Maylene stomped around the pavilion in a foul mood while Ereliara sat quietly, gazing out over the neat rows of glowing purple and blue flowering hedges.
Abruptly, Maylene stopped and turned toward her.
“I won’t marry him.”
“Mother can’t make me.”
“You haven’t even met him,” Ereliara replied calmly.
“I don’t need to!”
“You do.”
“Easy for you to say, Lia,” Maylene whined.
“You’re not the one being forced to marry someone you’ve never met.”
“He’s… nice.”
Amalica beamed.
“He’s really nice!”
“He’s like Lia.”
“And his father is like a hero! A legend!”
“I wish Lia was marrying him!”
Both girls shot him an unamused look.
Amalica seemed completely oblivious and continued rambling.
“Mother said he fought a monster crab out in the Under-realm! That must’ve been so cool! I wish I could’ve been there!”
A flicker of concern crossed Ereliara’s mind.
Was he alright?
Did he get hurt?
She frowned.
…Why does that matter?
Maylene scoffed.
“Yeah, I heard about that.”
“Sister kept going on about how well he did. How he saved one of his friends like some great young hero.”
“If he’s so great, she should just marry him and save me the trouble,” she grumbled.
“This way, Lord Helvindar,” a servant said, leading Keldras toward the garden pavilion.
Keldras felt thoroughly miserable.
He had been forced into formal clothing that felt impossibly restrictive.
The fabric clung too tightly, the collar scratched at his neck, and every step reminded him how uncomfortable the outfit was.
A bright smile spread across Amalica’s face as he spotted him.
Ereliara couldn’t suppress the small smirk tugging at her lips when she saw the obviously uncomfortable young man.
Maylene, meanwhile, merely glowered.
Keldras managed a polite smile as he took a seat across from Maylene and beside Amalica.
Before anyone else could speak—
“What was the crab like?”
“Was it big?”
“How scary were the claws?”
“Brother,” Ereliara said, touching Amalica’s arm to stop the barrage of questions.
“It was… heavy,” Keldras answered, unsure how to respond.
Maylene scoffed.
“Heavy?”
“That’s not an answer. That’s a weight.”
“It was… heavy,” she mocked.
What’s her problem!?
Saphira had already decided she hated this girl.
Ereliara shot Maylene a look before lifting her cup and taking a polite sip.
“Are you okay?” she asked Keldras.
He’s stupid.
“Inconvenienced,” Keldras answered honestly.
“Kronin got hurt.”
Still?
he thought.
He casually lifted his glass and took a sip.
Definitely.
Maylene continued glaring at him.
Keldras looked her over.
Overdressed.
Expensive jewelry.
Entitled attitude.
Exactly as Rianna described.
She’s got issues.
Why is she staring at me like that?
I’m obviously not going to accept, Keldras thought.
“How’d he get hurt?”
“Did he get pinched?” Amalica asked, his face a mask of wonder.
That idiot.
Keldras couldn’t argue with that.
Trying to parry the claw of a massive crab had been foolish.
“Slammed.”
“Into rocks.”
Maylene stared at him incredulously.
“Are you always like this?” she asked.
Then she turned to Ereliara.
“Is he always like this?”
“Mostly,” Keldras and Ereliara answered in unison.
Maylene quietly simmered.
Does he think it’s such a sure thing?
she thought.
He’s from Blackspire.
Me, just a step below royalty.
He’s not even trying.
“Do you even want this?” she finally asked.
“No,” Keldras replied.
Maylene blinked.
“Wait… what?”
Silence.
Amalica looked between them.
Saphira starts laughing.
“Not interested.”
“The Queen suggested it.”
“Didn’t ask me.”
Keldras shrugged.
I think you broke her.
Maylene simply stared at him, her expression blank.
Amalica shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Ereliara quietly dabbed at the table with a handkerchief, pretending to wipe away a drop of tea to hide her amusement.
The tension slowly drained from Maylene’s face.
He’s so weird, she thought.
The group quietly finished their tea before setting out for a walk through the garden.
Amalica’s attention was immediately drawn to a cluster of glowing white moon butterflies.
He hurried after them, trying to gently cup one in his hands.
Conversation came easier now.
Keldras studied the plants as they walked.
At first, he’d assumed they were nothing more than decorative flowering hedges, but they contained a surprising variety of species.
He ran his fingers along the leaves of one shrub.
They were sharp.
Gloomleaf shrub, Saphira observed.
Yes.
Good for digestion.
Ereliara watched him quietly.
Keldras slowed to a stop.
Ahead, an enclosure bordered on three sides by neatly trimmed hedges sheltered a small private garden within the larger one.
Three carefully tended rows of rose bushes.
He stepped closer.
The petals were white with the faintest blue sheen, reminding him of moonlight.
Moon roses.
Keldras silently acknowledged the observation.
Behind him, Ereliara shifted uncomfortably.
Keldras noticed the movement.
“Won’t touch.”
“Just looking.”
“Beautiful.”
Warmth spread through Ereliara’s chest.
She had planted, pruned, and cared for the roses herself.
The simple compliment pleased her more than she expected.
He really is kind.
“You know them?” she asked.
Keldras nodded.
“Hard to care for.”
Especially underground, he thought.
Ereliara smiled despite herself.
Maylene noticed.
Keldras truly is strange, she thought.
Ereliara had warmed to him surprisingly quickly.
She still had no interest in marrying him, but perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to get to know him a little better.
“You’re really not interested?” she asked.
“Should I be?”
“Most people would.”
“I’m a Ken’rahel.”
Sure thinks a lot of herself.
Ereliara’s smile faded back into her usual composed expression.
Is she disappointed now?
she wondered.
Keldras simply shrugged.
He really is strange.
…Maybe Lia was right.