composed herself fill their dressing room, emanating from the box in Fifi¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Sweet Sunshine,¡± Fifi smiles, recognizing the tune at once. ¡°How did you even do this?¡±


    ¡°One of our violinists in the Royal Orchestra knows an expert craftsman in town. We rode past the shop during the procession this noontide.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much. I¡¯ll play it every night, when I can¡¯t whisper to you¡­.¡±


    ¡°Stop that. We can¡¯t cry now. Like you said, they¡¯re expecting us in the courtyard.¡±


    Fifi nods and blinks rapidly, then examines herself in the looking-glass. After taking a few deep breaths and adjusting a few errant strands of her reddish-brown hair, she turns back to Minna. ¡°Then let¡¯s go, if you¡¯re ready.¡±


    The two sisters leave their chambers together, hand in hand, matching each other step for step. Were it not for their differing hair and eye colors, they could be mistaken for twins, so similar are they in height and figure, and their matching dresses only add to this illusion. The gowns imitate fire in honor of Friggenter, which celebrates Chuezoh¡¯s gift of fire to humankind; the bodices and shoulders are a glittering violet-blue of the heart of a bonfire, which blends into reds and oranges and yellows in the full skirts and long bell sleeves. Both of them wear gold and ruby jewelry and tiaras to match, as well. Their jewels catch the torchlight and fading sunlight coming through the windows as they rush through the corridors of Adelhyod.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    King Ansgar, Queen Ingrid, and Prince Emrik are all waiting for them at the doors to the grand courtyard. The king wears his trademark royal blue and gold attire, but Ingrid is resplendent in a maroon and gold gown with embroidered phoenixes adorning her skirt, and Emrik¡¯s striking orange and gold doublet perfectly suits his personality.


    ¡°We wondered if you¡¯d gotten lost,¡± the king remarks with a disapproving frown.


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault, Father,¡± Fifi volunteers. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just wanted to give Minna my gift before we came down.¡±


    ¡°And I received a letter from Prince Adalberto while we were freshening up,¡± Minna adds quietly. You can¡¯t always be taking the blame like this, Fifi, she wants to tell her sister, but now isn¡¯t the time to say such things.


    ¡°We will discuss it later. The time for Friggenter is at hand,¡± King Ansgar declares, cuing the Chief Royal Steward to start a trumpet fanfare while other servants open the double doors to allow the Royal Family of Aethyrozia passage into the grand courtyard.


    The largest courtyard of Adelhyod is outside the main doors of the palace. Normally a bustling place of horses and noblemen and servants coming and going with business and deliveries, for Friggenter it has been transformed into a gathering place, studded with five large piles of firewood and several long trestle tables accompanied by low benches. The nobility are already gathered in the courtyard and applaud as the Royal Family makes their entrance, just as the sun is beginning to set beyond the courtyard walls. Minna smiles at them, but she has to force it as she realizes that this is more than likely the last time she will celebrate this holiday in the only home she¡¯s ever known.


    She struggles to keep her composure as she and her family meet the High Priest of Chuezoh in the center of the courtyard. Each member of the Royal Family is given an unlit torch by a servant. The High Priest of Chuezoh holds aloft a lantern, blazing with sacred flame from the Royal Zoche. He prays to Chuezoh, thanking Him for the blessing of fire and all the other gifts He has bestowed upon his creation.


    ¡°May we bless each other likewise,¡± he finishes, and then he extends his lantern to King Ansgar. The king lights his torch, and then Queen Ingrid does the same, followed by Emrik, then Minna, then Fifi. Each of them then walks to one of the piles of firewood in the courtyard. At the High Priest¡¯s signal, they drop their torches into the wood, setting the piles ablaze.


    ¡°Blessed be Chuezoh!¡± the crowd shouts in unison, and then the Royal Orchestra, which has set up in one corner of the courtyard, starts to play a lively tune. Minna and Fifi find each other between their two bonfires.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Minna asks Fifi. This year they have the honor of leading the traditional Friggenter fire dance.


    ¡°If you are,¡± Fifi smiles. They join hands and make their way through the crowd towards the most central bonfire, the one their father lit. Around them, people start to clap in time with the music. Once they reach the fire, they separate to opposite sides of it and face each other, swaying and clapping with the crowd. Ingrid and Emrik come to Minna¡¯s sides and they link arms. Across the bonfire, some of the noblemen¡¯s sons are around Fifi, which doesn¡¯t surprise Minna at all. Like as not they¡¯ll be angling to curry favor with her, before her own Quest for Favor comes, she muses. I wonder if they know what Father¡¯s planning for that. I know he hasn¡¯t told Fifi yet, and I¡¯m not allowed to, either, but Greta says there have been rumors¡­.


    More of the nobility have linked arms around the bonfire, creating a circle. With a whoop, they start to dance around the fire, kicking and swaying and leaping in time with the wild music from the Royal Orchestra. Everyone¡¯s faces are alight with firelight and joy, but to Minna, no one beams brighter than Fifi. Strange. I can¡¯t remember the last time I¡¯ve seen her so happy, she ponders. She can¡¯t imagine that Fifi¡¯s forgotten that they depart for Syazonia in two days, even though her younger sister has always enjoyed traditional festivals and dancing. But for some reason, Fifi is dancing with extra fervor this year and grinning ear to ear.


    With a start, Minna realizes she recognizes the two young men Fifi is sandwiched between¡ªLord Karl of Fyrlenth on her left, and Lord Nicolaas, called Kai, of Lyrnola on her right. Could one of them be the reason she¡¯s so happy? Minna wonders. She doubts it¡¯s Karl; Fifi was just as displeased with his answers in the Questioning as she was. But Kai, on the other hand, sought her out for the first dance at the Ball. And they met in the courtyard on the day of the Talent Round. And they have a fair bit in common¡­.


    Despite the heat of the fire and the exertion of the dance, Minna¡¯s insides have frozen over with dread. Fifi isn¡¯t looking at Kai any more than she is at Karl or anyone else in the dance, and Kai doesn¡¯t seem to be paying Fifi any special attention, either. Maybe I¡¯m just imagining things, reading too much into it, she tries to assure herself. Fifi knows how much Father hates the Earl of Lyrnola. She wouldn¡¯t set herself up for disappointment like that. And I can¡¯t believe she¡¯d keep such a huge secret from me. But Minna can¡¯t shake the idea that maybe Kai has something to do with Fifi¡¯s frequent disappearances since her Quest for Favor, and the idea makes it difficult for her to keep smiling and dancing as though nothing is the matter.


    Then Minna¡¯s eyes meet King Ansgar¡¯s as he watches the fire dance from his place at the head of the largest feast table, and she redoubles her efforts to appear happy and carefree. He mustn¡¯t ask me what¡¯s the matter, she resolves. Minna doesn¡¯t think she can lie to her father, and she knows that suspicion of wrongdoing is nearly synonymous with condemnation in the mind of the King. I can ask her about it later, in private, she tells herself before wrenching her thoughts away from Fifi to focus on enjoying the present moment. After all, Friggenter comes but once a year, and this is the last year she will celebrate it in Adelhyod. She might as well make the most of it.

 Rendezvous

    Grey fingers of dawn reach up over the horizon as the Friggenter celebration in Adelhyod¡¯s grand courtyard comes to a close. The Royal Orchestra has ceased to play and have packed up their instruments, the fires are burning down low, and most of the revelers are staggering to bed with plans to sleep the morning away. But despite having danced all night, Fifi is wide awake, wishing that the festival would never end even as she walks with Minna back towards their chambers.


    ¡°I think I could dance for a long time yet,¡± she remarks, twirling in the corridor so that her skirts flare out.


    Minna stifles a yawn. ¡°Then stay up in your favorite courtyard or something, and dance with the sunrise,¡± she suggests. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted.¡±


    Fifi¡¯s eyes light up; this is exactly the response she¡¯d hoped for. ¡°I think I will. Thank you, Minna. Sleep well!¡± She pirouettes away from Minna and then skips down a seldom-used side hallway. The gift she¡¯s brought for Kai bounces against her leg in a hidden pocket in her skirts. I hope he comes. I hope he¡¯s not too tired, she prays as she slips through a plain wooden door into the courtyard where she¡¯d first learned about Cybarein.


    To her surprise, Kai is already there, admiring some chickweed blossoms near the fish pond. He looks up at the sound of her footsteps and smiles when their eyes meet.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you made it,¡± he says in a voice like velvet. ¡°I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t be able to get away.¡±


    ¡°Minna is tired, and the rest of the family was walking ahead of us,¡± Fifi explains in a whisper. They make their way to the moss-covered bench in one corner of the courtyard. No windows are visible to them standing beside it, since the shrubs and trees around them are tall and thick with foliage. ¡°This was a good idea, coming here after¡­¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t think of another way to give this to you without attracting attention. Everyone wanted to dance with you tonight.¡± He pulls a small leather sachet out of one of his pockets and hands it to her. ¡°With Friggenter¡¯s blessings.¡±


    ¡°Oh! You didn¡¯t have to get me anything¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going away for more than a month. If you find any creatures in need of healing, those will help you.¡±


    Fifi opens the sachet to find a sweet-smelling blend of dried herbs within. ¡°Is this what you used for the dove?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You remember the rest of what you¡¯d need?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Thank you. It¡¯s perfect.¡± She impulsively throws her arms around him. He pulls her close for a moment before stepping away, his brow creased with guilt and frustration. ¡°Um¡­I have something for you, too. With Friggenter¡¯s blessings.¡± Fifi pulls a small leather pouch from the hidden pocket in the folds of her skirt and offers it to Kai as she tucks the sachet of herbs away.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have¡ª¡±


    ¡°I had to. I had the same idea you did, that I¡¯m going away, and what if¡­¡± She lets her voice trail off as he opens the pouch and pours small, rough-cut gemstones into his palm.


    ¡°I can¡¯t accept this.¡± He looks at her with hazel eyes wide with disbelief.


    ¡°Please do. They¡¯re yours, for healing.¡±


    Kai shakes his head as he slowly returns the gemstones to the pouch. ¡°Fifi¡­I don¡¯t know what to say. Thank you, really, but¡­.¡±


    She closes the distance between them again and guides the pouch of gemstones into his pocket. ¡°I insist. Really. It¡¯s the least I can do for you, after¡ª¡±


    The rest of her words die as his lips meet hers, soft and sweet and full of longing. Fifi returns the kiss, pressing herself as close to him as she can with her voluminous skirts and sapphire-stiff bodice. His hands run over her body, making her quiver and melt into him.


    ¡°Come with me to Syazonia,¡± she whispers against his lips as they break for air.


    ¡°I can come as far as my father¡¯s manor house, and I was planning to,¡± he tells her. He kisses her neck gently, just below her ear, and she tightens her grip on his shoulders. ¡°But I¡¯ll have to wait for you there. I haven¡¯t been invited to the wedding.¡±


    ¡°I know, but if you transform yourself into a raven, we can pretend you¡¯re Algot, and then no one will suspect¡ª¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t maintain a transformation for more than an hour or so, and it takes a tremendous amount of energy. Even with the power in these stones, I don¡¯t know if we could maintain that ruse even long enough to make it to Syazonia. And if we were found out¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know. I won¡¯t risk that.¡± Their lips meet again, as if they¡¯re both afraid it¡¯s the last time they¡¯ll be in each other¡¯s arms. ¡°I¡¯m just afraid¡­. Father hasn¡¯t told me yet, but I know he¡¯s planning to have my Quest for Favor in Guetor, right after Oggerheim. I¡¯ve heard the servants talking.¡±


    Kai nods and bites his lip. ¡°Have you thought any more about¡­?¡±


    ¡°Running away with you? Every night.¡± She kisses him again, and heat envelopes them. ¡°And every time I¡¯m posing for that dratted portrait, and every time I¡¯m asked about what to pack for Syazonia¡­.¡±


    ¡°Then, you want to try it?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re willing.¡±


    He kisses her harder, pulling her close while cupping her face with one hand. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare while you¡¯re away. Sigurd and I will figure out a way for us to make it work.¡±


    ¡°I trust you.¡± Fifi traces his jawline with one fingertip, and he catches her hand in one of his, then kisses her fingers. ¡°What do you want me to do to prepare?¡±


    ¡°Play your part. Give no one any reason to suspect anything.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡± She pulls away from him and straightens her gown as best she can without a looking glass. ¡°Then I suppose I must bid you good¡­morning, and get some rest.¡±


    Kai frowns as though this wasn¡¯t exactly what he had in mind. ¡°We probably won¡¯t be able to have any more lessons. Unless we find a way to meet in Lyrnola¡­.¡±


    ¡°One step at a time. No unnecessary risks.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. But¡­always leave a window open. In case a bird wants to stop by.¡±


    Fifi smiles. ¡°Of course. Birds are always welcome with me. I should go, though. We¡¯ve been here too long.¡±


    ¡°Go, then, and sleep well.¡±


    Fifi nods and rushes away, even though she feels like she may never sleep again. Every nerve in her body is prickling with excitement and other feelings she doesn¡¯t know how to name. But as she goes back inside Adelhyod, she repeats Kai¡¯s instructions to ¡®play her part¡¯ inside her head and takes several slow, deep breaths to steady herself. All of their plans depend on her ability to perform, and she is determined to do so flawlessly. Not even Minna can suspect a thing, she resolves as she makes her way back to their chambers.

 Futures

    The Royal Carriage jolts and rattles as four matched palomino horses pull it away from Adelhyod on the road towards Syazonia. Inside, Minna and Fifi sit on plush cushions in cheerful colors. Thick red curtains cover the windows to offer them privacy and protection from the hot Frigtor sun, but Fifi has her curtain pushed aside to afford her a view of the countryside rolling past as they travel. Minna, in contrast, sits staring straight ahead, her mind racing. There¡¯s so much I want to talk about with her, and we may not get a better chance for privacy than in this carriage, she muses. Their maids are riding in other carriages, and their guards on horseback shouldn¡¯t be able to overhear them, as long as they keep their voices low and close the curtains. But then again, Fifi¡¯s sight-seeing also brings a nice breeze into the carriage, which would otherwise be quite hot and stuffy, and what Minna can see of Fifi¡¯s face is alight with curiosity and wonder. We¡¯ll have several days of traveling like this, Minna tells herself. At least one of them is bound to be rainy. I can wait until then¡­.


    Her thoughts drift back to Adalberto¡¯s most recent letter to her. There wasn¡¯t time to write him more than a quick note in reply before they left, but she sent it, along with his Friggenter gift, by their fastest, most reliable courier. I hope he likes his gift. I hope he likes me, she frets. His letters and gift have shown her no cause for fear, but knowing how he grieves his late first wife, Minna cannot help but worry that she, or at least remarriage, might not be the best choice for him so soon after he has suffered such a loss.


    Outside their carriage, one of the guards makes a bawdy joke about a peasant girl and the other guards burst out with raucous laughter. Fifi pulls back from the window and lets the curtain fall closed, her face a picture of disgust.


    ¡°Now they¡¯ve gone and spoiled it,¡± she grumbles. ¡°And I just saw the sweetest looking little cow¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re just having a bit of fun,¡± Minna excuses the guards. ¡°This has to be an exciting change of pace for them, too.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, but they know there are ladies present. You don¡¯t normally tolerate such uncouth behavior.¡±


    ¡°With the curtains closed, we can¡¯t hear them. And they can¡¯t hear us.¡±


    Fifi turns to her sister with one eyebrow arched. ¡°Are you having second thoughts?¡± she asks in Syazonian.


    ¡°No, not at all,¡± Minna replies in kind. ¡°Thank you. Practicing is a good idea. And I don¡¯t think any of these guards speak Syazonian.¡±


    ¡°Practice will be good for me, too. But what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re on our way to Syazonia, for me to get married. It seemed like this day would never actually come, and yet the time since my Quest for Favor has gone so quickly¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know what you mean. It¡¯s been something of a whirlwind, and I imagine it¡¯s been even more so for you. And once we get there¡­.¡±


    ¡°So many things will change so quickly. I believe we¡¯re meant to arrive the day before the ceremony, and then we will have the festivities, and Adalberto and I will leave for Nysia the same day you depart to come back home.¡±


    ¡°At least you won¡¯t have to stay at court with his awful brothers.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind seeing more of Lisandro, if Lisandro is willing to see me.¡±


    ¡°I think he really liked you, at your Quest for Favor.¡±


    ¡°I do, too, and Adalberto¡¯s letters have hinted the same.¡±


    ¡°Has writing been going well? You haven¡¯t said much to me about his letters, since the first one. I know he sent you that beautiful bracelet with this most recent one¡­¡± Fifi gestures to the gold chain clasped around Minna¡¯s left wrist.


    ¡°Yes, I think we¡¯ve gotten to know each other a bit more and¡­I really like him, Fifi. With each letter I¡¯m more convinced I¡¯ve made the right choice for me. I¡¯m just worried that¡­that he¡¯s not ready to be married again, that it¡¯s too much too soon, and¡­. I¡¯m glad we¡¯ll be going to Nysia, away from court. I hope that means there¡¯s less pressure¡­.¡±


    ¡°What, to have an heir or five right away?¡±


    Minna blushes. ¡°Yes, that, and how that would impact¡­him and me. Since he lost Valeriya to childbirth¡­. He mentioned he¡¯s terrified of something like that happening again.¡±Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°One step at a time, if he¡¯s willing. And make sure you keep talking to each other.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I intend to. But as you say, one step at a time, and we have to get through the wedding first. He said it¡¯s a smaller guest list than would be usual, on account of his situation, but I expect there will still be hundreds of people.¡± Minna bites her lip, remembering how Adalberto wrote that all the royals of Lokva were invited. Will Didier be there? I¡¯m sure he suspects Fifi will be with me, and I doubt he¡¯d willingly miss a chance to woo Fifi in person, she muses. But I shouldn¡¯t say anything about it to Fifi, as set against him as she seems to be. Father¡¯s bent on her choosing him, and giving her time to plan ways to avoid him won''t help her in the end.


    ¡°Counting the nobles in the galleries, we entertained hundreds of people for your Quest for Favor, and that went beautifully. You always perform well under pressure. You have nothing to worry about,¡± Fifi assures Minna.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Minna smiles. ¡°It¡¯s just a bit different this time. At least at home I knew most of them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Even so, though, you¡¯ll have me and Greta, and of course Adalberto will be there for you, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he will be. Even if he doesn¡¯t actually like me, he¡¯s an honorable man¡ª¡±


    ¡°How could he not like you, Minna? You¡¯re charming and intelligent and caring¡ª¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I have every reason to think¡­we shall get on quite well together. I wish we could have celebrated Friggenter together, actually, not that I would have hastened leaving home¡­. But I do wonder how similar their celebration is to ours. He seems eager to celebrate Oggerheim together at Nysia, and he says they¡¯re preparing for you and Emrik to come stay with us for that holiday, which should be great fun.¡±


    ¡°I hope I¡¯m able to attend.¡± Fifi¡¯s expression turns dark and brooding. Minna¡¯s chest tightens with worry for her younger sister.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard the rumors about my Quest for Favor, that Father¡¯s planning to have it early, just after Oggerheim, close to my eighteenth birthday.¡±


    Minna winces. ¡°Father has said as much to me, and made me promise to say nothing to you about it. But it doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯ve already heard.¡±


    Fifi nods as though she expected such an admission. ¡°So if that¡¯s the case, I doubt he¡¯ll let me leave for any reason, even to see you. He¡¯ll want to keep me close so I can¡¯t do anything he wouldn¡¯t approve of, under the guise of making sure I¡¯m involved in all the preparations.¡±


    ¡°We have time yet to persuade him. Mother wants you to be able to visit me for Oggerheim. Working together, we have a chance.¡±


    Fifi just thins her lips and turns back towards her window, raising one hand to push the curtain aside again.


    ¡°So, since your Quest for Favor is coming so soon,¡± Minna adds hastily, ¡°do you have your eye on anyone in particular?¡± In her mind, she sees Fifi dancing with Kai and the other noblemen¡¯s sons at the Friggenter celebration, looking happy and alive and free.


    Fifi¡¯s hand falls into her lap as she returns her attention to Minna, frowning. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, does it? Father has already made up his mind about my choice. And you think I should just go along with it.¡±


    ¡°That would certainly be the¡­easier path. But I know you don¡¯t see things the same way I do. And you were never without a partner during the Friggenter dances.¡±


    ¡°The noblemen swarm towards any opportunity for personal advancement like moths fly to flame,¡± Fifi scoffs. ¡°You had their attention throughout the night, as well, even though you¡¯re betrothed.¡±


    ¡°Not all of them are so hung up on personal advancement. Or at least, they didn¡¯t show themselves that way during my Quest for Favor. That young man from Lyrnola, for instance.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Fifi¡¯s expression has turned guarded. Minna¡¯s stomach twists.


    ¡°You danced with him more than once that night, didn¡¯t you? I know I asked months ago, but¡­do you fancy him?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Father hates his father so much, I¡¯d have a better chance of asking to marry Algot than of choosing him in my Quest for Favor, if he even bothers to compete.¡±


    ¡°His father prevailed upon him to compete in mine. I¡¯d wager he¡¯ll compete in yours, as well.¡±


    ¡°Maybe. But it doesn¡¯t matter, like I said before. Father¡¯s made up his mind.¡±


    But you haven¡¯t denied liking him, Minna wants to say, but she bites her tongue. Pushing Fifi too hard will shut down the conversation, and it¡¯s clear that she doesn¡¯t want to talk about this at all.


    ¡°You told me over and over again to follow my heart, to choose someone who¡¯s right for me,¡± Minna reminds Fifi gently. ¡°Are you not planning to follow your own advice?¡±


    ¡°Minna¡­you won¡¯t be there,¡± Fifi answers, and her voice breaks. ¡°I will be facing him alone. I know I¡¯ll be able to write to you, and I might have Mother¡¯s support of my own inclinations, and maybe even Emrik¡¯s, but¡­. If I decide to follow my heart, Father and I will end up in a contest of wills. Is that a fight you think I can win?¡±


    Minna casts about for words and comes up empty. All thought of comfort dies on her tongue as her eyes meet Fifi¡¯s, which are full of despair and desperation.


