The Story of the Trees - Sword, Ring, and Crown Book One

Chapter Twenty-Three

As we approached the buffet tables, Dominic handed me a slice of strawberry shortcake from Schubert's. I recognized it instantly by the round candy logo perched on top. My eyes widened in disbelief.

"How...?" I looked across the room, scanning for Luke. He hadn't moved away from his discussion with Valenia, but I caught his eye. How had he even known? I lifted the plate of strawberry shortcake, silently thanking him. He smiled faintly before Valenia steered him back into their conversation.

I piled my plate with more cake—opera cake, chocolate mousse, Swedish princess cake. I figured if I ate enough cake, it would keep me from trying to find Ciaran again to do more of... whatever that was.

"You're gonna regret that," Adrian warned, glancing at the heap in front of me. I laughed, because what he said fit so well with what I was thinking.

"Schubert's has magical flour. Calories don't count," I said, taking a huge bite.

Adrian shook his head, but he put his arm around me, and the comfort was welcome. I found myself leaning against his shoulder.

Then,  Dominic pried the plate from my hands. After he set it aside on a table, I hissed at him just like a ring-obsessed golem would and cried out, "No! My preciouses! You dare!"

"How about you dance with me instead," Dominic said with a chuckle as he took my hand.

I was about to agree, but then I saw Valenia coming towards us, her robes billowing around her like storm clouds. She seemed upset.  "Please come this way. You should mingle with the other Elect. They are your competitors. You should get to know them."

Her gaze sharpened. "And with that display on the dance floor, you've already put yourself in a bad light."

I held Dominic's hand as I turned to her and answered in a frosty voice. "I'm sorry, but I don't really care.  I was just about to dance with Dominic, Your Holiness."

Valenia waved her hand dismissively, her gaze drifting to the crowd. "These gatherings can be tiresome for those unaccustomed to our ways. The intricacies of court life can overwhelm even the most seasoned of us. But you are... adapting, I hope?"

The way she said it made my spine stiffen. I'd only been here for a day. What could I learn? Still, I lifted my chin in defiance. "I'm learning."

"Good," she said, as though praising a child for mastering a simple task. "It will serve you well." Her tone was soft but patronizing. "Competition, after all, can be unforgiving."

I glanced at the others. "I've never been a fan of pageantry."

Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second before returning, as though she were indulging me. "Such innocence... You are still new to our world. In time, you will come to appreciate the balance between power and grace." Her eyes flicked to Dominic. "Though your... companions may lack the understanding of such things."

I bristled at the veiled insult but bit back my retort.

"Tell me, Elect Madeline," she continued smoothly, turning her attention fully back to me, "do you understand what it truly means to be chosen? To bear the weight of your court and the expectations of our people?" Her words dripped with a patient superiority, as if she expected my answer to fall short.

"I think I'm starting to," I replied, trying to fight against sneering at her.

She glanced at my court, her expression unreadable, but I could sense her judgment. Then she gave me a knowing smile, the kind that made me feel small despite my best efforts. "Go, child. Mingle with the others. You still have much to prove."