Boris turns toward Kyff and smiles. “Kyffin? How are your lessons coming along?”
My baby brother lights up as if he has been handed a vat of ice cream. “Very well, my king, I’m becoming quite proficient in fencing.”
I’m so proud of that lad. He has more determination in his little finger than I have in my whole being.
Although he speaks to Kyffin, the king’s gaze remains on me. “I believe it’s time you put your sword away and join us for meetings in the council chamber.”
Kyff’s face loses its rosy hue, and tears swim in his eyes when he nods. “Yes, my king.”
I slam the bottle back onto the table. How dare he bring our baby brother into this. Boris shouldn’t be taking out his frustrations on Kyff. He should be taking them out on me. Taking away the boy’s training is akin to stabbing him through the heart. Kyff lives for his time spent in the ring. He hasn’t missed a single day since he was allowed to attend his first session three years ago.
The sound of the bottle meeting the table makes one of the servants across the hall flinch. Average height. Thin build. She could be the same woman from the other day, but then again, so could the other two on either side of her.
Boris nudges my boot with his. “Did you hear the princess?”
Had the princess spoken? I was too busy watching that servant. “Sorry, no.” Ignoring the Nimbiss Minister oozing sneery-faced judgment, I turn toward the princess. “What did you say?”
Her deeply tanned cheeks flush bright pink. “I simply inquired about your day.”
My day is none of her business. “My day was fine.”
She smiles as if those four words are the most interesting words she has ever heard. “That is wonderful to hear. Your king says the gardens are lovely this time of year.”
I wouldn’t know because I haven’t been to the gardens in forever.
“Would you like to accompany me for a picnic tomorrow?” she asks.
“I despise picnics.” I’d rather bathe in boiling oil.
Leeri’s smile falters.
“You must excuse my brother, he is in a foul humor today,” Boris says to the princess with another nudge to my foot. “I am certain he will wake in a better mood tomorrow and would be delighted to accompany you. Isn’t that right, Senan?”
Can’t he give me a break for one fucking day? “It would be my honor.”
I nod dutifully to everything else the princess says, pretending a little better to be engaging in conversation with her when I’m really studying the servant across from me. Those masks are so inconvenient. How is one to know who is who? Do they wear them in the servants’ quarters as well?
When everyone at the table finishes, I watch the maid as she clears the dishes, carries them through the servant’s door, and then returns for more. She looks exactly the same as all the other servants, and yet…
And yet there is something different.
I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.
Boris orders me to join the other men in the drawing room for cigars and after dinner whiskies—although I’m certain he’ll withhold the latter. Probably for the best, all things considered. I don’t want to escort mydarlingbetrothed to the gardens tomorrow with a hangover and end up puking in the roses. Although, that could work in my favor. If I disgust her enough, maybe she’ll call the whole thing off.
As much as I despise the princess, she does provide me with the perfect excuse to avoid joining the king right away. “If it’s all right, I’d like to bring the princess to her chambers.”
From the way Leeri’s face brightens, you’d swear I just confessed my undying love for her.
The king stands and tosses his serviette onto the table. “An excellent idea. We will see you shortly.”
He won’t see me at all, but that is a problem for tomorrow.
Leeri takes my arm, but shaking her off isn’t an option. We make it all the way to the door before something catches my eye. At the head of the table, a maid has stopped, presumably to watch us exit.Those damned masks. She isn’t the only one. She is, however, the only one wrenching her hands.
The guards hold open the doors, and we step into the breezeway. For some reason, Leeri insists on walking everywhere, which is incredibly irritating when one is in a rush.
“Are you exhausted after roaming around the castle today?” I ask. From her nattering over dinner, I learned that she spent the afternoon touring the rest of the castle’s five towers. Wonder if she saw all the doors and windows.