Chapter 16

T he ride to the castle flashed by, which was a good thing. I had to all but bury myself under the blankets; the snowstorm was quickly becoming a blizzard. While I hid from the snow, Jack told me ways I might be able to persuade Stephen to still give funding to the school. My feeble protests about ruining Stephen’s final ball were quickly dismissed by Jack pointing out that there were always more balls that could be hosted, but the license expiring would set the school back years and I would have to start from scratch. But if the license was renewed, even if I didn’t have the inheritance, there were other avenues I could pursue to continue the school’s operation. Jack had to shout to be heard over the howling of the wind, and his dogs occasionally got confused about what commands he issued them and which were comments intended for me.

Ice frosted my eyelashes and hair by the time we finally pulled to a standstill at the castle steps. “You’ve got this,” Jack encouraged me. “Talk to him. It will all work out. I’m going to put the dogs away, then I’ll meet you inside as soon as I can. ”

I nodded and got out, watching as he called to his dogs to zip off toward the dog barn on the far end of the castle grounds.

“Noelle Frost?” one of the guards asked when I got inside.

“That’s me.”

“Every girl must wear the assigned shoes in order to enter,” he intoned dully, handing me a box containing the ice slippers Jack had shown me before. “Once you remove them, you are to leave the ballroom immediately.”

I took them, hating how they instantly warmed at my touch. I glanced at the guard, who raised an eyebrow suspiciously. Jack’s confidence in his spell work had to be misplaced. One dance, I told myself. One dance to plead for the school, then I’ll take the shoes off. They’re wrong. I don’t love Stephen.

When I entered the ballroom, the babble of voices and music from the orchestra swirled around me. Stephen stood there in a crisp black suit, talking to Vallia, who was managing to wear her ice slippers without even the slightest wince. The few other girls left were not as successful at disguising their discomfort and kept shifting their weight from side to side as their feet slowly froze.

The moment I crossed to him, Stephen disengaged himself from Vallia’s conversation and came to my side. “You look beautiful,” he breathed. From over his shoulder, Octavius frowned and inclined his head to listen to Valencia, who was seated in a chair at the edge of the dance floor with narrowed eyes.

“Thank you,” I told him politely, then drew a deep breath. “May I speak with you?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing. There is something very important I’d like to discuss with you.”

Soon I would be just as uncomfortable as those girls who winced with every step, even though my slippers didn’t feel cold. Stephen led me onto the dance floor. “I’m glad you’re here, Noelle.”

“Prince Stephen,” I began, but he interrupted me.

“Just Stephen is fine.”

“ Prince Stephen,” I went on, placing extra emphasis on his title. “I need to let you know that I’m not nobility any longer. My father’s estate was passed to someone else.”

“I don’t mind. I can talk to Octavius if he’s bothering you about it.”

“That’s not the point. I didn’t come here to participate again,” I told him, determined to be as transparent as possible. “I came to ask for aid for the school I run for young mages. Without my inheritance, we have no funding and I won’t be able to pay the license renewal fee.”

Stephen’s face remained impassive. “That could possibly be arranged, depending on…certain circumstances.”

My hand stiffened where I held his shoulder. He didn’t seem the sort to expect a woman to marry him in exchange for financial favors, but I wasn’t sure what else he could mean. I threw a glance around for Jack. He would be able to help me sort it out. The dog yard was on the opposite end of the castle’s grounds, but he had to get here at some point.

“I know you have feelings for Jack,” Stephen said quietly, as if he had read my thoughts. “My father said the bill you brought will be put into effect soon. Octavius already told me about the issue with your inheritance.”

Of course he had ratted me out. Stupid Octavius.

“I looked into the will that was provided to our scribes,” Stephen went on, “and it is perfectly legal. Your stepmother is the rightful heiress according to your father’s will.”

“Which is why the school needs funding,” I persisted, pleading in my voice. “I wouldn’t ask for myself, but my stepmother won’t help; she was the one who shut down the school. If you’re friends with Jack, you will know how important it is for all mages to be educated and given equal opportunities.”

“Did you come here simply to ask for funding for the school?” Stephen asked. He was being watched closely by all the other women in the hall. Only Vallia, Vanessa, and I were able to walk without grimacing in pain, though I had no idea how Vanessa was managing it. Even as Stephen danced with me, one of the other girls finally let out a gasp and removed the ice slippers, then walked out of the hall, shoulders slumped in defeat. He looked down at where my ice slippers occasionally peeked out from under my gown. “I thought we were friends.”

