“I like the one I chose just fine, thank you,” she said.
Luci rolled her eyes, but turned to stare at her best friend. Eyes dancing and cheeks flushed with excitement. Everything and more.
“I love you,” she said.
Brielle smiled, silver lining her eyes.
“I love you too,” she dipped her head and blinked several times. “I’m a bit nervous.”
Luci smiled and pressed a kiss to Brielle’s forehead.
“I’d be worried if you weren’t, but I know one thing to be undeniably true,” she said.
“What?” she asked.
“We can do hard things,” Luci said.
A long breath and a few stray tears later, Brielle nodded.
“All right, I’m ready,” she said.
Part of Luci wanted to steal a few more moments for herself and just to make Lucien squirm, but some things were unavoidable.
Together they strode hand in hand to where Lord Treveon waited in his finest clothes, his face flushed. He fiddled with his cuffs, but when he raised his eyes to see his only daughter walking towards him, emotion cracked over his face, and he’d never appeared more human. He held out her arms to Brielle, and she released Luci’s hand to run to him. He let out a small umph at the impact of her, which only showcased how strong Brielle was becoming.
Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he whispered in her ear, and she nodded. It was a beautiful moment despite all Lord Treveon was. Because one thing was true about him, ambition and entitlementaside, he loved his daughter. Luci could never hate someone who loved Brielle, no matter how much she might have wanted to.
Brielle pulled away and sniffed several times, working to steady her breath.
Giving her a reassuring smile, Luci made to step in front of them and join everyone downstairs, but Lord Treveon gently grabbed her arm. An instant wave of unease rushed through her, but when she turned, there was none of the malice in his eyes that she was used to.
He dipped his head.
“I’m sorry. For everything, I’m sorry. I was wrong, you were the cure after all,” he said.
Brielle wiped at tears beside him, but Luci found her mouth no longer moved. How many nights did she spend replaying his words until she was sick to her stomach? His hatred of her always a constant. He’d never shown her an ounce of kindness, and in many ways, Luci never felt entitled to it. Only Brielle ever mattered.
If she would have ever thought such a moment was possible, Luci likely would have imagined herself feeling relieved or validated, but none of that existed. Instead, it was a sort of indifference. She could respect Lord Treveon for his love as a father, but still see him for the man he was. Cruel to a child who didn’t deserve it. She also had to wonder if his remorse was because part of the consolation of Brielle losing her queenship was that Blythe would become the harvest center for the Midnight flower.
So she didn’t thank him or build a bridge between them. There were some things that simply were, and this was one of them. She dipped her head and gave Brielle one last smile before beginning her descent down the curved stairs. With each step, she saw herself a little more clearly. She’d done something impossible. With everyday, more pockets of magic erupted, asmall trace of something that didn’t quite make sense. Once a world without magic, she’d ignited a fire that was catching. Luci knew who she was now, and that was more than enough for her.
Music swelled with every step, violins and pianos playing in perfect synchrony. Once, Luci might have run the other direction if forced to be the sole attention of a ballroom, but not this day.
Because as she rounded the corner, guests divided between the aisles, Lucinda barely noticed them because there at the top, standing beside a nervous Lucien, was her prince. As handsome as could be in the crimson and gold of house Vencia. His hair perfectly combed and clean-shaven. Of course, he was always heart-stopping, but the way his eyes latched onto her and followed her every movement was a world all on its own.
When he swallowed hard, Luci fought back a smile. She’d been looking forward to seeing his reaction, and it was everything she’d hoped it would be. Afterall, her crimson dress inlaid with gold filigree was all for him. The prince who’d fought for her and never gave up on her. When Gladys insisted that she wear house Vencia colors, Luci refused. She was not married into the family, but of course, Brielle insisted, and well, no one should say no to a bride on her wedding day. After she agreed, she knew what it would mean to Ira to see her in them.
His.
She was his, and she was announcing it to the world tonight. As his and Ira’s engagement proved, a proclamation throughout the kingdom only meant so much, but for her to wear red and gold tonight meant she wasn’t changing her mind. She wasn’t running. Lucinda Blackthorn had found her prince, and the price was forever.
Holding his gaze like it was the very thing giving her life, Luci made her way across from him. The music stopped before picking up once more, a gentle caress that built as Brielleentered, all eyes on her. Except for two pairs. Two that only existed for each other.
So it was.
Watching from her chosen shadowy corner, Luci watched the celebration before her. After the ceremony, it was all chaos. Not even a chance to speak to Ira. For the most part, people were still wary of the servant girl who stole the heart of a prince. They hesitated to speak to her, but she could feel their eyes and whispers all the same. If she’d cared in the least bit, it would have been unsettling.
Mostly, she enjoyed watching Brielle dance and mingle like she was always meant to do. Exactly like she would have all those weeks ago if she’d gone to the ball instead of Luci, maybe things sometimes happened the way they should after all. From her vantage point, she could also watch Ira talking to the nobles and smoothing them over. There was no formal announcement to abdicate yet, but it was something they were still discussing.