Chapter 8

Ari

T he dinner with the Ambassador of Tresed Queendom took place in one of the Egami Palace’s formal dining rooms that was decorated with heavy velvet curtains on the tall windows, gold-and-crystal chandeliers, and carved pale-wood wall panels.

The ambassador was an ambitious young woman with a wide halo of tight black curls, sharp dark eyes, and high cheekbones. The colorful caftan of precious silk with rich embroidery that she wore for dinner complemented her skin of the darkest shade of brown. Strands of precious gems circled her long neck and elegant arms.

She sat to the left of Queen Anna and across the table from me, which allowed for the three of us to have a semi-private conversation.

“Our import treaty lapses next year, Your Majesty.” The ambassador spoke Rorrim language with an accent that emphasized consonants, which added power to her speech, commanding people’s attention. The confidence and eloquence with which she expressed herself further made her a compelling speaker, which was perfect for her job. “My queen is willing to renegotiate the terms as soon as this year if you’re up to it.”

My attention spiked. That was an unexpected offer. Tresed was a big, powerful country. They didn’t throw concessions like that around. Every favorable agreement we’d had with them cost us months or even years of careful negotiations.

“It may be wise to revisit it early,” Mother agreed calmly. “There have been some changes in both our economies that the new agreement would reflect better.”

“Wonderful.” The ambassador brought a glass of wine to her lips for a sip, then added, seemingly unrelated to her previous statement, “Can you believe that the queen’s nephew, Prince Elbon, has come of age already?” She sighed. “They grow up so fast, don’t they? I still remember like it was yesterday the grand festivities our queen held for his first birthday. It was such a lavish, no-expense-spared celebration. And now, he’s eighteen already and perfect for marriage. Our queen is so fond of that boy. She raised him like her own son. Princess Aniri?” She turned to me, and I smiled politely at the sound of my name, meeting the ambassador’s eyes. “Can I have the honor of presenting you with Prince Elbon’s portrait? He’s such a handsome boy. His beauty serves as a constant inspiration for our poets and artists alike. With your permission of course, Your Majesty.” She gave a respectful bow to my mother.

The smile froze on my face. Words proved hard to come by.

My mother cast a glance at me. “I’m sure the princess will be delighted to accept the portrait.”

I lowered my fork carefully, keeping my hand steady even as my insides seemed to plummet into a dark abyss. Until now, marriage was something to worry about in some distant future. This proposition made it no longer distant but real.

“It will be my honor and my pleasure, Ambassador,” I said with firm confidence I did not feel.

“The timing is fortunate,” Mother noted. “Princess Aniri is of perfect age to take a husband.”

The ambassador leaned in eagerly. “Prince Elbon was brought up in the queen’s personal household. He’s been raised to the highest standards expected of a young man of his standing. The prince is an extremely accomplished young man. He speaks six languages, writes poetry, and is unmatched in swordsmanship. He also raises his own hounds and horses. They are delightful creatures indeed.”

“The crown princess loves horseback riding.” Mother raised her glass as if in a toast to this match already.

“Oh, they will get along splendidly,” the ambassador cheered.

Losing my appetite, I glanced down the table where my father was having a quiet conversation with the ambassador’s husband. Dressed in colors that complemented his wife’s outfit, the ambassador’s spouse was wearing a shirt with wide, long sleeves and the front full of ruffles. He smiled politely without speaking much.

I tried to imagine a slightly younger version of him as my groom and felt no excitement at that. But I wasn’t supposed to be excited.

A state marriage was a political move. In this case, it would give us leverage to renegotiate the import treaty on far better terms, in addition to everything else Tresed would offer as part of Prince Elbon’s dowry.

All of it still wasn’t enough for me to feel thrilled about the marriage, but I looked forward to renegotiating the terms of the treaty and to figuring out what other benefits we could gain for Rorrim in the process.

After dinner, the king took the gentlemen for a tour of the royal stables as the ladies moved to a drawing room for a glass of wine or sweet sherry.

Here, the ambassador accosted me on the patio where I’d gone for a breath of fresh air. Seizing my arm, she spent at least a half-hour listing the many virtues of Prince Elbon, who seemed to be a highly accomplished young gentleman indeed. By the end of our conversation, I was convinced the prince must be a saint who was sent to this world to serve as an unattainable ideal for the rest of the male population.

“Needless to say, the prince is virginal and pure,” the ambassador added. “His seed has never been spilled, fully saved as the priceless treasure for his future wife only.”

I wondered how that had been achieved.

“Thank you, Ambassador. I’m delighted to consider Prince Elbon as my future husband. He sounds... um, virtuous.”

“He certainly is,” she agreed with a satisfied smile. “Our queen made sure of it.”

It took me a few more minutes to finally free my arm from her grip. As the ambassador moved back into the drawing room, possibly to find my mother to further drive home her idea about the prince and I being a match made in heaven, I gripped the railing with both hands and dropped my head between my shoulders.

The tall formal crown weighed down on my head especially heavily tonight. The bodice of my ballgown must’ve been laced too tightly because it squeezed my chest, pressing against my ribs with every breath.

Gem sidled next to me, holding two glasses of red wine.

“Here.” She handed one of the glasses to me. “I thought you might need a drink after the lengthy conversation with the ambassador.”

“Thanks.” I took a drink, barely tasting the wine.

Gem watched me over the rim of her glass. “It looks like the marriage talks are well on the way, doesn’t it?”

“Looks like it.”

“You don’t seem happy about it.”

“What does it matter if I am or not? A state marriage has nothing to do with happiness. It’s about gaining a political and economic advantage for our country. A union with a queendom like Tresed would bring all of that and more.”

“But what do you think about the prince?”

I shrugged. What could I possibly think about someone I’d never met?

“I’ve never even seen the prince. But I’m sure he knows well what’s expected of him and will make a good royal husband.”

“Judging by what I’ve overheard from the ambassador, he is very well groomed for the role of king consort.”

“Well, there you go. What more can I ask for in a husband?” I tipped the glass again, emptying it into my mouth.

“I suppose you’re right.” Gem casually swirled the wine in her glass. “But since you aren’t married yet, a certain slave is currently waiting for you in your rooms.”

“Salas?” My heart thudded with the excitement it’d sorely lacked earlier tonight. “Why is he in my rooms now?”

“You said you’d like to see him again. And my princess’s wish is my command.” Gem bowed dramatically with playful reverence.

“Did he want to see me again?”

I remember the words he’d said just before we’d parted and right after he gave me my first kiss.

“I’ve had many kisses... Not all of them I’ve wanted or asked for...”

Salas’s past had not been smooth. No one ended up a slave without hitting a few bumps on the road that led them there. But I sensed his life journey might’ve been even rockier than I’d first thought. He seemed to be a kind man, but his tenderness and patience with me came from a deeper place than mere kindness. It came from understanding.

Gem suddenly burst with laughter.

“You’re being funny, Ari. Who cares what he wants? He’s there for you, that’s all that matters.”

There was no point in discussing it with her when I could ask Salas directly. He was waiting for me in my bedroom this very minute. And suddenly, that was the only place I wished to be right now.

I handed Gem my empty glass. “Please tell me you didn’t drag him into my rooms against his will.”

“I didn’t have to, sweetie. He went through the entire grooming routine without a word of protest. Now, he’s all clean and smelling nice just for you, ready to finish what he’s started.”

I drew in a breath and fisted my hands in the silk jacquard of my skirts.

“You better not have put him in chains this time.”