Chapter 8
The Yule Feast came and went. I did not act out any dramatic scenes with Kian or provide background music for him and Neeve to dance to. Each of us performed alone: myself on the harp, Kian reciting a grim Fiorlander poem, and Neeve gifting herbal sachets to all the guests—which I guessed wasn’t what she’d originally intended, but seemed to suffice.
Every time the three of us had to interact—at dinner, or during lessons or weapons practice—we were cold and formal with one another.
The denizens of Castle Raine noticed, of course, but most of the gossip concluded that Kian was angry with Neeve and her father for cutting his proposal short, I was upset with Kian for attempting to propose to my stepsister, and Neeve was unhappy with both of us because she guessed we were in love.
