P R E V I O U S L Y
"You must begin your preparations at once. The planets will pass each other in two days."
HARTINGTON CASTLE, ALNWICK, STORMHOLT.
TRISTAN
I FINALLY MANAGED TO PICK up my jaw which was left agape. Wordlessly, I handed out my palm for the constellation map. Lunette looked at it coolly for a moment, then handed it over.
"You're telling me you can read this map?" she asked, sounding impressed, as I turned the observatory report and looked it over.
It was chaos.
"The planets are off by ten degrees this century," Edwina muttered worriedly, reading it from beside my shoulder.
"What the fuck, Lunette? Couldn't you have given us a bit more warning than this?" I questioned, my mood turning sour at once. "Two days? How are we supposed to prepare for a festival that invites the whole of Endollon here in two days?"
"Well," she scoffed delicately, taking the map out of my hands, "that is not my problem. I'd suggest you better start getting to work right away, you know. The celebration will have to be held tomorrow night. Good luck," she said airily, leaving a livid Cressida behind who looked at me with a knowing smirk.
"Don't say it-" I said, slamming my forehead.
"-I told you so, your Grace-" she said, jumping right in front of me.
"Gods, Cressida. I don't know how we can plan this in two days."
"Leave that to me, my King," she said briskly. "After all these years, don't you trust me enough to do handle things like these?"
Efficient, efficient woman she was, precisely the sort of person I could trust enough with affairs of state.
"Okay, okay," I muttered. Once she started, Cressida was a force to be reckoned with. "Call a meeting at once in the Great Hall and we will start the planning. Go, I'll be there in a few moments."
She turned to go, holding her files and papers with balance and precision, her golden hair flying behind her.
She left. I turned to my wife. She was chewing her lip and pulling a stray thread on one of the pillows.
"Help me. I don't know the first thing about arranging a bloody Ball." Elodie would have been good at this - she would have enjoyed this. The distant memories still brought tears to my eyes.
"You have plenty of help," Edwina said, her voice reserved and detached. She was retreating into her shell again.
"But I want your help."
"No, Valmont. You don't," she said softly, trailing her fingers along the curve of my hard jaw. "No one needs my help. Anyone I try to help... it only becomes worse."
"Listen-"
"-no. I swear it. I know there was someone else in the room that night. I went to help Halette, Vincent accused me of stabbing her. I got the bottle of Avlebore for Amphitrite to help her. Eric accused me of poisoning her. I don't know what I will be blamed for next. So I'll just stay out of the way," Edwina explained, getting up and heading for the door.
"Woman," I called out. "You forgot your crown."
"I won't be needing it for much longer," she said, tone defeated. Without a second glance at the crown on her dresser, she left the room with her shoulders slumped.
A real man couldn't ever stand seeing his woman hurt.
I couldn't stand here and watch Edwina get hurt.
I couldn't stand here and watch the woman I loved get hurt.
And I knew, I knew deep down, that if something would have happened to me, Edwina would have gone to the ends of the world to save her High King.
Quietly, I picked a sheet of curled parchment off my desk and sharpened a jet black quill. After scratching a few words on the paper, I attached my imperial seal to it, and rolled it up. Opening the door to the study, I found Cressida, hovering over a plan of the castle.
"Make sure Eric gets this letter once I leave Stormholt," I dropped my voice and handed the sheet to her.
"What - what is this, your Grace?"
"A letter of resignation as High King, effective as soon as the clock strikes midnight during the Ball tomorrow," I said firmly - my voice unyielding, unceasing.
I would not make Edwina attend the Trial, knowing the verdict would be death. Not while I was alive. I would kill every last one of them - Thanatos, Helios, Eric - if it came to that.
"You love her," she whispered, her voice thick with the sorrow of departure.
"Yes," I replied, finally admitting the truth to myself. Even as I did so, a single tear dripped down Cressida's cheek.
• • • • •
KNAVESMIRE, DRACNESSE.
EDWINA
I changed my form, a slim lady with brown hair and brown eyes, roaming the streets of my beloved capital city. High above the volcano, my Castle beamed strong and proud, the phoenix atop the highest turret. I breathed in the scents of home, driving misery out of my mind. It felt a bit better. Knavesmire was a busy capital, with its extravagant markets. Far east, the Derwentwater sparkled in the afternoon light. Further east of the river, to its other side, would lie the wretched Kingdom of Normount, seat of House Everly. There were no beggars in Dracnesse, because a large portion of the money was given away every year in charity for them. It felt good, helping others.
Today, I was looking for something specific.
The air was heavy with the scents of lilac and pepper, sweetened by heady perfumes from Vertgate. A reminiscent smile lit up my face.
