Realm of the Chosen: A Reverse Harem Romance

Chapter 10-2

“Well, I do look forward to speaking with you again soon, once all of the Representatives have arrived.” She meant those words this time—noting that many of the other times she hadn’t meant them quite as enthusiastically.

“Yes, I look forward to it as well, and might I say, you have lovely eyes.”

Kit raised her eyebrows. It was the first compliment she’d received from any of the delegates, and she appreciated it. This man seemed to see her as a person, rather than just a prize to be won. “Why, thank you, Jaterius.”

“You may call me Jate if you’d like. All of my family and friends do.”

“Jate? I like that very much.” She leaned in closely, lowering her voice so that her mother might not hear. “All of my friends call me Kit. When we are together, you may certainly call me by my nickname as well.”

When she stepped back, she saw he was blushing. “Very well,” he said quietly, and she caught a glimmer in his hazel eyes. “I shall see you soon.”

“I am looking forward to it.” Once again, it was a statement she’d said frequently, but this time she’d meant it.

Once Jate had moved down the line and there was a break in his delegation, Rona grabbed her daughter by the elbow a bit too forcefully and pulled her closer. “What did you say to him?”

Kit glanced up, surprised, and discretely fought to free herself. “Why do you care, Mother? Certainly you must know I will be spending much time speaking to each Representative privately.”

“I only thought it seemed a bit conspiratorial, that’s all.”

Kit shook her head. Her mother needed to mind her own business and stop assuming everything had to do with her. “I only mentioned he may call me Kit, that’s all. While we are in private.”

“Kit,” her mother scoffed, turning the other direction. “Such a ridiculous name. I don’t know why you like it so much.”

Her forehead creased, and she had to look away from her mother, the sting of her words wounding her heart. “Father calls me that,” she said mostly to herself.

“Yes, he does, but he’s not the one who originated that foul nickname. If you remembered who first started calling you that, perhaps it might make more sense that you allowed it to linger. At any rate, we shouldn’t discuss such things with the next member of the Rockdale delegation approaching.”

Kit did her best to straighten up as a wide woman with a foot of red hair piled on her head approached. She had no idea what her mother was speaking of. She was quite certain her father had originated that nickname when she was just a little girl. He almost always used it when they were in close company or alone. If anyone else had called her Kit before him, she had no idea who it might be.

The sun seemed to be beating down directly overhead by the time the last of the Rockdale congregation moved through, though a glance up at the clear sky told her it was actually starting to descend, and she prayed that would cool the air. While the weather in Yewforia was usually pleasant, standing out in the late spring sun was by no means the best way to spend an entire day, and before the next delegation could reach them, Kit signaled to her ladies that she would like a drink.

She wasn’t supposed to speak to them out here, and it was all she could do not to mention any of the young men to Avinia as she handed her a cup of water retrieved from one of the servants. They exchanged glances, though, and that would have to be enough for now. Kit took Avinia’s arm for a second and handed her back the cup, giving her cousin a little squeeze. She could only imagine how awful it must be to stand out here when it wasn’t even for one’s own Choosing, but her cousins seemed far more agreeable than Kit had most of the day, and she supposed their happiness was truly excitement for Kit’s upcoming adventure.

The princess turned back around just in time to see the processional from Eastbury had finally wound its way up the road to the castle. In the lead was a tall, thin woman with silver hair piled atop her head, but Kit only looked at her for a moment. Just behind her, an equally tall, graceful blond with a tight set jaw and flashing blue eyes stood with his fingers interlaced as if he were nervous but hoped it didn’t show. So this was the young man she’d spent half the night worried about. She was glad he was so handsome; it would’ve been a waste to worry over someone who turned out to be less than interesting.

“Your Majesty, Queen Rona, I am Lita of Noblewood. May I present to you my grandson, Jecobian of the family Noblewood of Eastbury.”

“How do you do?” Rona asked, and Kit noted this was the most pleasant her mother and been all morning. In fact, she greeted them with a smile much wider and more genuine than any of the others Kit had seen since the welcoming ceremony had begun. “I heard of your difficulties, and I am pleased to see you’ve made it through unscathed.”

“Yes, it was quite the hardship,” Lita said, making a tsking sound with her tongue. “We are happy to be alive, aren’t we Jecob?”

Startled by the question, the Representative asked, “What’s that, Grandmother?” Kit did her best to hold back a giggle, but she knew why he hadn’t been listening to the older woman. His eyes had been locked on hers the entire time.