    ¡°You¡¯ve said before, Father always gets his way,¡± Fifi continues, her voice hard and cold and bitter. ¡°And so entertaining the idea of a romance with any of the nobles would be incredibly foolish of me. I doubt he¡¯d even let me choose a prince other than Prince Didier. So it doesn¡¯t matter what I want. It¡¯s never mattered. And I don¡¯t want to think about it. I¡¯m just glad that you¡¯ve found a path to happiness, in spite of him and all that¡¯s happened.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Fifi,¡± Minna whispers. Fifi just shakes her head and goes back to watching the world outside their carriage go by as they jolt along. ¡°If there was something, anything I could do to make this better for you¡­.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t. The next few weeks are about you and your happiness. We¡¯ll have time to worry about me later. Open your curtain and let the breeze in! Don¡¯t you want to see Aethyrozia, while you¡¯re still here?¡±


    Minna smiles in spite of herself and decides to take Fifi¡¯s advice. After all, it¡¯s a beautiful day, and they still have several days of traveling together in the same carriage. They will have other chances to discuss what the future might bring them.

 Discovery

    The Royal Carriage carrying the Princesses of Aethyrozia breaks through the trees at the crest of a hill, providing Fifi with a sunset-washed view of the village of Lonyr and the manor house of the Earl of Lyrnola. Her breath catches in her throat and it¡¯s all she can do to keep her leg from jiggling in her skirts with impatience and excitement. This is where Kai grew up. The forest we just came through might be Sigurd¡¯s forest, the place where he learned Cybarein, she marvels, but she dares not voice such thoughts aloud. Minna sits next to her, seeming engaged by the view out her own window, but Fifi doesn¡¯t want to take unnecessary chances. Her sister poked a little too close to the secrets she has been keeping during yesterday¡¯s travels, and though she feels guilty for hiding things from her closest friend, Fifi intends to keep her promise to Kai and keep him safe, no matter what the cost.


    ¡°This manor house looks more comfortable than our lodgings last night, at least,¡± Minna mutters to Fifi as the carriage bumps along the half-cobbled, half-dirt road.


    ¡°That wouldn¡¯t take much,¡± Fifi replies. The Baron of Besnuth was not prepared to host their entire retinue in his dilapidated home. The two princesses decided during their supper in his smoky, drafty hall that they would be more comfortable sleeping in their carriage than in whatever poor beds he had to offer, and so they did, despite the protests of their servants and their guards. As a result, both princesses are stiff and sore, but Fifi at least is grateful for the experience. How much worse might sleeping in the woods be? she worries, twisting her neck to look back at the forest behind them. The movement aggravates her aching back, and so with a wince she returns her gaze to the road ahead, to Lonyr and the manor house.


    Fifi¡¯s heart sinks as they get closer. The villagers seem worn down, and they eye the Royal Procession with silent wariness. Some of them even seem hostile, to Fifi¡¯s surprise. Uncomfortable, she lets her window curtain fall shut and turns to Minna.


    ¡°Are you seeing what I¡¯m seeing?¡± she asks.


    ¡°The people look miserable here,¡± Minna replies in Syazonian. ¡°Besnuth wasn¡¯t like this, nor other places we¡¯ve driven through so far.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s because Father hates the Earl of Lyrnola? Do you suppose¡ª¡±


    ¡°I think it has more to do with that.¡± Minna points out her window, and Fifi leans on her sister to look past her finger. Beyond it, the manor house of Lyrnola seems to shine in the light of the setting sun. The wall and what they can see of the grounds around it are well kept, with no signs of disrepair or suffering anywhere¡ªa stark contrast with the pockmarked roads and weathered buildings of Lonyr.


    The contrast only builds as their procession makes its way through the gates into the courtyard of the manor house. On the steps to the front door stand a couple in lavish clothing, presumably the Earl and Countess of Lyrnola.


    Kai¡¯s father and stepmother, Fifi realizes, and she sees at a glance why her father hates the Earl. His calculating gaze reminds her of one of Minna¡¯s more despicable suitors from The Questioning, and his dark, well-groomed beard that has been carefully sculpted into a point reminds her of villains from the storybooks she read as a little girl. The Countess seems to be dripping with jewels, and the gilt lace adorning her sleeves and skirts seems more fitting for a Queen than someone of her station.


    ¡°Violation of sumptuary laws,¡± Minna remarks under her breath, still in Syazonian. She nods towards the Countess, who mistakes it for acknowledgement and smiles and waves with a syrupy smile.


    ¡°What?¡± Fifi asks, also in Syazonian. Despite the bustle of the courtyard as the procession halts and begins to unload, she senses a need for discretion.


    ¡°Jewels and clothes like that are reserved for Dukes and royalty. She shouldn¡¯t have them, and they shouldn¡¯t be able to afford them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why Lonyr is so run-down and the people are so weary. They must be taking too much in taxes, or something¡­.¡±


    ¡°I think the same. I¡¯ll write to Father tonight about it, and send a messenger back to Adelhyod when we depart in the morning.¡±


    Fifi nods her assent, but a servant is opening the carriage door for them, so she dares not say more, not that she can think of more to say. What will that mean for Kai? she wonders. The way he¡¯s spoken of his family, she doubts he will mind much if they get into trouble with the king, but she also doubts that King Ansgar will exclude Kai and his younger brothers from whatever punishment he might mete out.


    Where is he? Fifi almost asks aloud, but she bites her tongue to keep the words in. Although he left Adelhyod with their procession, Kai rode ahead to make sure that everything would be ready for their arrival at his father¡¯s house. But as she glances around the busy courtyard, she sees no sign of him.


    ¡°Welcome to Lyrnola,¡± the Earl greets Minna and Fifi with an over-stylized bow. ¡°My family and household are completely at your service.¡±


    ¡°It is such an honor to have you stay with us,¡± his wife twitters, waving a gilded and bejeweled fan in front of her face as though she might faint from the excitement.


    ¡°Just flaunting her impropriety,¡± Minna mutters to Fifi before turning her attention to the Earl and Countess. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality. Our journey is yet long, and we would be most grateful for a good meal and a comfortable bed for the night.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°And you shall have both, as soon as we can manage it,¡± the Earl assures her, bowing again before clapping twice to summon someone inside his manor house. An elderly man dressed in well-worn butler¡¯s clothing shuffles out right away, as though he has been waiting for this cue. ¡°Albin, please show Their Highnesses to their rooms.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Lordship,¡± Albin answers. His voice is hoarse, his back bent, his face weathered and lined. Surely a man this old ought to be able to rest, rather than working and waiting on others? Fifi reasons, her heart aching for Albin. She and Minna follow him, with their maids behind them, into the manor house and down a corridor lined with paintings in gilded frames and highly polished weapons. The stone floors have been well-swept and scrubbed, and sweet-smelling herbs are burning in censers at regular intervals.


    ¡°This house is beautiful,¡± Minna compliments as she glances around them.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Highness,¡± Albin replies. ¡°We have worked very hard to make her look her best.¡± He lays a hand on a doorframe with an affectionate smile.


    ¡°Have you worked here a long time?¡±


    ¡°Aye, since I was a wee lad, when this Earl¡¯s grandfather held his title.¡± The butler¡¯s smile turns wistful, as though he¡¯s remembering happier times. ¡°We¡¯ve prepared this suite for you, Your Highnesses. There¡¯s a lovely view of the Young Lord¡¯s favorite gardens through the windows, and the beds are fresh-turned. Someone will call you for supper once it¡¯s ready.¡± Albin opens a door and holds it for the princesses to enter. Within they find bright woven rugs, narrow windows with wooden shutters open to let in the fading light from outside, and a fireplace attended by two wooden chairs with velvet cushions.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Fifi tells Albin, who bows and takes his leave.


    ¡°Two bedrooms,¡± Minna observes, noting doors on either side of the fireplace. ¡°Which do you want, Greta?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Your Highness, you know I can¡¯t decide that,¡± the maid protests.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to explore the gardens,¡± Fifi says, but neither Minna, nor Greta, nor their other maids seem to hear her as they debate about the bedrooms. Why would he mention that the gardens through these windows are the Young Lord¡¯s favorite, if it wasn¡¯t some sort of signal? she muses. I¡¯m sure he meant Kai. He would have said it differently if he meant the twins. The windows are too narrow for her to climb through, and so she goes back into the corridor. The first two doors she tries are locked, but once she turns a corner, she finds a door with a stained-glass window in it that opens for her, letting her out into the fresh evening air.


    The gardens are indeed lovely, with rosebushes in full bloom and shrubs carefully pruned into fantastical and exotic beasts. To her surprise, the gardens aren¡¯t completely walled in; to her left, the garden turns to a field of wildflowers, which then becomes a wood perhaps two dozen paces from where she stands. Some of the noise from the main courtyard, where the Royal Procession is still unloading and taking care of their horses, floats over the roof, but it¡¯s not loud enough to ruin the peace Fifi feels just from being outdoors and away from the trappings of her title. For comfort while she travels, she has traded her usual tiara for a simple circlet, and her dress is far less grandiose than the one the Countess is wearing.


    ¡°I wonder if they expect us to dress up for supper,¡± she wonders aloud.


    ¡°They might,¡± Kai¡¯s voice answers her, making her jump, as he comes into view around a topiary unicorn to Fifi¡¯s left. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to startle you. But it doesn¡¯t matter what they¡¯re expecting. Your comfort is paramount above all, as guests in our house.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all right. I¡¯m the one who wandered out here uninvited.¡± They¡¯ve come within two paces of each other and stop, tension filling the space between them. The look in Kai¡¯s eyes reminds Fifi that she has a part to play, that they might be observed in these gardens by her sister or less sympathetic eyes. ¡°Um¡­. Thank you, for your gracious reception here. I hope that riding ahead of us was not too strenuous for you or Varsel.¡±


    ¡°Not at all, Your Highness. I would think traveling in the carriage more tiring, and would have expected you to take advantage of the chance to rest in your room before supper.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. The carriage is stuffy on warm days like this. When I saw the gardens through our windows, I just had to get a better look, and so¡­I found my way here.¡±


    ¡°They are beautiful this time of year. Most times of year, actually.¡±


    ¡°Albin mentioned that they¡¯re your favorites,¡± Fifi admits, her voice little more than a whisper.


    ¡°Oh, he did, did he?¡± Kai shakes his head. ¡°Father put him up to that, I¡¯d guess, or Birgitta.¡±


    ¡°Why would they¡ª¡±


    ¡°I mentioned to them that I met you, during Princess Wilhelmina¡¯s Quest for Favor, and they¡¯re¡­rather fixated on making sure I have the best possible chances for success in¡­the next Quest for Favor.¡± He won¡¯t meet her eyes as he speaks, instead looking at the darkening sky overhead.


    Fifi bites her lip; Kai¡¯s palpable discomfort is making it difficult for her to maintain an air of disinterested politeness and a decorous distance between them.


    ¡°Supper is likely to be a bit much,¡± Kai continues, his voice low. ¡°They¡¯ve done everything in their power to secure ¡®food fit for the king¡¯s table,¡¯ in their words, and they¡¯ve insisted that you and I must sit next to each other.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be so bad, will it?¡± Fifi¡¯s voice breaks despite her attempts at false cheer. Playing her part is turning out to be more difficult than she thought it would be.


    ¡°Just¡­challenging.¡± Kai darts a glance at her, and when their eyes meet Fifi¡¯s insides turn to warm jelly. She looks at the ground, casting about inside her mind for something else¡ªsomething safer¡ªto talk about.


    ¡°Um. My sister mentioned that¡­Their Lordship and Ladyship are in violation of sumptuary laws, dressing above their station. Were you aware¡­?¡±


    ¡°I suspected as much. Birgitta¡¯s costume for today looks almost as regal as what I¡¯ve seen Queen Ingrid wear. But she doesn¡¯t go to Court. She¡¯d prefer to play at being a Queen here, rather than having to act the part of a Countess there. Why do you mention it?¡±


    ¡°My sister will be sending the king a letter about it. I don¡¯t know what he might do, if anything, but¡­I thought you should know.¡±


    ¡°Noted. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s anything you can do to help the staff here, should something ugly occur, but I got the impression from Albin that they are overworked and underpaid and ought not to share in¡ª¡±


    ¡°Your impression is accurate. I rode ahead to take some of the burden off of them,¡± Kai admits. ¡°I will always do what I can for them.¡±


    ¡°Fifi!¡± Minna¡¯s voice calls, and then her face appears in one of the windows of the manor house. Fifi¡¯s blood turns to ice and she takes a few steps away from Kai, towards the window, but Minna¡¯s eyes are already on them, registering surprise and irritation. ¡°Princess Josefina, come inside! We¡¯ve been called for supper, and I get the impression we¡¯re meant to look our best.¡±


    ¡°Coming, Sister,¡± Fifi replies, and she rushes towards the door to go back inside without a backward glance. No matter what I do now, Minna won¡¯t be convinced that I¡¯m not interested in him, she realizes. Her heart thunders in her chest. How do I keep her from writing anything to Father about it?

 Frustration

    Minna¡¯s head is pounding from exhaustion and irritation before supper with the Earl of Lyrnola and his family is even half over. Minstrels play too loudly in one corner, and the flutist cannot seem to match key with the others. The meal consists of dozens of rich dishes and expensive foodstuffs that are rare to see outside of holiday celebrations, and all the cutlery is gold-plated. The Earl and Countess take turns trying to impress Minna with talk of their sumptuous lifestyle and grand house and how much of an asset Lyrnola is to Aethyrozia. All this would be more than irksome enough for Minna, but the fact that Fifi and Kai are seated next to one another, a few seats away from her, is the most painful thorn in her side of the night.


    But they¡¯re not talking much, she observes, glancing sidelong at them with every other bite she takes. In fact, Kai and Fifi look more uncomfortable than anything, and what she can hear of their scant, stilted conversation seems to be shallow, related to the weather and traveling. At least, from what I can tell. But that doesn¡¯t mean anything. She snuck out to see him as soon as we got here! How much has she been hiding from me?


    The idea that Fifi has been keeping secrets from her makes Minna¡¯s heart ache. She longs to be alone, or else back in the carriage with her sister again to question her until she breaks and reveals everything she¡¯s been hiding. Instead, she must sit at the Earl of Lyrnola¡¯s table, smiling and nodding and feigning interest in the constant inanity spewing from him and his wife. No one else can get a word in edgewise. Minna would love to hear from the adorable twins sitting next to the Countess, who steal food from each other¡¯s plates and play at sword-fighting with their knives when they think no one is looking. They would at least have interesting things to say, I¡¯d warrant, Minna reflects, straining her cheeks in her efforts to maintain a polite smile.


    As the meal goes on, Minna finds it harder and harder to bear acting like a perfect princess. Every time she looks at Fifi, anger and hurt and betrayal threaten to overwhelm her. The prattling of the Earl and the Countess saws at what little is left of her frayed nerves. Although the food tastes as good as anything she ate at home, thoughts of the miserable villagers in Lonyr make it turn to sour lumps of regret in her stomach.


    When the servants start to clear away the fourteenth course, Minna rises to her feet.


    ¡°You have been most gracious, Your Lordship, Your Ladyship,¡± Minna interrupts her hosts in the middle of an epic saga of how they acquired the finest rugs in Lokva for their manor house. ¡°But I am exhausted from our travels, and we have many more long days of traveling ahead of us. I fear I shan¡¯t be able to stay awake much longer. Pray, excuse me, and enjoy the rest of your evening.¡±


    To her surprise, Fifi gets up to leave, as well. Kai stands a moment after, looking every inch the solicitous host.


    ¡°Your Highness, will you permit me the honor of escorting both of you to your suite?¡± he asks.


    ¡°If you wish,¡± Minna replies after a moment¡¯s contemplation. It can¡¯t do any harm, and he¡¯s much better company than his parents, however angry I might be with him and Fifi, she reasons.


    ¡°Very well, then. Good night,¡± the Earl says with a crafty look on his face. Minna stifles a shudder¡ªwhat is he hoping for?!¡ªand quickens her steps to leave the great room where they have been dining. In moments, Fifi and Kai have joined her and they have made their way into the corridor leading towards their suite. Oaken doors fall shut behind them, muffling the poor playing of the minstrels and making all three of them sigh in relief.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­terribly sorry, for all of that.¡± Kai looks as though he wishes the floor would swallow him whole. ¡°They¡¯re never good company, but tonight they were unbearable.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­certainly a way to describe it,¡± Minna answers, unable to find anything more charitable to say of their hosts. Fifi walks ahead of her and Kai, admiring the tapestries on the walls and humming to herself. Minna wants to call her back, to confront both of them here and now, but Kai doesn¡¯t give her the chance.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°And I¡¯m sorry, too, for what you must think of me and your sister, Your Highness,¡± he continues, his voice low.


    Minna can hardly believe her ears. ¡°What are you¡ª¡±


    ¡°I told you and your sister, at your Quest for Favor, that my father and stepmother forced me to compete. Their avarice and ambition are known throughout Aethyrozia, and now tonight you have seen it on display.¡±


    ¡°In exquisite clarity.¡±


    ¡°It will not surprise you, then, to learn that they insisted that I spend my evening in the gardens tonight, in the hopes that your sister, known as she is for her love of being outside, would come out and we might meet by chance.¡±


    ¡°And you agreed to do such a thing, knowing it might be interpreted to compromise her virtue?¡± Minna¡¯s voice is as sharp as her glare; she hopes to cut her way to the truth, whatever it might be.


    ¡°The same servants my father is paying to make sure I comply with his schemes will attest that there was no unseemly conduct between us. And I will swear the same, on my mother¡¯s grave.¡± His face is serious and earnest.


    ¡°Have you met like that before?¡±


    ¡°A few times, at Court. I don¡¯t like to be indoors when the weather is fine. And you said yourself that¡­Princess Josefina and I have that in common.¡±


    He used her given name. Why would he do that? She would have asked him to call her Fifi the first time they met, or else when they danced together the first time. Minna frowns. ¡°Will you compete in her Quest for Favor?¡±


    ¡°I doubt I shall have any choice in the matter.¡±


    ¡°Do you fancy her?¡±


    The dim light of the corridor makes it difficult for Minna to be sure, but she could swear that Kai blushes at the question. ¡°She is admirable in every aspect. But I am not blind to my own unsuitability as a match for her. This family is not a burden I would wish on anyone. And¡­if you will pardon my saying so¡­. I would expect the King to have rather strong opinions about where her favor falls, and he has made his dislike of the house of Lyrnola no secret.¡±


    ¡°As you say. That is no secret.¡± Minna doesn¡¯t know what to think, other than that she¡¯s heard these lines of reasoning before, from her own sister. Did they plan what to say? she wonders. But Kai shows no signs of deceit, and he, at least, admitted to liking Fifi.


    ¡°I simply¡­wanted to assure you that¡ª¡±


    ¡°I believe you.¡± Minna isn¡¯t sure whether that¡¯s the truth or not, but Fifi has already reached the door of their suite, half a dozen paces ahead, and it¡¯s the right thing to say to end the conversation. ¡°Thank you for telling me.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Your Highness. Is anything amiss in your chambers?¡±


    ¡°Everything is perfectly adequate, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Then I bid you both good night. Sleep well.¡±


    Minna offers him a half smile before following Fifi into their suite and closing the door behind them.


    ¡°He likes you,¡± she blurts out.


    Fifi turns to face Minna, her brow furrowed in confusion.


    ¡°He told me. After he apologized for the two of you being in the gardens together.¡±


    ¡°I told you I didn¡¯t know he¡¯d be there. I just wanted to stretch my legs and smell the roses,¡± Fifi grumbles.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t directly answered my question, about whether you like him.¡± Minna¡¯s voice is soft and gentle, but Fifi flinches at her words. ¡°And he said that tonight wasn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve met by chance outdoors.¡±


    Fifi sighs and shifts from foot to foot. Her mouth opens and closes a few times before she finally replies. ¡°Yes. I like him. But nothing I¡¯ve said when you¡¯ve asked before has been a lie. It doesn¡¯t matter whether I like him or not, because never in a hundred thousand lifetimes will Father agree to let me choose him. So what¡¯s the point of saying it?¡± Fifi drops into one of the chairs by the fireplace, clutching her head in her hands.


    ¡°We used to tell each other everything, Fifi. What happened? Why would you keep this from me?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to worry about me. I didn¡¯t want a servant to overhear and start spreading rumors that would get back to Father and cause a huge argument. You¡¯ve had enough to deal with, getting ready for your wedding, and¡­.¡±


    ¡°Just because I¡¯ve been busy doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t have time for you.¡±


    ¡°After that first note from Didier¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Minna takes a deep breath, then settles in the other chair by the fireplace and pulls it closer to her sister. ¡°I know. And I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, too.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already apologized. More than you should have for his mistakes. I never should have suspected you. I knew better.¡±


    ¡°I felt like you didn¡¯t trust me, anyway,¡± Fifi admits in a small voice. ¡°And I wondered if you would keep a secret from Father, and decided it wasn¡¯t worth the risk.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell Father anything about you or Kai. No good could come of that,¡± Minna promises. ¡°But I am going to write to him tonight, before we go to bed.¡±


    ¡°About the Earl and the Countess?¡±


    Minna nods. ¡°Do you want to help me write it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re better at those sorts of things than I am, and he listens to you sometimes.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re more observant than I am. And I want your input, if you¡¯re willing to give it.¡±


    Fifi smiles, and there¡¯s a mischievous twinkle in her eyes that warms Minna¡¯s heart. ¡°Let¡¯s ruin every hope those two miserable braggarts have for advancement.¡±

 Arrival

    Of all the emotions Fifi might have felt upon seeing the turrets of Zosya rising ahead over the rooftops and trees of a nearby town, relief isn¡¯t one she had expected, but it is the one that overwhelms her. She never realized before this trip how much she hates being in a carriage and traveling on a deadline. In their entire journey, no one would so much as pretend to entertain her requests to stop for a bit so she could sketch some deer or an eagle or a particularly gnarled elm tree. With each day that passed, their quick pace and the jolting carriage became more distressing to Fifi as they traveled through a variety of scenic vistas, mountains and forests all clad in glorious summer greens. Their only stop, apart from spending nights in the homes of various noblemen, has been to deal with some bandits who attempted to waylay them¡ªand failed, finding that the Royal Guards accompanying the procession were bored and ready for a fight with anyone who would give it to them. I should have tried to draw then, she reproaches herself, although she knows she never could have focused on a drawing with such commotion around them and Minna paralyzed with fear beside her.


