//reluctant opportunity//
Eternity remained flooded even hours after the storm had stopped. But I had never seen it look so . . . happy. Every plant had bloomed, reaching for the sky and stretching out. The vibrancy of the planet became impossibly brighter. It glowed in a way it never had before. The haze that normally outlined everything had lessened.
I stood at the window for a while, admiring the vista. Below on the balcony, the servants swept up the dust left behind by the yllumin. They took down the other party decorations. Early in the morning, Kit and several others had gathered the orbs again and were releasing them back in the wild.
With the Great Bloom Festival over, I wondered if Prince Rune's schedule would open up now. Of course, he still had to the deal with the bureaucratic jerks and persuade them to at least consider abolishing the Bride Competition.
My frustration with the board inspired me to search for the Prince. We'd agreed to involve each other: he would trust me and my abilities, and I would support him. We would tackle this together.
So I set off to find him. I wanted my lessons to start sooner rather than later.
I realized that I couldn't just burst into a conference and expect people to take me seriously. Especially since I had little knowledge about Eternity and her inner workings. While I knew the Bride Competition had evolved from something milder, my expertise ended there. As a foreigner to this place, I doubted the board would appreciate my uneducated criticism.
Which meant that I needed to learn soon. With Rune and I finally on the same page, maybe we could make some headway in changing legislation.
But the castle was essentially one large, multistoried maze. And finding Prince Rune had always proven difficult, if not impossible.
After several hours of no luck, I decided to take a break. I entered my favorite library, the one with the map-decorated wall. But once inside, the rustling of papers caught my attention.
Past the shelves and scattered tables, in the center of the library, sat Prince Rune. Ink stains painted his fingers, and he bent over stacks of books and papers. His frock coat hung on the chair next to him, and he had rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. Deep blue, almost black, veins popped from his ghostly skin. His long hair was mussed, as though he'd run his fingers through it multiple times.
I froze. Prince Rune may not have been classically handsome, but there was still something attractive about him. And like this, elbow-deep in work and face contorted in concentration, he was very attractive. I pressed a hand to my chest, where my heart hammered.
Sighing, the Prince tossed a pen (a stick dipped in ink) and rested his head in his hands. He mumbled, "Kahla."
I cleared my throat, hoping not to frighten him. "Everything okay?"
He peered at me before straightening and rolling his sleeves back down. He threaded his fingers through his hair to fix its disarray. "Yes. Merely brushing up on decrees."
Ignoring the disappointment that he'd rolled his sleeves down, I settled in the chair across from him. "I take it, it's not going too well."
"Its jargon can be headache-inducing."
"Is this about abolishing the Bride Competition?"
"Initially," he answered, thumbing through a leaflet.
This would be a headache. If I had to drag the answers out of him, learning about Eternity would take an eternity. While I understood his hesitancy and doubts, I couldn't let them stop me from learning. After all, eventually I would become the queen. I didn't want to be an ignorant monarch.
With a patience-renewing sigh, I asked, "What did it turn into?"
"Exponentially complicated decrees."
So much for my patience. I huffed, glaring at him. "Rune Eslyr. We agreed that you'd teach me, involve me in this part of Eternity. These vague responses are unhelpful, and even more infuriating. Teach me! I can handle it. I'm smart. And I know you are too."
He frowned. It struck me that Prince Rune could be stubborn when he wanted. But I was far more stubborn. I was willing to fight him on this.
His gaze fell to the mess before him. "This is too difficult a starting point. It will only confuse you."
My arms folded over my chest. "So find a better starting point."
For a moment, he studied the books and papers. It almost convinced me that he would just waste time until I got frustrated and left. But he shifted in his seat, lips pressed into a frown. Shadows engulfed his eyes. "I . . . hesitate with the idea. But an – opportunity," he struggled to say the word, "has presented itself to you."
My brow quirked. His reluctance to share this opportunity with me had me intrigued. And a bit worried. He scowled to himself, hands clenching into fists. Prince Rune clearly disliked this apparent opportunity.
"What is it?"
The stubborn shadows in his coal eyes faded with a sigh. "Would you like to attend a conference?"
My eyes widened, heart stuttering. Attending a conference in the flesh, rather than pressing my ear to the door, sent excited sparks across my skin. Although, from Rune's discomfort, I wasn't sure what kind of conference this could be. So far, they'd been about vegetation and trade regulation and the Bride Competition. Could it be this was about abolishing the Competition? Could I finally argue my case?
