“All right, now that you are clean, tell me absolutely everything. If you leave out one single detail, I’ll know,” she said, narrowing her eyes at Luci.
So Luci told her about maps, mountains, Calcifer’s adventure, Inns, and fairy godmothers. She told her about a puzzle piece and a soul-mate. Despite her best intentions, Luci wouldn’t confess the state Brielle was in when she returned, but she did tell her of magic flowers and healing potions. When she was through, Brielle had eaten all of the strawberries, a block of cheese, and half a loaf of bread. More food than she’d consumed in an entire day before.
“I told you fairy godmothers were real,” she said with a wide grin.
Luci’s heart felt light in her chest. “That was your takeaway from all of that? That you were right?”
Brielle scrunched up her nose and pursed her lips. “Obviously.”
Midnight, it felt good to laugh without guilt or worry. The world was right.
“Of course it was,” she murmured, taking a sip of tea that Brielle insisted on making.
“However, there was one thing missing from your entire story. If I didn’t know better, I
would have thought you went on the quest all alone and not with a handsome, charming prince.”
Luci snorted into her tea, choking on its warmth as she fought for breath.
“Midnight, you are insufferable,” Luci said, setting down the cup. “Are you referring to your fiancé?”
Brielle frowned, eyes darting over Luci’s face, searching for the deception.
“Is that what he said?” she asked.
“I was there when he proposed, or did you forget?” Luci countered, taking a terrible delight in torturing her.
Pressing her lips together, Brielle narrowed her eyes as Luci. Thinking over scenarios in her head. Calculating. Finally, her face smoothed over, and she gave a little hum.
“Where is my fiancé, anyway? He must have been very worried. I wonder if he will agree to move up the wedding after all of this. I should probably call for him.”
Luci forgot she even had a heart to beat. In fact, her stomach climbed into her chest and swallowed it entirely whole. It was a crushing sort of sensation that eroded everything Luci thought she knew. Sitting there, carrying on, thinking she knew where Brielle’s heart lay, just to find out she knew absolutely nothing.
“Ha!” Brielle pointed a finger at her. “Lucinda Blackthorn, were you trying to tease me just now?”
And just like that, her stomach spat out her heart, and she realized that there was no point in trying to outmaneuver Brielle.
“Maybe I wouldn’t have if you weren’t always scheming behind my back.” Luci huffed out a breath.
The grin Brielle wore was life-giving.
“So are you done pretending like you aren’t madly in love with Ira? It’s been killing me the way you act like you don’t care whenI know you better than I do. You were smitten the minute you met him. He was with you as well, of course. In fact, I felt very bad about continuing our engagement when he was obviously tortured; however, I knew you would be too stubborn to admit a single iota of emotion, so I kept up the ruse, hoping that with enough time, you would give in. The night of the dinner, though, I simply couldn’t keep it up. I was going to tell him everything and let him convince you not to be a stubborn idiot, but then I got sick. Right before you left, I confessed everything, and when I tell you that man looked more relieved and tortured than should have been possible. I hoped he’d convince you on your quest and tell you everything, but he was so afraid of you running that I wasn’t sure if he would.” She finished with a loud gulp of air before beaming up at Luci. “Anyways, please don’t be mad, I love you.”
Luci stared at the small creature before her. The wicked and impossible creature who was more a fairy godmother than her actual one. Scheming and plotting all without thought for the consequences. All because she had a vague sense that Luci was interested in a man. A ridiculous and elaborate scheme that involved many people, including a royal family. Even now, there was absolutely no shame to be found anywhere on her. Instead, she folded her arms and waited patiently with a smile on her lips.
She leaned forward and tapped Luci on the shoulder.
“This is the part where you say thank you,” she said.
Thank you. Thank you? Thank-
“What?” Luci sputtered.
Brielle rolled her eyes and flopped back on the bed dramatically. Calcifer also huffed out an equally annoyed sigh as he moved to the edge of the bed and resumed his nap.
“I can’t believe you are still in denial, Lucinda Blackthorn. You know, I knew it the moment you came home. It was in your eyes,and so the minute I heard he was on his way and announced your engagement already,” she sat up and pointed a finger at Luci, “Which, by the way, might be the most romantic thing to ever happen. I mean, the fact that he knew you were his person from one ball.”
Brielle flopped back on the bed, and all Luci could do was watch it all happen like she was at the theater.