Ruled by the Princess

Chapter 13-1

Chapter Thirteen

If Vin had said anything to the queen about their run in in the kitchen, Rona kept it to herself. Kit assumed her mother knew, though. There wasn’t much that escaped the queen. During the dinner before the ball, Rona was particularly quiet, her eyes slightly narrowed, and a knowing grin pulling at the corners of her mouth. Kit wasn’t sure if the queen was up to something or just wanted to pique Kit’s suspicions.

The princess didn’t eat much. She’d come up with a plan the night before regarding how to track Pierce, but it would take help, and she wasn’t exactly sure who she could trust. Danyen would assist her and keep his mouth shut about it, she was certain of that. But she needed another accomplice, and all of the usual suspects were out of the question because she knew they would only tell her not to go through with it, that it was too dangerous.

Perhaps they were right. Perhaps following Pierce would be the catalyst that set the world on fire. But... looking across the room at him, sitting with the other Representatives, pretending to be one of her men when his loyalty truly lie elsewhere was enough to make Kit’s appetite fly out the window.

“You’ve hardly touched your venison. Don’t tell me you’re saving room for dessert.” Rona glanced at Kit’s plate before taking a drink of her wine.

“No, I’m not very hungry tonight, Mother,” Kit replied, picking at her food with her fork before putting a minuscule bite in her mouth.

“Something on your mind?”

Shrugging, Kit said, “The ball. I’m excited to get to the dancing.” She pressed a smile to her face, but she could see in her mother’s dark eyes she didn’t buy it.

“Who are you planning to invite back to your chambers afterward? There are some men who still haven’t had the chance to get to know you better.”

There were three, but Kit knew exactly who her mother was referring to. She went along with the inquest, though. “I have been considering Drake. He and I have had some lovely conversations recently, and I think it’s time I gave him an opportunity.”

Rona didn’t pretend to hide her scowl. “Oh? I didn’t think the pair of you got along well. I never see you with him.”

“We get along fine. He’s a bit more reserved than some of the other gentlemen. He doesn’t seek me out as much. But when we have the opportunity to speak, it’s always a jovial conversation. He’s quite intelligent.”

The queen was done listening before Kit even started her explanation. “It’s a pity you haven’t heeded my advice and given Pierce another opportunity. If you’re looking for an intelligent man, he’s clever and loyal. He’s also smitten with you.”

Kit wanted to question how her mother knew all of this. It wouldn’t make sense for the queen to have such a detailed understanding of how a Representative was feeling, as limited as the time she spent interacting with them was. But Kit already knew the answer to that question, so there was no point in asking. “Pierce has his strengths, Mother. I haven’t completely eliminated him, obviously, or he wouldn’t be here.” The queen’s eyes sharpened, but Kit didn’t amend her statement. She wasn’t willing to pretend she’d ask for her mother’s permission before sending him home at this point as she might not even ask if she could get away with it, depending upon what she discovered the next night. “It’s just taking me a little longer to warm up to him, I suppose.”

“An entire month and then some has transpired since you first asked him into your chambers. I believe you’re letting what happened with that awful Merek taint your impression of Pierce, and that hardly seems fair.”

“Perhaps.” Kit tried to appear as if she were considering her mother’s recommendation, but she knew any contact she had with Pierce in the future would be only friendly, not romantic, unless of course she were forced—and should her mother try such a tactic, she’d have an army of Representatives to contend with.

Once the meal was over, Kit accompanied her mother to the ballroom. As usual, it was highly decorated. Rona had spared no expense and gone to far more trouble than necessary to create an enchanting ambience. The colors she’d chosen this time were purple and gold, and the swaths of fabric that hung from the ceiling shimmered with jewels. Kit wondered if they were real or made of glass. Surely, her mother wouldn’t have put the royal treasure in such a vulnerable position.

“Glass,” Rona said, reading her mind. “Finely crafted. Imported from Antoinetta. Aren’t they lovely? The vases are filled with them as well.” Kit noted the containers she spoke of sitting on top of every flat surface in the room. They also contained purple tulips, one of Kit’s favorite flowers.

“Everything looks wonderful, Mother. Somehow, you’ve managed to outdo yourself again.”

Rona wore a smug, but genuine, smile. “Yes, well, I believe your Choosing is about to enter its final phase, Katrinetta. It seems you’re on the verge of selecting your final seven. It isn’t clear how many more of these occasions we’ll be attending. I want them each to be memorable.”

In the pit of her stomach, Kit had the notion this would be the last. A sense of dread overcame her as she realized what that might mean. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “I am sure it will be a lovely evening, one worth remembering.”

Rona tipped her head and waited to be announced. There would be no formal greetings or announcements from the queen tonight as Kit wasn’t Rooming or dismissing anyone. The queen took her place on the dais, surrounded by the noblewomen that always flocked around her, and Kit surveyed the room.

“May I have this dance?”

Kit recognized Pierce’s voice without even turning her head. He always wanted to be first. Part of her wanted to say no, but as the group of musicians in the far corner of the room struck up a cheery ballad, Kit found a way to smile. She turned to face him.

