by s. Behr
Even more amazing to me, was how he and Ameli managed to fall in love while running after me all these years. “You deserve to be happy.” I grinned.
“Thank you, Your Highness. Now, if I want to give Ameli the wedding of her dreams, I had better get you to the banquet on time.”
“Is she still mad at me?” I asked, still feeling the prick of her sewing needles.
“She was never mad. She was scared. Those emotions can look very similar. But since you spent most of this week barely conscious and drowning in princesses, I think I can let it slide that you failed to perceive the difference. Although, I had thought I trained you better than that.” He winked and called for the lift.
My lips curved, happy that at least one thing hadn’t changed. Rall was still someone I trusted, and hope inside me blossomed.
We made our way to the ballroom, and when the lift doors opened, I expected to see an empty lobby. To my dismay, it was completely full. I had never been so grateful Rall was such an enormous man. When he stepped to the left, everyone cleared a path, not seeing the princess hiding behind him. We entered the ballroom through the rear entrance closest to the head table.
“We’re late,” I said, chewing my lip.
“I think they will understand this once,” Rall said as he continued toward the dais.
As with most banquets, there were small formalities, traditions to be followed so that most of us would know what to do, even if you were lucky enough to be seated at the table farthest from the spotlight. This banquet, although different in many ways, began as they all did, with the receiving of guests. My feet hurt just looking at the line as we approached.
As was customary, the royal houses that were in attendance came first. The order was always the same, monarchs, then family, then the guests they brought from their courts. After that, the ruling monarch of that house would join the rest of us to also begin receiving guests, while their lucky families and friends would take their seats.
My parents, along with High King and Queen Asher, were already receiving the Ameran Courts as I tiptoed to join on the lowest level where the dais began, and the aisle ended. On the far side, I noticed that Prince Leo and his brother, Prince Siri were on time, already shaking hands. A flush warmed my cheeks as I hoped no one had noticed my tardiness.
I took my place next to my father, relieved to have him as a buffer between my mother and me, as much as I was thankful to be as far away from the Asher princes as possible. I straightened my shoulders and put on the best princess mask I could rally, gazing out at the hundreds of people already in line. I straightened my spine and tried to remember everything that Hailey had drilled in my head. Regardless, I was as ready as I would ever be.
“Ah, here she is,” my father beamed. “Your Majesty, may I present my daughter, Violet.”
I curtsied. “Forgive me, Queen Helena. I apologize for my late arrival. I had a little trouble with some jewelry choices.”
The Queen of Ico glanced at my bracelet. “There are few pleasures in life that are sheer selfishness, and all good princesses should have at least three. It’s beautiful, my dear. You look rested after your vacation.”
I touched my face, then just as quickly dropped my hand and smiled when I remembered all my bruises were gone.
The keen-eyed Pike queen continued. “I hear from my daughter that you have been a delight.” She smiled, and I glanced behind her, as Aspen bowed to my mother.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Give my love to your grandparents. I am sorry we missed them.” She kissed the air next to my cheek, and I returned the gesture.
“Of course, Your Majesty, it would be my honor.” My smile remained bright as I wondered which set of grandparents she meant, but it occurred to me my Grandfather Illtyd and my Grandmother Freya had been absent from the halls all week as I came to and from my room. I thought it was just my timing, but now I wondered where they were.
Queen Helena’s twin children, Princess Aspen and Prince Clark, stepped up. We greeted each other with the appropriate amount of enthusiasm, even if the subject of blueberries was a bit on the dim side. I knew Aspen was better than that, but as she bowed to move on, but I caught her stealing more than one glance at the Asher family.
As the line advanced, I found that just as Aspen had, I also stole shameless glances at Leo. I had seen little of him the last few days, and I wondered if that was on purpose, or if our schedules had happened to steer us clear of each other. Perhaps his mother had something to do with it. But each time I looked over, he was full of smiles and charm for whomever he spoke with, and his brother appeared the same.
My entire life, we were often compared to each other. His legacy was almost triple mine, and I always imagined that it was triple the pressure. Watching how easy this all seemed to him, guilt sat heavy in my gut as I admitted to myself it was a little annoying, even if I had almost killed him once upon a time.
The recording from the tribunal flashed in my mind bringing on a dizzying thought. Had he ever been told of our encounter? Or had he been old enough at the time to remember? If he had, he was better at acting than I would ever be. I wasn’t sure I could be so pleasant around him if the roles had been reversed.
The monarch receiving line now complete, we all faced the tedious hour-long second phase of the greeting process. This time it was the rest of the select dignitaries from all the realms. When the line of Ameran guests finally dwindled to the last, the tables settled as the true guests were about to arrive.
The room hummed with electricity, either because the Angelians who could manipulate electricity were being naughty, or there was a collective nervousness in the crowd awaiting the humans just outside the ballroom doors.
When everyone had found their table, the Hg-1 delegation was announced. Everyone stood as music I had never heard before playing overhead. A melody of violins sang to me about spring. It was so beautiful I momentarily forgot about the humans until they were more than halfway up the aisle.
