A Dove's Tale

Chapter 109

Theresa grumbled about waking up at ten o'clock the next morning, but she changed her tune when she saw my ring in daylight. It was breathtaking. The bright gold of the band and clear white of the central diamond contrasted nicely with the reddish-purple of the garnets, lighter and more vibrant in the sunshine than they were in the moonlight. A barrage of questions ensued about the proposal and the time I spent with Chevalier after we left the ball, and I answered or evaded them, depending on my level of embarrassment, until I finished breakfast and sent her to invite Elise and Camille to tea. That gave me a few minutes to recover from my incriminating blush before I went to Sariel's office.

"Princess Ivetta," he greeted me coolly.

"Good morning, Sariel," I said cheerfully, wondering why he was already upset. Had I been wrong in assuming I wouldn't have lessons today? Or was he just really busy? There were a lot of papers on his desk for this early in the day. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Yes and no," he replied. "Sit."

I took the seat across from him, scanning the documents on his desk and the quill in his hand. "I can always come back-"

"You'll want to go forward with the engagement ceremony as soon as possible, correct?" he interrupted me.

I blinked in surprise. "Engagement ceremony?"

He sighed and set his quill in its inkpot. "Surely you realize by now that nothing is simple here in the palace."

"Yes, but Nokto said the dance was as good as a proposal," I said hesitantly.

He pushed his glasses up his nose and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk and steepling his fingertips together. "It is, but it does not negate the need for the traditional royal engagement ceremony to sanction your engagement in the eyes of the court."

I sighed and shook my head. The dance, the ring - that was two proposals already. To have a third was just silly, but if it had to be done, then that was that. "What does the ceremony entail?"

"It takes place in the palace chapel," he replied. "The priest and a third party witness the king's proposal and your acceptance. You both sign an official document, he presents you to the people, and a ball follows."

"So, it's a wedding," I summarized.

He sat back in his chair and massaged his temples. "It is very much like a wedding, yes, and it requires nearly as much planning and preparation on my part, so it will be some time before it occurs."

"Of course," I said slowly, surveying his full desk again. He was always working. Even when he gave me lessons, a constant string of servants and visitors came to his office to add more paperwork to his desk or speak with him about something. If he didn't assign me any reading, tests, or practical lessons under another person's supervision, there was no way he could get through his own workload. Adding another ceremony on top of that, especially so soon after the last ceremony he organized, was almost cruel.

"Well, you don't have to start right away," I decided, looking back at his narrow lavender eyes behind his thin glasses. "If you want to take some time to decompress from the coronation ceremony, that's fine."

His smile took on a weary aspect. "You are too kind, Princess Ivetta. If only I could believe the king will allow this interruption to his plans."

"I'll talk to him," I said reassuringly. "Maybe you should take today off completely."

"And watch this palace fall apart? Never." He straightened in his seat, his thin smile back in place. "We'll resume your lessons tomorrow, with a focus on social engagements to garner the support of the nobility. They cannot oppose your engagement, given the manner in which it was done, but they can make life miserable for you."