“You will have your first dance to start off the dance floor in just a few minutes,” Celine told us. “Then you will mingle and greet some of the guests for roughly an hour before your next break.”
“And if we never return from said break?” Krew deadpanned.
“Oh, please tell me you are joking, Your Grace,” Celine said, eyes wide. “The entire kingdom has shown up to see the two of you.”
Krew rolled his eyes. “Only partly. It is not as if we can possibly greet everyone anyway. I also thought it wasmywedding and I could celebrate it how I chose.With my wife.”
“I am sure there will be plenty of time—” Celine’s blush went all the way down her neck. “For such things later?”
Stop torturing the poor woman.
Fine.
We took to the dance floor as the entire room stood and applauded us. Krew quickly told everyone to sit and finish eating while we danced. I wasn’t sure what was worse, the whole room standing and clapping for us, or all of them sitting and watching us.
I remembered this very room with all the tables set up for eating from my first nights in the Assemblages. But now the tables were so many that there was barely room for dancing at all. I knew as soon as people were done eating, several tables would be moved to make more room.
And judging by the sounds coming in through the doors and windows, there was also quite a meal and party going on outside in the gardens.
It was a celebration, after all.
There wasn’t a small orchestra set up like I was used to in the corner, as there had been for the balls, but instead they were up on top of the grand staircase. And I wasn’t sure, but just by a glance I thought there were double the musicians as normal.
Krew pulled me in close as the music started flowing downward to us.
A hush settled across the room. I wasn’t sure people were even eating at their seats, they just watched.
Which was awkward. It’d be more fun if they joined in and also danced, but this was our first dance as Prince Krewan and Princess Jorah, so I supposed they couldn’t.
“Shall we show off a bit?” Krew asked me softly.
“If only to get something on my mind other than the number of eyes watching us,” I whispered back.
He smirked and then we were moving.
We used most of the little dance floor we were provided. And knowing I was uncomfortable, Krew kept his eyes on me, so I kept mine on his.
We weren’t just secretly married anymore, with parliament and a select few people knowing. We were married before all of Wylan.
And whether or not we would both survive what was sure to be the wrath of the king later in the night, whether or not we would ever become king and queen, we would forever be prince and princess.
Royalty.
“I’m havingfeelingsabout this new crown of yours,” Krew said, his breath on my collar bone as he tipped his head down to whisper in my ear.
The new crown was so light, I had honestly forgotten it was still on my head. “Appropriate feelings I’m sure, My Prince.”
“Definitely not.”
I laughed.
The song was wrapping up and so he rested his forehead on mine. “I am so ready for this night to be over.”
“I agree.”
And while the applause signaled the end of our dance, he brushed a chaste kiss upon my lips while promising down our bond that it wouldn’t be the last.
Krew took my hand and led me out to the balcony. The same one Keir had always taken me out on. We stood at the edge and waved at the people below in the gardens and stuck outside the castle, many cheers starting up.
