Rhodolite had already been almost two months without a sovereign, and, although the coronation ceremony had taken up to a year’s worth of preparation in times past, it couldn’t wait that long this time. Complicating matters further was the added difficulty of coordinating with Sariel. Ivetta’s introduction to high society would occur at the coronation, and so he would be giving her lessons in addition to planning the ceremony and completing his other usual tasks. The day after Belle signed the King’s Proclamation, Ivetta was hard at work in lessons all morning. Sariel met with me over lunch, while she was on a short break being measured by the seamstresses for a new wardrobe. He and I had less than an hour to confer before he resumed her tutelage for the afternoon.
I had my own work to resume after lunch, but one matter of particular importance demanded my attention before I returned to my office. Thus, I went to see the seamstresses with the sketch I’d made of Ivetta’s gown for the coronation. As I’d expected, they were surprised to see me. I was not expecting them to volunteer advice regarding the design.
“I like those sleeves, but she’ll need long sleeves to hide the scars,” one of them said thoughtfully.
“No, long sleeves wouldn’t do with this design,” another interjected. “Long gloves ending past the elbow, about here, should cover everything.”
“The neckline should be fine on the front, but it’ll need to be higher on the back to hide that gash.”
“And she’ll need silk stockings, too, for when she’s dancing. She wouldn't want anybody to see the scars on her legs when she’s twirled about.”
It was enough to make me want to dig Baron Flandre up from his grave, chop him into little pieces, and burn him.
“Do what seems best,” I said coolly, handing off the sketch. “Did you measure her for gloves?”
The first one looked up from the sketch and giggled. “Of course we did, Prince Chevalier. How else were we going to get her ring size for you?”
And, just like that, Flandre’s body was peacefully abandoned to the grave as my mood was lifted back into the clouds. News traveled quickly in the palace. I hadn’t asked for her ring size at all, but there was a distinct satisfaction in knowing that at least some were already accepting of her as my partner and anticipating me taking the next step with her. Not all would be as welcoming, of course, but it stood to reason that the servants she worked with and befriended would wish her well.
The head maid was probably quite distressed, however, at the prospect of her least favorite maid suddenly in a position of power over her. Fortunately for her, Ivetta was not the spiteful kind.
“Hey, Chev, you got a package this morning,” Clavis announced when I returned to my office. “It’s there on your desk.”
I could see that, but he was trying to get me to say more. The small box, wrapped in plain brown paper, was unlabelled and unassuming. I picked it up and tucked it into an inner pocket of my cloak as I took my seat.
“Aren’t you gonna open it?” Luke asked, grinning broadly.
“No. There is work to be done,” I said coolly.
“Hm, what a shame. I was hoping you’d tell us how everything went yesterday, after you whisked Ivetta from the gardens and disappeared,” Nokto mused, his crimson eyes glittering.
I sighed and sat back in my chair, glancing at each one of them. They were all leaning in, practically holding their breath.
I shrugged and smirked. “As well as could be expected. Now find something productive to do or leave.”
Better than expected, actually, but they didn’t need to know any details. And I certainly wasn’t going to show them the ring. They could wait to see it on her finger after the coronation ball.
Evening came, and I hadn’t seen her all day. It was late. She should be asleep, especially since she was still recovering. But my feet carried me to her room, just in case, and I was pleased to see the light shining through the crack at the bottom of the door. I reached into my pocket for the key, but one of the guards cleared his throat.
“It’s unlocked,” he said, staring straight ahead.
“Under whose orders?” I asked sharply.
“Hers,” he replied, trying not to smile.
I knocked on the door, also trying not to smile. A princess for less than a day, and she was already taking charge of her guard detail.
“Come in,” she called.
She was still dressed, seated on the sofa with a book in hand, and she smiled as soon as she saw me. I sat down beside her and plucked the book out of her hands. She shouldn’t be staying up late studying.
“How are you feeling?” I asked as I flipped through the pages. This must be assigned reading by Sariel. It was a book about etiquette.
“A bit sore, but not too bad.”