    Each day since then Minna has become more rigid and withdrawn. Even now, with their journey almost at an end, she sits beside Fifi strangling her handkerchief with both hands, her eyes fixed on the castle that will host her wedding the next day. Her lips are pressed together in a tight line, and Fifi doubts that anything she says or does can help her sister overcome her nerves.


    ¡°What village is this?¡± she calls out the window to one of the guards, hoping to distract both herself and Minna.


    ¡°Azoya,¡± he replies, ¡°but it¡¯s more of a city than a village, if you ask me.¡±


    Fifi nods and bites her lip, regretting the mistake and hoping that none of the townspeople poking their heads out of cottage windows to see them understand Aethyrozian. As they get closer, she sees that Azoya does indeed cover far more ground than any village she has seen, and it boasts a good many stone, multi-storied buildings and more than one grandiose zoche. Once again, her fingers itch to pick up her sketchbook and pens, but the bumping and clattering of their wheels on the cobbled road makes her think better of it.


    ¡°They don¡¯t look happy,¡± Minna murmurs, dipping her head towards the townsfolk they are passing by.


    ¡°No¡­they don¡¯t,¡± Fifi agrees, wondering why. Azoya seems prosperous; certainly these people don¡¯t face the hardships that the people of Lonyr do, and their market square is bustling with merchants hawking all sorts of wares. But as the Royal Procession passes by the market square, conversations stop and the townsfolk regard the carriages with suspicion and contempt.


    ¡°Heartless wretch,¡± an old woman with a black shawl over her head mutters, spitting in the general direction of the Aethyrozians. Her Syazonian sounds sharper and more guttural than the kind the princesses learned, but they have no trouble understanding her harsh words.


    ¡°No respect for the dead,¡± another villager grumbles, turning his back on them with disgust.


    ¡°Because he¡¯s still in mourning. Or he should be,¡± Minna whispers. Her forehead creases with worry and sadness. ¡°Maybe this is a mistake¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, Minna. You made the best choice you could for yourself. You¡¯ve said so at least a dozen times,¡± Fifi assures her. ¡°And he chose to accept you¡ª¡±


    ¡°What choice could he have had? His father made him come to my Quest for Favor. Just like Father insisted¡­.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Wait and see how they receive us at Zosya. It¡¯s just up ahead. Not long now.¡±


    ¡°The opinions of the people matter, Fifi. Especially with the dispute with Barhesta over Andelios.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know. But you won¡¯t be able to win the people over until after you¡¯ve married him and spent some time in Syazonia. These things take time. But they won¡¯t be able to keep from loving you.¡±


    ¡°What if we don¡¯t have time? What if I don¡¯t get the chance?¡± Minna¡¯s handkerchief, one of the new ones for her trousseau, is in tatters at this point. Fifi takes her sister¡¯s hands and pulls the shreds of fabric away.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay, Minna. Just breathe. One step at a time. Isn¡¯t that what you always told me when I got frustrated with lessons, and what Mother told you when the harpsichord was misbehaving for you?¡±


    Minna takes a long, shaky breath. ¡°Yes, but¡­I wasn¡¯t thinking about¡­how the people might feel. I was just worried about him and me, but it¡¯s bigger than us. Everything is always bigger than us.¡±


    Fifi squeezes Minna¡¯s hands in an attempt to offer comfort, even as she winces at her sister¡¯s reminder of their place in the world. ¡°Maybe. But focus on just him and you for now anyway. Seeing him happy again might be enough to win at least some of them over.¡±


    ¡°If I can manage that.¡±


    ¡°You can. And you will.¡± Fifi glances out the window and realizes with a start that they are approaching the tall, imposing gates of Zosya. Moments later, trumpet fanfare assaults their ears. Minna winces and tightens her grip on Fifi¡¯s hands. With prodigious effort from a dozen strong men in uniform, the gates swing slowly open, allowing the Royal Procession from Aethyrozia to enter a large but rather derelict courtyard. Fifi observes with dismay that there are no gardens or fountains, just churned-up mud, a few sad patches of weeds, and a couple of scrawny ornamental trees that look as though they¡¯ve been hacked by swords. The castle itself, however, is large and grand, with polished marble stairs leading to oak and wrought-iron doors and pristine pennants fluttering from the tops of the towers.


    ¡°Strange,¡± Minna mutters, voicing Fifi¡¯s thoughts. Their carriage comes to a halt, and outside it guards and servants rush to unhitch horses and unload baggage. One of their own guards opens their carriage door, allowing both princesses to alight on a relatively clean patch of cobblestone near the steps of the palace.


    Fifi recognizes the five Syazonian princes in their matching gold livery immediately; they stand on the shining stairs alongside two people clad in gold and royal purple who can only be their parents, the King and Queen of Syazonia. Fifi and Minna both drop a half-curtsey in greeting, and then Fifi steps to the side as Minna moves forward to greet her husband-to-be and his family.


    King Celestino looks much like Adalberto, although his face is lined and his hair and beard silver-streaked from the cares of ruling. Beside him, Queen Casilda sits in a curious wooden chair, well cushioned with velvet but sporting wheels instead of legs in the back. Her hair is completely white, and though she looks on with a gracious smile, it¡¯s clear to Fifi that she is unwell and ought to be in bed resting. The rest of her family seems not to notice or care about the queen¡¯s frail health, making Fifi¡¯s heart ache for her.


    But heartache cannot last as Adalberto comes towards Minna. A familiar dagger with a ruby-studded hilt hangs from his belt. Although he does not smile, there¡¯s a genuine warmth in his eyes and softness in his expression that tell Fifi he¡¯s glad to see Minna. Likewise, the tension in Minna¡¯s body melts away as she steps closer to her betrothed, and her expression is full of relief and joy. Good, Fifi thinks as she smiles at them from the sidelines. You deserve to be happy. Then she lets her eyes wander, taking in the rest of the scene around them.


    Behind Adalberto on the stairs, Ramiro seems to be studying the Aethyrozian carriages, while Casimiro looks bored and annoyed that he¡¯s not the center of attention. Lisandro, to Fifi¡¯s eye, looks like he¡¯s struggling with several conflicting emotions. To her intense discomfort, Emiliano¡¯s gaze seems to be fixed on her. I thought Minna wrote to Adalberto that he was to forget me? Fifi wonders, returning her attention to her sister and her betrothed with the thought that ignoring Emiliano, rather than paying him any kind of attention, ought to get him to give up on her eventually.


    ¡°We are glad to receive you on this fine day, and that your travels have brought you to us unharmed,¡± Adalberto greets them in formal Syazonian. ¡°Welcome to Zosya.¡±

 Impressive

    Before Minna¡¯s arrival at Zosya, Adalberto thought of their upcoming marriage only in practical terms, with no feelings involved other than guilt and grief for Valeriya. He told himself it would be easier that way, that they would have time to sort out an arrangement that worked for both of them after the wedding, that the important thing was to do what his father required of him.


    Then Minna stepped out of her carriage and their eyes met, and the way she smiled at him shattered the icy walls around his heart, allowing warmth to bloom in his chest for the first time in months. Ever since he has been trembling inside, though he¡¯s sure he¡¯s played the part of the gracious host and charming prince well; if he hadn¡¯t, Casimiro would have mocked him once the Aethyrozian princesses retreated to their suite to freshen up before supper. But Casimiro has been ignoring him, and they have been busy greeting noble and royal guests throughout the day, giving Adalberto little time to reflect and compose himself. For that reason he was all too eager to accept his father¡¯s directive to go to the Great Hall early and make sure that everything was in order for the formal, celebratory meal they intend to have with all of their guests tonight, on the eve of his wedding.


    Adalberto finds nothing amiss in the Great Hall as he meanders through it, inspecting the table settings and candelabras and decorations, not that he expected to¡ªthe servants have been working day and night for months to make sure that everything would be perfect for his wedding celebration. He resolves to do something special for all of them, whether during the celebration or after, to let them know that their efforts are seen and appreciated. They deserve as much as I can give them and probably more, he muses, and maybe Minna will help me think of something, if she approves¡­.


    He cannot imagine that she would not. He has not seen her be anything but kind and gracious with anyone. Her sister even helped their attendants carry some of their luggage inside, and Minna did not reprimand her for acting below her station. If I have to remarry, for the good of the kingdom, I certainly could have done worse. And this time we¡¯ve at least had the opportunity to get to know each other a bit before getting married. He is grateful beyond words that he had the courage to give Minna instructions for getting a letter to him, and that she chose to do so. Perhaps the Aethyrozians are on to something with their Quest for Favor, however ridiculous it might seem.


    The main doors open behind him with a burst of trumpet fanfare, jolting him out of his thoughts. He turns around to see his family coming into the Great Hall, followed by a procession of wedding guests. His breath catches at the sight of Minna, who has changed into a turquoise gown more flattering than anything she wore in Adelhyod. Everything else in the room fades out of focus and he crosses the room to meet her as though it is empty except for the two of them.


    ¡°Princess,¡± he greets her. His mouth has gone dry, preventing him from saying more, so he offers her his arm.


    ¡°Your Highness,¡± she murmurs as she takes his arm, allowing him to escort her to her seat, which is next to his.


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful.¡± He pulls out her chair for her¡ªsomething a servant should do, but in this moment, he doesn¡¯t care.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    She blushes and turns away. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The rest of the world comes back into focus as she takes her seat and he sits next to her. His father and mother sit at the head of the table; Adalberto is at his father¡¯s right hand. Lisandro sits across from him, poised to take care of their mother if she should start feeling more poorly than usual. Emiliano is beside him, across from Minna, with Fifi on his other side and Prince Didier of Vyrunia next to her. Adalberto realizes with a pang of guilt that Minna has locked eyes with her sister and seems to be mouthing some sort of an apology. The brunette Aethyrozian princess is making herself small in her seat, and though she is smiling, her smile feels forced and brittle.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he whispers to Minna as his father claps twice to alert the servants to bring out the first course. ¡°My father arranged the seating chart, and I could not change his mind about any of it.¡± Should I tell her about his agreement with the Vyrunian ambassador? Adalberto wonders, then decides that this isn¡¯t the time or the place. Someone else might overhear.


    ¡°It¡¯s just one meal,¡± Minna replies under her breath. ¡°She¡¯ll manage, I hope. But you did tell Emiliano¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, and my father, as well. To no effect, it would seem.¡±


    Minna sighs and nods. ¡°Is everything ready for tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Yes, absolutely everything, now that all our guests are here.¡± He gestures down the long table and around the room. ¡°I must say, I overheard the Aethyrozian Royal Orchestra practicing earlier, and I was thoroughly impressed.¡±


    ¡°I am glad on it.¡± She fiddles with the beet salad in front of her. ¡°But are you ready?¡±


    He should have been expecting this question, but somehow it still catches him off-guard, and he fumbles a bit for words. ¡°That¡­that depends. Are you?¡±


    ¡°I chose you. A choice I do not regret. You are honorable and admirable, and I believe we can be happy together, in time. But I also have the deepest respect and sympathy for your grief, and I fear¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± He takes her hand under the table and squeezes it gently. ¡°This isn¡¯t the place. But I agree that time will work in our favor. And we will have time, at Nysia.¡±


    Minna smiles, shy but genuine.


    ¡°Thank you again for the lovely flowers, Princess Wilhelmina,¡± Queen Casilda remarks before Minna can say anything else to Adalberto.


    ¡°Of course, Your Majesty. I am glad that they please you,¡± Minna replies. ¡°We also brought seeds, if you would like for some of them to be planted in your courtyards here.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to make a courtyard or two off-limits to some of my sons,¡± King Celestino grumbles, glaring towards Emiliano and Casimiro, ¡°or else the flowers will be doomed as soon as they¡¯ve so much as sprouted.¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t joust in the one nearest my suite, dear. Planting them there should be fine,¡± the queen assures her husband.


    ¡°Then we will make arrangements to do so, after tomorrow.¡± King Celestino turns his attention to Minna and his eldest son. ¡°Princess Wilhelmina, what can you tell me about Aethyrozia and your father¡¯s army?¡±


    Adalberto¡¯s breath catches in his throat. He didn¡¯t expect his father to ask her any questions of this kind.


    ¡°Begging your pardon, Your Majesty, but I¡¯m afraid I would need a more specific question to provide you with useful information,¡± Minna answers the king after only a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°I have had the privilege of sitting in on a good many of my father¡¯s meetings with his advisors, when I was not occupied with wedding plans. What is it that Your Majesty seeks to know in particular?¡±


    Surprise and admiration swell in Adalberto¡¯s chest as he regards his betrothed, who does not seem the least bit intimidated by King Celestino¡¯s stony mannerisms and blunt inquiry. A flicker of astonishment crosses the king¡¯s face. Valeriya wasn¡¯t half so tactful, may Chuezoh rest her soul, Adalberto reflects, and once again he finds himself wondering if he can love another woman. Looking at Minna now, the idea seems more plausible than ever before.

 Competition

    Despite being stuck seated between Emiliano and Didier, Fifi cannot help smiling when she looks at Minna and Adalberto. She hasn¡¯t been able to hear all of their conversation with the king and queen because Emiliano won¡¯t stop trying to tell her about his latest jousting escapades, but she can see that Adalberto and the king seem to be surprised by her sister in the best way, and she did hear the queen thanking Minna for the flowers they brought her. I¡¯m glad she likes them, Fifi muses as she takes a bite of beet salad. Not only did she help Minna choose the flowers, but she dropped a chip of gemstone into their midst and whispered a blessing in Barivyce while she was helping the servants unload the flowers for the queen. I hope they help her in some way. Queen Casilda looks, to Fifi¡¯s eye, healthier and happier than she did at the gates this morning, but whether that¡¯s because of the flowers or resting or some other remedy, she knows not.


    ¡°And then Tacito took this fence taller than Adalberto like it was nothing!¡± Emiliano boasts. ¡°There¡¯s no better horse in the hunt, I¡¯d bet my life on that.¡±


    Fifi forces a smile and nods. She¡¯s had more interesting conversations with Algot, even before she learned how to actually communicate with him.


    ¡°A fascinating tale, Emiliano, but perhaps not the best choice for this occasion,¡± Didier interjects from Fifi¡¯s other side.


    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Emiliano snorts.


    ¡°As I recall, Princess, you enjoy drawing. Did you see anything worth drawing on your way here?¡± the Vyrunian prince continues while Emiliano has his mouth full of pickled herring.


    ¡°Some deer and some eagles caught my eye, but they wouldn¡¯t stop the carriages to let me draw,¡± Fifi replies, hating that Didier is a much more interesting conversation partner than Emiliano. She wishes she could ignore both of them, or take the meal alone in her room, but she won¡¯t cause a scene at an occasion so important for Minna. ¡°I¡¯m sure there were far more worthy sights on your way here. The journey from Vyrunia is far longer than ours was, is it not?¡±


    ¡°Way too long,¡± a woman with sharp features and chocolate brown hair in elaborate plaits piled on top of her head cuts in from Didier¡¯s other side. She bears more than a passing resemblance to him, and Fifi wonder if this is his older sister.


    ¡°Arlette¡ª¡± Didier protests.


    ¡°What? It was, especially after the carriage ride from the coast to the Palace of Roses and the voyage by ship from Claiamean.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°I would love to see the ocean,¡± Fifi sighs wistfully.


    ¡°A few days¡¯ ride north of here is the Ice Sea,¡± Emiliano tells her while Didier argues with Arlette.


    ¡°The Ice Sea? Have you been there?¡±


    ¡°Only once, years ago. Got lost on a hunting trip.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡±


    ¡°The water¡¯s dark, and there¡¯s huge chunks of ice floating in it. In the distance, it looks like the sea itself turns to ice. And it was bitter cold when I was there. But the wolves up there are huge and fierce. Best hunting there is.¡±


    And with that, Emiliano launches into a tale of how he and Casimiro stalked and brought down some of these wolves. Across from Fifi, Casimiro turns his attention to them at the sound of his name and even adds his own bits to Emiliano¡¯s story, when he¡¯s not sending unsettling, lecherous glances down the table towards a princess who cannot be more than fifteen. Fifi¡¯s stomach turns, as much because of Casimiro as from Emiliano¡¯s description of the gore of the hunt.


    ¡°This again?¡± Didier mutters from Fifi¡¯s other side.


    She glances at him sideways, wondering if giving him her attention will provide any respite from Emiliano.


    ¡°Some people are¡­very committed to their own interests,¡± she says. She¡¯s not as good at perfect princess manners and tact as Minna, but for her sister¡¯s wedding, she¡¯s determined to be at her very best.


    ¡°I suppose. To answer your question from earlier, I found the mountains most impressive and inspiring, of all we saw on our way here. But I didn¡¯t bring any painting supplies with me, and I rode horseback rather than in a carriage when the weather was fine.¡±


    ¡°That must have been nice. I wasn¡¯t allowed to ride horseback, and the carriage jolted too much for drawing.¡±


    ¡°A shame. Perhaps your return trip will be more accommodating.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it. There were bandits on the road.¡±


    ¡°Of course, yes, I should have realized¡­. There were for us, too. Not enough of a threat to slow us down much, but still a caution against unnecessary stops.¡±


    ¡°Bandits?!¡± Emiliano interjects, his eyes alight. ¡°Did you fight them?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t, no. They skirmished a bit with some of our guards and were clearly outmatched, so they retreated into the forest. It wasn¡¯t worth trying to chase them down.¡±


    ¡°Coward. Wouldn¡¯t have stopped me.¡±


    ¡°You mistake foolhardiness for bravery.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah? You think you¡¯re tough? Let¡¯s you and me go out to the front courtyard right now and¡ª¡±


    ¡°Emiliano!¡± King Celestino interrupts with a voice like thunder.


    ¡°But Father, he¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡±


    Fifi bites her lip to keep from laughing while Emiliano sulks beside her. Further down the table, the younger princes and princesses are snickering behind their hands and whispering to one another. Maybe I can have a bit of fun tonight, after all, Fifi tells herself. Playing Didier and Emiliano off against each other is far more fun than trying to converse with either one of them, and this way she¡¯s technically not the one causing problems. She might even be able to enjoy her meal without hearing any more about dying animals or bandits. And most important, Minna and Adalberto don¡¯t seem to be paying any mind to them; they remain more or less focused on each other. For the first time all night, Fifi has reason to hope that the supper will turn out all right instead of being a complete and utter disaster.

 Ceremony

    Minna and Fifi stand side by side outside the golden doors of the Royal Zoche of Zosya, waiting for their cue to enter so that the marriage ceremony can begin. With them are Manuela, Adalberto¡¯s sister, and her young daughter Maeve, whom the Aethyrozian sisters find absolutely adorable, a spitting image of her mother with her fiery red hair and emerald green dress. To Fifi¡¯s relief, Maeve¡¯s antics have given Minna some respite from her nerves.


    ¡°It¡¯s all going to be fine,¡± Manuela assures Minna, not for the first time. ¡°Adalberto¡¯s a good man, and I¡¯d tell you if he wasn¡¯t. I grew up with those five princes, and he¡¯s the only one I¡¯d agree to live with long-term again, if I had to.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Minna replies faintly. Her grip tightens on her bouquet of deep red roses. They don¡¯t really match her magnificent gold and purple gown, in Fifi¡¯s opinion, but that doesn¡¯t matter now.


    ¡°And he likes you,¡± Fifi adds as she straightens her own royal blue and silver gown. ¡°I¡¯m sure he does.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll second that. Didn¡¯t think he¡¯d take to anyone after Valeriya, but he hardly spoke to anyone else last night,¡± Manuela affirms.


    ¡°Pretty pretty,¡± Maeve coos, tugging on Minna¡¯s skirt as she looks up at Minna with wide brown eyes.


    Ethereal strains of music from the Aethyrozian Royal Orchestra float through the golden doors.


    ¡°It¡¯s time!¡± Manuela says with a smile that lights up her whole face. Her red curls bounce as she moves to open the door. ¡°Come on, Maeve! Time to go!¡±


    Maeve buries her tiny fist in her gilded basket of rose petals and toddles with her mother into the zoche. Fifi adjusts Minna¡¯s gold lace veil over her face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let me trip,¡± Minna whispers. The veil nearly reaches the floor in front of her.


    ¡°You won¡¯t trip,¡± Fifi assures her, taking her position behind Minna to carry her train.


    ¡°Are you ready, Your Highness?¡± the Aethyrozian ambassador to Syazonia asks with a slight hiccup as he approaches them rapidly from the general direction of the privies. Fifi smells wine on the tall older gentleman¡¯s breath.


    Minna hesitates, then nods. The ambassador offers her his arm. She accepts it, and then the great golden doors swing open, allowing them to walk into the zoche. Fifi follows behind them, her arms full of her sister¡¯s skirt and her eyes wide with wonder.


