“Brienne, what is happening?”
She frowns. "You… don’t know? Prince Rylan... he ordered for you to be moved to his quarters," she says, her hands fidgeting nervously.
I blink, stunned. "He what?"
Brienne swallows hard. "This morning. Told me to pack up all your things to be moved. You’ll have a suite in his wing."
My heart begins to pound in my chest, a mix of disbelief and anger rising in me. "Did he give a reason for this?"
"He said it’s customary for disciples to stay with their trainers," she says, her voice small.
I glare at her. "And you? Are you coming with me?"
Brienne shakes her head, her expression sad. "No. All of the royal family’s quarters have their own servants. Someone else will be assisting you."
My anger flares. "Over my rotting, stinking body!" I shout, my voice echoing through the room. The servants freeze, eyes wide. "All of you—stop what you’re doing," I order, my tone leaving no room for argument. When they hesitate, I glare harder. "If you don’t want to wake up with goat turds in your beds for the next six months, don’t touch my things without my permission ever again."
I find him outside,speaking with a group of visiting nobles. He’s composed, calm, the picture of royalty, but I don’tcare. I march straight up to him, ignoring the stares and gasps of the nobles around him.
"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" I demand, not bothering to lower my voice.
Rylan’s expression doesn’t even flicker, but I can see the tightening of his jaw. He raises a hand to his guests, excusing himself before he turns to me. "Eirabella," he says in that maddeningly calm voice, "this is not the time—"
I cut him off. "You had no right to move my things. I’m not moving into your quarters."
"It’snotup for discussion," he replies, not a note of compromise in his tone.
I narrow my eyes at him. "How about up forargument?"
His eyes darken slightly, and he steps closer, lowering his voice. "Disciples traditionally live in shared quarters with their trainers. The only reason you haven’t moved sooner is because I have my own wing in the family tower. This is the way it’s done."
"Thenchangeit. What’s the point of being the crown prince if you can’t make your own rules?" I hiss back, crossing my arms over my chest.
"The point of being the crown prince is I can protect my disciples better than other mentors. This move is for your safety," he says, his tone softening for a moment, though his eyes remain hard. "I need you close by so I can make sure no one harms you. Do you haveanyinkling of how many have it out for you because you’re my disciple?"
I want to argue, to tell him I don’t need his protection, but something about the way he says it... it throws me off balance. The truth of his words hits me, even if I hate admitting it. Still, I’m not giving in that easily.
"I’m not moving," I say stubbornly.
Rylan’s gaze hardens, and he lowers his voice so only I can hear. "I wasn’tasking, disciple. You’re moving into my quarters. No discussion, no arguments. I suggest you don’t push me." He rolls his shoulders. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have to return to my guests.”
Later,after dinner, Mathis walks me to my new room, hands tucked casually behind his back like he’s got nowhere else to be. As Captain of the King’s Guard, I know better. We’re back on good terms. I’d sought him out a few days after I’d run away from him in the city square with a giant ice cream sundae and apologised profusely. He’d forgiven me almost immediately, but not before making me sit and watch him eat almost the entire sundae in silence, knowing just how much I love ice cream. As soon as he’d said, “Fine. I forgive you. But do it again and you’ll find this ice cream sundae turned upside down on your head,” I’d grabbed the spoon right out of his hand and finished off the sundae to the sound of his loud protests.
We’re taking the scenic route through the gardens and I’m teasing him about Lady Palomia almost tripping over her own feet trying to get his attention at dinner when he stops, touching me gently on the elbow. “Hey, Eira, I don’t mean to pry, but... is this argumentativeness of yours a new thing, or has it been hiding under all that sunshine until now?”
I grin at him. “Must be contagious. I’m usually quite easy going. I think I caught it from Rylan. Should I be going for the charming rogue act like you instead?”
He gasps, clutching his chest. “I’ve been accused of many things, but my charm being an act? That’s below the belt.”
“You’d know all about below the belt, wouldn’t you?” I shoot back, raising a brow.
His laugh is low and easy, and I can see why the ladies of the court are all mad for him. “Careful, Eira. If you keep flirting with me like this, people are going to talk.”
“What are they going to say? How lucky Captain Corvane is, that Eirabella Kaye is such a catch?” I say, shoving him lightly with my shoulder. “I’m not afraid of them.”
“Well,I’mafraid of what one personin particularmight say if people are spreading rumours of me ‘catching’ you, so to speak,” he murmurs under his breath. But then his playful demeanour shifts and he guides me forward as we enter the royal family’s tower. “All jokes aside, take it easy on Rylan, yeah?”
I blink, my irritation flaring again. “Is this where you tell me he means well, and I just need to be more understanding?”
