The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1)(36)

She brushed her hand lazily at me. “You didn’t offend me. Sometimes it’s easier, you know? To just be silent.”

I giggled. “Silence is not a skill of mine.”

She pressed her lips together, seeming to already have gathered that much about me. “A few years with a crown on your head might change that.”

I wanted to ask what she meant by that, but we were already at the entrance of the Great Room. A knot of dread settled in my stomach, and I feared that, just like Silas, we would mean well but make things worse. Valentina must have sensed my trepidation, because she reached out, and we entered the hall holding one another’s hands.

No one noticed us at first, but I heard gasps and whispers as whole sections of the room fell into a hush to see what would happen when we reached the head table. Once the change in sound reached Jameson’s ear, he looked up, eyes going straight down the center walkway. I watched as his eyes settled on the red dress, a smile almost spreading across his face before he realized the girl in it wasn’t me. His eyes flicked immediately to her right, and his mouth hung slightly open as he took me in.

He spoke quietly to King Quinten, who eventually looked up from his food, grumpy as ever. Thankfully, the sight of his wife in Coroan red and me in Isolten blue was enough to stun him into silence.

We approached the dais and curtsied before them, and, as Valentina held the higher rank, she spoke first.

“Your Majesties. We come here tonight to appeal for peace between our two great kingdoms,” she said.

“While the missteps of your people may be great, you are both better than your subjects, and we look to you for guidance.”

“I wear red, because I have made a friend in Coroa.”

“And I wear blue, because I have made yet another friend from Isolte.” I gestured for Sullivan and Silas to come forward. “These crowns of gold, shaped like olive branches, are for you, Your Majesties. Made by a family born in Isolte and living in Coroa. May they be a model of our brotherhood for years to come.”

The crowd behind us applauded, and I turned to pick up the first crown.

“It’s so light!” I exclaimed.

“I did my best for you,” Silas said quietly.

My gaze on him lingered a moment longer than I meant for it to before I reached across the table to place the crown on King Quinten’s head as Queen Valentina did the same with Jameson. He was smiling, speaking to her, and King Quinten focused on me.

“I see you’ve become close with the Eastoffes,” he remarked.

“I try to be an excellent hostess at the castle for His Majesty’s sake, regardless of where our guests are from.”

He nodded. “I’d suggest you take care. People in Isolte tend to keep their distance from them these days.”

“I can’t imagine why,” I snapped before remembering I was here to mend bridges, not take to them with an axe. I swallowed, starting again. “They have been humble and most helpful since their arrival.”

The look in his eyes was more of a warning than his words. “If you wish to stand next to the fire, by all means. You’re the one who’ll be burned.”

I curtsied again to him, as I knew I must, but I hated pretending to give any level of respect to that man. I nodded to Silas and Sullivan that they could go, mouthing my thanks before turning to Queen Valentina.

“You are wiser than anyone has guessed. We will talk more tomorrow,” she said into my ear before we crossed paths and went to go sit by our kings.

“What do you think?” I asked Jameson as I settled into place.

“I think if you fell off a boat in that, the sleeves would drag you straight to the bottom.”

I laughed. “I had to practice walking,” I admitted.

He smiled. “Teasing aside, you look beautiful in anything you’re ever in.” He sat back, sipping his drink. “I hear it’s the fashion for brides to wear white these days. Won’t that be something?”

I looked down, blushing. Of course, I was glad he still found me pretty in Isolten blue, but I wondered how he felt about what Valentina and I had done, if he appreciated our strategizing and hard work. Before I could ask, King Quinten tapped Jameson’s shoulder.

“There’s no point arguing. We need to get back to that contract,” he urged. Out of his sight, I let out a sigh. I had no idea what they were working on, but I was pleased they weren’t abandoning it over a single battle at a tournament. Even if Jameson said nothing in thanks, at least this moment had been a success.

Around the room, people were chatting and eating and laughing, and though Valentina and I hadn’t walked the borders or pulled a king back from war, we’d made steps toward peace. I hoped the queens before me would have approved. Judging by the smiling faces and relaxed shoulders around the room, it seemed most people in the court did.

From his table, Silas caught my eye and lifted his glass to me. I did the same in return and took a drink. No, that boy was only good, and nothing about him could leave me burned.

The center of the floor where Valentina and I had walked down was now filling with people dancing as the meal came to a close and the music changed.

I watched with trepidation as Silas rose from his table and walked up to the dais.

“Your Majesty,” he said, bowing before Jameson. “I can see that you and King Quinten are busy. I was wondering if I might ask the Lady Hollis to dance.”