    The Royal Zoche of Zosya is far grander than the zoche in Adelhyod. The floors are highly polished white marble, where Fifi can see them around the hundreds of feet of the guests standing within. High vaulted ceilings and the wide pillars that support them are decorated with mosaics and paintings of scenes from the Lanourehm. Huge stained glass windows scatter colored light across the people within, who have parted to offer Minna and her small retinue a path, now decorated with rose petals from Manuela and Maeve, to the altar at the far end of the space. The priest of Chuezoh standing behind the altar wears the crimson robes customary for the season between Friggenter and Oggerheim. To his left is Adalberto, resplendent not only because of his elegant white and gold attire, but because he is actually smiling, his eyes locked on Minna.


    When Minna and the ambassador reach the altar, the priest lifts off its gleaming golden cover with a flourish, revealing a basin of holy water. Minna puts her bouquet of roses into the basin as an offering to Chuezoh. The ambassador bows to Adalberto, and the prince takes the ambassador¡¯s place beside Minna. As she artfully arranges her sister¡¯s train, Fifi notices that the ambassador has taken a place near Adalberto¡¯s family, at the front of the gathered guests, and that he¡¯s pulled out a flask from somewhere.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    The priest starts chanting in Lanourese. Fifi can tell immediately that it¡¯s the traditional passage about the beautiful institution of marriage, created and sanctioned by Chuezoh, such that husband and wife might support one another by fulfilling the roles best suited to them. She does her best to tune him out as she takes a place off to one side of the altar, amongst immense gold vases of roses and blazing candelabras and gilded cornucopias laden with produce, noting that Lisandro has been stationed similarly on the other side. While the priest chants, Adalberto leads Minna around the altar at a slow, stately pace. Once they¡¯ve circled it five times, the priest takes two sticks of incense, lights each from the large white candle of Chuezoh burning behind him, and hands one to Adalberto and one to Minna. The two of them walk hand in hand towards King Celestino and Queen Casilda, who are holding another candle on a golden tray.


    ¡°May Chuezoh¡¯s light bring the two of you together as one and light your path through life together,¡± the priest blesses Adalberto and Minna. In unison, they touch the lit ends of their incense sticks to the wick of the candle, lighting it. Then they deposit the incense sticks on the tray, which they reverently take from the king and queen and bear together to a small gilded pedestal not far from where Fifi is stationed.


    ¡°And now, as another symbol of how Chuezoh binds you together in blessed union,¡± the priest continues, pulling a length of gold and royal blue cord from behind the altar. Minna and Adalberto stand facing each other, their right hands joined, and the priest wraps the cord around their hands, once again chanting in Lanourese. Fifi can¡¯t see her sister¡¯s face as she once again adjusts her gold and purple train, but Adalberto looks happier than she¡¯s ever seen him and seems to be murmuring something to Minna. I¡¯m glad he¡¯s found some joy in this, Fifi smiles to herself. She never admitted as much aloud, but she has also been concerned that remarrying so soon might be difficult for him. In this moment, though, it¡¯s hard to see Adalberto as a grieving widower.


    The priest leads Adalberto and then Minna in their vows to one another. They make the traditional promises¡ªfidelity, respect, compassion, honesty, perseverance, patience. What about love? Fifi wants to interrupt, but she knows better. There¡¯s no place in a royal wedding, even one set up by a Quest for Favor, for any mention of love.


    After the vows, the priest glares at Lisandro and at Fifi. Fifi takes this as her cue to pick up a gold- and gemstone-encrusted box from amongst the cornucopia and bring it to Minna. Lisandro brings a similar box to Adalberto from his side of the altar.


    ¡°The bride and groom have brought gifts for one another,¡± the priest announces. Minna takes the box from Fifi and offers it to Adalberto, who in turn takes the box from Lisandro and gives it to Minna. They open their boxes while the priest drones on about the significance of these gifts¡ªmatching chalices, cast in Syazonian gold and studded with Aethyrozian sapphires in a design of a swan dancing with a bear to represent the relationship between their kingdoms that will be sealed by their marriage.


    Adalberto and Minna set their chalices next to the candle on the tray, then rejoin the priest at the altar, facing each other.


    ¡°Prince Adalberto, you may kiss your bride,¡± the priest directs. With trembling hands, Adalberto raises Minna¡¯s golden veil and drapes it over the back of her head. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, his lips meet hers for a brief, chaste kiss. He and Minna both flush, Fifi assumes from embarrassment. I¡¯m glad my first kiss wasn¡¯t in front of so many people, she thinks, and then a powerful wish that Kai could be here with her threatens to overpower her. She tenses every muscle in her body and forces herself to keep smiling. Think about Minna and Adalberto, how good they look together, how happy you hope they¡¯ll be, she tells herself.


    As Minna and Adalberto pull apart, still holding each other¡¯s hands, the priest sprinkles them with holy water. ¡°Cheya chae Chuezoh hayu nietiem preyunah sah nou sesepa raenye maenii,¡± he intones, a final blessing meant to ensure a lifelong union: What Chuezoh has joined together, let no man separate. ¡°Go forth with Chuezoh¡¯s blessings, and be fruitful and multiply.¡±


    The guests in the zoche applaud as Adalberto leads Minna out the way she came in, followed by Lisandro and Fifi, who fall in step beside one another. Their eyes meet for a moment, and Fifi can see that at least part of him is jealous of his older brother. In that instant she feels bad for him, but as she returns her attention to Minna and Adalberto, every bad feeling vanishes. They look equal parts relieved that the ceremony is over and happy to be together.


    ¡°Come, let us feast!¡± Adalberto bids the guests in the zoche as he and Minna reach the immense golden doors. Fifi freezes in her tracks as dread wells up inside her. She had forgotten there was another feast, and dancing to follow, as part of the wedding celebration, until this moment.

 Married

    As Adalberto escorts her down the corridor between the Royal Zoche and the Great Hall of Zosya, Minna resists the urge to pinch herself to be sure that she¡¯s not dreaming. Her whole life, everyone has talked about marriage as though it was this miraculous, life-changing thing, but she doesn¡¯t feel any different than she did before the ceremony. I¡¯m still the same Minna I was when I woke up this morning, she marvels, wondering if Adalberto feels the same, and if this wedding is any different from his first. But looking at him as he walks beside her, holding her arm, Minna finds herself tongue-tied. Butterflies flutter in her stomach as he smiles at her once again.


    ¡°We¡¯ve done the hard part,¡± he tells her, his voice low and alluring. ¡°From here it¡¯s all feasting and dancing and pretending to like the gifts our guests have brought us.¡±


    ¡°Only pretending?¡± Minna replies. This idea sounds more like Fifi than Adalberto.


    ¡°Most of them will be trying to impress my father with their generosity, rather than giving us things we might actually find useful. But that part will be tomorrow. This evening is just the supper and then dancing until¡­we want to retire for the night.¡±


    Minna¡¯s heart jumps into her throat as she remembers what they¡¯re meant to do tonight. The words Adalberto wrote to her on the matter come to mind a moment later. Can I ask about it now? She glances behind them to find Fifi and Lisandro a few paces away, leading their guests towards the Great Hall. I¡¯ll wait, until we have more privacy, Minna resolves, hoping that won¡¯t be too late.


    To her surprise and delight, Adalberto leads her to a small table towards the front of the Great Hall, a short distance from the long table where they sat with the other royalty at supper the night before. Immaculately dressed butlers pull out chairs for them and they take their seats as their guests pour into the hall.


    ¡°This is nice,¡± Minna murmurs, sending Adalberto a shy smile.


    ¡°A tradition from the peasantry,¡± he tells her by way of explanation with a hint of a blush creeping into his cheeks. ¡°I thought it might be nice, to give us a chance to talk to each other without¡­. I wasn¡¯t expecting Father to ask you about anything political last night. He finds you most impressive, by the way. He and Mother both like you quite a bit.¡±


    ¡°Oh! That¡¯s¡­a relief to hear.¡± A weight Minna didn¡¯t know she was carrying falls off her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m glad to have pleased them. I hope that makes things¡­easier. Not that I think you¡¯ve been¡ª I mean, it¡¯s been¡­so nice, to see you¡­happy.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for bringing that feeling into my life again.¡± His dark eyes are full of a warmth that makes Minna¡¯s insides tingle and turn to jelly. She blushes and turns away from him, fumbling for an appropriate response. Her eyes fall by chance on Fifi, who one of the butlers is showing to a seat near the head of the Royal Table, this time between Casimiro and Didier. Poor Fifi¡­ Minna wishes there was something she could do to rescue her sister.


    ¡°Did Fifi anger your father in some way?¡± Minna gestures discreetly towards the Royal Table in response to Adalberto¡¯s confused expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t mean to change the subject¡ªI¡¯m glad that you feel¡­um¡­. But last night she was next to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh! No, she hasn¡¯t displeased Father. Actually he was impressed with how she handled Emiliano last night, and he found Casimiro¡¯s behavior at supper more problematic than Emiliano¡¯s, and so he made this decision to see if Fifi can¡­um¡­temper Casimiro¡¯s worse impulses.¡±


    An incredulous laugh bursts from Minna¡¯s lips. ¡°What was Casimiro doing?¡±


    ¡°Flirting with Sorcha, Princess of Claiamean.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°She¡¯s just a child!¡± Minna glances at Sorcha, who sits at the end of the table furthest from Casimiro. In Minna¡¯s estimation, she cannot be more than fourteen, but being a decade younger than Casimiro isn¡¯t stopping her from looking at him like a lovesick puppy.


    ¡°Yes, and since Manuela married Prince Conch¨²r of Claiamean, Father doesn¡¯t need another of his children to marry into that family. Which is more important to him.¡± Although Adalberto¡¯s tone is expressionless, Minna can see disdain and disgust in his eyes.


    All she can do in response is nod. She knows enough of the political games, both from her own Quest for Favor and from sitting in her father¡¯s meetings with his advisors, to understand how King Celestino must be thinking about these things.


    ¡°I imagine Prince Didier will be better company for your sister than Casimiro, anyway,¡± Adalberto adds with a comforting smile. A trumpet sounds, and servants start bringing out the first course, a creamy parsnip soup. Every dish of their wedding feast will feature root vegetables as a symbol of strong roots in the marriage relationship to withstand the storms of life.


    Although the bowl of soup in front of her smells delicious, Minna¡¯s stomach turns at Adalberto¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m sure Didier is better company, and equally sure she will find no more pleasure in his company than in Casimiro¡¯s,¡± she admits so quietly that Adalberto must lean closer to hear her.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°He¡­made a poor impression on her, at my Quest for Favor.¡± Minna doesn¡¯t want to say more. Telling Adalberto the whole truth of what happened regarding Prince Didier seems wholly unnecessary and cruel.


    ¡°The Vyrunian ambassador has promised my father an extremely favorable trade agreement in exchange for seating Prince Didier next to your sister at every possible opportunity.¡±


    Minna feels as though a lead weight has settled in her stomach. ¡°King Edmond and his ambassador have been doing everything in their power to convince my father that an alliance between Vyrunia and Aethyrozia will be mutually beneficial, and ought to occur sooner rather than later.¡±


    Silence blooms between the two of them for a moment while Minna reflects on Fifi¡¯s hopelessness in the face of what has been planned for her. She must feel so trapped, especially since she has feelings for¡­ But no, now is not the time to think of such things. Today, of all days, she ought to be allowed to be selfish, to focus on herself and Adalberto. My husband. The title is strange and unfamiliar applied to the tall, handsome man beside her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s speak of¡­other things,¡± Adalberto suggests, meeting Minna¡¯s eyes with a half-smile. ¡°How does it feel to be married?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m not sure yet. It doesn¡¯t feel¡­real, if that makes sense,¡± Minna admits with her cheeks heating up.


    ¡°I understand. The wedding doesn¡¯t make a marriage. It¡¯s the days and weeks and months that follow, as we live together and learn more about each other.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which¡­ In your last letter, you mentioned¡­tonight¡­.¡± As much as Minna wants to ask a more coherent question, the words stick in her throat. Her ears feel like they¡¯re on fire, and she knows she has to pull herself together before someone in the Great Hall notices. A glance around her reveals that people seem to be more focused on the food in front of them and the people next to them than the newly wedded royal couple, but Minna fears that could change at any time.


    ¡°Only what you are comfortable with, and nothing more,¡± Adalberto murmurs. ¡°I can sleep on the floor, rather than the bed, if you prefer¡ª¡±


    ¡°I would not ask such a thing of you, and I would think it best that we don¡¯t give the servants cause to gossip¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because of my¡­circumstances, the expectations are less¡­stringent. And anyway, if¡­this is going to work,¡± ¡ªhe gestures between himself and Minna¡ª ¡°then we can¡¯t be worried more about what others will think than we are about ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Be that as it may, there is no reason not to share the bed, at least, unless you would rather not, because of¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, I¡­. She¡­would have wanted me to go on living. To try again, at¡­.¡± His voice breaks off.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to rush you. We have to take care of each other.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m more worried about you than me. I don¡¯t know what they¡¯ve told you to expect, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°I trust you. That¡¯s enough, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    A genuine smile fills Adalberto¡¯s face again, and Minna¡¯s heart melts. ¡°I¡¯m honored. And I promise I will not betray your trust.¡± He takes her hand and his lips brush across the back of her knuckles.


    ¡°You¡¯re wonderful,¡± Minna murmurs. Thank You, Chuezoh, for leading me to him, for giving me this man as my husband, she prays as her soup is replaced with a potato and mushroom hash. Now more than ever she is convinced that she made the right choice. The only thing that could make her happiness more complete is assurance that her sister could also find herself so fortunate.

 Confrontation

    During Minna¡¯s wedding supper, Fifi finds herself torn between two feelings. Every time she glances towards her sister and Adalberto at their small, private table, the two of them seem enamored with each other and Fifi¡¯s heart overflows with happiness for them. However, she cannot take many glances at the newlyweds because she is seated between Casimiro and Didier, both of whom are determined to take as much of her attention as possible for themselves. Each word either of them says to Fifi increases her frustration and irritation as she keeps forcing smiles and making brief, polite replies. Her cheeks ache from trying to eat while maintaining her facade of cheer through dozens of courses.


    Most irritating of all to Fifi is the contrast between the two princes competing for her attention. Didier is preferable to Casimiro in every way¡ªhe makes an effort to catch and keep her interest in conversation, and his manners are impeccable¡ªwhich makes her want to scream. If he hadn¡¯t hurt Minna so badly, and if I hadn¡¯t met Kai, I could really like him, she realizes, making her stomach clench around the few mouthfuls of food she¡¯s managed to consume. But Didier doesn¡¯t hold a candle to Kai. The walls seem to be closing in on her as she continues her polite, cheerful princess charade. I have to get out of here. I just want to go home, she thinks, over and over again.


    Finally the Royal Orchestra plays an expectant chord, cuing Minna and Adalberto to rise from their seats to lead the dancing. Fifi all but jumps out of her chair, makes her excuses to Casimiro and Didier, and walks quickly towards the ladies¡¯ drawing room. To her dismay, she¡¯s not even halfway to her destination when Emiliano plants himself in her path.


    ¡°May I have the first dance?¡± he asks her with a half-bow. His tone is polite, but the set of his jaw and the hardness in his dark honey eyes indicate that he won¡¯t take no for an answer.


    Stifling a sigh, Fifi drops a half-curtsey and accepts Emiliano¡¯s hand. Don¡¯t make a scene. Smile and endure, she tells herself, hearing her mother¡¯s voice alongside her own in her head. She knows Minna would do the same for her, but she¡¯s also painfully aware that she¡¯s not her sister, not even close. At least this time it¡¯s a pavane, instead of something more strenuous. As they dance, Emiliano spends most of his time grumbling about how Casimiro got to sit next to her at supper and how that wasn¡¯t fair to him, allowing Fifi to smile and nod but spend most of her time watching Minna dance with Adalberto. Both of them exude effortless, joyous grace and are focused solely on each other. I¡¯m glad she¡¯s happy. I¡¯m glad they¡¯re happy together.


    The dance ends, and Fifi makes a deep nod to Emiliano and excuses herself from him, still hoping to escape from the majority of the dancing, but she only makes it half a dozen paces before Didier intercepts her.


    ¡°Will you do me the honor of dancing next with me?¡± he requests, making his trademark elaborate bow and extending a hand to her.


    Fifi wants to refuse and run away, but she knows that doing so would be unthinkably rude and cause trouble, and so she reluctantly places her hand in his and allows him to lead her in the next dance. Please let this be enough. Please don¡¯t try to have a conversation, too, she prays. They¡¯ve talked more than enough for her liking since her arrival at Zosya.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°You¡¯re an elegant dancer,¡± Didier compliments her as they sweep across the ballroom floor. ¡°I thought so the last time we danced, but I believe you¡¯ve improved even since then.¡±


    Fifi¡¯s face clouds over at the mention of Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor. ¡°Thank you,¡± she replies.


    Didier looks at her as though he¡¯s hoping she¡¯ll say more, but sighs moments later when it¡¯s clear that no more words will be forthcoming without prompting. ¡°Are your feelings towards me the same as they were in your most recent letter?¡± he asks, his voice low as his emerald eyes search her face for answers.


    Fifi takes a deep breath, bracing herself to crush his hopes as politely as possible. ¡°You¡¯re very charming, and I appreciate all the effort you¡¯re putting in. You¡¯re certainly better company than the other princes vying for my attention. But I¡¯m not interested in marrying you.¡±


    The Vyrunian prince nods, shadows flickering across his face. ¡°Do you think that you could¡­find a way to be happy with me anyway?¡±


    Fifi arches an eyebrow at him, finding herself at a loss for words. How much more clear could I have made it? she wonders.


    ¡°I mean, because my father and yours are working on an alliance,¡± he continues, ¡°for the good of our kingdoms, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°What about our good, Didier?¡± Fifi interrupts as her patience shatters. ¡°What is it you see in me that¡¯s made you determined to try so hard? If this was only about the alliance, you would have stayed in Minna¡¯s Quest for Favor until the end. But you didn¡¯t. So why me? What do you even know about me?¡±


    Didier¡¯s eyes widen as though she¡¯s slapped him. He misses a couple of steps in the dance, making Fifi stumble too, as he sputters and fumbles for words. ¡°I¡­admire your forthrightness. The way you always speak your mind, even when it might be more politically expedient not to¡­. It¡¯s refreshing. Not many royals and nobles possess such boldness, such spirit. And your honesty is combined with intelligence and a genuine caring for others, which are also admirable.¡±


    If you only knew how much I¡¯m holding back, Fifi nearly tells him. ¡°Your praise honors me, but I don¡¯t believe I would make you happy, not long term. And I am certain that you could not make me happy.¡±


    Didier¡¯s features harden into an indignant frown. ¡°I beg your pardon?! How can you be certain¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so focused on politics that you don¡¯t see the beauty around you. You don¡¯t take time to just live because you¡¯re so hung up on your royal duty. I understand that you¡¯re the crown prince and these things are expected of you, but that¡¯s no life for me. I can¡¯t be chained forever in matrimony to someone who doesn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Teach me, then.¡± The earnest intensity in Didier¡¯s eyes kills the rest of the words on Fifi¡¯s tongue. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right about me, as I am right now. I¡¯ve been raised to be a king, and I want to do right by my people and my kingdom. But that doesn¡¯t mean¡ª¡±


    Noblewomen shriek on the other side of the Great Hall, cutting Didier off. The music from the orchestra dissolves into cacophonous screeches as all around them people start panicking and yelling. Fifi¡¯s heart leaps into her throat and she starts scanning the crowd for Minna, but all around her is noise and confusion.


    ¡°Help! Murder!¡±


    ¡°The king! The king!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t let him get away!¡±


    ¡°Get the children out of here!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?! What¡¯s happening?!¡±


    ¡°Let me at him!¡± a voice that could be either Casimiro or Emiliano cuts through the chaos.


    Didier grabs Fifi¡¯s arm and pulls her with him, away from the crowd.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± she protests, squirming in his grip. ¡°I have to find Minna¡ª¡±


    ¡°Keeping you safe. Whatever¡¯s happening now isn¡¯t good, and anyone could be next,¡± Didier answers.


    ¡°But Minna¡ª¡±


    ¡°Has Adalberto to protect her. Let me protect you.¡±

 Worried

    The golden light of the setting sun finds Kai riding Varsel on a roundabout route from Sigurd¡¯s grove back to his father¡¯s manor house. He and his mentor have spent most of their days together since the royal wedding entourage left Lyrnola. Their main priority at this time of year is boosting the crops of Lyrnola¡¯s farmers so that the Earl¡¯s exorbitant taxes won¡¯t ruin them, and this summer is no different. Kai smiles at their success as he rides through the flourishing fields around Lonyr, but that¡¯s not his only cause for smiling; after much debate and persuading, Sigurd has finally agreed to help him create a place for Fifi with them in the forest, and they have managed to make progress towards that goal, as well.


    Rapid hoofbeats on the main road draw Kai¡¯s attention as he approaches it from the dirt lane Varsel is trotting down. All he can make out, with the sun shining in his eyes from the west, are silhouettes of two men on horseback and the clanking of armor. His spine prickles; armor denotes rank, and high-ranking people don¡¯t typically visit Lyrnola except by invitation of Fritjof and Birgitta. Who are they trying to flatter this time? he wonders.


    ¡°Kai!¡± one of them calls to him, and then both horsemen swing their mounts toward him, plunging off the main road and onto the narrow lane between two wheat fields.


