Burned by water

Chapter 23

The clouds were heavy overhead and I knew, with the warm breeze, that it wouldn't be snow falling down on us. The weather had drastically changed since my last time here and soon no more snow would cover the grounds.

Once we approached the castle, the scenery was so different yet so familiar. The iron door still stood in all its glory, the stone walls stained with black, but the white landscape was practically gone and had left only smudges of snow here and there, most of the ground soaking wet. I slid a couple of times on the mud, each time having someone to keep me up. At some point, Knox had ordered Jared and Sal to stay on each of my sides to make sure I wouldn't end up soaking wet.

The hike wasn't long at least and we didn't waste a second to get through the passageway leading to the Princess' room as soon as the guards passed the trap door. I would have thought Darcy would have it guarded more solemnly after seeing me going through it, but maybe it was just our lucky day that no one was assigned to that entry.

As soon as we entered the room, I checked with the air if anyone was breathing nearby and once the hallway was cleared, the men exited the door and went different ways. Knox had told me last night during our training that they had infiltrated the castle a lot in the past years so they knew the rotations and where to find guards' attire and so they would get in place while we prepared.

Knox stopped before me as he was about to exit, ''Remember, when the room starts filling with nobles, you go in from outside. Don't let anyone see your eyes.'' 

I smiled lightly at him, ''It'll be fine.''

He nodded, hesitated, and left the room. Tam was already taking in the room, checking the cabinets for make-up and perfume.

''How exactly will the wedding happen?'' I wondered and sat on the edge of the bath as she inspected the lipstick, pulling a disgusted face.

''The tradition is for the bride and man of the hour to dance with everyone but each other to emphasize their last hours of freedom before being tied down to each other.''

''Sounds like a fun marriage.'' I joked.

''I'm saying it like a bad thing but at my parents' wedding they did this traditional ball before the ceremony, my father being involved with his community, and it was more like making sure the people knew they would make time for them before their own needs. Their country would always come first and then they'd celebrate themselves. If that makes any sense.''

''I think it's beautiful,'' I said and she nodded. I knew exactly how being in politics made relationships feel secondary. I had lived it firsthand with my siblings, they had sacrificed me for the good of their country. My parents had raised us to see our country - our people - as the most important thing in our lives. Our reason for being born. 

But the way she told it, it didn't feel like sacrifices and betrayals, it sounded like commitment and tending to their own, and then making time for themselves.

''In the King's court, the first person with whom they dance is usually in the highest rank - of the utmost importance- to make sure they keep good relations with them. I think they see it as them being important or whatever, but my parents didn't do it that way. They danced without thinking about social classes.''

She showed me the makeup she found that looked all right and I started on her face first, years of balls helping me to pull it off. ''I've never really understood why it was so important for my brother to marry before ascending to the throne. He looked so unhappy going through all this process.''

''Dad used to tell me the weight on their shoulders would be too much to carry alone, they needed someone, an equal, to take some burden off their shoulders. I thought he was saying it to please Mom at first, but looking back I see it. There were days he felt like giving up, it felt like the people didn't want to help themselves - they were too scared or didn't take the time - and other times when he made decisions people didn't approve of, the world seemed to fall apart around him. But each time, my mom was next to him, talking, exchanging, and making decisions together. She was his rock through it all, his equal.''