The Flower Crown Princess

Part 23

As the dinner goes on I find myself feeling oddly light, strangely floaty. What is this feeling? I keep getting lost in Prince Asdagh's words; and nothing I say feels absolutely right, it all seems awkward. He laughs and listens anyways.

And what is this thrill I get whenever my betrothed looks at me, whenever his dark eyes meet mine? My heart starts to pound, the corners of my mouth twitch themselves into a smile without my consent. I find myself completely unable to tear my eyes away, and yet I find my eyes dropping to my plate almost constantly, unable to look up. I know that there's some kind of blush seeping into my cheeks and it's giving me away, and I don't much like it, yet at the same time I do. 

I stand at the end of the meal a full two hours later and set down my napkin on the table. "Thank you, my lord, it has been a most excellent evening. I have quite enjoyed myself."

He smiles and offers me his arm. "I am glad, Princess. Would you like an escort back to your room? No matter how enjoyable the evening was, we mustn't let our guard down in times such as these."

I take the proffered arm. "Thank you."

We haven't talked of the Plan all evening- a fact I haven't thought of in about as long. It is a wonderful thing, to have a break from your duties, but they cannot be neglected forever, or nothing would ever be accomplished.

*****

"Princess," I hear an oddly unfamiliar voice whisper from my window after the door closes behind Asdagh.

I'm in a second- story room. 

I freeze.

"Who's there?" My vision darts around, then I see a dark- haired and almond- skinned young servant woman peeking out from behind the curtains.

"Jun said to tell you that they are safe and sound,"she said, in a voice as smooth as honey. "I wasn't sure the message was for you, Princess, seeing as we fight against your kind." She is suspicious of me, this young woman. I smile.

"I fight with you, good lady," I say. She nods, and I see the black eyes soften, her posture change. It worked. Address her, this servant, as an equal, make your point known. Get the word out among them that you fight for the Dawning- and then we will strike. I hear the words of the Plan echo. I've got them memorized- every strategy, every situation that may occur. 

One success more, but how many to go?

The servant picks up a pile of linen- they must be sheets, a premise to be in my room and deliver the message. A clever trick. With a nod in my direction, she opens the door and walks into the corridor, closing it gently behind her.

I put a hand to my heart, still reeling from the shock of finding a maid in my curtains, and go to my closet to change for bed.

A knock. 

I put down my nightdress on the bed and go to the door, opening it a bit cautiously. Lisbet and Jennis stand there, both with excited grins and blushes on their cheeks. 

"How was it?" asks Lisbet, almost bouncing in the air. They come into my room and I close the door, letting my heart flutter again at the memories of this evening. "You just had a personal, private dinner with the crown prince."

I giggle and smile widely. "May I remind you, Lisbet, that in a few months I'll be married to said prince? I'm not some silly court girl trying to catch his eye," I say in mock seriousness and sit in a purple armchair. "It was lovely. I think I'll be very happy married to Prince Asdagh."

Jennis sighs. "Oh, it's so romantic," she trilled, plopping onto a chair beside me.

"Not really," I protest. "I'm marrying him whether I want to or not- or else peace treaties go out the window in flames. Though, as long as I have to do it, I may as well enjoy it. It's the rest of my life, I don't intend to be miserable throughout all of it." I shrug, pleased with my philosophy. If I feel this light and happy around Asdagh my whole life long, I shall be the luckiest woman- especially one who was used for political gain- in the kingdoms.

"It's still very sweet of him to have a private evening with you. Tell us everything," gushes Lisbet, begging with her wide cloudy-day eyes.

"We had dinner and we talked for a while. Is there really anything to tell?" I can't stop smiling as I'm recalling it, though the smile never wore off in the first place.

"What did you talk about, though? What did you have for dinner? If you discussed politics, Nivh..." Jennis looks me dead in the eyes with a hopeful expression.

I laugh and feel my cheeks flare a tinge. "We didn't discuss politics in the least, Jennis, I promise on my wedding gown. We talked about ourselves, that's all. I don't want to be wed to a man I know little about. I know now that the prince enjoys to hunt and ride, as well as read, and that he can't stand those who threaten him. He knows as of tonight that I also enjoy riding, but never read very well and spend most of my time sewing and in discussion with members of court, and that we both enjoy a polite and structured debate from time to time. He knows how I feel about the traitors." I make sure to drop my voice to a whisper for the last sentence. The rebels do have eyes and ears everywhere, and another might be hiding in my room. I doubt it, seeing as I'm supposedly one of them, but just in case...

I bring my voice back to a normal volume. "We made plans to go for a ride through the kingdom tomorrow. He says we'll be gone a full day and he'll show me the whole island."

Lisbet wrinkles her nose. "Where are you supposed to ride on this island? It's all city."

"Through the streets of the city, and it sounds like there's a bit of undeveloped land on one end of the island, and there's always the shoreline." I'm thrilled to go out all day tomorrow. Will I still be all smiley and jittery then? I hope not, but I hope so. I rather like it, no matter how awkward it might be.

"Nivh you look awfully far off," says a mildly concerned Lisbet. "Are you alright?"

"Don't you see, Lisbet? It's obvious," Jennis gives a dreamy sigh and rest a her head on her hand, smiling and looking right at me. "Nivh's in love with the prince."

"Maybe I am," I say, confused. "That's none of your business, though."

Jennis ignores me. "It's just like in the novels. The prince and the princess. Classic." Another sigh.

"I've never read a real novel." It's true. I haven't.

"What? Never read a novel?" Jennis snaps back into reality. "Why ever not?"

"I was educated in matters of court and read only histories and rules. What's wrong with that?"

"Everything." Lisbet says the one word with finality. "You'll have to start reading some novels, Nivh. Especially these romances. They might help you deal with the prince about now."

They walk towards the door. Jennis yawns. 

"Good night, Nivh," she bids me with a sparkle in her eyes. "I expect a full report on tomorrow's ride."