More than one hundred humans—all dressed in distinctive styles I assumed to represent their areas within the Hg-1—moved up the aisle with a slow elegance, observing as much as being observed.
At the head of the group stood a man dressed in a black tuxedo straight out of an ancient movie, except the shirt and bow tie was also black, as were his gloves, shoes, and walking cane, which seemed more for style than functionality.
The woman next to him was as tall and elegant as the man before her, but both had a sickly white pallor to their skin with an unnatural firmness, as if it had been pulled back with an unseen force. The lady wore emerald green gloves that went past her elbows nearly all the way to her shoulders where they met her delicately laced sleeves of the same color. Her fitted silk dress featured a separate train flowing from her waist several feet behind her. A thick, jewel-encrusted belt made of rubies highlighted the ensemble.
She walked with impressive grace, although it was hard to fathom how her legs moved in a dress that tight. She was polished and sparkled flawlessly, but I had trouble deciding if I thought she was beautiful.
When they reached the dais, King Lindstrom bowed and held his hand out to the lady. “Welcome Ambassador and Lady Yzer.”
At the sound of their family name, my heart skipped a beat. These were Lance’s parents. How many Yzers could there be? He looked nothing like either of them and briefly, I wondered if he might be adopted.
The two humans looked at King Lindstrom’s hand for an uncomfortable moment, then at each other as they dipped into a generous bow, barely touching the tip of his hand as if they might catch something from being too close to him.
“Thank you, High King and Queen Asher, this welcome is humbling.” The ambassador’s hollow voice made my skin crawl. “Your hospitality and graciousness have had no bounds. I am so pleased with the great strides both our people have made toward what I hope will be a singular Earth, no longer separated by antiquated boundaries. Amera is a place of beauty, its
people equally so. We look forward to this evening as the beginning of a long, enduring relationship.” Ambassador Yzer bowed his head, waving to the crowd as they applauded.
King Lindstrom smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes as if he could see something more behind the Ambassador’s words than the rest of us.
Finally, the Yzers parted to allow two others to step forward, and when I saw the little girl, I couldn’t help but smile. She was clearly the daughter of the two humans she stood between, but unlike her parents, her smile was genuine. Her bounce and flair for life eclipsed the dark, drab dress she wore. I liked her instantly.
“May I present, Penelope Annabelle Yzer. Our youngest.”
The room clapped. “How do you do, Your Majesty?” She giggled with the biggest smile her face could make, and she curtsied so low, I thought she might fall over. But she stood gracefully, and the crowd erupted in applause at their appreciation for the sweet girl. Finally, she stepped back, allowing a young man to come forward and take her place.
He was dressed in a tuxedo matching the Ambassador’s, but when I saw who the dark brown wavy hair belonged to my breath caught in my throat and my heart started to race. I would have known that face anywhere.
“Lance,” I whispered on a deep exhale. I wished I had a way to talk with Hailey and could only imagine what she would think. Out of habit, I reached out for my inner voice searching for help to settle the flutter of nerves I had at the sight of Lance Yzer.
After another moment’s thought, I wondered at the fact he had left the Ark. Could it be he found what he was looking for? I told myself not to panic; there were plenty of good reasons for him to be here. The son of the ambassador missing this event would be noticeable.
Lady Yzer turned my way as if she saw a bug fly past, but her husband continued the introduction with great pride. “And may I present my son, future president of the Hg-1, Kai Yzer.”
Kai? Who’s Kai?
The room broke into applause. Some of the ladies and younger females swooned at the sight of him. As he stepped my way to continue the introductions and allow the rest of the delegation to meet each other, I noticed the uncanny resemblance to the Lance Yzer I knew. And when he stopped in front of me, I had almost forgotten why I was there.
“And to whose hand do I have the privilege of holding?”
I gazed into his eyes. They were the same dark green with pools of amber, the same chiseled muscles along his jaw. It had to be him. My focus moved to just above his left eye. It was smooth and lacked any hint of a scar.
“Princess Violet Amplifien of Neyr, Sir. I am pleased to make your acquaintance,” I managed.
Behind me, I heard the snickering of more than one young female. Princess Spring and her friends, I had no doubt, who were seated at the Exa table for family and guests located closest to me.
“‘Sir’ is my grandfather, Ambassador is my father, and I am simply Kai,” he said with a smooth smile. “Violet.” He stared into my eyes as he repeated my name with precision. “It suits you.” He kissed the air above my fingertips before giving my hand back to me with noted reluctance. “I would be glad to get to know you better while I am here. Be sure to save a dance for me.”
“Of course.” I nodded while my mind burned through the edge of this family’s ruse. I cringed, knowing that of all the princes and princesses in the Union, I was easily the worst dancer, but I was also determined to get some answers. “I look forward to it.”
The rest of the line followed while I held my breath, searching for any more surprises. Only one other shock came when the female soldier I had seen at the Ark stood in front of me. She was taller than me by several inches looking as fit as she had appeared from a distance at the cave. Other than her physique, she showed no signs of being a secret military soldier in her tall heels and her slip of a red dress that dripped off her, showing her long, and if I didn’t mind being a little jealous, beautiful legs.