“We are friends. But my school’s license expires at midnight. I know it is poor timing and I do apologize for that. If I could just speak with you further about?—”

“I’d like to take you to speak with my parents,” he said. “Before Jack gets here.”

I couldn’t imagine that Stephen would propose after I’d made my feelings so plain. “Speak about…what?”

“About our futures. About your school. Everything. I think we have a lot to talk about.”

Our futures? My panic grew. His parents would be waiting for Stephen to announce which girl he wanted to marry. “We could talk about the school here.”

“I’d prefer not.” Stephen leaned closer to my ear. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m being stared at by several other women like I’m their next meal.” He returned to his original position. “Besides, my parents are already expecting us.”

“B-b-but,” I stammered, trying to come up with an excuse that would allow me to stay and wait for Jack.

“It won’t take long,” Stephen assured me, steering me through the crowd until we were able to step into the corridor. Behind us, another girl threw off her ice slippers and sat down to rub her chilled toes. Within seconds, Octavius had descended upon her, shooing her toward the exit.

I clung to the hope that Stephen only wanted to discuss funding the school. I would gladly talk about that. If he had other ideas in mind, I wasn’t sure what I would do.

My feet stayed warm, but my hands grew icy as Stephen led me to a chamber where the king and queen were talking excitedly with each other, broad smiles on each of their faces. They looked up eagerly when we entered the room.

“Noelle, dear!” the queen cried, rising to embrace me. “Stephen told us everything and we’re thrilled.”

That didn’t sound like a proposal to fund a school for mages, especially when I’d only just told him about it a few minutes ago. I shot a terrified look at Stephen, who smiled and nodded.

The king took my hands into his. “I’m very sorry to hear of the inheritance issues you’ve been dealing with, but rest assured that such matters can be easily resolved. Title or no title, you’ve won my son’s heart, and we would be honored to have you as part of our family.”

Chills erupted all over my body. I couldn’t marry Stephen, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. My mouth flapped uselessly. “I…I…” My throat refused to swallow, and my mouth became dry as paper. “I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m honored, but?—”

“There’s no misunderstanding,” Stephen said. “You discussed the situation with Jack, didn’t you? He brought you back, so we can announce everything.”

The harsh reality of my circumstances crashed around my ears as the entire world dissolved. Despite what I’d told him, did Stephen think I’d returned for him ? I couldn’t stay. I had to get away, now. How could I explain that I’d somewhat led Stephen on just to be near his advisor, who was forbidden from courting me, so he could help me investigate false claims—then begged for money for a school that had been shut down?

The glass doors that led to the courtyard beyond were closed tight, and snow swirled past in thick flurries that blocked out everything. If it weren’t for the warmth of my dress and shoes, I’d have been quite cold. The shoes, I thought in a panic. I’d become so distracted that I’d forgotten to take them off. Hastily, I tried to wiggle my toes to get the shoes off, but they were fitted too well.

Stephen noticed and frowned slightly. “What’re you doing?”

“The shoes, they just feel so cold,” I said quickly, wishing for once that Octavius was near so he could satisfy his rule-abiding heart and have me thrown out. “I…I can’t handle it anymore.”

His frown deepened. “But you looked comfortable wearing them. You didn’t even seem to notice.”

“My stepsisters are still wearing them,” I pointed out, finally managing to get one of the slippers off. It tinkled to the floor. “Vallia and Vanessa. You ought to talk to them.” Anything to get away.

“Noelle, don’t leave. Please stay.”

“No,” I whispered. “Your Highness, truly I’m honored that you think so highly of me, but I can’t marry you.”

“If you just wait—” the king began.

“I can’t!” I burst out. “I’m sorry to have led you on, Stephen, honestly I am. But even if we’re friends, I don’t love you and it wouldn’t be fair to either of us if we were married.”

“But, Noelle—” He tried to take my hand again just as the clock began to strike midnight. The license was expired. There was nothing else I could do. I pulled my hands out of Stephen’s grip and left the ice slipper on the floor without taking the time to cast off the second. I would find Jack in the dog yard.

“I need to go,” I said in a rush before I fumbled for the courtyard door’s handle and turned it. A blast of wintery air pelted everyone inside. The queen shrieked and the king shielded her from the blinding snow as I ran into the blizzard beyond.

“Noelle, stop!” Stephen called. “Your shoe!”

I didn’t stop. Blizzard or not, I wasn’t going to stay and let Stephen announce an engagement that I didn’t want.