Realm of the Chosen: A Reverse Harem Romance

Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Her reflection in the mirror indicated it had been a long day. After Cassius left, Kit had fallen asleep for a bit before Avinia woke her to remind her she had a few tasks to take care of—meeting with an auxiliary group from the council, for instance, something she did once a week to talk about financing and other royal duties. It never took too long, but it did make Kit feel like she was preparing to be a better ruler. She also checked in on at least one group of staff each week to see if they had any concerns. Today, she’d met with the kitchen staff. Seeing Blankka had been more than a little awkward, especially now that the comment Kit had overheard in the hallway about her mother giving the girl some of the lands she’d confiscated from Eli’s family and giving her a title made much more sense. Kit had rushed through that meeting as quickly as she could, just to get away from her, though Blankka hadn’t said a word and wouldn’t even look at her.

Now, sitting here, watching herself in the mirror as Avinia and Isla brushed out her hair and prepared her for the evening meal, Kit tried not to focus on how sallow her skin looked. Perhaps it was a lack of sunshine or she was still tired. She hoped she wasn’t coming down with something. She’d stopped sneezing shortly after she drank the medicine Eli had brought her from the infirmary.

“Are you going to tell us anything at all?” Avinia finally asked, shoving a pin in a little deeper than perhaps it needed to go.

Kit looked up at her, not sure what to say. They hadn’t asked, and she hadn’t felt the need to go into too much detail. Much of what she’d discovered that day she wouldn’t dare tell anyone. “What is it you’d like to know?”

“For one thing, what happened to your stay?” Isla asked, working on the right side of her head while their cousin pinned up the left. “When I gathered your wet garments from the floor, I noticed it wasn’t here.”

“I burned it,” Kit replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

“On purpose?” Avinia asked.

“Yes. I didn’t want to mess with putting it back on.”

“But when did you take it off?” Isla probed, getting a harsh look from Avinia who must’ve already decided they weren’t going to pry that deeply.

Kit let out a long sigh. “Eli and I were in the basement of that old house. We were soaked. We took our clothes off to place by the fire and covered up with blankets. We had an argument. While I was getting dressed, I was too angry at him to ask for help, so I tossed it in the fire. He did hook my dress in back for me, though, despite the fact that I told him I’d just as soon ride back with it flapping open than have him touch me.”

They were both staring at her, mouths agape, hands frozen in place. Kit stared back at them by way of the mirror until they started working again. She didn’t want to be late for dinner.

After a few glances back and forth, Isla went off on her own path again and muttered, “I wonder if that’s why he looked so distressed when I saw him in the hall earlier.”

“No, I don’t think so,” Kit said quickly. “He’s had a terrible day, even without my contribution.” She could only imagine what it must’ve been like to see that house go up in flames again. He probably thought back to his four-year-old self and what he’d always wished he’d done differently back then.

“I’m certain an argument with you would be more than a little upsetting to him,” Avinia disagreed. “It’s clearly got you discombobulated.”

Kit raised an eyebrow. “Clearly?”

“Clearly.”

“There’s more to it than that. I found out a wealth of information today, none of which I’m at liberty to divulge to anyone.” She said that sentence quickly, before they could ask her any details. “I’m also not feeling well. I was sneezing earlier.”

“Yes, I know. Eli said he’d brought you something from the infirmary. He asked me if you were feeling better.” Isla pursed her lips together, and Kit could see her dying to ask more questions, but Kit truly couldn’t say more.

They worked on in silence, and about the time her hair was finished and she was fully dressed, save her shoes, there was a rapping at the door.

“I’ll get it,” Isla said as Kit slid her feet into her slippers. She’d had enough of boots for one day, and she certainly wouldn’t be wearing heels.

Isla stepped back into the bedchamber. “It’s Reeve. Should I show him in?”

Kit felt her face light up at the mention of his name. She hadn’t seen much of him that day, only at the morning meal. “Yes, of course.”

Isla went to the door, and a moment later, Reeve walked in, her two ladies stepping around him to make their way to the antechamber, though they left the door open. It was just as well. She didn’t have time to be too intimate.

“Princess Katrinetta,” he said giving a little bow. He was dressed for dinner in silver-gray trousers, a white shirt, and a jerkin a slightly lighter color than his pants. His dark hair was combed to the side but a few stray strands fell across his forehead. His jaw was freshly shaven and even from a few feet away, she could smell the musk of his cologne. “I hope you don’t mind me stopping by.”

“No, not at all. It’s lovely to see you.” She stepped forward, and he embraced her, his lips brushing against her cheek which immediately brought the hairs on her arms to life. “Is anything the matter?”

“Not with me, dearest,” he replied stepping back but keeping her in his arms. “It’s only, I heard you’ve had a troubling day, and I wanted to come and check on you. I’m certain you’ll put on your brave face in front of everyone at the meal, that you’ll be the proper, dignified woman you always are while on display. But if something is bothering you, I hope you know, I’m here for you in any way that you may need me.”