I set the book on the sofa on my other side, away from her. “Don’t push yourself too hard,” I warned, studying her face for signs of pain or exhaustion.
“I’ll try not to,” she said. She hadn’t been able to stop smiling since she first saw me. “But there’s so much to learn, and I need to be ready for the coronation ceremony.”
The coronation ceremony couldn’t be further from my mind, not when she was looking at me like that. I leaned in and kissed her gently, thrilled by her eager response. “You’ll be ready, little dove.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in closer for another kiss. When our lips finally parted, she rested her head on my chest with a sigh.
“Could you take me to Mother’s grave someday, Chevalier?” she asked quietly.
Not what I’d expected her to say at this moment, but I knew she’d ask eventually.
“Of course. I expect you’ll want to visit the Hill of Remembrance as well,” I replied.
She nodded. “He introduced himself to me. Alyn Crawford. He was very nice.”
She snuggled closer to me, undoubtedly seeking comfort as she remembered the night of her abduction. A night I did not want her thinking about. Guiding the conversation away from that should be easy enough, and I knew exactly how to distract her, too. I kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of lilacs that perfectly suited her.
“It was a relatively quick and painless death,” I reassured her. “But I don’t think you’re ready for that walk yet.”
“No, probably not,” she murmured, relaxing against me as I brushed her hair back behind her ear and trailed my fingers lightly down her cheek.
“We could take a carriage down to the village, but I don’t want anyone else with us when I take you to your mother’s grave.” I tilted her chin up and kissed her again.
“Chevalier…”
My methods were working a bit too well. The breathless way she said my name, the rosy glow in her cheeks - it was all I could do to hold myself back. She was still healing, still fragile.
“Horseback riding will be part of your curriculum. We’ll go on my horse when you’re ready,” I said, barely able to finish before I had to kiss her again. I’d been craving the sweet taste of her lips all day, and now that I was free to indulge, I couldn’t get enough.
“How much longer?” I asked impatiently when our lips finally parted.
“The doctor said it usually takes six to twelve weeks for broken bones to heal, but I’ve been healing very quickly,” she said, laying her head on my chest again as I pulled her even closer.
“Two weeks, then.” I ran my fingers through her hair, repeating the words in my mind. I could wait two more weeks. “We’ll go to the Hill of Remembrance first to be sure you can handle that. Blade gives a smooth ride, but it will still be more jostling than walking.”
She giggled. “You named your horse Blade?”
“Why is that so amusing, little dove?”
“I guess I just wouldn’t expect you to even bother naming him.”
I chuckled. “Why shouldn’t I name him when I trained him?”
She pulled back to look up at me, her green eyes wide with surprise. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Yes.” I leaned in and kissed her again. “I can’t resist you.”
She blushed deeper. “You shouldn’t tell me something like that, Chevalier. I might take advantage of your devotion.”
I smirked. “And how do you intend to do that?”
“Well,” she started, deliberately moving away from me and putting her hand to her chin thoughtfully, “I think I’ll start with something simple. Like making you bring the flowers this time.”
I sat back, draping my arm across the sofa as I watched her. This mischievous, teasing side of her was always interesting. “Any particular arrangement?”
“Hm.” She slid toward me again, leaning in to whisper into my ear. “A big bouquet of red roses.”
The heat of her breath on my ear was too much. I dropped my arm to her shoulders, preventing her from pulling back. “Is that all you want from me, little dove?” I asked softly, drawing closer to her sparkling green eyes.
“There’s another thing you can’t do,” she said, giggling again. “You can’t resist teasing me.”
“I can, actually,” I said, my lips almost touching hers. “I just prefer not to.”
And then I kissed her again. The way her lips parted so easily, the soft moan she breathed into my mouth - if she was going to keep responding to me like this, I was going to find it very difficult to leave. Which I needed to do. She needed her sleep, and I needed to prepare for my departure tomorrow.
A few more minutes wouldn’t hurt anything, though.