No matter how uncomfortable Prince Rune seemed about it, I nodded. I would attend this mysterious conference. This was the beginning. At last.
.
From following the King and Prince to the conference rooms, I made my way there with relative ease. Prince Rune stood outside a door, fixing his collar. He caught sight of me and clasped his hands behind his back. But those shadows took to swimming in his eyes again. His shoulders were tense, closer to his ears than normal.
"Are you ready?"
For a second, I considered asking him if he was ready. But I rolled my shoulders back and stood tall. I had spent my time psyching myself up to face the jerks in parliament.
After thinking about it, I concluded that the only conference they would let me attend would be one that affected me directly: the Bride Competition. I practiced my argument and prepared for the board members to dodge me—but I wouldn't let them.
Though, perhaps this conference was just a boring agricultural meeting.
"I'm ready," I answered.
Prince Rune paused a moment, scowling at me, before he opened the door and gestured for me to enter first.
Holding my breath, I entered the room. And stood motionless in shock.
Aside from the long mahogany table and bordering pillars, the room was empty. King Hadeth sat at the head, joined by one another and a servant. The servant had startingly large blue eyes and slimy skin. They resembled a frog. The other person stood beside the King, hands at her waist. She had a striking resemblance to Rune: dark hair streaked with silver, black eyes, and pale skin. For a second, I wondered if she were his mother.
But that was impossible. His mother had been imprisoned several years ago for attempting to destroy Eternity in a fit of insanity. This person couldn't have been her. Perhaps she was a relative.
"I don't understand," I said aloud. Where was the board? Why were only three creatures in attendance? Was this actually a conference?
A frown yanked on my lips. Why had Prince Rune been so averse to telling me about this small conference?
Prince Rune glowered at his father over my head, touching the small of my back. He encouraged me further into the room. He peeled from my side and jutted his chin toward the empty seat across from him.
Footfalls tentative and angry, I slowly made my way to the table.
"Belline Paris," bellowed King Hadeth, arms wide in celebration. "It is an honor to have you join us. Please, sit."
Once I settled in a chair, Prince Rune also finally sat, still glowering. I repeated, "I don't understand. Rune said this was a conference."
The Prince grunted, adjusting his posture and his collar.
Before I could question his behavior, the King said simply, "It is." The smile was evident in the King's voice. "It may be small in attendees, but it is still of the utmost importance."
I folded my hands on the table. I was willing to bite. "Alright. Continue with business as usual then."
King Hadeth's hood turned toward his son, and shadows crossed Prince Rune's face. The Prince glanced downward, jaw clenched and lips pursed. The displeasure in his expression caused my eyebrow to quirk. What about this conference made him so antsy?
"This is not exactly the usual," the King said, adopting a more serious tone. "But I'll state it outright. The Sprite Council has extended an invitation to meet them, Belline Paris."
Now my brows furrowed. "The Sprite Council?"
"Yes. They're the representatives of the Western Wind Cities."
My confusion increased, which only confirmed how little I actually knew about Eternity. "The Western Wind Cities?" I asked, feeling stupid that all I was capable of was parroting the King.
Thankfully, he didn't treat me like a clueless child. "Our neighbors to the west."
Given the dark scowl Prince Rune continued to sport, I had to assume they were not neighborly neighbors.
Some pieces clicked together. "And they'd like to meet us?"
"You," the King clarified. "They've already met my son and I. They'd like to formally meet you in a few corollas. Are you willing?"
This was not the opportunity I had expected it to be. Despite the nerves poking at my stomach, excitement flirted with my heart. At last, I could be involved in this world. Surely meeting this council to the west was political. Finally—a taste of my future.
I nodded. "Of course."
Prince Rune scoffed, pushing his chair back. The action made me jump. He tugged on his coat before pivoting on his heel to storm from the room.
Lips pressed together, I asked King Hadeth, "Is he okay?"
"Yes," he said with a short sigh. "Ever dramatic. My son simply does not like their request."
"Why?"
The King stood, which was apparently the signal that the meeting was adjourned. Hardly a meeting—it was more like an announcement. The two others rose to their feet and started for the door.
King Hadeth paused in front of me. "There is a . . . tense history between us and our Sprite neighbors."
A tense history? What did that mean? Were the Sprites dangerous? Was that why Prince Rune had been so reluctant?
Just what had I agreed to?