His words made her heart flutter a bit. Such sweet sentiment, such concern in his dark eyes. “Thank you, Reeve,” she said smiling up at him. “It has been a bothersome day, but I have moved past it—for the most part.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” His smile showed he was still worried, but he believed her when she said things were better. “Is there anything at all that I can do?”

An idea she’d had earlier, when she was lying down occurred to her. She’d dismissed Pierce’s request to share her chambers that night because she’d expected, at the time, to be inviting Eli. Obviously, that wouldn’t happen. So she’d need to find someone else. After the day she’d had, she longed for the familiar. Having Pierce for the first time was far more trouble than it was worth, but if she asked no one at all, he may be offended. “Actually, there is something. If you don’t mind.”

“And what is that?” he asked, taking note of the sly smile forming on her face and raising an eyebrow.

“Would you care to join me this evening? In my chambers—my other chambers.” She was tired. Stumbling over her words, sounding like she had back when she’d first started her Exploration and had very little experience propositioning men.

Reeve didn’t even pretend to think about it. “I would be honored, my beautiful princess.”

“Wonderful.” Of course, she’d fully expected him to say yes, but the idea that she would be sharing her bed with someone she trusted, in his protective arms, was reassuring. She could make her way through the meal knowing Reeve would spend the night with her. Another thought entered her mind. “You should know, I was planning on announcing your Rooming tomorrow night—but... I’ve already promised to invite someone else into my chambers tomorrow. Perhaps Mother will let me make the announcement this evening.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “Rooming? Me? You are... truly?”

“Why are you surprised, Reeve? We’ve spoken about this.” She giggled at his reaction. “Yes, of course. I’m certain I want you with me. Why wouldn’t I?”

“No, I know you have mentioned it before. I just... I don’t know what to say, Kit. I’m so honored, I can’t even tell you. Whether it’s tonight or tomorrow night or a year from now, I am grateful to have the opportunity to get to know you even better. You are captivating, my princess, and I am the luckiest man alive.”

Still giggling, Kit leaned up on her tiptoes. The feel of his soft lips as they grazed hers made her knees fold slightly; his steady arms wrapped around her torso lifted her and gave her strength.

“Thank you, Kit.” Reeve’s whisper caressed her cheek. She took a deep breath and leaned in to him, a shield of solace forming around them for just a moment, forcing everything and everyone else out of their haven.

“Thank you.” She looked into his eyes and caught her breath at the sincerity she saw mirrored back at her. “Reeve, you are one of the humblest men I’ve ever known. You’re strong and courageous. When you fall down, you dust yourself off and get back up again. I admire everything about you, and with you by my side, I know I am a better woman, a better ruler.” She reached up and laid her palm against his cheek. “I’m so thankful to have you in my life.”

His eyes began to glisten slightly, and the hint of a smile came to his lips. “I don’t know what to say, Kit. Hearing you say all of that... about me... you don’t even know what it means.”

“It’s all true.” She meant it. He really was an amazing person, and she was so lucky to have him as part of her Choosing.

The ladies in the other room loudly cleared their voices, letting her know she needed to go. “May I escort you to the dining hall?”

“Please,” Kit replied, taking the arm he offered. As they headed for the antechamber, she went over her outfit again, certain she was fully dressed and had on all of her jewels.

“Your crown, Princess,” Avinia reminded her.

“Aw, yes. I thought I was missing something.”

Her cousin retrieved it and placed the small, silver tiara carefully on her head, straightened it a bit, and then nodded. She stepped aside, and Reeve led Kit to the door, her ladies following behind. As they walked out into the hallway, her two guards fell into place as well.

It had been a whirlwind of a day, and it wasn’t over yet. She would ask her mother’s permission to Room Reeve, not because she had to but because she already knew her mother would say yes, and the queen would appreciate the sentiment. As for the Representatives she planned to send home, that could wait for the next evening. She’d had enough drama for one day.

Even as the thought entered her head, she saw Eli coming down the hallway that led to the guards quarters. She knew he spent as much time there as he did in the room he’d been assigned as a Representative, that he even slept in the barracks most nights, occasionally even letting some of the guards who didn’t sleep well in the company of others sleep in his private room. Why, she had no idea, but she thought he was more comfortable as just one of the guards, not as a someone with the stature of a Representative.

She didn’t mean to look him in the eye as she walked past, but she did just the same, and she could see her assessment from earlier was wrong. He did look solemn, dejected, perhaps even pathetic in a masked way. And when he dropped his eyes from hers, choosing to stare at the polished marble instead of into her face, she realized losing the house in the woods had little to nothing to do with his disposition.

Kit continued to dinner on Reeve’s arm, hoping she could find a way to move past what she’d discovered that day, painful as it was. Because seeing Eli’s eyes so dim and lifeless made her feel worse than knowing she’d been lied to.