The Nechi's Wife

✣ chapter seven ✣

"It's pronounced Witylt," Flynd repeated, his voice booming in the vastness of the Dining Hall. "Wi-tylt."

I took in a deep breath. "Wi-t-t-t..."

"Goodness gracious," He groaned. "It's not that hard."

"I'm not used to pronouncing letters in that order!"

"What does that even mean? Frankly, I'm disappointed in you." He mumbled, leaning back in his chair.

"Medem yini laleh itichi?"

He blinked. "Bless you?"

"Can you repeat that? It's Meret for 'can you repeat this?'."

"Say it again."

"Medem yini laleh itichi?"

"Me...dem...yinyi...loluh..." Prince Flynd faltered, trying to remember the syllables. "Fine, I see your point."

I shot him a triumphant smile. "Will you be more patient with me from now on?"

"Yes," He huffed, rolling his eyes. "But you still must learn to say Witylt at some point."

"I'm tired of trying to say Wi-that word. Can we move on?"

Prince Flynd returned to explaining the topic we'd been discussing before the momentary distraction. He had decided to begin our lessons with dinner etiquette which I didn't think was a coincidence.

"You begin with the cutlery closest to your plate and work your way outward." He explained, demonstrating his point by holding a small fork. "They're placed in order."

"That makes more sense," I murmured as I leaned closer to get a better view. "I'll try to remember that."

"Wonderful, you've finally attained something." He breathed. I agreed but I was beginning to get anxious. My dance lessons would begin soon. "What's the matter?" Flynd inquired, noticing my uncomfortable demeanor.

"I have dance lessons soon and I'm going to be late."

He mulled over that development before proposing an idea, "What if I came with you?"

"For what purpose?"

"To help. You need a partner after all, and who better than your own husband?"

Amusement danced in the corner of his lip, a mischievous glint flaring in his eyes. "I don't think I could stop you if I tried."

...

"No, I lead, Ayan." Prince Flynd clarified, referring to the position of my feet. "Follow my lead."

I felt warmth flurry up my face as my dance instructor, Lady Eora, inspected our interlocked position with scrutinous eyes. "Move your hand lower, Your Highness."

The prince winked at me, sliding his fingers from the side of my torso to the base of my hips. "Here?"

Lady Eora tutted. "The dance floor is no place to fondle your wife, Your Highness."

Chuckling, Flynd slid his fingers a hint higher, sending shivers up my back. This was truly exasperating; he wasn't taking me or Lady Eora seriously. "My sincerest apologies."

"But he is right, Princess. He leads. Always."

I didn't like that there was a leader and follower in Aranian dancing. In Mereti, you just...danced. There was no position or hierarchy, no rules. Alas, Aranians seemed to love rules.

"Alright, start over. Cue music!" Lady Eora ordered, signaling the musicians.

I tried my best to let Flynd take control, and soon found that dancing became far easier than it had been before. As he led me around the ballroom, my feet following his, my body relinquishing control, I felt like I was floating. Soaring across the floor, my skirts spinning along with me.

Prince Flynd grinned wickedly. "You seem to be enjoying yourself."

I opted not to be defensive, inflating his ego in the process. "Yes, I am."

"I'm not so terrible, am I?" He mused, his hand snaking further around my waist.

"I never said you were terrible," I snorted. "You do irritate me sometimes though."

Flynd's grip around my waist tightened and his eyes had a distant look, as if he was noticing something far away. "Why do I annoy you?" He asked quietly.

I wasn't sure why he was closing all the space between us, but I wasn't about to pull away from him in the middle of our twirling-especially since Lady Eora was still reviewing us. "You can be quite arrogant at times."

His face wrinkled, his mouth parting to speak but he was interrupted by Lady Eora's shouting, "Alright, stop the music! Stop dancing!" She nodded her head as we came to a halt. "That was better. Lessons are over for today."

"Excellent job!" Someone clapped from behind us.

I tried to turn toward the voice but Prince Flynd's death grip wouldn't let me maneuver from him. "What are you doing? Let me go, please."

He leaned by my ear. "Sir Lorcan has been watching us the entire time. Now, shush, he's coming."

Prince Flynd loosened his grip somewhat, so I could turn my head to see the nobleman approaching. "That was lovely. Excellent work Lady Eora."

The noblewoman frowned at him disdainfully before stalking away without a word. Sir Lorcan didn't appear fazed. "The two of you are naturals. Almost as if you were made to dance together."

I shook my head. "I don't know about-"

"Precisely." Prince Flynd interjected. "Almost as if we were made for each other. And each other alone."

Sir Lorcan raised an eyebrow. "I suppose so."

The tension in the air thickened, so palpable one could practically see the strained energy reverberating between the two men. I did not want to be in the middle of their stare-down, but the prince's grip was steadfast and unrelenting. "Flynd, I have a dress fitting to be at."

"I'll come with you," He proposed.

Sir Lorcan's lips gave way to an even-tempered smile. "Do you mind if I accompany you?"

"Yes, I do mind," Prince Flynd snapped. "Kindly, let us be."

"Your Highness-"

"I'm done playing your games. I've seen the way you look at her. And I know exactly the kind of man you are."

I thought about intervening to stop Flynd from saying more things he would regret, but I wasn't sure I wanted to be involved. At least, any more involved than I clearly already was.

Further, if what Flynd had told me was true, as I believed it was, then behind Sir Lorcan's perpetual calmness was a mask that covered his selfish desire to fulfill his own needs. He was not the type of man you treated with leniency.

So, in an uncharacteristic move of choosing strategic silence over interjection, I let Flynd go off-hopefully it would deter Sir Lorcan from trying anything.

The nobleman's gaze fell on me. "Would you mind if I came along, Princess?"

Well, apparently, nonintervention was no longer an option. Before speaking, I tried to decipher whether he was genuinely curious or attempting to pit me against my husband. Prince Flynd's eyes watched me fearfully and I realized that he was worried I would let Sir Lorcan come along.

Even though I didn't care whether Sir Lorcan accompanied us, my conscious told me to not worry Flynd anymore than he already was. "If my husband doesn't wish for you to come, then who am I to disagree? Now, Flynd, we must get going."

The nobleman's eyes widened. "Surely you don't-"

"Good day, Sir!" Flynd exclaimed as he guided us away, leaving behind a puzzled Sir Lorcan. When we were out of earshot, he chuckled uneasily, "We must stay as far away from him as possible. He can get the most loyal of women to bend to his will."

"Don't you trust me?"

"I..." He paused. "I don't trust him."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Prince Flynd didn't respond.