I spotted a vendor offering cups of his wares to anyone who would listen. "Taste my sweet reds," he cried, "one sip, and you will name your firstborn after me!"
"A thimble, please," I said politely. "How much will you take?"
He brought out a thimble of cut ivory, and I stood there, very well knowing what would happen next. He didn't know who I was, not with the disguise glamouring my real features.
"Five gold coins."
I pretended to be shocked, and covered my mouth.
"Five gold coins? That's preposterous."
His face immediately recoiled in anger.
"Are you calling my Queen a cheat, lady?"
At this, several people in the crowd turned around to see what was going on. I carefully disguised the smile on my face. I had, after all, set the prices in the markets. The man was following it, but I just wanted to see what people really thought about me.
"I'm saying that it is too much for a casket," I lied.
"You get out of Dracnesse at once, lady," a woman with a huge nose ring said. "I'll knock your fancy eyes out of your face. That's my noble Queen you're insulting!"
"Noble?" I snorted distastefully. "A Queen who murders children is noble, is she? You're fools, the entire lot of you."
"We've known her since she was child - nearly since four centuries. She is fair in justice and gentle at heart. She did not kill her sister's children," another man growled. "And if you dare say another word against her, I will lead you out of this market myself."
"And what about the Trial?" I asked, prolonging my words. "Your Queen is on probation, and is to attend her Trial in two days. What will you do once she dies?"
"You really think we'll let our Queen die while we are still alive?" the wine seller growled. "I'd gladly cut out your tongue for saying that!"
"What I'm saying is the truth," I hissed. "Once she dies and Drusilla Everly ascends in her place, what will you do then?"
The crowd spat.
"Never," a man said. "We know no Queen but the Queen of Dracnesse whose name is Tremayne."
And even as I turned my back to them and leave, I could not hide the proud smile on my lips, beaming at the loyalty of my people.
• • • • •
It was late afternoon by the time I returned to Stormholt. The air of depression hung about the Castle, making my miserable mood return. I had a huge tank of quartz glass in my hands.
I had a pair of goldfish once. They died, he had said.
Determined, I'd sought out stall after stall, concentrated on my task. Finally, I found a pair of small goldfishes. Blue Organda.
They were still young. There were too many of the orange and red colour, but I wanted a dark blue, because I knew Tristan liked the colour. Finally, I'd found those two little fellows, a beautiful soft gold, with dark blue streaks in their tails. I hoped he'd like it. I planned to get a large pool built inside our chamber so that they'd have a lot of space, and had paid the man thrice over for providing me with the rare breed.
The Castle was already wearing a new, expectant air. I entered the hall and found Hugo at once, cowering behind Cressida who was barking out orders for the workers to set up the dance floors.
"Hugo, have this sent up to the King's study at once," I ordered, relieving him. He gave me a thankful smile, and hurried away, balancing the huge tank in his hands.
I looked around.
Men were laying the floor for dancing in the hall. Some of the furniture was moved so that the long buffet tables could be placed against the wall. Celinette was directing them to task with around long list in her hand, and she saw me.
"Get out of my sight!" she shouted, eyes flashing.
"I'd be only too glad to!" I snapped, making my way into the terrace. Someone was putting up the rose lights on the balconies. Miriel was happily sitting beside one of the workers, chatting and merrily weaving a garland of marigolds.
In the rose garden, Celestina was strolling with my handmaiden, Ava. She was weaving her fingers through the blooms, tastefully blooming dusky blue orchids and snow white lilies. She looked up as I approached her, and nervously began to twirl a strand of her crimson hair around an idle finger.
"Hello, darling."
"Good afternoon," I muttered.
"What are you wearing to the Ball? It's a black tie event, you know," Celestina cooed.
"I don't know," I said, my voice faint. The only thing I could think about was the Trial the day after tomorrow. If I ran away, I'd be forever branded a coward. If I stayed, they'd surely sentence me to death.
Though I could... set everyone on fire.
In the background, the goddess of blooms was still babbling about her dress.
"...I got the seamstress to make the sweetest ballgown of chiffon and lace. Oh, you should just see the skirts - such lovely wisps of silk, like clouds of pure delight..."
"Yes, it sounds wonderful," I absentmindedly nodded my head, distant and very far away. "Excuse me, I must go-"
"-of course, my dear, you must try out one of those dresses..." she muttered away into the air as I moved out of the gardens.
The workmen were everywhere, talking of nothing else. Even the footmen and butlers lost their cool, everyone smarting from the intense heat. Stacks of envelopes and fresh vellum arrived with bottles of golden ink.
I found a quiet spot near the staircase, sitting down to write the invitations to the usual people - all the Houses, important officials, the separate gods and goddesses.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?"
Amphitrite and Vanessa came in, guest list in hand and eyed me with a blameful, critical gaze.