“Good evening, Pierce. Certainly.” She took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor. They were joined by a few other couples, mostly noblewomen who had brought their husbands along. The majority of the Representatives were moving past the dance floor to congregate in their usual space, nearer the musicians. Plenty of young, unwed women stood around the perimeter of the dance floor, but Kit knew most of her Representatives would only dance with another woman a time or two and then only because they felt sorry for the girls, not because they fancied them in anyway.

“You look distracted, Kit. Is anything the matter?”

Pierce’s question seemed pointed, as if he knew she was on to him. How that might be, she wasn’t sure, but she needed to throw him off. “I’m fine, thank you. Only caught up in the music. I am fond of this particular tune.”

“Yes, it’s quite engaging. The way the violin sings on the refrain. How was your dinner?”

Pierce continued to make small talk, and Kit pretended to be interested in what he had to say, though she was truly wishing the song would end already. A glance at her mother showed the queen was pleased she’d chosen Pierce as her partner. Kit could smell garlic on his breath even without his lips pressed to hers.

When the song was nearly over, he broached a topic she had hoped he would avoid. “Kit, it’s been over a moon’s phase since you’ve last invited me to your chambers, and of course, you will recall the situation that evening prevented us from becoming intimate.” Kit nearly rolled her eyes. As if she could forget. “I do wish you would consider asking me again. I know I could please you, and I feel our bond would be intensified if we were to have that opportunity. You’re letting what happened with Merek cloud your judgment of me.”

She chose her words carefully, assuming each of them would be repeated back to her mother. “Pierce, I am afraid I am haunted by the images of what I witnessed that evening. Perhaps you’re correct, and I am misplacing my feelings about the attack onto you. I will certainly give that some thought and see if I can work through those emotions. I’m afraid tonight I already have plans with another Representative....”

“Who?” The song was over, and Pierce took a step back, his tone accusatory. Kit blinked in shock at his change in disposition. “I asked all of the other Representatives earlier in the day if you had invited any of them, and none of them answered in the affirmative.”

Kit could hardly believe what she was hearing. How dare he question the other men? “Did they all answer you?” She couldn’t imagine Cassius or Eli, some of the others, even responding to that question.

“Not all of them, not directly. But I could tell.”

Kit shook out of his arms. “It’s not any of your business who I plan to spend my evening with, nor is it your concern whether or not I have asked him yet. I said I have plans, and assuming there’s not a Representative here who would deny me, it doesn’t even matter if I’ve asked yet, Pierce.”

She took a step away from him and backed into a hard, but familiar surface. Pierce’s eyes had been glued to hers, but when he looked up his expression changed, and Kit saw fear in his eyes. “Have a nice evening, Katrinetta.” He walked away, but not without looking over his shoulder at the queen.

Kit didn’t care. She spun around into Cassius’s arms, glad he’d stepped in, not because she’d needed his help but because his arms around her were a comfort.

“Should I even ask?”

“No,” she replied. “More of the same.”

Without properly positioning his hands, which were latched on to her upper arms, he began to sway back and forth to the music, and Kit felt a sensation of calm and safety wash over her. “When are you going to send him home?”

“When would you like the battle to begin?” she said into his chest in a whisper. She knew he’d heard when he slid one hand down to her hip and pulled her other one free of his chest, smothering it with his large palm. He didn’t say more, only held her and made some semblance of doing the correct dance steps. She never lifted her head from his chest.

As the music ended, Cassius raised her chin. “You’re safe, you know that, don’t you? We won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Yes, I know,” Kit replied, looking into his green eyes. “It isn’t me I’m worried about.”

Cassius leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers, a sweet sentiment, despite all of the eyes on them. “No one has taken this vow without understanding the consequences, no one.”

Kit’s heart skipped a beat. Even thinking of anyone getting hurt on her account was unsettling. Her mind went to Tem and Lok, the two guards who’d been killed recently, during Merek’s rampage. She didn’t want to see that happen again, not to anyone.

Cassius’s expression lightened. “Come on, Princess. This is a ball. Let’s have some fun!”

Kit couldn’t help but smile at him, now that the twinkle was back in his eye. She looked around and saw lots of eager Representatives waiting for their chance to dance with her. But for now, Kit was thirsty. On Cassius’s arm, she led him over to one of the servants who was carrying a tray full of goblets of wine. They each took one, and Kit took a long sip before she realized who it was carrying the tray.

Blankka looked Kit squarely in the face for a moment as her bottom lip trembled. Then, she dropped her eyes and turned to go.

“Wait,” Kit insisted, reaching out but not making contact with the girl. Blankka stopped and turned back to face her. “Thank you, Blankka.”

Her former lady-in-waiting nodded, but didn’t say anything. Puzzled, Kit c****d her head to the side for a moment, studying her. Blankka refused to look at her and wouldn’t speak. “You can go.” Cassius politely waved her away, and Blankka hurried off. Kit stared after her.

“Something was different,” she said, taking another drink and turning to face him. “She wasn’t herself.”