A Beast's Tale

Chapter 55

Leon had been preparing to leave when I caught him. He and I discussed the festival on the way to the stables and then rode our horses to the city square, where Jin, Yves, and Licht were overseeing preparations. I had no plans to tell any of them about Gilbert, and I didn't need to do so, either. Recent events had put everybody on edge. They were already putting additional measures in place to ensure the ceremony would see no interruptions, and when we arrived, Licht was giving the guards their instructions. Jin, who always enjoyed working with his hands, had pitched in with those erecting the stage, and Yves was unloading white roses and candles from a carriage. I left them to finish and directed Blade to the countryside, where I could give him free rein to expend his energy.

The peaceful solitude was a welcome change from the controlled chaos of the palace. Blade's hooves thundered across the grass under the clear blue sky, muscles flexing and extending with each powerful stride, head bobbing in time with his smooth gait. His breath came in steady huffs. I leaned forward over his neck, feeling the wind in my hair and hearing my cloak whipping and snapping behind me. A horse and rider performed their best when they acted as one unit, and in these moments, it felt as though we'd achieved that.

"Blade, slow."

One ear swivelled around to catch my voice. He maintained a gallop but slowed to a more leisurely pace. I smiled and sat upright in the saddle, and he pulled to a stop, breathing hard, his ears pricked toward me for his next command. I rewarded him with a pat on the neck and nudged his side with my left heel. He turned to the left and plodded along at a steady walk. Interspersing pleasure riding with training kept his recall consistent for the battlefield, and he needed mental exercise as much as he needed physical exercise. Putting him through his paces was an enjoyable experience for both of us.

Lucien would ride out to meet me soon with his report about last night. I needed to tell him about Luke. With the increased coverage at the palace, Lucien or Cyril could now watch Ivetta's house at all times, an important precaution with the increasing threat to her. Yves would continue accompanying her in the carriage as a much safer alternative to Nokto or Luke, and short of 'locking her in a cage,' as Gilbert had suggested, that was the best I could do for the moment. It wasn't enough. There were gaps I didn't like. But unlike Gilbert, I respected her desire for privacy.

Most of the afternoon passed while I worked with Blade. Aside from Lucien, I had no other interruptions. When I returned to the stables, I took my time grooming the tired stallion, and then I climbed the hill to the palace and directed my steps toward the library. Nokto's silky smooth voice came to me the moment I opened the door.

"Of course you didn't. You like to handle your problems on your own."

He and Ivetta were standing by a bookcase. She had a dustrag in one hand and her ponytail in the other, pulling it free from his fingers. He grinned and chucked her chin, then turned away with a glance in my direction as he went to a nearby sofa. His hand lifted in a lazy wave. Ivetta looked at me and ducked her head in a vain attempt to hide her blush.

"Would you like tea, Prince Nokto?"

He shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

"Then I'll be back in a few minutes, Your Highness."

She kept her eyes downcast as she passed me. I ignored Nokto and continued to the back room, knowing the reason he was here. He'd gone too far with her yesterday morning. Licht had overheard Ivetta telling Theresa about it, and he had then confronted his twin. After he'd finished at the embassy, he'd gone to Ivetta's house to apologize, and now, Nokto was here to do the same, in his own way. He couldn't manage it without flirting. What followed Licht's visit to Ivetta yesterday evening was of greater concern to me.