"I'm doing my job."
"It is not your job," Amphitrite snarled, shoving me out of the way and knocking my chair back so that it hit the floor.
"Neither is it yours!"
"We were called here to help," Vanessa spat, and she knocked the golden ink all over my carefully written letters. My sister tore up all the letters I had written and tossed the scraps on the floor.
"Get out. You ruin everything," she whispered. "Everything you touch."
My hand lingered on the hilt of my dagger, beating with hurt and anger. Then I turned on my heel and left.
Useless. I was useless.
Tristan never appeared himself, but I was aware of his voice continually. I heard it in the great hall, I heard on the parapet, I heard it on the staircase.
I didn't disturb him. I just stayed out of the way.
Eventually, dusk descended. The next day, at this time, would be the Ball. I had done nothing useful today. I sauntered about, like a ghost, staying away from everyone. Then, I slumped in a chair in Tristan's study and rested my head against the wall.
The Trial was in less than forty eight hours.
Miserable, I reached for a bottle of wine. I found an unopened bottle of triple malt whiskey in one of the drawers of his desk, something I could easily drown my sorrows in by hopefully passing out drunk.
I couldn't find a bottle opener anywhere, and I didn't want to break the bottle by smashing it on the wood.
I opened the door and magically found a handmaid nearby, dusting a painted vase.
"Your Grace," she said in a half familiar voice, "are you okay?"
I showed her the bottle in my hand.
She cheerfully smiled and produced a glass and bottle opener. She took the bottle, opened it and poured the whiskey out in a neat shot. Then she turned to me and handed me the glass.
"There you go, your Grace."
"Thank you," I said. "I've never seen you here before. What is your name?"
"Lucy, your Grace," she bowed, and left the room.
Instead of picking the small glass, my hands curled around the bottle and I brought it to my lips.
The whiskey was bitter, burning flames down my throat, and I gulped it down eagerly. It felt as though a forest fire was spreading through my stomach. I felt the buzz in my head getting stronger and slid to the floor, my back against the wall.
I picked the fully filled glass still waiting for me, for my temptation for alcohol clearly won me over. My fingers curled around the stem and I downed the entire glass of whiskey in a single sip.
It felt sort of strange. Was it because it had been standing there for so long?
I drank some more. I must have been really drunk, because my vision begun to blur. The world tilted sideways. I made no effort to move. It was quite warm and nice in the spot.
"You're drunk, aren't you?" a voice broke in. My sight hazed and I tried to make out who he was. Fair skin, lithe, tall, black hair, dark eyes.
It was just Tristan.
"Yes," I blurted.
"And just how drunk are you?" he asked, dropping to the floor beside me.
"Very," I said, suddenly bursting into a fit of giggles for no reason. He gave a slight smirk, then raised his hand, softly tracing the curve of my lips, like a horticulturist tending to his prize flower. Then he bent down to press my lips to his. I suddenly giggled again, my head fell out of the way as I drew myself up the wall.
"Quite feisty," he muttered, this time holding my head in place as my heart began to thump faster and faster of its own accord. His hands got lost in my hair as I flung my arms around his neck. Slowly, breathing heavily, he brushed his lips over mine. Why was he teasing me like this? Tristan knew I wanted him. He smelled a bit different today, for some reason I knew not. Like dark, damp earth and tangy metal. Not wild musk or leather.
Whatever.
I was just drunk, I knew.
Our hearts beat faster and he came closer, breathing anticipatory, and then he bent down to my lips.
Stop, my head suddenly warned me. There's something wrong, it seemed to say. But this was just Tristan. What could be wrong?
He pressed his lips to mine just a moment before I struggled to break free, getting a mouthful of the kiss as my resolve began to weaken again, then kept on ebbing as those eyes searched me.
Black eyes. Dark grey.
Not dark blue eyes.
The door opened and I screamed.
"NOOO!" I screamed, my shrieks loud and distant in the room. It was Tristan who standing in the doorway, a white hand curled tightly around the handle.
The man I had kissed. He looked like Tristan. But it wasn't Tristan.
I had kissed Llewellyn.
• • • • •
I fucking swear this book has so much drama, it could become a reality show or a soap opera lmao. EDWINA KISSED HER HUSBAND'S BROTHER. HOW DO YOU FORGIVE SOMEONE WHO DOES THAT?
He was planning on giving up his title and crown for her and THIS HAPPENS.
I told you shit was gonna blow up.
Btw, the part about Tristan's dead goldfishes came from me... I had three fishes and they died :( and I cried so much *sob* like everyone and everything in this book comes from little parts of me - that's why this story is so special to me ❤❤
BTW, WE REACHED NINETY THOUSAND READS OMG!!