“This is delightful! What a novel idea. It reminds me of summer,” the queen said.
Luci was drowning. All her favorite foods. It was too much. It was a feeling inside her stomach and chest that threatened to pull her under. Too much attention, too much thought, too much care. It was all too much.
She needed to leave. Needed to find some air.
“Now that we’ve eaten, I think it’s time for our formal announcement for tonight’s celebration.” Lord Treveon said.
The sound of a spoon clattering onto the table drew everyone’s attention, and Luci realized her error.
Beside Lucien, Brielle was paler than before, and just at the bridge of her nose was a scattering of red dots. More than that, her hand shook.
Luci stood, ignoring everyone else. Brielle waved her away and shook her head.
“It’s nothing, I was just clumsy, that's all, I’m fine,” she insisted.
Lie after lie. Luci’s heart thrummed against her chest.
“Do you want-”
“Actually, I could do with a small walk after all that lovely food. Ira, would you-”
Brielle didn’t have to finish the sentence before the prince was up and at her side. Brielle placed her hand in his, and the lines of veins in her arm strained from the effort she was forcing to keep from shaking.
“Brielle,” Luci began.
“She is fine, you heard her.” Lord Treveon said.
Prince Ira shot him a look that promised retribution, and Brielle’s father sank back into his chair, though a thin bead of sweat formed at his temple. It was his greatest fear coming true.If this progressed as it inevitably would, everyone would know of Brielle’s illness.
As she stood, she wrapped an arm around Luci and pulled her into a hug. Her body was on fire, and Luci’s heart dropped straight into her stomach. Dread coiling tighter and tighter.
“I’m going to make it right. You deserve to be happy,” she whispered into Luci’s ear.
It was as poor an omen as could be. She reached for Brielle, but she and Prince Ira were already stepping away, the servants opening the gilded doors for them. If staring could have brought them back, she would have successfully convinced Brielle to go to the infirmary. As it was, she could at least get Noah and warn him.
“How unusual,” Annabeth murmured.
“Indeed,” answered her father.
Luci became aware that she was standing awkwardly just as Lord Treveon grabbed her arm, his grip like iron steel.
“Best to sit and wait for them,” he said.
His tone was light, but pain erupted from where he gripped her just under the table so no one else would notice.
“Yes, come sit back with me, Brielle. I need to know all about the work you do holed up in the infirmary. It sounds like torture,” Lucien said, gesturing to her chair.
Lord Treveon finally released her, and she wrapped her hand around the mark lest anyone see. As she took a seat, Lucien leaned in and made a small humming noise.
“Better not let Ira see that or old Treveon is going to find himself a head shorter,” he turned his head and whispered.
“Maybe we should retire for the night. It must have been the meal, but I find I am particularly sleepy.” Gladys said.
Both her parents eyed her suspiciously, but the King nodded.
“It does seem like our reason for celebrating absconded without us,” he said.
“Best not to celebrate prematurely.” Queen Alexia murmured.