Descendants of the Kings (Book 2)

Ch 57.2: The petty woes of the rich and famous

Dinner was a blur of hollow laughs and mindless small talk.

Long trestle tables had been laid out with a magnificent feast. Fresh fish, meats dripping in rich sauces, grilled, buttery vegetables, fluffy cakes and flaky bread. The spoonfuls Ella had managed to swallow had tasted like sand.

She looked fine. Her hair had been quickly set in place by Briar—what happened, she'd muttered in concern as she combed the knots—and a glamour had easily covered the little bruise on her shoulder. But Ella knew what was beneath it all. The fragile semblance of calm to which she clung to.

Just a few more hours, she told herself. A few more hours of going through the motions.

Dinner was over after much fanfare—twelve courses of it—and soon, guests were being ushered back to the main ballroom, where musicians had started up with lively tunes in preparation for the dancing that was to take place.

The magical blackout had been passed off as a malfunction in the palace wards due to the number of people. Nobody questioned it—people often overlooked anything that wasn't convenient. Later, once sated, tongues would surely wag. For now, everyone enjoyed.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Briar asked again, their arms linked as they pushed along the throng of people.

Ella shrugged. "As fine as I'll ever be."

Briar pursed her lips. Her gaze darted to Ella's glamoured shoulder. "Did he...?"

Ella shook her head firmly. "Nothing that you're imagining. Everything is as it was. I was simply incredibly stupid. No one's fault but my own."

Briar sighed and nodded. "A moment of weakness. I can understand that."

They made their way up to the upper floors, hoping to find reprieve from the worst of the crowd. However, upon reaching the landing, they paused.

Val stood against a pillar, conversing with Princess Una. Her mouth was pulled into a lopsided smile that Ella had often seen when she was uncomfortable. Princess Una leaned in, her hand suggestively poised on Val's bare forearm, her eyes cast low.

Briar went as still as the dead. She let go of Ella's arm and took the few remaining steps up the landing, coming closer. Ella's eyes widened as she trailed behind.

"--I've so been hoping to see you again. You've been so hard to reach," Una whispered, her coral-pink lips pouting.

Val laughed uneasily. "Well, I've been busy, I told you."

"But you can make time for me, no?" Una said coyly, a red-nailed finger trailing up Val's arm. "Especially after how much fun we had last time. I rather thought you'd be keen on repeating."

Briar made a small sound. A bird, pierced by an arrow mid-flight.

Val turned, mouth open breathlessly. Una's lips tipped up viciously, fanged, before composing herself into one of those syrupy sweet smiles.

"Oh, Briar. I didn't see you there. I was just conversing with Valren," she locked eyes on Briar as she kept her hand on Val's arm. "Do you know her? I should introduce you. She's such fun."

Val shook her head imperceptibly, trying to catch Briar's attention. Briar simply blinked, unable to conjure a response.

"Well, I should be going. Dancing's about to start," Una removed herself from Val. She gave her one last coy smirk and pressed a key to her slack hand. "You know where to find me later. Same place as last time."

"Princess Elowen," she acknowledged, before brushing past Briar, clipping her shoulder.

"Briar," Val uttered, taking a step forward, her expression pained.