“I said we are happy to be alive, aren’t we?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you, Your Majesty, for sending the escort. Who knows what might’ve happened without them.” Jecobian bowed elegantly, his blue and red crushed velvet tunic rippling in the arms as he did so, giving Kit an indication that though he was tall and lean, everything beneath his clothes was pure muscle. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and began to nibble on it until she saw the sharp look from her mother and released it. Heat rose in her cheeks, but she fought the urge to fan herself.

She shook Lita’s hand briefly and was happy when she moved off quickly. Jecobian bowed and took the princess’s hand, raising it to his lips. His eyes reminded her off an icy lake in the wintertime, almost clear but with a sparkle of azure in them and some warmth beneath the surface. “It is an honor to meet you at last, my fair Princess,” he said once his lips moved away from her skin.

“I am so very glad to meet you as well. It must’ve been terrifying, having your carriage attacked as you did.” She couldn’t take her eyes off of him, he was such a regal creature.

“Yes, well, it was frightening, but I assure you, I would’ve jumped out at any moment and brandished my sword had it been necessary.” He gestured at the ornamental saber hanging at his side, and Kit wondered if it would’ve even done any damage, but the fact that he was willing to risk his life to protect those around him was honorable, and she smiled up at him.

“I’m certain they wouldn’t have let you do such a thing, especially since they were all there to protect you. Imagine, a mob of angry men ambushing you that way. Were they all armed?”

Jecobian looked confused. “I believe many of them were armed, though they were not all men. In fact, most of them were not.”

Now it was Kit’s turn not to understand. “Oh, I was under the impression it was a group of men who were upset about the vote.”

“I’m not exactly sure what they were upset about, but there were plenty of women involved as well. Luckily, a member of the Queen’s Army was with us, and he was able to dissuade them with no harm coming to anyone.”

Again, Kit’s forehead puckered. Perhaps whoever had told the story the day before was confused. “One of my mother’s officers? But I thought the army came into help later?”

It was as if her mother just became aware of the conversation they were having. She cleared her throat and gave Jecobian a stern look, and Kit realized it would be best if they did not continue this conversation in the queen’s presence since she clearly did not like something he was saying.

Though as far as she knew, Jecobian had never met her mother before, he seemed to get the hint. “Yes, well, it’s all sort of a complex affair, and I’m not even sure I have the story straight. They do try to keep information from me, you can imagine, what with not wanting to worry me before such an important event.” Kit nodded, forcing a smile, but she was still curious as to what her mother was trying to conceal. “The important thing is that I am here now, and I am looking forward to spending as much time with you as possible, my Princess. It is hard to believe I’m standing so close to you; I have gazed upon you from afar many times and spent many a night dreaming about your beautiful face. It is a wonder I have come to stand before you now, but I assure you, I will do anything I can to prove to you that I am the man who can please you best.” He smiled and raised her hand to his lips once more, and Kit felt a fluttering inside of her chest she hadn’t felt in ages. None of the other Representatives had made such a heartfelt plea to her, and she couldn’t help but feel connected to Jecobian immediately.

“Thank you, sir,” she said, at a loss for words as she stumbled through a response. “I look forward to that as well.”

Jecobian kept his eyes locked on Kit, her hand in his, and she felt he must’ve noticed her palm growing sweaty as thoughts of what it might be like to ask this man into her private chambers began to fill her head. Kit shifted her weight on her feet, trying to hide her arousal, but she thought he could see right through her, and pink tinged her cheeks again.

“I’m afraid I must be going now.” He looked over his shoulder at the line of people behind him. “Everyone wants an opportunity to meet the most beautiful woman in all of the queendom.”

Kit dropped her gaze, unsure of how to respond to that, but as he raised her hand to his lips one last time, she lifted her eyes again. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Jecobian. I trust your stay this night will be much more pleasant.”

He leaned in closely so that his warm breath tickled her ear and whispered, “I hope I shall see you in the hallway, my Princess. It shall be t*****e to be so close to you and only gaze upon your face in my dreams.”

Jecobian moved away with a wink, and Kit’s mouth dropped open as she stared after him. Her heartbeat was a staccato, and she felt her knees begin to buckle. If it hadn’t been for the hand of the next delegate thrust into hers, she might’ve swooned right there on the dais. There would be a lot to discuss with her ladies that evening.

The rest of the line of people came by, but Jecobian’s dazzling smile stayed in her mind’s eye, and once the next delegation came into view, down the road quite a ways, Kit thought she might not make it through another meeting such as that one. She needed a fan, some water, and a place to lie down.