When I finally released her, she laid her head against my chest with a contented sigh. I didn’t like the thought of leaving her, but she was safe in the palace, with her own guard detail supplementing the protection of my brothers. She would be fine. And it would only be a few days for a routine inspection. I really needed to tell her. But words would shatter this moment, the comfortable silence, her soft form cuddled up against me, and I couldn’t bring myself to say them.
“Chevalier,” she finally said, her quiet voice barely disturbing the calm, “how much did you know about Mother’s illness?”
She had far too many negative thoughts when left to her own devices.
“Quite a lot.”
She pulled back to look up at me. “Did I…did I do the right thing? I know she needed twenty-four-hour care, but I was afraid to move her. Maybe I should have let Sariel bring her here.” As she spoke, her eyes drifted away from mine, her hand clutching at my shirt involuntarily.
It was true that her home conditions were not ideal, but that house had been immaculate, and I had no doubt that she’d seen to it that her mother’s care was never lacking. At the very least, she had driven herself into the ground, denying herself food and sleep to provide for her mother’s every need.
“You did nothing wrong,” I reassured her softly, catching her chin and tilting it up so she met my eyes again. “The doctor was adamant that she couldn’t handle a move.”
“I didn’t know you’d looked into it,” she said, surprised.
I smiled, my thumb stroking her cheek fondly. “I began looking into you to ensure you had no connection to the elusive informant. Once I’d confirmed your innocence in that matter, I decided to further investigate your situation. My intention was to move your mother into the palace while you were at work, thereby forcing you to stay so I could have you working for me at all hours while also keeping you off the streets. When I learned the details of her illness, I realized that wouldn’t be possible.” I chuckled wryly. “I only paid the bill out of a sense of frustration that I couldn’t do more for you.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize,” she said, stunned by my confession. “I couldn’t figure out why you paid that bill. That’s why I was up late that night when I met Leon in town. I couldn’t sleep thinking about it.”
I smirked. “You need your sleep, so perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but I’ve paid off the rest of the bill, too.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” she protested with that characteristic blush.
“No, but I wanted to. And I’ve sold your house as well.” I leaned in and kissed her. “I took care of everything, little dove.”
She frowned at me. “Chevalier, please-”
I silenced her with a finger on her lips. “It’s not charity. It’s a gift for my princess.”
She really was adorable when she blushed like this. I pulled my finger away, but that rosy glow tempted me to come closer.
“I still don’t understand any of this,” she said in a small voice.
I kissed her gently. “You are a foolish little dove, and you have fought me far too long on this matter. I want to take care of you, Ivetta.”
There was something new in her gaze, something even more enticing than usual. “Do you know what it does to me when you call me by my name?” she asked softly.
I caught her chin with my fingers. “Tell me.”
“I don’t know that I can,” she said shyly. “But maybe this will give you the idea.” She leaned in and kissed me, her movements nervous and tentative. My hand slid around to the back of her neck, cradling her head as I pulled her in closer and deepened the kiss. We were both breathless when I finally released her.
“You have more than proven your worth, Ivetta,” I said, drawing each syllable out deliberately, rewarded by the warmth in her eyes. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to say your name?”
“Why didn’t you?”
I smirked. “It was too dangerous.”
“It’s just a name, Chevalier.”
“No, it’s not. It’s your name. And once I’d said it, I’d have to do this.” I kissed her again, a long, deep, passionate kiss. “Now do you understand?”
She nodded, taking a minute to catch her breath. “That would have interfered with my work a bit,” she finally said.
I chuckled. “All the while you were torturing yourself, thinking you had to leave, I was torturing myself by saying your name when you were in no state to handle such a kiss.”
“So, that’s what’s going on. You’re making up for lost time,” she teased.
“I’ve been holding back for so long, I may never catch up.” I sighed, cupping her cheek in my hand. “But I’m also leaving tomorrow, and I’ll be gone for a few days.”
“Why?” she asked, her green eyes suddenly concerned.
“I have neglected my family’s estate due to a preoccupation with recent events. There are a few routine matters to attend to, and then I’ll return.”