    ¡°Karl?¡± Kai asks, apprehension turning to confusion. ¡°What are you doing here? I thought¡ª¡±


    ¡°We came to warn you,¡± the other horseman, whose voice reveals him to be Ingemar, replies in a low, foreboding tone as their mounts clatter to a halt in front of Varsel. ¡°We¡¯ve taken scout duty for the King and his soldiers so that we could get here in time. Good on you for being away from the manor house.¡±


    Cold dread settles in Kai¡¯s stomach. That letter Fifi¡¯s sister was going to write, he guesses. ¡°What business does the King have coming here with soldiers?¡±


    ¡°He got a letter from Princess Wilhelmina not too long ago, telling him that the Earl and Countess are engaging in some pretty egregious misconduct,¡± Karl confirms Kai¡¯s suspicions. ¡°He trusts her implicitly but intends to see for himself before meting out judgment. But he¡¯s not planning to show any mercy if he finds what she wrote that he would.¡±


    ¡°He probably will,¡± Kai mutters. ¡°Comparing the condition of Lonyr to the condition of their manor house ought to be damnation enough.¡± He gestures towards the ramshackle outbuildings of the village a short distance down the main road from them.


    ¡°All the more reason for our warning,¡± Ingemar says, eyes flashing.


    ¡°I appreciate it. Is he planning to exempt the servants from¡ª¡±


    ¡°We can intercede for them. And I don¡¯t think he bears them any ill will. Like as not he¡¯ll leave them to serve whomever he installs as the new Earl and Countess. But there¡¯s nothing we can do to keep you from sharing in whatever punishment he inflicts. He¡¯s made it quite clear that you should share the blame for not reporting their misconduct to him yourself.¡±


    Guilt wraps cold, leaden tendrils around Kai¡¯s limbs and torso. ¡°I wasn¡¯t familiar enough with the laws to be sure that they were in violation, or I would have.¡± Determination stiffens his spine and strengthens his voice. ¡°But it¡¯s too late now. Thank you for the warning. I¡¯ll tell the staff, get some supplies, and disappear.¡±


    ¡°Make haste,¡± Karl advises as Kai turns Varsel around, planning to take a shortcut back to his father¡¯s manor house.


    ¡°May Chuezoh guide you,¡± Ingemar calls after him as he urges Varsel into a gallop. Kai raises an arm to wave at his friends. They¡¯ve taken quite a risk to come warn him like this, and he¡¯s grateful. He doesn¡¯t know whether or when he might see them again, but he hopes to be able to someday offer them proper thanks for what they¡¯ve done for him.


    Varsel skids to a halt in the courtyard outside the door to the kitchens of the Earl of Lyrnola¡¯s manor house. Kai leaps off the horse¡¯s back and darts inside, knowing the kitchen will be bustling with preparations for the evening meal.


    ¡°Young Lord!¡± Albin¡¯s creaky voice greets Kai as he enters the smoky, noisy kitchen. ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    Breathlessly, Kai tells Albin what he¡¯s learned from Ingemar and Karl. ¡°Warn the staff. Don¡¯t tell the Lord and Lady. They¡¯ve been horrid to all of you and deserve whatever the King gives them.¡±


    ¡°But what about you?¡±


    ¡°I have a plan. I just came to tell you what¡¯s happening, and say goodbye, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll want these,¡± one of the cooks interrupts, thrusting a bulging sack at Kai. He opens it to find it stuffed with bread, cheese, jerky, and other foods that will last at least a day or two. Tears prick the backs of Kai¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Thank you, Ragna.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fuss. Be safe, and someday we¡¯ll meet again, Chuezoh willing.¡±


    ¡°Now go,¡± Albin adds, patting Kai on the back. ¡°From what you said, you don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    Kai nods but can¡¯t help giving both Albin and Ragna quick hugs before leaving the kitchen and swinging onto Varsel¡¯s back again, still holding the provisions they¡¯ve given him. Pressure builds in his chest and eyes as he rides away from the manor house. Please keep them safe, Kai prays to Cybarei as he and his mount return to the forest. Don¡¯t let the king harm the staff. They¡¯ve done nothing wrong.


    Another thought chills him as the trees block out all sight of Lonyr and the manor house behind him: How will he get word to Fifi about what¡¯s happened?


    Sigurd will know what to do, he reassures himself. Sigurd has yet to steer him wrong, and right now, Sigurd is the only one who can protect him from the wrath of the king.


    ***~O~***


    ¡°I don¡¯t need protection, I need to find my sister!¡± Fifi snaps, still struggling in vain as Didier pulls her with him away from the crowd of panicking wedding guests.


    ¡°I¡¯ll find her for you once I¡¯m sure you¡¯re safe,¡± Didier retorts, flinging open the door to the women¡¯s drawing room that Fifi had so desperately wanted to escape to when the dancing started. Inside, Minna sits on a chaise lounge, wide-eyed with fear as tears streak through her cosmetics. A few other people are also in the drawing room, but Fifi doesn¡¯t pay them any mind.


    ¡°Minna!¡± Fifi wrenches her arm away from Didier and runs to her sister¡¯s side. ¡°I¡¯m so glad I found you! Are you all right? What¡¯s going on? Where¡¯s Adalberto?¡±


    ¡°He went to help the king,¡± Minna answers, her voice breaking. Her eyes stare into middle distance as more tears glide down her face.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Didier asks.


    ¡°One of the Barhestans had a knife. He got close to the king during the dancing, and¡­. There was so much blood. The king collapsed¡­..¡± A sob tears out of Minna¡¯s throat and she buries her head in Fifi¡¯s shoulder. Fifi wraps her arms around Minna while she tries to wrap her mind around what she¡¯s told them.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°That wretch must pay! Do you know if they¡¯ve caught the culprit?¡± Didier demands.


    Minna just shakes her head. ¡°Emiliano and Casimiro were chasing him¡­¡± she chokes out.


    ¡°Will you be all right if I go back to try to help the king?¡± Fifi whispers to Minna as the beginnings of a plan sprout in her head. She has all of her healing herbs hidden in pockets in her gown, and the gown and her jewelry boast plenty of gemstones.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go help them. Justice must be served. You both stay here, where it¡¯s safe,¡± Didier directs, and then he leaves the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.


    ¡°No! What are you saying?!¡± Minna demands, looking at Fifi with wild tearstained eyes. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that Adalberto¡¯s out there with an assassin! I don¡¯t want to lose you! I can¡¯t¡­¡± Her voice trails off as more sobs overtake her.


    ¡°She¡¯s traumatized, poor thing,¡± one of the other women in the room remarks to Fifi. ¡°Can¡¯t say I blame her. She and Prince Adalberto were close to the king when it happened¡­.¡±


    Fifi nods, biting her lip as she hugs her sister, rocking them back and forth in a motion she hopes is soothing. I could heal him. I could fix this, she keeps thinking, over and over, but she doesn¡¯t know how to convince her sister of this, and it¡¯s clear that Minna should not be left alone.


    ¡°We¡¯re supposed to have time,¡± Minna cries, breaking off into distressed hiccups. ¡°Adalberto and I¡­. We¡¯re supposed to have time.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have time,¡± Fifi says soothingly, stroking Minna¡¯s hair.


    ¡°But what if he dies? Adalberto will become king, and then¡­.¡± More sobbing, more hiccups.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be a wonderful king, whenever his time comes. But I¡¯m sure they¡¯ve already called for healers, and the king will be fine.¡± Fifi¡¯s trying to reassure herself as much as her sister at this point. If she was in Minna¡¯s situation, a new bride to a grieving widower like Adalberto, the idea of learning to be both his wife and his queen mere hours after their wedding would be horrifying in the extreme.


    ¡°Even if he is¡­this is an act of war¡­. We¡¯ll have to go to war with Barhesta, and then¡­.¡± Minna sobs so hard she starts coughing. ¡°This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen! He told us that the situation with Barhesta was under control!¡±


    The door opens, making everyone in the drawing room start. Fifi jumps to her feet and places herself between Minna and the intruder, but relaxes when she sees a weary-looking Adalberto in the doorway. Smears of blood mar his white trousers.


    ¡°Princess¡­Fifi. Thank you for being here with Minna,¡± he greets her, closing the door behind him before crossing the room to sit next to his new wife.


    ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do,¡± Fifi answers, stifling a pang of jealousy as Minna throws her arms around Adalberto.


    ¡°You¡¯re back! I¡¯m so relieved,¡± Minna cries.


    ¡°You¡¯re safe, and we¡¯ve captured the Barhestan noble who attacked my father,¡± Adalberto tells her. Fifi and the others present listen attentively, hoping to learn more about the chaos that broke out in the Great Hall. ¡°He¡¯s alive, despite what Emiliano and Casimiro wanted to do to him, and he and the rest of the Barhestans here have been confined to the dungeons. We mean to interrogate them shortly.¡±


    ¡°And the king? How is he?¡± Fifi asks while Minna tries to pull herself together.


    ¡°He is alive. All the healers and priests we could summon are with him, as is my mother. It¡¯s too soon to tell¡­¡± Adalberto¡¯s voice trails off and he swallows hard. ¡°We can only wait and pray.¡±


    The others in the room murmur prayers and well-wishes for the king. Adalberto slowly rises to his feet, pulling Minna up with him.


    ¡°The Ball will not resume tonight. All of you should go either to bed or to the zoche to pray for the king,¡± he continues. Everyone around Fifi seems dazed. They nod in response to Adalberto¡¯s words and start meandering towards the door, murmuring amongst themselves. But Fifi¡¯s mind is racing. I can heal the king. I know I can, if I can just get to him¡­ But how she might accomplish that, with so many people already attending him, she has no idea.


    Minna turns to Fifi, and a moment later they¡¯re in each other¡¯s arms, embracing each other tightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Minna,¡± Fifi whispers into Minna¡¯s hair. ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be all right. I love you.¡±


    ¡°I love you, too,¡± Minna whispers back, squeezing her one more time before pulling away and placing her hand in Adalberto¡¯s. The truth of what Didier said to Fifi earlier slaps Fifi in this moment¡ªshe has Adalberto now. I¡¯m on my own.


    ¡°For your safety, Fifi, I think it would be best if our staff escorted you back to your suite,¡± Adalberto tells Fifi. ¡°Zosya is large and confusing, and while I believe we have the threat contained, I don¡¯t want to take any chances.¡±


    Fifi nods her acquiescence, and moments later she finds herself walking down a corridor of Zosya between a uniformed butler and an armored guard.


    ¡°The king, is he¡­?¡± she asks timidly, hoping they might be able to help her figure out how to get to him but not sure how to phrase her query.


    ¡°Stable, as far as I know,¡± the butler replies. ¡°But the healers say it¡¯s best not to try to move him for now.¡±


    ¡°So he¡¯s still in the Great Hall?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately,¡± the guard grumbles. ¡°Damn hard place to keep secure, with all them doors on all sides.¡±


    ¡°Not comfortable for him, either, though they¡¯re doing the best they can,¡± the butler adds.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all doing a wonderful job,¡± Fifi compliments. Her thoughts won¡¯t settle. They¡¯ve told her what she needs to know, but she still has no idea how to get to the king to heal him. They¡¯ll have guards at every door, and patrolling the corridors around the Great Hall, she muses as the butler and the guard drop her off in her suite, noting that there are also guards stationed outside it.


    ¡°Oh my goodness, we¡¯ve been so worried about you!¡± Agda exclaims as Fifi enters the antechamber, and then her maids are fussing over her, helping her get undressed, exclaiming over how upset and exhausted she must be, burning lavender to calm her nerves and generally doing everything they can to try to soothe her and make her comfortable. All of her protests that she¡¯s fine and it¡¯s the king they should be worried about fall on deaf ears. I¡¯ll never be able to get to the king without someone¡¯s help, she despairs. Between the guards at the door and the attentions of her maids, there¡¯s no way she can slip out unnoticed, and even if she could, Adalberto is right¡ªZosya is large and confusing, and she doesn¡¯t know her way around it yet. I could maybe focus on the stones and wood of the palace to try to sense where he is, but that would take so much energy, she worries as her maids tuck her into bed. Healing him will be challenging enough without that, although I¡¯m sure I can, if I can just get to him¡­


    And then she remembers, as the maids leave her alone in her bedchamber, that getting to him isn¡¯t even the most difficult part. Kai has been telling her since the moment he made a flower bloom for her that Cybarein is dangerous, that cybrinn have been burned as witches, that everything they do must be done in secret. Adalberto said that priests and healers are already attending the king. Even if she is able to join them, she won¡¯t be able to do the ritual in secret. The other people there would see her, would know, and the priests would see it as heresy. They might not even let me complete the ritual before condemning me as a witch, she realizes. Everyone here seems to be devout followers of Chuezohm, as far as she can tell. And then I¡¯d be confined to the dungeon with the assassin and condemned to die, and I won¡¯t have done any good, and I won¡¯t be able to see Kai again¡­.


    Algot caws from his cage near her bed, next to one of the narrow windows. His feathers gleam in a shaft of moonlight.


    ¡°What do you think, Algot?¡± she whispers to him. ¡°What can I do?¡±


    ¡°Fly,¡± he croaks, ruffling his feathers.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s your thing.¡± She bites back a sob of frustration; she still hasn¡¯t been able to transform herself into any creature successfully, no matter how hard she¡¯s tried or what Kai has told her.


    ¡°Fly home,¡± the bird insists.


    ¡°I can¡¯t just leave Minna¡­.¡± But even as she says it, she wonders if that¡¯s really true. She doesn¡¯t know what I can do, and even if she did, she¡¯d be horrified and angry that I¡¯ve kept it secret. She¡¯s not expecting me to help. But I can, and so don¡¯t I have an obligation to try? She shouldn¡¯t have to become a Queen mere days after becoming a bride. She and Adalberto should have time¡­.


    And then tears start to flow from Fifi¡¯s eyes, too, because this is the first night in her whole life that she hasn¡¯t shared a bedchamber with Minna and she¡¯s never felt alone like this before. Helplessness and loneliness threaten to suffocate her as she sobs into her pillow, trying to keep the maids from hearing and coming to comfort her.


    ¡°Fly home,¡± Algot tells her again.


    ¡°And what will that do?¡± she chokes out angrily. ¡°What good will that accomplish? Even if I manage to do that, the king will still be injured and maybe dying, I still won¡¯t be able to help, and my father will be forcing me to marry Didier by this time next year!¡±


    And would that really be so bad? she finds herself wondering. He¡¯s been so kind to her and trying so hard to win her over here in Zosya. And he is shrewd and was protective of her when everything went wrong. He seems to genuinely care about me, she allows, but compared to Kai¡­he¡¯s no match for me. Maybe I was wrong about his character in how he treated Minna, but I¡¯d still feel trapped with him. She knows she¡¯d have to give up Cybarein and that she¡¯d likely never see Kai again if she decided to go along with what her father and Didier have planned for her, and the idea makes her cry even harder.


    ¡°Find Kai. Kai home.¡±


    Fifi freezes mid-sob, struck by this idea. We were planning to run away together once I got back to Lyrnola anyway, she remembers, and a new plan starts to take root in her head. Maybe there is nothing she can do to help Minna, but she still has the opportunity to help herself.

 Consequences

    Twinkles of starlight and a few silvery shafts of moonlight pierce the leafy canopy of Sigurd¡¯s grove, providing faint visibility on the ground. Sigurd and Kai sit with their backs against the trunk of a mighty oak, arms linked and eyes closed. The smell of burnt sage and hyssop hangs in the air around them. Between Sigurd¡¯s legs are a mortar and pestle, rough-cut from stone and containing some mashed bark and leaves and berries. Nearby, Varsel is dozing, one hind leg lifted and making soft, snore-like snorts, but neither Kai nor Sigurd is remotely aware of him. Instead, inside their minds, they see and hear through the eyes and ears of Orvar, an owl that Sigurd has befriended.


    Orvar soars noiselessly through the night, making his way to the manor house of the Earl of Lyrnola. Although the hour is late, the manor house is ablaze with the light of torches and candles. A large bonfire burns in the main courtyard, illuminating the many horses and soldiers who have accompanied King Ansgar there.


    ¡°Quite a lot of fuss,¡± Sigurd¡¯s voice echoes in Kai¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re sure this is about their extravagant taste, and not your relationship with his daughter?¡±


    Kai doesn¡¯t reply. Maintaining his concentration on sensing what Orvar senses is hard enough without giving in to such upsetting, guilt-provoking thoughts. The idea had occurred to him earlier, but he figures that Ingemar, at least, would have told him if that was the case.


    ¡°To what do we owe the honor of an unexpected visit from Your Majesty?¡± Fritjof is saying to King Ansgar with an obsequious tone and an overdone bow. Beside him, Birgitta is fluttering her gilt lace fan in front of her face and swaying as though she might swoon at any second.


    ¡°I see you are exactly as my daughter wrote me,¡± King Ansgar remarks roughly as he swings off his horse, landing on the ground with a clash of armor. He waves a hand at them with disgust that Kai thinks must be owed to their elaborate clothing, rich velvet embroidered with pearls.


    ¡°I am not sure what you mean, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°You dress above your station. And this manor is in far better condition than the villages we rode through on our way here.¡±


    Fritjof and Birgitta exchange stunned glances, then turn back to the king wide-eyed. Orvar perches on a corner of the roof overlooking the courtyard, allowing Kai and Sigurd a better view. Kai, at least, wasn¡¯t complaining even when the scene was turning as the owl circled overhead; Orvar¡¯s eyesight and hearing are far superior to his own.


    ¡°Dress above our station?¡± Birgitta repeats, waving her fan about with agitation. ¡°Whatever do you mean? How should the nobility of the greatest country in all of Lokva dress?¡±


    King Ansgar glowers at them for a few moments, then turns to the soldiers and armored nobles around him. ¡°Search the house. Bring out every person you find within, regardless of age or condition. And tell me about what you see inside.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± they answer him severally as they spring into action. Some staff are already coming out of side doors into the courtyard, wiping their hands on aprons or through their hair and trying to make themselves look presentable for the king.


    ¡°Oh, Your Majesty, there¡¯s no need to bother the staff,¡± Fritjof protests, starting to look a bit concerned. ¡°Surely they cannot tell you anything we are not perfectly able to tell you ourselves, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°On the contrary, I doubt you have any real insight into how they and their families live,¡± the king retorts.


    ¡°Better than they would without us, to be sure,¡± Birgitta twitters. ¡°Better than most commoners, anyway.¡±


    ¡°And why do the commoners not live well?¡±


    ¡°Well, why should they? They¡¯re commoners. They exist to support and serve us.¡± Birgitta¡¯s haughty tone and cold words draw wrathful glances towards her from the servants and staff already present in the courtyard. Orvar turns his head away from the scene to scratch an itch on his back with his beak, giving Kai a view of brown feathers, but he still hears the crack of a hand hitting a face and a sharp, pained squawk from Birgitta. When Orvar turns back to the courtyard, the Countess has collapsed against her husband, crying and holding an already-reddening cheek.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°It seems hearing from your staff is a mere formality, after all,¡± King Ansgar grumbles, arms folded across his chest.


    ¡°This seems to be everyone, Your Majesty,¡± Karl interrupts as he and Ingemar emerge from the manor house, each carrying one of Kai¡¯s twin half-brothers. The boys stare around them with wide eyes and quivering lips.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t found Nicolaas?¡±


    Karl and Ingemar shake their heads.


    ¡°Skogsbror isn¡¯t home,¡± one of the twins whines.


    ¡°Begging your pardon, Your Majesty,¡± Albin¡¯s creaking voice interjects. ¡°The Young Lord is often away working to help the people who live in Lyrnola.¡±


    ¡°Are you willing to attest to this in Court?¡± King Ansgar asks, turning his attention to Albin.


    ¡°I¡¯d stake my life on it.¡±


    Other members of the staff decide to speak up:


    ¡°He was always kind to us, and never uppity.¡±


    ¡°Even helped with the gardening and groundskeeping from time to time.¡±


    ¡°The Young Lord brought food to my cottage when I was laid up with a broken foot and couldn¡¯t work.¡±


    ¡°How dare you speak up for him and say nothing in support of me?¡± Fritjof demands, glaring at the servants in the courtyard. ¡°Have you forgotten who pays your wages?¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± King Ansgar declares. Everyone falls silent except for a confused rooster somewhere in the courtyard, who decides this is an opportune moment to crow. ¡°This is not the time or place for a trial of the former Earl and Countess of Lyrnola. Men, arrest them.¡±


    Birgitta screams and tries to run away, but immediately trips over her heavy skirts and falls to the ground.


    ¡°I beg Your pardon, Your Majesty?!¡± Fritjof splutters. Soldiers yank his wife out of the dirt and start putting both the Earl and the Countess in chains.


    ¡°I am the King, and my word is law. You will keep silent in the presence of your sovereign henceforth, unless I ask you a question directly.¡± Orvar¡¯s vantage point doesn¡¯t provide Kai a view of King Ansgar¡¯s face, but he can imagine the king¡¯s harrowing glare. ¡°Now, to business. I believe that managing Lyrnola would be an excellent project for Prince Emrik, so that he may gain hands-on experience in the skills required to rule a country well and justly. He will do so with mentorship from some of my advisors, and will spend at least half of his time in this house. As such, those of you who work here will keep your jobs, and your wages and the taxes of Lyrnola will be reevaluated at the earliest possible opportunity.¡±


    Murmurs of thanks ripple through the clusters of staff in the courtyard.


    ¡°Now, these two boys. Are they yours?¡± King Ansgar gestures at the twins, whom Karl and Ingemar have set down, but directs this question at Fritjof, who is red-faced and quivering with indignant rage.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he mutters. Kai is amazed; Orvar can hear even this low voice clear as a bell and detect exactly where it¡¯s coming from. Such an amazing, magnificent creature, he marvels.


    ¡°What are their names, and how old are they?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Magnus, and this is Markus,¡± one twin volunteers as Fritjof refuses to answer.


    ¡°We¡¯re six years old,¡± Markus adds. Both boys smile winningly at the king.


    ¡°There might be hope for them yet, with proper guidance, to be worthy of the title of Earl. Unlike their father.¡±


    ¡°Begging Your pardon, Your Majesty, but are you seeking someone willing to take them in and offer that guidance?¡± one of the armored nobles who accompanied the king to Lyrnola inquires. The man steps out of the crowd and removes his helmet, allowing Kai to recognize him as Karl¡¯s father, the Viscount of Fyrlenth.


