"I'm not eating anything she ordered to be prepared," I grumbled.
Prince Alaric chuckled as he helped me off the mare.
"She lived a different life—extravagance wasn't allowed where she was raised," he said. He didn't speak of her as a fiancée, but as an outsider under observation.
"You don't like her, do you?" I asked.
"Is it that obvious?" He tucked a stray hair behind my ear, his gaze searching mine. "I'm not allowed to have what others can. Not whoever I want. Not even freedom—because of the station I uphold."
"That's lonely," I whispered, taking a step back. Whatever this was—it wasn't safe.
He smiled faintly and continued walking toward the dining hall.
---
The royal dining room gleamed with golden sunlight streaming through towering white-paned windows. Just beyond them, flowers bloomed and trees swayed softly in the breeze. A long glass table stretched beneath a glittering lotus chandelier. Silken napkins embroidered with the royal crest were folded neatly beside porcelain plates rimmed with silver.
Servants glided across a maroon carpet, their steps barely audible. Grace bent to pick up a fallen napkin, handing it to a servant with a smile and a tap on the shoulder. She looked back at us and curtsied—so noble, so poised. Every time I saw her, unease crept up my spine.
The prince pulled out a chair for me, and I murmured a thank you. A plate of chilled melon soup was placed before me by a hand I knew too well. The ache in my chest returned.
"Thank you," I whispered.
He grunted.
I coughed and reached for a napkin, but a goblet of water was offered instead.
"Join us, William," the prince said, trying to mask his displeasure with charm.
A chair scraped beside me, the weight of his presence settling heavily. I could feel the glances he stole.
No one lifted a fork until the Crown Prince picked up his knife.
The pork rib was exquisite—the roasted meat smoky, the herbs and spices dancing across my tongue. At least she hadn't cooked it. I tried to suppress a moan of pleasure but failed.
The man beside me choked on his food. The Crown Prince flushed. Grace... Grace was not pleased.
"That was very unbecoming of you, Lady Iris," she scolded.
"I apologize," I said. They looked surprised. But I wasn't done. "The food just suits my palate. You should stay out of the kitchen, Grace."
More coughing. More flushed faces. And a scowl from across the table. Silence followed, broken only by the clinking of cutlery.
"Your Highness, I hope you enjoyed your outing today," Grace said sweetly.
"I did. My riding partner was extraordinary," the prince replied, eyes fixed on me.
I smiled and sipped from a silver chalice of wine. If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under. Grace's forced smile barely masked her fury.
"William told me about your accident," she began. What was she up to? "Galali must love you dearly—to save you from Galila's grasp."
I nodded slowly, shooting William a glare. He was already watching me, eyes silently pleading.
Grace was smirking. I didn't like it.
"You're living proof that Galali loves us all equally," she said, pushing peas around her plate.
What does she mean by that? I could tell where this was heading. Not here. Not now.
"You seem to be enjoying those peas. I don't recall you being a vegetarian," I countered.
"We're in the Week of Lamentations. Meat is abstained from—strictly," she replied.
The prince and William drifted into a conversation about security and politics. Meanwhile, I was under the gaze of a hawk.
"Rosa informed me of your escapades to the market," she said, loud enough for all to hear. The room fell quiet. "You're jeopardizing our safety. The Crown Prince's safety."
I looked at the prince. He didn't even flinch. He knew. I turned back to Grace and smirked.
I'd won—again.
William remained silent. Did he know too? I turned toward him—but his face had gone pale.
Suddenly, he shot up and rushed to Grace, who was choking. Chaos erupted as she coughed blood and collapsed. The prince and servants hurried to her side.
I tried to stand, but my legs felt numb. My temples throbbed. Then I heard it—
"Peninah Hartglow," a girl whispered inside my head.