The sky had cleared and the setting sun left a blazing red-orange haze in its wake. All the land to the west was cast in its warm glow, and I suddenly found myself jealous of the sun. It got to see the entire realm every day, every exciting event and person, settling in each night with a peaceful embrace by the land.
Swallowing hard, I looked away, remembering sunset also meant my father would be home soon—just in time to discover me missing.
Rushing to the tree line, I willed my legs to go as fast as they could carry me, darting under branches and hopping over roots. It was not long before I neared the estate and slowed to a jog to catch my breath. Trotting along the outskirts of the main trail, I reached the clearing outside my window, glanced left and right, and froze when a guard rounded the corner.
It was later than I thought.
The shift change had already happened, and they’d be setting the table for dinner, if not already seated. I waited, tapping my fingers on my thigh, as the guard strolled through the clearing—clearly not expecting any unwanted visitors because he walked right past me without a second glance. As he disappeared around the back, I sprinted to the vine and climbed faster than I ever had, flipping myself over the windowsill before the next guard rounded the corner.
Once inside, I ripped the sweaty clothes off and threw them in the bathing chamber. After years of training outside, come rain or shine, the maids were no strangers to finding disgusting clothing in my chamber, so they would think nothing of it.
Grabbing a rag, I wiped off as much filth as I could, stepping in front of the mirror to examine my face. Unruly hair and flushed cheeks were the only signs of exertion. Grabbing the small, wooden comb, I untangled my lengths and smoothed it, tucking the front strands behind my ears.
Staring at my reflection, I saw so much of my mother in me. The dark hair and eyebrows, soft cheekbones, large almond-shaped eyes. Unlike her bright blue eyes, however, mine were gray, and my mother adored it. I would sometimes catch her staring as if lost in thought, and when I would nudge her, she would just remind me of how beautiful they were. Leaning closer, traces of lighter gray and pale blue streaked my irises, the same subdued color of storm clouds.
Maybe that’s why I like rain so much,I chuckled to myself as I found my father’s favorite dress, just in case he beat me to the table.
It was a simple, loose-fitting periwinkle dress with petal sleeves. He had always loved this dress because it reminded him of the flowers that bloomed in the spring. When I was a child, he used to take me to play in the wildflower fields. We would run through the meadows, laughing and playing games. At the end of the day, he would bring out a treat that we would share as he told stories from his own childhood.
We used to be much closer before the war, but something changed in him, and our relationship changed with it.
I left as soon as I pulled the dress on, rushing to the dining room. As I turned the corner, I was met with the knowing eyes of my mother, sitting alone at the table with an abundance of food in front of her. Her plate was still empty, waiting.
“Hi, Mother.”
“Hi, darling. I noticed you weren’t in your bedchamber earlier,” she replied. “Where have you been?” she whispered, glancing at the doorway.
I quickly sat in the chair, leaning over the table to whisper back.
“I was at the library with Asha and I was completely safe. Nobody else was there, I just fell asleep reading a book,” I explained in a rush.
“So you didn’t see Finn, then? He came by looking for you, which is why I checked your rooms. I told him you might be at the library—against your father’s wishes I might add—and he promised he would find you and send you home,” she said, tilting her head, eyeing me. “If he were to mention anything about you being at the library to your father…”
Send me home? We weren’t even married yet and he already thought he could command me.
“I know, I know.” I waved my hand through the air. “And yes, I did see him. He found me sleeping and we talked briefly. I rushed home afterward hoping…”
She sighed, rolling her eyes.
“That you would beat your father to the table,” she finished for me and I nodded. “Did you smooth things over with Finn, at least?”
The question set my blood boiling again.
“Goddess, no. If anything, it’s worse. He helped Father plan this entire thing. He helped him spring it on me, or he knew he was going to, at least.”
Her eyebrows furrowed with sympathy.
“I’m—”
She stopped mid-sentence as Father walked in, his expression weary and shoulders slumped. He looked exhausted as he walked around the table, gave my mother a kiss on the head, and took his seat.
“Hi, dear,” she said.
“Sorry I’m late. It was a long day with King Adon,” he said, filling his plate.
“Is everything alright? What will be done about the disturbance at the border?” I asked.
He glanced at me before returning to his food.