    ¡°Perhaps. Are you volunteering?¡±


    ¡°I can think of no greater honor, Your Majesty, nor anything my wife would like more.¡±


    ¡°Then that honor shall be yours. Choose a couple men to help you get them to your estate. I believe it¡¯s a bit of a journey from here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Now, those of you who work here. Decide amongst yourselves who shall come to Adelhyod to testify in the trial of your former Lord and Lady, and who shall remain to prepare for my son¡¯s arrival. My men will help prepare horses and vehicles, as appropriate, to transport you and our prisoners to Adelhyod. Make haste.¡±


    Kai drops his concentration on Orvar, catapulting his consciousness back to his body in the dark woodland grove. He has seen all he cared to see, and now that he knows the people he cares about will be safe, exhaustion and relief flood his being.


    Beside him, Sigurd stirs in the darkness.


    ¡°Fortunate for you,¡± the older cybrinn remarks. ¡°So far you have not been burned.¡±


    ¡°I have always been blessed with good companions,¡± Kai answers. ¡°Speaking of which. Orvar is phenomenal. How did you get him to like you?¡±


    ¡°Found him with a broken wing and fixed him up. You¡¯ll gain companions of that kind, no doubt, now that you¡¯ve given up society as I have.¡±


    Kai nods, wondering if Fifi will still want to join him under these circumstances. I have to find a way to talk to her, he resolves, but his eyes are drooping shut in spite of his best efforts.


    ¡°That ritual was difficult. We should both rest,¡± Sigurd tells him, gesturing to the tiny hut he¡¯s made in a hollow beneath some shrubs.


    ¡°Thank you for everything,¡± Kai replies. It¡¯s at least the eighteenth time he¡¯s thanked Sigurd since he arrived in the grove this evening.


    Sigurd just grunts and waves off Kai¡¯s thanks, as usual. Kai smiles slightly and stumbles into the hut behind Sigurd, thanking Cybarei that his friends are safe and that he has such a mentor.

 United

    Minna stares blankly at her reflection in the silver looking glass at the dressing table in the suite she will be sharing with Adalberto tonight. Behind her, Greta is brushing her hair and humming a soothing melody.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be all right, Your Highness,¡± she tells Minna, smiling at her in the looking glass. Minna tries to smile back, but the result is less than convincing. Her eyes are still puffy from crying, and exhaustion and worry radiate from her in waves. ¡°I promise, Your Highness. He seems a good man, and all the staff I¡¯ve spoken with have said the same.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about the king¡­¡± Minna whispers.


    ¡°Aye, we all are. But there¡¯s nothing we can do for him other than pray, and you¡¯ve done aplenty of that this evening, Your Highness. The best thing you can do now is try to rest and take care of yourself and your husband.¡±


    Minna nods woodenly, but her mind is racing. She wants to help Adalberto however she can, but she has no idea how to go about it. He¡¯s still grieving Valeriya, and now his father and King may be dying and he¡¯s the de facto regent, handling everything, taking care of everyone else¡­. What can I possibly do for him? she wonders. Her eyes burn for want of tears, but she¡¯s cried herself dry. Will he even want to do what we¡¯re meant to do tonight? Will I be able to oblige if he does? Her maids have tried to help her prepare, but she¡¯s still not clear on the details and doesn¡¯t know how to ask.


    ¡°All right, Your Highness. Let¡¯s get you into bed. I¡¯m sure your Lord Husband will arrive any moment,¡± Greta directs. She helps Minna out of her chair and across the room to the large, canopied bed. The sheets and coverlets are fine, soft fabric, but Minna takes no pleasure in them. She¡¯s self-conscious in her new night-rail; it clings to her body, accentuating her curves, and if the light catches it just right, the silver embroidery glitters and her pale skin shows through the fabric. Her maids and seamstresses assured her this is nothing to be ashamed of but rather a gift for her new husband. Their words bring her less comfort than the dim candlelight of their chamber as Greta extinguishes the torches near the dressing table and leaves Minna alone in the room, sitting on the edge of the bed.


    Before she can worry herself into a frenzy or fall asleep, Adalberto enters the bedchamber from an adjoining room, clad in a long nightshirt with a deep neck opening that reveals some of his chest hair. Minna¡¯s face heats up and she looks away from him, focusing instead on the candle burning on the nightstand beside her.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± she asks him. Although she cannot meet his eyes, she¡¯s concerned about him.


    ¡°Better now,¡± he answers as he approaches her. She glances up at him and sees that his cheeks are flushed and his movements uncertain. He settles beside her on the bed, leaving space between them.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°And the king? How is he?¡±


    Adalberto sighs deeply. ¡°Unchanged. The healers still fear to move him from the Great Hall. They¡¯ve made him as comfortable as they can. Mother won¡¯t leave his side. I¡¯m afraid this will be too much strain for her health and that morning will find them both in peril, but¡­she won¡¯t listen to me or her maidservants.¡±


    Minna takes his hand and squeezes it, hoping to offer him some comfort. ¡°This has to be very difficult for her, as well.¡±


    ¡°Yes. They aren¡¯t¡­openly affectionate with one another, but they care for each other deeply. Every time I came to see how he was, Mother demanded to know what we¡¯ve done with his assailant and why we¡¯ve allowed the Barhestans to remain here alive.¡±


    ¡°And¡­what have you told her?¡±


    ¡°The truth. Which is that they¡¯re worth more in negotiations with Barhesta as prisoners rather than corpses. A concept that has been rather difficult for Casimiro and Emiliano to accept. But the two of them have been¡­instrumental in the interrogations.¡±


    Minna swallows hard and shudders. She doesn¡¯t want to imagine how the interrogations have gone. ¡°What have you learned? Why did they attack the king like that?¡±


    ¡°In their words, to ¡®cut off the head of the snake¡¯ so that they can achieve their goals with Andelios.¡±


    Minna grips Adalberto¡¯s hand tighter, and he pulls her closer to him, then wraps his arm around her shoulders. She leans against him a bit, trying to relax and ignore the way her heart has sped up from his nearness.


    ¡°It¡¯s awful, but I can understand how they decided¡­.¡± Adalberto continues. ¡°My father is not willing to part with Andelios for any price or any reason, and he is a skilled commander of troops. Removing him from the situation, from their perspective, would give them a better chance of achieving their goals, and our wedding gave them the opportunity to get close enough to try.¡±


    Minna nods. Her mouth fills with bile at the idea and she chokes it down, wincing as it burns her throat. ¡°And¡­if they succeed? What are we going to do if¡ª¡±


    ¡°All we can do is take one day at a time. For now he is alive and in good hands. The Barhestans are secured in the dungeons, and a message is en route to Barhesta with our fastest, most trustworthy couriers.¡±


    ¡°And the message¡­?¡±


    ¡°I hope to avoid war, if I can manage it. If my father will let me manage it. Right now he can¡¯t argue with me about it.¡±


    Minna nods, and a bit of relief washes over her, letting her relax into Adalberto more. Her arm slips around his waist, bringing them closer together. To her surprise, he lets his head rest on hers. Warmth and contentment, in spite of everything, bubble up within her.


    ¡°I want to help however I can,¡± she murmurs. He lifts his head off hers, and then his fingers gently lift her chin so that their eyes meet.


    ¡°You are helping,¡± he assures her. ¡°Just being able to talk with someone who understands, and cares¡­. This eases the burden.¡±


    Minna smiles, but she doesn¡¯t know how to tell him that she wants to do more to lighten the weight on his shoulders. Her eyes flicker to his mouth, and then she leans towards him, eyes fluttering closed as she brushes her lips against his. For a moment, Adalberto tenses up, but then he pulls her closer, deepening the kiss.


    When they break for air, they rest their foreheads against each other, eyes closed, breathing each other in.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to carry it alone anymore,¡± she whispers. He pulls her even closer to him and kisses her again, tender and sweet. Minna forgets about everything except the two of them and this moment. At least for tonight, the rest of the world and all their worries can wait.

 Hope

    Panicked pounding on a door brings Fifi out of a deep and dreamless sleep, instantly afraid and wondering where she is. Zosya. Minna¡¯s wedding. The king¡­. Fifi bites back a curse as she remembers that she was trying to transform into a raven so that she could fly away. I must have been too tired and just passed out¡­. The room around her is dark as she stumbles out of bed, nearly stepping in her chamber pot.


    ¡°Your Highness! Please wake up! It¡¯s urgent!¡± Agda¡¯s voice calls, guiding Fifi towards the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± she replies. A moment later her hand finds the doorknob and she opens it to reveal her maid, wide-eyed and disheveled in the light of a sputtering candle.


    ¡°Queen Casilda is here to see you,¡± Agda tells her. ¡°We must get you presentable immediately.¡±


    Fifi¡¯s heart thunders in her chest as her brow furrows with confusion. ¡°She wants to see me? But why? What news of the king?¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t say. She¡¯s waiting in your antechamber. Come, come, we must make haste!¡±


    Fifi lets Agda into her bedchamber, and together they rush to throw a dress on over Fifi¡¯s night-rail and confine her hair to two long braids. They decide not to bother with cosmetics or jewelry so that Fifi might receive her royal guest more quickly.


    ¡°Ah. Princess Josefina,¡± Queen Casilda remarks as Fifi and Agda rush into Fifi¡¯s antechamber. The queen is seated near the fireplace. Although her skirts bear bloodstains from her husband¡¯s injuries and some of her hair has escaped its plaiting, her regal bearing makes Fifi feel small. Beside her is a young serving girl who stares at Fifi like a nervous rabbit watches a person approaching it.


    ¡°You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?¡± Fifi replies, dipping a small curtsey as she tries and fails to keep the confusion out of her voice.


    ¡°Yes. In private, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Nerves bubble up in Fifi¡¯s stomach but she does her best to keep them from showing in her face. ¡°As you wish, Your Majesty. Agda, if you would, please?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± Agda curtseys and exits the room, leaving Fifi alone with the queen and her maid.


    ¡°How is His Majesty the King?¡± Fifi inquires. She cannot fathom why the queen has come to her while her husband lies suspended between life and death.


    ¡°He needs a miracle,¡± Queen Casilda answers, her voice low and cold. ¡°And though I have prayed with our priests for hours, Chuezoh has not seen fit to send one. I am a devout follower of Chuezoh and have been since my youth, yet He does not look on me with favor to grant my request on this darkest of nights.¡±


    ¡°You have my prayers and my deepest sympathies, Your Majesty.¡± Fifi¡¯s confusion has only grown during the queen¡¯s discourse.


    ¡°Yanira believes you can do more for us than that.¡± Queen Casilda touches her nervous maid¡¯s shoulder gently.


    ¡°You did something to Her Majesty¡¯s flowers, the ones from Aethyrozia,¡± Yanira accuses. Her eyes are wide with fear and wonder. Fifi¡¯s blood turns to ice in her veins as the maid continues. ¡°I saw you drop something sparkly into them and heard you say some strange words. I was afraid you meant her harm by it, but¡­she¡¯s seemed healthier and more lively since we brought the flowers to her chambers.¡±


    Fifi cannot move or speak or even breathe. This is the end. I¡¯ve been found out. She¡¯s going to have me executed or something, even though I¡¯ve helped her, she panics, but making her thoughts known is beyond her power.


    ¡°Well? What do you have to say for yourself?¡± Queen Casilda prompts, her steely eyes boring into the young princess.


    ¡°I¡­. Your Majesty¡­.¡± Fifi fumbles for words, but fear stills her tongue.


    ¡°Did you or did you not perform some enchantment on those flowers?¡±


    Fifi can think of no course of action but to tell the truth. ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    ¡°Were your intentions for good or for evil?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, I would never try to harm you or anyone else.¡± The words burst from Fifi like water from a shattered vase. ¡°My thought was to help you in whatever way I could, and if I have failed or if I have offended you in some way¡ª¡±


    ¡°On the contrary. You heard Yanira. I thought there was something special and invigorating about Aethyrozian flowers, but it was you, albeit through some heretical power, I have no doubt.¡±


    Fifi bites her lip and says nothing, finding the floorboards beneath her feet the only thing she can bear to look at.


    ¡°Young woman. Look at me,¡± Queen Casilda commands. Fifi steels her nerves and, with effort, lifts her head so that her eyes meet those of the queen, which are filled with tears. ¡°For years I have prayed for Chuezoh to restore my health. I have followed the teachings of the Lanourehm to the letter. But nothing has changed, for better or for worse, until you and your flowers came. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And it occurs to me, Princess Josefina, that in my husband¡¯s hour of need, perhaps you have some power to help him as it seems you have helped me.¡±


    Fifi¡¯s heart starts pounding in her chest again with aching intensity. Fear and hope battle for supremacy within her. ¡°Your Majesty¡­. You are right that what I can do you and the priests would call heresy, and possibly worse. I want to help the king, and I was wondering¡­when the ball turned bloody¡­how I could possibly¡­. But I am afraid.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°The king does not have time for dithering. You will use your powers to help him, or I will have you tried as a witch based on Yanira¡¯s testimony and your own admission of guilt.¡± The set of the queen¡¯s jaw and her white-knuckled grip on the arms of her chair make it clear that she will accept no compromise.


    Fifi¡¯s heart sinks like a stone. She feels like no matter what she does, this woman will condemn her. But better to do some good, if I am able¡­. She blinks back tears, wishing she had a way to send a message to Kai before committing to this, but she knows she won¡¯t be allowed that indulgence.


    ¡°I will do what I can to help the king,¡± Fifi tells Queen Casilda. ¡°Please just let me gather some things from my bedchamber.¡±


    ¡°Make haste. Even now, he could be breathing his last.¡±


    Fifi dashes back to her bedchamber and retrieves her sachets of herbs from her ball gown, then stuffs them into the pockets of her dress, along with several random pieces of jewelry. Please let this be enough. Please let me leave here with my life, she prays to Cybarei or whatever other deity might be listening as she runs back to rejoin the Queen, ignoring her maids¡¯ questions. Upon seeing Fifi return to the antechamber, Queen Casilda rises with difficulty from her chair, though she maintains a straightness of spine that rivals King Ansgar¡¯s. Yanira takes the Queen¡¯s arm and helps her out of the room, mouthing for Fifi to follow them.


    Their journey to the Great Hall is stilted and silent. Yanira leads them through servants¡¯ passages, though whether for greater speed or greater stealth Fifi does not know. Although they cannot move with much haste due to the queen¡¯s infirmity, it is not long in Fifi¡¯s estimation until they find themselves at one of the doors to the Great Hall. Upon seeing the Queen, the guards at the door allow them to pass without comment.


    The Great Hall is ablaze with light from torches and candelabras everywhere. Whispered prayers and the chanting of priests and burning incense fill the air. Fifi¡¯s skin prickles with discomfort as they approach the king, who lies on a pile of cushions surrounded by servants and healers and priests.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± one of the priests greets the queen, eyeing Fifi with disdain. ¡°Are you certain about this?¡±


    ¡°Chuezoh has had time to grant our petition,¡± Queen Casilda replies. Her voice is firm and cold as the stone floor beneath Fifi¡¯s thin shoes. ¡°And I would do anything to save my husband¡¯s life. Make way for the princess, and do whatever she asks of you.¡±


    With that, Fifi is thrust forward to the king¡¯s side. The healers and priests all regard her as some sort of monster, someone who shouldn¡¯t be there. Cold sweat breaks out on Fifi¡¯s skin. You can do this, she tells herself, but the confidence she felt before has fled under the steely stares of the unfriendly people around her.


    ¡°Tell me about his wounds,¡± she invites, her voice little more than a whisper.


    ¡°Just one, but it¡¯s deep. There,¡± one of the healers gestures to the king¡¯s abdomen, which is wrapped in bloodstained bandages. His breathing is shallow but steady. His wrinkled brow is creased, his eyes closed. ¡°We gave him some herbal remedies for the pain and to help him sleep.¡±


    Fifi nods. ¡°What I mean to do is¡­very similar.¡± She lets her fingers rest light as feathers on the king¡¯s side and closes her eyes. Angry red streaks behind her eyelids, painting a picture of wound. Within it weak purple ripples indicate the king¡¯s energy. There isn¡¯t much. I¡¯ll have to rely mostly on the gemstones, and my own energy, if need be. I¡¯m not sure anyone else will be willing to participate, to contribute¡­. ¡°Will you help me unwrap the wound, please? We¡¯ll start with a poultice. Is there fresh lavender, and holy water?¡±


    To Fifi¡¯s surprise, a couple of the healers immediately move to help her and provide what she has requested. She pulls an herb sachet from her pocket and mixes the herbs with holy water and fresh lavender, just as she¡¯d watched Kai do for the dove what feels to her like ages ago. Please let this work, she prays. She imagines that mercy and understanding will be in short supply if she uses Cybarein to try to heal the king and he dies.


    Under the bandages, the wound is jagged and still seeping. Fifi applies the poultice as gently as she can, but still the king winces and groans at her touch. She can feel the priests watching her like hawks, ready to swoop down on her if she makes one wrong move. Her fingers tremble and she hardly dares to breathe as she works.


    Once she has applied all of the poultice to the wound, Fifi pulls her jewelry from her pockets and lays them on the king around his injury, careful not to let any of the metal touch broken skin. ¡°The gemstones will help provide energy,¡± she explains to the onlookers. ¡°The king¡­needs their assistance.¡±


    To Fifi¡¯s surprise, with trembling hands Queen Casilda starts taking off her rings and handing them to Fifi. ¡°Use mine, too. And any other jewels in here.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how much I¡¯ll need¡­.¡±


    ¡°Better to have too much than not enough. Yanira, help me.¡± And as the maid starts to remove the queen¡¯s earrings and necklace and hair jewels, some of the nobles praying around them get up and bring additional pieces of jewelry to Fifi. She murmurs her thanks to each one as tears prick the backs of her eyes, making it difficult for her to focus on the task at hand.


    Soon the king¡¯s torso is covered in jewelry, and Fifi knows she cannot put off the difficult part any longer. She sets one trembling hand on the jewelry, the other feather-light on a bandage laying over the poulticed wound.


    ¡°And now¡­um¡­.¡± She takes a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. ¡°Ley¡¯keh o¡¯loch¡¯yeh, zh¡¯yohras hiel¡­Ley¡¯keh o¡¯loch¡¯yeh, zh¡¯yohras hiel¡­¡±


    She repeats the chant over and over again, praying that she¡¯s saying the words right, praying that Cybarei will hear her and heal the king, praying that Minna and Adalberto will have the time they need, praying that the people around her will let her live to see her next birthday. Beneath her fingers, the jewelry grows warm, and the gemstones start to diminish. Silvery threads seem to stretch between the jewels and the king¡¯s wound, and this time Fifi can see the jewels shrinking as they give energy to the healing process. Beneath the bandage, she feels the poultice soaking into the king. She dares a glance at the king¡¯s face; to her surprise, his features seem more relaxed. His breathing seems more natural. It might be working. Keep going. Thank you, Cybarei.


    ¡°Ley¡¯keh o¡¯loch¡¯yeh, zh¡¯yohras hiel¡­¡± The bandage slides under Fifi¡¯s hand, revealing that the wound is starting to knit itself back together. Around her, she can hear gasps and murmurings and maybe even others chanting along with her. Every time a gemstone shrinks enough that it slips loose from its setting, Fifi shifts her hand to another piece of jewelry resting on the king. Her head aches and she¡¯s trembling all over, but her voice is strong and sure, repeating the Barivyce words in a steady cadence.


    ¡°Ley¡¯keh o¡¯loch¡¯yeh, zh¡¯yohras hiel¡­.¡± Without breaking her rhythm, Fifi brushes the bandage off the king¡¯s side. To her surprise, no trace of his injury remains. Her chanting trails off into nothingness. She sits back, panting, euphoria rising in her chest.


    ¡°The wound is gone!¡±


    ¡°He looks like he¡¯s just peacefully asleep¡­¡±


    ¡°She did it! That Aethyrozian witch really did it!¡±


    ¡°Praise be,¡± Queen Casilda murmurs with eyes like stars, and then she flings herself onto her husband and starts sobbing. A moment later, the king¡¯s eyes open.


    And then Fifi crumples to the floor, seeing and hearing nothing more.

 Revelation

    Sunlight streams through a gap in the shutters of the bedchamber window, waking Minna from a sound sleep. She starts to roll over and stretch, but a warm weight on her midsection stops her. Adalberto, she remembers with a smile as his beard tickles the back of her neck and then his lips press against her skin.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± he murmurs.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± she replies, turning over to face him. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    ¡°Better than I expected. Considering¡­.¡± His voice trails off as he looks at the light coming through the shutters. ¡°We should get up. How did you sleep?¡±


    ¡°Well, thank you.¡±


    Adalberto pulls away from her, leaving her cold, and pulls on a rope by the bed. A bell rings somewhere near by. Moments later, one of Adalberto¡¯s manservants enters the room. Minna pulls the bedcovers up to her chin and sinks into the mattress, suddenly self-conscious.


    ¡°Your Highnesses,¡± the servant greets the royal couple with a bow. ¡°I hope Chuezoh has given you good rest.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you, Miguel,¡± Adalberto replies. ¡°What news of the king?¡±


    ¡°He fares much better, Your Highness. He is resting in his chambers now.¡±


    ¡°Chuezoh be praised!¡± Minna breathes, a sentiment her husband echoes.


    ¡°We should have been told the moment he started to show improvement¡ª¡± Adalberto continues.