“Your Highness,” she said as she dipped to a graceful curtsy. “I am Francesca La Harve, representative of Bei City.”
I had no idea what that meant, but I smiled anyway and shook her hand. “We are happy to have you here. Maybe I will get the chance to see more of you during your stay,” I said, my heart thumping.
“I would be honored.” Her voice was silky as she continued down the row, and I was left to wonder what they were doing here.
As I continued with each new face, hearing only every other name, my thoughts spun. I could only hope I remembered to smile at each person.
By the time I had received everyone in the room, my head hurt as much as my feet. I was so ready to take my seat. The ache in my ribs had returned, and even if she hadn’t done it on purpose, the corset Ameli had chosen to match this dress was its own form of punishment.
When I was shown to my seat, I was more than pleased to see it was at the end of the lower-tiered head table. The first to arrive, I chose the chair closest to the window, sat down, and scanned the ballroom.
Except for the long head tables of each realm, the tables on the main floor were all nine-sided polygon to represent the nine realms. The windows were fully opened, and the fading sun blazed through the wispy clouds, shining across the spire in the ceiling above as twinkling lights glowed like stars emerging at twilight.
After the long days in the Ark, my mind basked in the simple beauty of the sunset. The sounds of laughter and chinking glasses being raised to peace and future prosperity wafted across the room. I was so focused on the world outside I hadn’t noticed the chair next to me being pulled out, and the fair-haired golden boy who sat next to me, his face like stone as he began studying the menu for the evening. Prince Leo Asher. Of course. I almost laughed.
I held my breath, afraid that he would speak to me, afraid of what I might say in return. Being this close to him made me more than nervous, I bordered on outright panic.
“I wish you were here.” I thought if my inner voice were with me, I could make it through this. I began to feel the flames of resentment at my mother or the serum, still certain one or the other had done something to my brain chemistry and he was gone. I pushed away the thought and hoped that when the serum no longer contaminated my blood, he would return.
Our gazes met for a brief moment before we both turned back to our menus, and I pretended everything was perfectly normal. I saw him at the tribunal, I saw him on the beach. I watched him speak easily and happily to everyone in the receiving line. But as we sat there, just the two of us, he barely even looked my way. Maybe he already knew. Maybe he was reading my mind right now. Maybe I looked as distressed as I felt. I had no idea.
It was no more than a minute, and yet felt like an eternity. We had not exchanged a single word. Suddenly, the table came alive with a scraping of chairs and a group of familiar faces taking their seats.
“Anything good to eat, brother?” I heard from across the table as a boy closer to my age pulled out a chair for a young lady with red hair and alabaster skin. “May I present Princess Camelia,” he announced.
“Good evening, Princess Camelia. It is good to see you again.” Leo gave her a generous smile. His brother, Prince Siri gave him a wink.
So he does speak. I thought, pressing my lips together.
Leo stood, cleared his throat, and grinned. “I hope Siri doesn’t take up too much of your time this evening. I am certain many here would love to meet a lady of Cana.” He spoke with confidence, reminding me of his father.
Cam blushed, if you could call it that; her skin faded to a bluish hue with hints of pink closer to her eyes.
“She has been fought over valiantly from her table of Canaians to join us over here. Princess Violet, I hope you don’t mind the seat rearrangement,” said the gentlemen pulling out the seat next to mine on my other side.
“Of course not. It’s a pleasure. I mean, I have already had the pleasure of Cam— Princess Camelia and I have already met,” I rambled, trying to remain calm when I realized it was Kai Yzer.
“I have missed you,” she whispered in my ear.
“I am so sorry,” I whispered back.
“Not tonight, Vi. Tonight is for celebrating. You are home.” She pulled away and winked. “Flowers and Blooms!” she mouthed with a glance at the princes at the table. She squeezed my hand and took her seat.
“I have missed you, Vi! How have you been? How was your grandparents’ farm?” Lily spoke smoothly as if she had not been the one who helped me escape.
The entire side of our table hushed as if waiting for me to regale them with tales of my mysterious journey. I could feel Leo staring at me. I could feel them all staring at me.
“Lily, I am sorry I didn’t call on you when I returned. I have missed you, too,” I began. “I just needed a few days to myself after school was completed. I’m sorry to say I was only at the farm.” I shrugged. “When I returned, and with everything that has happened, there has scarcely been time,” I lied easily, even laughing off how boring it would have been. I hardly recognized myself.
“Tell me about it. I guess our schedules were never synced. But since people really weren’t supposed to know where these guys were…” she said, thumbing in the direction of Kai and Penelope. Lily began one of her long tales about how she had met Kai and Penelope out in the gardens at Empire and how between spending time with the Hg-1 and her everyday responsibilities, she had the double duty of non-stop entertaining with the influx of the realms.
“You are far better suited to give them the tour of the Ancient Archives, so I left that for you, dear friend. But we are so happy to have you home,” she said, her smile matching the sincerity in her voice. At that moment, I genuinely smiled in return. I had not lost everything.