The Princess's Servant

96. Picnic Panic

Night shooting at the archery range turned into a sleepover at Holden's place, which in turn turned into omelets for breakfast and plans for the day. It was decided without much debate that they would visit a nearby lake in the morning, hit the restaurant district for a traditional Wardian lunch (which, to Sybil's delight, consisted of many small portions of delicious foods served all at once), head to a play in the afternoon, and finally a picnic in the evening. And if an evening picnic turned into yet another sleepover at Holden's place, neither would complain.

Of course, the following day could not be as action packed as the day ahead. After all, tomorrow was the coronation, and Holden would have to be in attendance (as would Cara's double, Sybil, though Holden was no wiser to this than he had been a week ago). So both looked forward to the day ahead and tried not to think too much on what might come after. That said, Sybil had a plan, and she was going to enact it.

She would muscle her way through the coronation. Play her part, try not to let her longing for Holden show too much. And then, when the coronation was over, she was going to kill Sybil. Metaphorically, of course — she couldn't actually kill Sybil without also killing Cara, and she needed Cara. Sybil would withdraw herself from the world wholly and completely, becoming a shut-in until no one asked any questions anymore about where Sybil might be. Then, once she was forgotten, she would be free to live her life wholly and completely as Cara, forever and ever.

Witnessing the bounce in Holden's gait and the glimmer in his eyes, Cara didn't think he'd miss Sybil too much.

It was the perfect plan. The only hard part would be getting through tomorrow, though Sybil believed in her own strength. She could do this, and when she did, her life would be perfect.

Holden also had his apprehensions about tomorrow. Also like Sybil, he had a plan. He'd enjoy today (that was a given), stiff upper lip-it through the next day, and then, after the coronation, ask Sybil a simple question: Do I have your blessing to pursue others romantically?

He didn't need Sybil's blessing, of course — their marriage had never been anything more than a tool to procure security for her and her kingdom. But he still felt that asking permission was the right thing to do, and he knew that Sybil could hardly refuse him if he asked in this manner. Denying him the opportunity would be akin to professing her love for him, which Holden knew she would not do, because she did not love him. He'd tell her of course that she was welcome to pursue others as well, though he hoped that this time she'd chose someone consenting.

And just like that, in the span of a brief conversation, the two of them would finally be free of each other, finally and forever. And once she'd agreed, Holden would pursue her cousin's hand and maybe — if he was very lucky — at last obtain the fairytale romance he'd so long dreamed of.

It was the perfect plan. The only hard part was working up the nerve to ask the question to such an unstable person, but he clung onto the hope that her promise had been sincere — that she would not hurt him any longer. Even if he sometimes wished she would.

Cara and Holden secured these plans in their heads and then tried their best to forget about them, so they might enjoy the day in front of them. The omelets were delightful, the lake was stunning, the restaurant was delectable, and the play exciting. But in truth, the part of the day both of them had looked forward to the most was the humble picnic. And that time had finally arrived.

Holden had laid out the blanket on a grassy hill. Despite being autumn, these grasses had not yet died, and that was because they overlooked the ocean. This was Northern Ward, where the air was humid and rain fell frequently, even in the summer. But today was not one such day. The skies above them were sapphire blue and the sunlight was thick, as though it had been filtered through honey.