    ¡°Begging Your pardon, Your Highness, but Her Majesty the Queen insisted that you not be disturbed on your wedding night, unless the king were to pass on. Which, praise Chuezoh, he has not.¡±


    ¡°Of course she did.¡± Adalberto looks less than pleased, although Minna cannot fathom why. The king is alive and doing better! We will have time to get to know each other without the pressure of ruling, she rejoices internally. What could possibly be bothering him? ¡°I should like to see both her and my father at their earliest convenience. Please send word as such, Miguel, and also call for our attendants so that we might get dressed and face the day.¡±


    Miguel bows. ¡°The Queen has requested an audience with both of you in her solar once you have gotten dressed and have breakfast. I will send others to attend you straightaway, Your Highnesses.¡±


    With that, Miguel takes his leave, and Adalberto turns to Minna.


    ¡°They should not have let us sleep so long,¡± he says by way of explanation, gesturing to the windows. ¡°By the light, it¡¯s at least midmorning.¡±


    ¡°We had a late night, and I¡¯m sure Her Majesty only meant to let us rest,¡± Minna excuses the queen. She can¡¯t imagine her sweet, frail mother-in-law having any ill intentions towards anyone, except perhaps the Barhestans who would have assassinated her husband.


    ¡°We might have rested better, knowing that the king was out of peril.¡± Adalberto gets out of bed and stretches, then sighs and shakes his head. ¡°Or perhaps not. For now there will almost certainly be war with Barhesta.¡±


    ¡°Adalberto¡­.¡± Minna doesn¡¯t know how to voice her thoughts. He¡¯s your father! Shouldn¡¯t his survival and recovery be worth celebrating?! she protests internally. If her own father were in such dire straits as King Celestino was in last night, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to eat or sleep or anything until she¡¯d known he was all right. But her new husband doesn¡¯t have the same kind of relationship with his father, that much is plain from looking at his conflicted expression.


    ¡°I am grateful that he is alive, and that we will have time¡­.¡± His voice trails off as Greta and some other servants come into their room without knocking. ¡°I will explain more later. There is much to consider.¡±


    Minna nods and lets Greta lead her away into an adjoining dressing room. She smiles and blushes and deflects her maids¡¯ questions about her wedding night, feeling that such things are between her and Adalberto and no one else. Instead, she urges them to help her get ready quickly.


    ¡°The Queen is waiting,¡± she reminds them. ¡°We must not tarry.¡± And so they hurry to lace her into a jade green gown, dress her hair in a fashionable braided updo, and apply a few cosmetics to her face. Then Minna rejoins Adalberto in their antechamber, where a selection of fruit and pastries are waiting for them. Minna¡¯s stomach turns with nerves, but she follows her husband¡¯s lead and picks up a sweet bun and some grapes and nibbles on them while he leads her through several corridors.


    She¡¯s just swallowed the last of her breakfast when he knocks on an ornate wooden door. A servant admits them and leads them through an elegant antechamber overflowing with gilded vases of cut flowers, then into another room studded with many windows and a wide variety of blooming live plants. Queen Casilda sits in this room, fiddling with a climbing vine of some sort. Fifi might know what it¡¯s called, Minna reflects, but she has no idea.


    ¡°How are you feeling, Mother?¡± Adalberto greets her as the servant departs. Queen Casilda looks up with surprise, then smiles.


    ¡°Good morning, son. And Princess Wilhelmina. Such a pleasure to see you. Please, have a seat.¡± She gestures to two plain wooden chairs near her seat. ¡°I am well enough, thank you. More importantly, so is your father.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Yes, Chuezoh be praised. His wound seemed most grievous, when I saw it. To what or to whom do we owe his miraculous recovery?¡±


    ¡°Our official story is that our prayers and the work of our healers brought His Majesty back from the brink of death and restored him to full health and wholeness.¡±


    Minna looks at the queen in surprise, seeing her for the first time as having the capacities of a shrewd ruler.


    ¡°So everyone will be told. But what is the truth?¡±


    Queen Casilda glances at the door to her solar, verifying that it is closed, before continuing in a low voice. ¡°In truth, I very much doubt that your father would be alive without the remarkable intervention of your new bride¡¯s heretical sister.¡±


    ¡°I beg your pardon?!¡± Minna bursts out, then covers her mouth and averts her eyes to the floor. ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty, for speaking out of turn, but I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Look at me, Wilhelmina.¡± The queen¡¯s voice is gentle but firm, and Minna complies. ¡°Do you believe in Chuezoh?¡±


    ¡°Yes, wholeheartedly.¡± Minna¡¯s brow furrows in confusion. Her hands pick at the ornamentation on her skirts with feverish energy. What does that have to do with¡ª


    ¡°As do I. And your family all believe the same?¡±


    ¡°Yes, as far as I know, but you said¡­.¡±


    ¡°I am trying to find a reasonable explanation for what I witnessed.¡± Queen Casilda goes on to tell Minna and Adalberto in hushed tones about what her maid had testified about the flowers Minna brought from Aethyrozia and how, after much praying and agitation with no change in the king¡¯s condition, she decided that she might as well seek a miracle.


    ¡°But Fifi isn¡¯t a witch!¡± Minna protests, lurching as if to get out of her chair before restraining herself and taking a deep breath. ¡°She went to all the same ceremonies and prayers in the zoche that I did. She would have told me if¡­.¡±


    The queen¡¯s earnest expression stills Minna¡¯s tongue. ¡°But, my dear, she admitted it. And then she gave us the miracle I asked for. I watched her with my own eyes,¡± the queen says before describing the ritual Fifi performed. ¡°There isn¡¯t even a scar left on Celestino¡¯s side where the knife went in. He is resting now, at my insistence, but our healers and priests can find nothing amiss with him.¡±


    Adalberto shakes his head and looks at Minna, who returns his look helplessly. Fifi can¡¯t be a witch. She would have said something, or I would have noticed¡­. But then Minna remembers how much time Fifi has spent outside of their rooms since her Quest for Favor, and the new tricks she¡¯s taught Algot. Is that raven her familiar? Has she been practicing witchcraft while I¡¯ve been preparing for my wedding?! How could she ever¡ª


    ¡°If anyone else were telling me this, I would hesitate to believe them,¡± Adalberto remarks. ¡°But I know how devout you are, and how desperate you must have been to treat hearsay from a young, foolish maid so seriously.¡±


    ¡°And I am glad I did it. We have your father¡¯s life to show for it.¡±


    ¡°And what of my sister?¡± Minna asks. A bead pops off of her skirt and bounces across the floor because of her relentless nervous plucking. Adalberto takes both of her hands in one of his, providing both comfort and restraint. ¡°I need to talk to her. I can¡¯t believe she never told me¡­.¡±


    ¡°She is resting now, as well. The ritual took all her strength, and ruined quite a lot of jewelry. My healers are seeing to her.¡±


    ¡°The priests are not insisting that she be prosecuted as a witch?¡± Adalberto inquires.


    ¡°Some of them would like to, but that is no way to repay anyone who has saved the life of the king.¡±


    ¡°She ought to face some consequences, for keeping such a secret and for straying from Chuezohm so egregiously,¡± Minna argues. This is a far worse betrayal than all the business with Prince Didier. She should have told me. Why didn¡¯t she tell me? she wonders. Pressure builds behind her eyes.


    ¡°It is my opinion that she ought to be rewarded, rather than punished. And I have every intention of seeing that she is well repaid.¡±


    ¡°What do you have in mind, Mother?¡± Adalberto questions with a sigh. ¡°I doubt her father will be any more pleased than Minna to know that she is a heretic.¡±


    ¡°She does not want to return home.¡±


    ¡°We can hardly keep her here! The priests and any others who witnessed her miracle will not stand to keep her in our midst.¡±


    ¡°She does not want to stay here, either. She has requested a horse and safe passage to escape into the wilderness, and that we will give some excuse to her father and her staff for her disappearance.¡±


    ¡°Exile is reasonable. Her life in exchange for the king¡¯s. But how do you propose to fulfill that latter end of the bargain?¡±


    ¡°What can she possibly be thinking?!?¡± Minna hisses through her teeth. Fifi has had as pampered and privileged an upbringing as she has. She¡¯s not cut out for life in the wilderness. ¡°She¡¯ll never survive in exile¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s to say that the Barhestans would not have kidnapped Princess Josefina, in an attempt to have a bargaining chip for negotiations with the newly allied Aethyrozia and Syazonia?¡± Queen Casilda suggests. ¡°I know you believe you¡¯ve captured all of them, but everything was chaos and confusion once they attacked the king. Perhaps some evaded capture and waited until most of Zosya was asleep to take the princess, or perhaps they had help outside of those present at the ball. The servants must all be questioned and a scapegoat or two found, but it¡¯s not unreasonable¡ª¡±


    ¡°It will guarantee war with Barhesta. Many of our people and theirs will suffer and die,¡± Adalberto counters, his face ashen. ¡°I had hoped to avoid a war with them yet.¡±


    ¡°Since your father has recovered, you and I both know that war with Barhesta is inevitable. We might as well use it to give the young woman who saved his life what she wants.¡±


    ¡°What she wants is insanity!¡± Minna cuts in, pulling her hands out of Adalberto¡¯s grip and leaping up from her chair to pace the floor. ¡°She can¡¯t possibly think to live as a commoner in the wilderness somewhere. She¡¯s always had servants and lived in a castle, never wanting for anything material.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we should let Minna speak with Fifi. I cannot condone this plan,¡± Adalberto suggests, watching his new wife with concern. ¡°You said the ritual took all her strength. Perhaps when you spoke with her about a reward she was not in her right mind.¡±


    Queen Casilda shrugs. ¡°I will allow you to see her, as long as you are gentle with her. She is still quite weak. And she has performed an invaluable service for all of us. She has not only saved your father¡¯s life, but she has saved both of you from becoming sovereigns in the first days of your marriage.¡±


    Adalberto and Minna exchange glances. Guilt joins the anger and betrayal and hurt swirling in Minna¡¯s chest. She still shouldn¡¯t have kept this a secret from me. But she might have healed him for me, for us, Minna realizes as she thinks back to her conversation with Fifi in the drawing room after the dancing devolved into bloodshed. I should at least listen to her. And it will give us a chance to say goodbye¡­.


    ¡°I will be gentle with her. I promise,¡± Minna agrees. ¡°Just let me see her.¡±


    ¡°Come with me.¡±

 Understanding

    Birdsong mingles with murmuring, sunlight, and incense around Fifi as her eyes flutter open in an unfamiliar space. The ceiling overhead is vaulted and circular. Multiple windows around her provide light. She turns her head and sees two middle-aged women in plain sage green dresses with aprons sitting to one side, speaking to one another in low tones while sorting through herbs.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake, Your Highness,¡± one of them remarks as her eyes catch Fifi¡¯s. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± She gets up and crosses to Fifi¡¯s side.


    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± Fifi answers. Her tongue feels clumsy in her mouth and her limbs are heavy. A dull ache pulses through her muscles. Her head is foggy with memories of candlelight and Barivyce words and a conversation with Queen Casilda.


    She¡¯s going to help me, since I healed the king, Fifi remembers. I¡¯m going to get to escape. Hope brings some vitality back to her body.


    ¡°You look like you feel better,¡± the woman at Fifi¡¯s side says. ¡°Here, let me help you sit up. You should probably take some food and tea.¡±


    As she works to get Fifi propped up on some cushions, a knock sounds somewhere in the room. The other woman gets up to answer it. Fifi¡¯s attendant brings her some bread and a steaming cup of tea that smells of lavender and camomile.


    ¡°You¡¯re in luck. She¡¯s awake, but only just,¡± the woman on the other side of the room says to someone Fifi can¡¯t see. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t have chairs for all of you¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite all right,¡± Minna¡¯s voice replies. Fifi¡¯s heart leaps, but then cold dread settles in her stomach. What does she know? Will she be angry with me? Fifi wonders.


    To her surprise, Minna is accompanied by Prince Adalberto and Queen Casilda. The queen settles in a chair near one of the windows, but Adalberto and Minna come to Fifi¡¯s bedside, taking the place of the attendant who provided her with bread and tea.


    ¡°Sister,¡± Fifi smiles at Minna in greeting. Minna returns her smile, but it doesn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    ¡°Fifi¡­.¡± Minna¡¯s voice trails off and she swallows hard before trying again. ¡°We heard that last night was¡­challenging for you. How are you doing?¡±


    A lump rises in Fifi¡¯s throat. I wish I¡¯d asked Queen Casilda not to tell them anything, she thinks.


    ¡°Better, I think. How are you?¡± Fifi gestures weakly to both Minna and Adalberto.


    ¡°Well enough, thank you,¡± Adalberto answers. ¡°I suppose I should thank you, for saving my father¡¯s life.¡±


    He doesn¡¯t look happy about it, Fifi observes, noting the frown furrows in Adalberto¡¯s forehead. ¡°It was the right thing to do. The only thing I could do.¡± Or your mother would have had me executed.


    ¡°How long, Fifi?¡± Minna asks, her voice low and accusatory. ¡°How long have you been able to¡­do whatever it is that you did?¡±


    ¡°Since Fantor.¡±


    ¡°This past Fantor?¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Fifi nods. ¡°I haven¡¯t done that ritual alone before¡­.¡±


    ¡°Who have you done things like this with before?¡±


    Fifi drops her eyes from Minna¡¯s, not wanting to answer this question. Your quarrel is with me, not with him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t tell you. I had to promise not to tell anyone, not even you, in order to learn. And I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d approve, and you¡¯ve had enough other things to worry about.¡±


    ¡°That isn¡¯t the point, Fifi.¡± Minna¡¯s voice breaks, and Fifi looks up to see tears in her sister¡¯s eyes. ¡°You turned your back on our faith, and you¡¯ve been keeping secrets from me. You¡¯re my sister and my best friend and now I don¡¯t know if I can trust you.¡±


    Adalberto retreats across the room, giving the sisters some space.


    ¡°It was just this and Kai,¡± Fifi tells Minna in a whisper. ¡°Chuezohm never resonated with me like it did with you, but Cybarein¡­. It¡¯s different. It feels true.¡±


    ¡°But how can I know, Fifi? How can I trust that you¡¯re telling me everything this time, or ever again?¡±


    Fifi bites back an angry retort, then sighs heavily. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Minna. I understand why you¡¯re upset, and I¡¯m sorry I hurt you. That was never my intention.¡±


    ¡°And were you just going to go into exile, with the queen¡¯s help, without giving me any explanation or saying goodbye or anything?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t plan for this. I didn¡¯t know that the Barhestans would¡­. I wanted to heal him for you and Adalberto, more than any other reason. I didn¡¯t know it would be so¡­draining. Or that I would be offered a chance to¡­.¡±


    ¡°Where will you go, Fifi? How can you possibly think to survive in exile?¡±


    ¡°I will join the person who taught me. I¡¯m not sure exactly how we¡¯ll make it, but I believe we will, somehow.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Kai, isn¡¯t it?¡± Minna guesses, her eyes piercing into Fifi. ¡°He¡¯s the one who taught you¡­sigh-bar-rain or however you say it. And that¡¯s part of why you like him so much.¡±


    Silence stretches between the two sisters for what feels like ages to Fifi as she wonders how to respond, what combination of words might touch Minna¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Do you remember, in the carriage on the way here, when you asked me whether I was planning to follow my own advice, about following my heart and choosing someone who¡¯s right for me?¡± she asks after a few false starts.


    ¡°Yes. And you didn¡¯t think you had any options to make that choice.¡± Minna¡¯s face softens somewhat as she says the words.


    ¡°Our only hope for choosing each other has been to run away together, as far as we can tell,¡± Fifi admits, almost too quiet to hear. ¡°And this¡­. This is a perfect opportunity for me to run away. To start a new life, without all the pressures of being a princess.¡±


    ¡°People will suffer and die. Syazonia will go to war with Barhesta, and Aethyrozia will likely fight alongside Syazonia, especially if we move forward with the queen¡¯s plan to claim the Barhestans kidnapped you.¡±


    ¡°War with Barhesta was all but inevitable from the moment their assassin stabbed King Celestino, was it not?¡±


    ¡°Maybe so, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stop a war from happening, Minna. That was never going to be up to me. But I can be free and happy. All I¡¯ve ever wanted for you was for you to find happiness, and I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve been able to do that while doing what Father wanted you to do. But I¡¯m not you, Minna. This world of alliances and political marriages¡­it¡¯s just not for me.¡±


    Another long silence passes with the two of them just looking at each other, communicating without speaking.


    ¡°Will I ever see you again?¡± Minna asks finally.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Will we be able to write to each other?¡±


    ¡°If you keep Algot for me, I think he can carry messages between us.¡±


    ¡°What do I do? Tie a letter to his leg, open the window, and tell him to find you?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much. I can teach you the commands I¡¯ve taught him. He¡¯s a good boy. Very smart.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re sure he¡¯ll be able to find you?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Even before¡­I started training him properly, he always found his way back to our room when we tried to set him free, remember?¡±


    For the first time since she came to Fifi¡¯s bedside, a genuine smile crosses Minna¡¯s face. ¡°I remember. It was infuriating. Perhaps even then he sensed something¡­heretical in you.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°Have the two of you come to an understanding?¡± Queen Casilda interrupts from her seat near a window. Fifi and Minna both turn to her, somewhere between surprised and annoyed.


    ¡°More or less¡­?¡± Minna offers.


    ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s discuss how Princess Josefina¡¯s reward will actually come about. Of course we will have to wait until she is strong enough, but there are other details that must be decided.¡±

 Perhaps

    Minna and Adalberto stand hand in hand on the steps of Zosya, watching as the Aethyrozian ambassador and the rest of Princess Josefina¡¯s retinue make their way out of the gates to return to their homeland. Thunder rumbles overhead and rain drums against the earth of the courtyard. Minna¡¯s eyes are fixed on one rider amongst the Aethyrozians, slim and resolute, completely covered by a long, dark, hooded cloak as protection against the elements.


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯re doing the right thing?¡± Minna whispers to Adalberto. Her grip tightens on his hand as the hooded rider passes through the immense gilded gates.


    ¡°I think we had best get you inside, away from this miserable weather,¡± he replies, loud enough to draw glances from the guards on the wall.


    She looks up at him and surprise. His dark eyes meet hers, his brow furrowed in consternation, and then he glances around them, reminding her that there are dozens of people present for the departure of the Aethyrozian delegation. Right. Anyone could overhear, Minna remembers. And we can¡¯t have that.


    ¡°Of course, my lord. Perhaps we could go to the Royal Library?¡± she offers. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen it yet.¡±


    ¡°Anywhere you wish, my sunbeam.¡±


    Minna cannot help smiling at his pet name for her, despite the anxiety roiling within her about Fifi and the future of Syazonia. Neither she nor her new husband are comfortable speaking of love yet, but with every day that passes, she finds herself liking and respecting him more. They walk in companionable silence as he leads the way through Zosya¡¯s cool, shadowy corridors. This castle is far gloomier than Adelhyod, in Minna¡¯s opinion, but she hopes that in time she can be comfortable here, or at least learn her way around. It stands to be some time before King Celestino allows them to leave for Nysia.


    Adalberto does indeed take her to a library, although it is quite unlike the one where she took her lessons as a young girl. Although the walls are lined with shelves of books, a layer of dust coats most of them, and the room is small and stuffy and windowless. A large fireplace occupies much of one wall with a fire burning on the hearth.


    ¡°No one will disturb us here,¡± Adalberto assures Minna, his voice low, as he closes the door behind them. ¡°Ramiro has long since read every book in this room, and no one else has any interest in it.¡±


    Minna nods and gingerly settles herself in a chair laden with overstuffed cushions near the fireplace. Adalberto pulls the other chair over to hers and sits down next to her.


    ¡°Now. Are we doing the right thing?¡± he repeats her question from earlier, then releases a heavy sigh. ¡°I wish I knew.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Fifi will be all right?¡±


    ¡°She seemed plenty vivacious when she was telling you how to take care of and direct that bird of hers. And just now she was riding astride better than some of our soldiers, though I¡¯d wager she was taught sidesaddle. I know you¡¯re worried about her, and I understand why, but she stands a far better chance of getting the life she wants than Syazonia has of avoiding war with Barhesta.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°I¡¯m just not sure if they can carry the ruse we¡¯ve agreed on¡­. Agda and the other maids seem very suspicious.¡±


    Adalberto¡¯s jaw tightens with a grim expression. ¡°I have it on good authority that the Aethyrozians will be waylaid by at least two groups of mercenaries under the direction of the Syazonian crown but dressed as common vagrants and Barhestans. Their orders are to cause chaos and confusion but no harm. If your sister is half as smart as I think she is, she¡¯ll be able to get away unnoticed. From there it¡¯s up to her.¡±


    Minna stares at the flames in the fireplace, finding herself without the words to reply. And then what? she wants to ask, but she¡¯s sure Adalberto has no way of answering her beyond what she already knows. Before she left, Fifi spoke of many fantastical things¡ªseeking guidance from trees and squirrels, sending a message ahead to the other heretics she intends to join by way of a bird, listening to the wisdom of the rocks and rivers¡ªbut the time that has passed since then has not made these ideas make any more sense to Minna.


    ¡°And then¡­Barhesta,¡± she says eventually. ¡°I¡¯m glad that your father has made a full recovery, but¡­. I wish he would think of what revenge will cost.¡±


    ¡°As do I.¡± Deep furrows form in Adalberto¡¯s brow. ¡°But you¡¯ve met with him just as I have. He will not be swayed. Have you written to your father yet?¡±


    ¡°Yes, though I don¡¯t know what it might accomplish, beyond the message your father has sent him. King Ansgar will do whatever he thinks best for Aethyrozia.¡±


    ¡°But we have an alliance now.¡± He squeezes her hand meaningfully. ¡°He cannot think to abandon us in a time of war.¡±


    ¡°No, but he may choose to send resources instead of troops, or focus his forces on recovering my sister.¡± Minna doesn¡¯t want to think, even for a moment, of what King Ansgar might do to Fifi if he finds her, once he realizes what she is and how she¡¯s shirked her duty and deceived them all.


