Chapter Two: The Palace
Nagavi caught her eye as she entered the dining hall, his gaze skimming to the seat where she’d sat that morning. She didn’t roll her eyes at him, though she wanted to, or retort with a ‘yes, dad,’ which she also wanted to do, but took her place and locked down the dull simmering antagonism toward Rial that had settled in below her breastbone and wouldn’t depart. Apparently, as his consort, she was obliged to sit next to his seat whether he was present or not. The finals seemed more distant than yesterday, or was it that her life had undergone so many changes since she’d sworn to serve the crown prince? The others were having a snack before they prepared for the evening’s duty. She wasn’t hungry but managed to force a few mouthfuls down her throat.
Rial and the gu
