“I…”
She grinned, then exhaled sadly, a practiced pout forming on her lips. “I would want to ensure I looked my best for you at court in Frostfjord. A prince’s wife should sparkle as brightly as his treasury, don’t you think?”
I smiled politely, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother signaling to the musicians to wrap things up. Thank the Nine Gods.
“I… Yes, I suppose so.”
“I knew you would see. I hope you don’t find me forward in asking. I’m just a future-minded kind of girl. Are you future-minded, Prince Bjorn?” Ingri asked again, giving me what she clearly thought was a sweet smile and pressing her chest against mine with such determination I feared she might leave an imprint.
Ingri was very beautiful and smelled heavenly, and I was not blind to the allure of herthreadbarebodice, but in termsof having anything in common, we were somewhere in the negative. Possibly in another realm entirely.
“Well, I…” I began, but blessedly, the reel ended.
I took a step back, giving Ingri a polite bow. “Lady Ingri,” I said. “It was a pleasure.”
Ingri’s brow flexed, a flicker of worry crossing her features as she realized her quarry was about to get away. “Shall we dance the next?—”
“Bjorn,” my mother’s voice called sharply across the hall. “Come.”
“If you will excuse me,” I told Ingri, bowing to her again, nearly dizzy with relief.
“Of course, Prince Bjorn. Don’t stay away for long,” she said, blowing me a kiss while her eyes glinted with a coy smile that didn’t quite reach their calculating depths.
I turned, catching sight of my family seated at the long table at the front of the room. My eldest brother, Alvar, was talking with my father and his men, all of them laughing. His wife, Astrid, who regarded my existence with vague notice, was gossiping with her sisters. Beside them, Magnus, my other older brother, was engaged in what looked like a torturous conversation with his new fiancée. It was apparent to everyone but my mother, who had arranged the pairing, that they were a terrible match. Magnus, one of the bravest of our men, looked like he wanted to crawl under the table and hide. I cringed at the sight. My baby brother, Fen, all of fifteen, was too young for my mother’s attentionsyet. He had escaped with a gaggle of other boys his age. They were holed up in one corner of the room comparing their…forearms? What were they doing, exactly? I chuckled lightly, and then my gaze shifted to my younger sister, Asa. When Asa caught my eye, she laughed gleefully at my apparent misery.
I gave her a knowing,don’t laugh, you’re next, look. At eighteen, my sister Asa was Queen Maren’s next target once our mother had secured a match for me. Luckily for Asa, I was making things difficult for our mother. Apparently, being uninterested in marriage made you a poor candidate for everyone—except Ingri.
Pulling on a placid smile, I joined my mother.
“Bjorn,” my mother said politely. “You will join Princess Bibka for the next dance.”
“Of course,” I replied, turning to the princess and extending my hand. “Princess.”
Princess Bibka gave a grunting assent, took my hand, and joined me on the dance floor.
If anyone thought I was stiff when I danced, they had not seen Princess Bibka. She was…glacial. I smiled. Perhaps I had finally found someone I had something in common with.
“How are you finding Frostfjord, Princess?” I asked.
She paused a long moment, then said, “Hot.”
“Yes, I would imagine even Frostfjord is warm for those of you from The Northern Reach.”
She didn’t reply.
We more veered than twirled around the dance floor. Struggling to find a topic of conversation, I finally said, “I admit I’m not much for dancing or singing. I can warble our royal song, badly, when forced, but I prefer more active hobbies. I spend much time with my father’s Master of Horse. I prefer to be outside, tending to our unicorns or on my father’s ships. Do you have any hobbies you enjoy?”
She did not respond for so long that I thought she had not heard me. Finally, she said, “No.”
“I… What do you enjoy?”
“Sitting.”
Struggling for a moment, I finally said, “Yes… I…I also enjoy a good…chair.” I flicked my gaze to the princess’s family. Alvar had joined them. He was smiling and laughing with Frost Giant King Rarki. They were all cheerful and engaged in animated conversation.
Confused by the stark contrast and worried I had somehow offended the princess, I said, “Princess, I’m sorry, have I done something to?—”
“You are the third prince.”