    ¡°Minna. I know it¡¯s hard, but there¡¯s nothing more we can do for her. Except, perhaps, pray that whatever power she used to heal my father will keep her safe from those who would harm her.¡±


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe¡­. Even after hearing her explanation, and her showing us with Algot and the flowers in your mother¡¯s solar¡­. All of it feels like memories of dreams, too fantastical to be true.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I feel much the same way. But she is smart and capable, and we have an entire kingdom to worry about.¡±


    Minna turns to meet her husband¡¯s gaze. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do to keep war from coming, either, my lord.¡±


    Now Adalberto stares into the fire, avoiding Minna¡¯s eyes. ¡°No. Not now. And any other ruler in my father¡¯s position would do the same.¡±


    ¡°Except for you,¡± Minna guesses after a few moments of no sound except the fire crackling.


    Adalberto glances at her, his eyes full of pain and guilt. Disbelief chills Minna¡¯s midsection. Would he really wish his own father dead, and have us King and Queen as newlyweds, in order to avoid a war? she wonders, hoping she¡¯s misjudged him.


    ¡°Rulers must put their people before themselves,¡± he answers eventually. ¡°Both my father and the Emperor of Barhesta have failed in this regard. And it will be the common people who suffer for it, which I cannot abide. But he will not listen to me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve tried. You¡¯ve done all you can.¡± Even to Minna, her heartfelt assurances ring hollow.


    ¡°I suppose time will tell. The Barhestans haven¡¯t responded yet, to my message or to King Celestino¡¯s. Perhaps there is still hope.¡±


    Minna offers him a halfhearted smile, but she knows he¡¯s grasping at straws to try and comfort her.


    ¡°Perhaps we can take a page out of Fifi¡¯s book, and run away to Nysia?¡±


    Adalberto¡¯s lips curve up with a slight smile of his own. ¡°We might as well, if he will not take our counsel. I don¡¯t know why he has requested that we stay.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we ask him? Perhaps he can be swayed on that point, if not¡­more important ones.¡± His war shouldn¡¯t have to cost us our happiness, she wants to add, but shame at her own selfishness stills her tongue.


    ¡°I will ask him at supper tonight, my sunbeam.¡±

 Escape

    Rain drums steadily on the Aethyrozian delegation as they slog along the muddy road across the border between Syazonia and Aethyrozia. The rain has been their more or less constant companion since they left Zosya, and the soldiers around Fifi gripe about it every time they make camp or stop for the night at some nobleman¡¯s castle. Fifi, however, is mostly unbothered, protected from the weather by her long, dark cloak, and her horse, Kyastan, also doesn¡¯t mind the rain. He tells her its been ages since he¡¯s left Zosya¡¯s stables for more than a few turns about the courtyards, and he¡¯s just as eager as she is to be away from that place and having an adventure. And although Fifi has been sore and blistered from the constant riding and roughing it on the road, adjusting to this new life hasn¡¯t been as difficult as she feared it might be.


    I just have to make it to Kai, she keeps reminding herself. He¡¯s been preparing. He¡¯ll have a plan and a place for us. And we¡¯re in Aethyrozia now. It won¡¯t be too much longer.


    Off to her left, the foliage rustles. Kyastan¡¯s ears prick up and he sniffs the air, then snorts a warning that only Fifi understands. Her body tightens as she checks the bag under her cloak to make sure it¡¯s fastened securely shut and that it stands no danger of slipping off of her.


    Moments later, a horde of armed men bursts from the trees around them. Pandemonium erupts as men shout, women scream, and horses whinny their surprise and distress. Carriages grind to a halt. Metal and wood crash against to each other as swords meet shields and armor and each other.


    In all the commotion, no one seems to notice as a lone rider wearing a long dark cloak gallops away from the fighting and disappears into the rain-drenched forest.


    ***~O~***


    The rain has subsided to a fine mist by the time Fifi brings Kyastan to a halt in a clear space next to a river. She glances around them, wondering which direction they should go to get closer to Lonyr. She can no longer hear fighting or voices calling for her, just her breathing and that of Kyastan.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°Still too damp for a map,¡± she mutters, one hand on the bag at her hip. ¡°Take a drink, Kyastan. We¡¯ve got a long way to go.¡±


    He snorts and nickers, telling her to dismount and stretch her legs. Fifi nods and slides to the ground. Her muscles ache and protest at the change in position and having to support her weight, and she nearly falls as her feet slip in the soft mud.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to find a stump or something to get back up,¡± she warns Kyastan. ¡°No way to get leverage to jump like this.¡±


    He doesn¡¯t respond, just goes to the river and drinks like he¡¯s been wandering in the desert for hours. Fifi rolls her eyes. She¡¯s still getting to know the horse, and although they chose each other for this journey, she doesn¡¯t always like his attitude. We¡¯re bound together, though. No way I can finish this journey on my own. I don¡¯t even know which way to go, she muses, walking over to one of the trees.


    Her eyes close as she lays a hand on the bark, listening and feeling the energy within the oak. An image of a tall, strong, old man with a crown of leaves appears behind her eyelids.


    What do you seek, child of Cybarei? the tree spirit asks her.


    ¡°Can you show me how to find him, or help him find me?¡± she murmurs, picturing Kai in her mind and willing the spirit to see him. I hope this works. Please let this work, she prays.


    Eya¡¯kollo will guide you, and Mol¡¯sekereh will carry your words. Something skitters in the branches over Fifi¡¯s head. She opens her eyes to find herself face-to-face with a red squirrel, who chitters at her and offers her an acorn.


    ¡°Thank you, Eya¡¯kollo,¡± she says, accepting the acorn and tucking it into the pocket of her cloak. Then a grebe flies around her head. She offers it a hand and it perches there, then cocks its head to one side and looks at her expectantly. ¡°And you must be Mol¡¯sekereh. I need you to find a friend of mine and give him a message. Can you do that for me?¡±


    Mol¡¯sekereh chatters at her briefly and ruffles its feathers, giving its assent.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Fifi tells the bird. ¡°His name is Kai, and he can be found in Lyrnola, near Lonyr. Tell him that Fifi is on her way, and to try to meet me if he can.¡±


    The grebe twitters and takes off in a flurry of feathers. Eya¡¯kollo scrabbles down the tree and chirrups.


    ¡°You can take me to Lyrnola?¡± she asks the squirrel, who nods and dashes a short distance away from her, then turns and looks at her expectantly.


    ¡°All right. Thank you, mighty oak, for your guidance and for providing me with aid.¡± She dips her head reverently toward the tree before she goes to Kyastan¡¯s side. ¡°Come on, Kyastan. We have a guide. Let¡¯s keep moving, before my father¡¯s people find us.¡±

 Men

    Didier stifles a sigh as he swings into his horse¡¯s saddle while surveying the group of royals gathered on the steps in front of Zosya to see off the Vyrunian delegation. Fifi isn¡¯t among them, he notes with disappointment. His staff told him that the Aethyrozian delegation departed days ago, and he hasn¡¯t seen any sign of Fifi since the disastrous ball after Wilhelmina and Adalberto¡¯s wedding, but he hoped that they were mistaken, that Fifi had stayed behind to help her sister settle into her new life. But if that had been the case, surely she would be standing next to Wilhelmina and Adalberto now.


    But she isn¡¯t. Didier grinds his teeth in frustration. I should have been more proactive, should have sought her out, checked on her, he berates himself silently. Instead, he¡¯s been mingling with other royals and spending time with his siblings, working on other diplomatic initiatives and hoping that eventually Fifi would join them.


    She never did, and now Didier wonders if he should have listened more closely to the rumors flying about Zosya since King Celestino¡¯s miraculous recovery. What snatches of gossip he¡¯s heard were focused on magic, some sort of witch who materialized out of the palace walls to heal the king. But princesses don¡¯t just disappear, he reasons. Surely the gossips would know something about her, if I asked them.


    But it¡¯s too late now. He¡¯s already stayed at Zosya longer than they¡¯d planned. Arlette has refused to leave Zosya until the rain abated, though, and so they have remained inside until today, the first sunny day in more than a week. Although the sun is just peeking over the walls of the courtyard, the air is warm and humid, and Didier scowls at the prospect of riding all day in the sun as the weather gets hotter.


    ¡°May Chuezoh bless your journey and keep you safe,¡± Adalberto says to them, his deep voice echoing off the courtyard walls.


    ¡°Thank you. May Chuezoh¡¯s blessings abide with you and your family,¡± Didier replies before turning to lead his delegation out of the gates. As he does so, he hears the hooves of a single horse galloping towards them. A moment later, a lone rider cloaked with a white flag charges into the courtyard. His horse is streaked with sweat. Its sides heave and its tongue lolls out of its mouth as it skids to a halt. The rider practically falls to the ground at Adalberto¡¯s feet.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Adalberto demands as Wilhelmina and one of her attendants help the rider to stand.


    ¡°Mercenaries,¡± he gasps. ¡°Ambushed us.¡±


    ¡°He wears my father¡¯s sigil!¡± Wilhelmina exclaims. She gestures to the gilded swan on the rider¡¯s doublet.


    ¡°Princess Josefina¡­gone.¡±


    For a moment, the courtyard spins around Didier and the ability to breathe eludes him.


    ¡°Gone?¡± Adalberto repeats.


    ¡°Taken,¡± the rider amends.


    ¡°By whom?¡±


    ¡°Mercenaries.¡±


    ¡°Any livery? Flags? Sigils?¡±


    ¡°Wolf crest¡­on a shield.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Adalberto¡¯s mouth presses into a hard thin line. ¡°Barhesta.¡±


    Then Vyrunia goes to war alongside Syazonia, Didier determines, although his lips won¡¯t move. Rescuing Fifi from mercenaries ought to endear him to both her and King Ansgar, and his father will surely see things the same way.


    ***~O~***


    The sun presses down on the fields of Lyrnola, oppressing the farmers toiling amongst their crops. At the edge of one field, shaded by a clump of evergreens, two figures in rough-spun hooded robes are working on an irrigation system. As the younger of the two, Kai digs a trench with steady intensity; meanwhile, Sigurd¡¯s long beard blows in the breeze as he chants in Barivyce and holds two L-shaped hazel rods in front of him. The older cybarein¡¯s feet carry him slowly in a meandering, back-and-forth pattern, but the rods stay still, and Kai¡¯s trench is dry and dusty.


    ¡°Maybe further into the trees¡­.¡± Sigurd mutters.


    Kai doesn¡¯t hear him. With each shovelful of dirt he throws out of the trench, he tries to bury his own unwanted thoughts, but they weigh in on him as heavily as the rays of sun on his back as he moves into the field. A couple of days ago, a messenger galloped through their lands on a foaming horse, carrying news for King Ansgar of a Barhestan attempt to assassinate King Celestino of Syazonia and requesting Aethyrozia¡¯s aid in a war; Kai and Sigurd learned this news when they brought the man and his horse water and provisions for their journey. Since then, Kai has been worrying about Fifi. Did she witness the assassination attempt? Is she on her way back? Is she staying to help her sister? Kai wonders, wishing they¡¯d thought of a way to stay in touch with each other before she left Lyrnola.


    ¡°Here, Kai!¡± Sigurd calls hoarsely. Kai turns to find Sigurd a dozen paces away, his hazel rods twitching and twisting downwards and inwards, pointing towards the ground at his feet. ¡°Dig here. There will be water.¡±


    Kai steps out of his trench and goes to Sigurd, then starts digging where the hazel rods indicate. This dirt doesn¡¯t seem any different from the soil in the trench, at least to Kai, but he won¡¯t question his mentor¡¯s judgment and tools. He¡¯s more than content to let Sigurd do the hard thinking today. He can¡¯t focus on anything other than his own worries anyway.


    ¡°You think she is for you?¡± Sigurd asks Kai.


    Kai¡¯s grip on the shovel tightens and the shovel jerks, spilling dirt back into the hole he¡¯s started. ¡°She doesn¡¯t belong to anyone. Except Cybarei, probably,¡± he answers as he resumes digging, more intensely than before.


    ¡°She will like that answer. But you think she can live this life with you?¡±


    ¡°She knows she can¡¯t live the life she¡¯s supposed to, the life she was born to. We¡¯ve talked about this. If you¡¯re not convinced¡ª¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t met her. And I¡¯m worried about you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Nothing better than digging in the Santor heat.¡± Kai pauses to wipe the sweat off his brow, then looks down. The soil in his hole has gone from dust to clay. He stabs the shovel into it, then throws a couple of gemstones from the bag Fifi gave him at Friggenter into the hole. ¡°Aershan¡¯na.¡±


    Almost immediately, water bubbles up around his shovel, which he yanks out of the hole with some satisfaction.


    Sigurd nods his approval. ¡°You work hard. But your mind is not here.¡±


    The distinctive cry of a grebe interrupts their conversation, keeping Kai from making a tart reply. Instead he turns to the bird.


    ¡°No lakes or ponds near here, little one,¡± he tells the bird, extending a hand to it. Are you one of Sigurd¡¯s messengers? Have you come to us for help? he asks the grebe without moving his lips, although he doubts this one knows Sigurd; his mentor¡¯s furrowed brow indicates he¡¯s just as confused as Kai.


    The grebe twitters and trills as it lands on his hand. An image of Fifi, cloaked and on horseback, fills Kai¡¯s mind. She¡¯s coming. She seeks you, the bird tells him.


    Kai drops his shovel. This isn¡¯t the plan. She¡¯s traveling too light to make it alone, he worries as his heart starts racing.


    ¡°Can you take me to her?¡± he asks the bird. In response, the bird takes off and circles Kai¡¯s head a couple of times, then flies northeast, looking over its shoulder to see if he¡¯s following, and then landing at the foot of a spruce with an annoyed expression.


    ¡°Go,¡± Sigurd smiles at Kai. ¡°Take Varsel. He¡¯s restless.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll be all right with this project?¡±


    ¡°Our other friends will help me. Only you can do what this friend asks.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be back soon. With her.¡±

 Reunion

    Sunlight filters through the trees, turning standing water to mist that creates hazy mirages before Fifi¡¯s tired eyes. She hasn¡¯t dared to make camp or rest for more than a few moments at a time since she got away from the Aethyrozian delegation, fearing that she might be found and captured if she and her allies stop moving. The sun has set and risen again twice since then, and it¡¯s all Fifi can do to stay on Kyastan¡¯s back. The horse is also weary, stumbling through the trees and making clumsy hops over obstacles, but their red squirrel guide Eya¡¯kollo is tireless, chittering at them every time they fall too far behind.


    The squirrel chirrups at them again, and Kyastan releases an angry snort, as if to say that Eya¡¯kollo had better be grateful that horses don¡¯t eat meat. Fifi has reprimanded him for being churlish before, but this time only a heavy sigh slips from her lips. Try as she might, she can¡¯t manage to keep her eyes open in the steamy afternoon heat.


    A few moments later, Fifi groans as she slides off Kyastan¡¯s back, twisting his saddle askew and making him grunt in pain. She lands heavily in an awkward heap of limbs and cloak and skirts on the muddy earth. Kyastan nickers and nudges her, but she doesn¡¯t move. Eya¡¯kollo runs around them, squeaking and scolding, but still Fifi remains limp. Kyastan huffs and lies down on the narrow deer-path next to his fallen rider, one eye fixed on their squirrel guide with a meaningful glare. Eya¡¯kollo stops and cocks his head to one side as he examines horse and human, then takes off into the treetops at a dead sprint.


    Once he can no longer see nor hear any sign of the squirrel, Kyastan snorts and lays his head down. Moments later, his snores mingle with the leaves rustling and birdsong around them.


    ***~O~***


    Kai urges Varsel on as fast as the horse will run, following the grebe through forest groves and across meadows in the general direction of the Syazonian border. It said it¡¯s been flying for a couple days, with short rests to eat and sleep, and that she was following on horseback with a squirrel guide, Kai reflects, watching his feathered messenger closely. Every nerve in his body is alight with a sense of urgency. It didn¡¯t look like she had provisions or supplies to last even that long comfortably. What made her decide to ride here alone? He¡¯s never been worried about someone like this before, but the competence of his guide gives him some reassurance. Every time the grebe sees another bird, they speak to one another in twitters and squawks that Kai only half understands, and then the grebe takes off again, usually adjusting its course based on what the other bird said.


    At nightfall, an owl joins the grebe in front of them. To Kai¡¯s surprise, its hoots are directed at him, rather than his guide.


    ¡°Rider fallen in Kvestri Grove,¡± it tells him. ¡°No fire, no movement.¡±


    Kai¡¯s heart thuds in his chest with painful intensity. Is it her? Or some other traveler in need? It shouldn¡¯t matter. Whoever it is, they need help.


    ¡°Take me to them, and I¡¯ll do what I can,¡± he tells the owl after a moment frozen with indecision. The owl flies off into the trees, and the grebe settles unbidden on Kai¡¯s shoulder. But following the owl is difficult in the fading light, and despite his best efforts, he keeps losing sight of the new guide, making for slow progress. With a sigh, Kai jumps down from Varsel¡¯s back and spends a couple minutes searching amongst the trees for a thick branch he can use as a torch. Once he finds it, he mounts Varsel once again and rides a short distance with one hand on the reins and the other holding the branch aloft.


    ¡°Should be manageable,¡± he mutters before focusing his attention on the end of the branch that points into the air. ¡°Ahm¡¯ten-dah!¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    The skyward end of the branch bursts into flame, startling the grebe into taking flight and circling with agitated cries before settling on Kai¡¯s other shoulder.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Kai tells the bird through gritted teeth as he concentrates on remaining in the saddle while Varsel follows the owl with dogged persistence and a jolting gait. ¡°My eyes don¡¯t work in the dark like hers.¡±


    Only the light of a crescent moon and myriad stars shine down on Kai and his avian friends by the time the owl alights on a branch some distance ahead of him, hooting a warning to slow down. Varsel complies with the owl¡¯s instructions without prompting from Kai, slowing to a careful walk and then coming to a halt as he catches sight of a chestnut horse lying next to a pile of muddy fabric and tangled red-brown hair, just a few paces ahead of them.


    Kai¡¯s breath catches and he¡¯s on the ground in an instant, somehow managing not to catch any trees on fire with his makeshift torch. ¡°Fifi?¡± he calls, keeping his voice low.


    The chestnut horse looks up at him, suddenly on high alert. ¡°You¡¯re the one she¡¯s been looking for,¡± he sighs, then nudges the fabric next to him with his muzzle. The hair shifts and then bleary brown eyes meet Kai¡¯s, registering first confusion and then relief and delight.


    ¡°You came for me,¡± Fifi mumbles with a sleepy smile.


    ¡°Of course I did. As soon as I could.¡± He comes to her side, wishing he had somewhere to hang up the torch. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    She doesn¡¯t answer; her eyes are falling shut again.


    ¡°Exhausted and overwrought,¡± her horse companion tells Kai with a low whinny. ¡°But no blood.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll stay here ¡¯til morning, and then go home,¡± Kai decides, snuffing his torch. The owl hoots at him, its question lingering in the air. ¡°Yes, if you can, fly to Sigurd and let him know. We should be there by sunset tomorrow.¡±


    The owl takes off with noiseless wings. Kai carefully picks his way through the dark to take saddles and blankets off the two horses and hang them in the trees, then settles himself on the ground next to Varsel. The urge to hold Fifi while she sleeps is almost overpowering, but Kai resists it, instead steeling himself to keep watch. We will have plenty of time for that once she¡¯s recovered, now that we¡¯re together again, he tells himself.


    ***~O~***


    Fifi wakes up with the sun, sore and dirty but elated to find that Kai¡¯s presence wasn¡¯t a dream and that he¡¯s still with her, leaning half-asleep against Varsel. She rises unsteadily to her feet and walks a few tottering steps before all but falling into his arms.


    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you,¡± she tells him as his eyes fly open with surprise.


    He smiles and holds her close. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, too,¡± he whispers, and then their lips meet.


    When they break for air, he asks, ¡°What happened? Why did you decide to come alone, rather than going to Lyrnola¡ª¡±


    ¡°Partly to keep King Ansgar from suspecting you or your family,¡± she explains. ¡°And also¡­.¡±


    She tells him, as they eat a small breakfast and prepare their horses to ride, about Minna¡¯s wedding and the assassination attempt. They¡¯re halfway to Sigurd¡¯s grove before she¡¯s finished telling him how she healed King Celestino and what happened after, their plan and her goodbyes with Minna. Kai¡¯s astonished interruptions make the telling take longer.


    ¡°Once the mercenaries attacked, I had to act. That was my chance, and I took it,¡± she finishes. ¡°And then, once I was safely away, I asked the forest to help me find you, and these friends have, and here we are.¡± Although she¡¯s road-weary and in desperate need of a bath, she¡¯s never looked happier as she smiles into Kai¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you made it. Glad you¡¯re safe,¡± Kai replies. ¡°I have to tell you, too¡­.¡± And he recounts how King Ansgar came to the manor house to prosecute his father and stepmother and how his friends helped him escape, how he¡¯s been living in the forest with Sigurd since.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been visiting the staff, especially Albin, once every few days,¡± he says, ¡°but I can¡¯t go back there, not permanently. Not for a long time, if ever.¡±


    ¡°And not with me, anyway,¡± Fifi adds. ¡°This was always the plan, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that our plan ever got much beyond this point, other than introducing you to Sigurd.¡±


    ¡°So once I meet Sigurd, then what? I¡¯m sure my father will be looking for me, and there¡¯s likely to be a war¡­.¡±


    ¡°I guess it depends. On what you want.¡±


    ¡°Being free from my title, and here with you, able to practice Cybarein¡­this is all I¡¯ve wanted.¡±


    Kai smiles. ¡°Then we take things one step at a time, figure it out as we go.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit dangerous, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Maybe. But people have done crazier things¡­in the name of love.¡±