She tilted her head to the side slightly. “Your family’s estate?”
I smiled at her blissful innocence. It really was unfortunate that she’d have to learn more about the complicated lives of the nobility. I’d much rather prefer her to stay as she was.
“Rhodolite is divided into territories, all of which are governed by my brothers and I. The Michel family estate is within my jurisdiction. My mother was an only child, and her parents are dead. I may not live there anymore, but I still have responsibilities and business interests to oversee,” I explained patiently.
She sighed. “I have a lot to learn, don’t I?”
I leaned in and kissed her gently. “And you will. It is understandable that this would come as a surprise to you. The past two months have kept me busy at the palace, but I normally leave for various inspections on a regular basis.”
“So, I’m going to see less of you,” she summarized sadly.
“Which is why it is all the more important for you to listen to your guards,” I said sternly. She hadn’t argued about her guard detail yet, but it was only a matter of time. She was already telling them to leave her door unlocked. “The one you will see most frequently is Julius, one of Leon’s knights, but you will always have at least two around you. Julius is the head of your guard detail and will see to your safety in my absence.”
She blushed with embarrassment. “I really don’t like having them follow me around all the time.”
“I really don’t care,” I replied firmly, finding the cuff of her sleeve and pushing it up. Numerous scars were plainly visible, much to my displeasure. I traced my fingers along her soft skin, feeling the slight elevations where scar tissue marred her appearance. “This will not happen again.”
She brushed my hand away and pulled her sleeve back down. “Okay, you’ve made your point. I’ll behave while you’re gone.”
“Good.” I leaned in to kiss her one last time, and then I stood up reluctantly. “I’d like you to wear the dress I gave you when I take you to your mother’s grave.”
“The one with the green skirt?” she asked.
“I hope you didn’t keep the other one,” I said teasingly, though the memory of those blood-stained, tattered rags was not a laughing matter.
“I thought at first that you borrowed it from Belle,” she said, standing up.
“You and Belle do not have the same measurements. I bought it for you, at the same time I ordered the green dress, when you were asleep in my bed. And you should be asleep in bed now.” Although I was hoping she’d ask me to stay again. Especially since her deepening blush was so enticing. My comment about her measurements was likely to blame for that. I’d never taken a tape measure to her, but I’d certainly stolen enough glances when she wasn’t looking to make an educated guess.
“You did so much for me that day, and I don’t know that I ever thanked you properly,” she said, smiling shyly. I stood still, my heart hammering in my chest as she put her hands on my shoulders and stood up on tiptoe to give me a soft kiss. “Thank you, Chevalier.”
No invitation, then, just a simple show of appreciation that elicited a very complicated reaction from me. I didn’t even realize what I was doing until I felt her pressed up against me, my arms wrapped tightly around her waist. “Not good enough,” I breathed, just before I captured her lips with mine. She slid her arms around my neck, her heart pounding against mine. So sweet, so soft, so irresistible. She finally pulled back to take a breath, and only the increased effort of her breathing kept me from kissing her again.
“Do you think you can do it properly next time?” I asked breathlessly.
She nodded, unable to speak, her cheeks deeply flushed.
“Good.” I kissed her forehead and released her. “Goodnight, Ivetta.”
“Wait,” she said, stopping me mid-turn. “If that’s what you want for a thank you, would you mind holding off on getting me anything until I’m completely healed?”
I smirked and poked her forehead lightly. “I will take your suggestion into consideration, but I make no promises.” Not with the prospect of seeing that dreamy look in her eyes again.
“Then I’d better get my rest so I can heal quickly. Goodnight, Chevalier.”
Another cold bath tonight, followed by an agonizing few days away from her. But she was safer here in the palace than out on the road with me, even if she were healthy enough for me to consider bringing her along for the journey. Not that Sariel would allow that. He would be keeping her busy with lessons from sunrise to sunset every day until the coronation, to be sure she would be sufficiently equipped for her presentation to the nobility. At least she wouldn’t be lonely, with her new maid, Theresa, keeping her company.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu2hAFt9Nc
