Chapter 8: Promises Made in Winter

I could already sense the crowds filling the dance hall in the palace. Soft music was playing, beckoning people in. Waiters maneuvered themselves gracefully through the maze of bodies, silverware clinking as they went. In the midst of all this clamor came the occasional trickle of foreign words, no doubt from foreign dignitaries and diplomats socializing amongst themselves.

Prince Christopher and I made our way into a nearby anteroom. We were greeted by the astonished gasps of His Majesty and Prince Theodore. I shrank back in embarrassment, but Queen Henrietta, who had already entered the room before us, immediately lifted herself and strolled over to scrutinize my appearance.

“...The red shading may be a bit too strong. The depth of color with the layering does have a sense of beauty to it, but there are still improvements that could be made. I think the skirt volume could stand a little reduction as well. The design seems a bit...archaic for my tastes,” she muttered to herself with a serious expression. Apparently Her Majesty had her own very specific preferences when it came to clothing.

Beside her, the prince gave a troubled smile. “Mother, did Lady Matilda stealing Eli’s idea bother you that much?”

The queen’s auburn eyes smoldered with anger as she lifted her head. “Need you even ask? They had no compunction about stealing her ideas and marketing them as their own. It would be one thing if they’d genuinely come up with it themselves, but it’s something else entirely to appropriate another’s ingenuity for your own popularity.”

She refrained from speaking any further, but her tone was filled with a level of disgust I rarely heard from her. Still seething, she continued to mumble, “To make matters worse, it wasn’t just anyone’s wisdom they were ripping off, it was Elianna’s—and they had the gall to do so in front of everyone at the party. If you’ve ever wondered what utter lack of shame looks like, you need look no further than the viscountess and her spawn.”

Her Majesty followed up those curt words by turning her admonishing gaze toward me for some reason. “Elianna, you hold some blame here too. This was your idea they stole, and yet you just sat there twiddling your thumbs over it. Did you see how hideous their outfits were? Even the goddess would spurn them out of shame.”

Still indignant, she gave a shaky exhale, slapping her closed fan against the palm of her other hand. “I had no choice but to acknowledge them simply because it was originally your idea. You show such determination and boldness when defending others, but you must learn to use that for yourself as well. Those who do not value themselves cannot possibly hope to protect anyone else.”

I instinctively responded, “Yes.” My heart warmed as I gazed back at her and said again, “Yes, I understand.” Her Majesty was as infuriated as if she’d been the one personally affronted. The only reason she was scolding me was because she cared.

Before, I’d thought the palace a terrifying place, but now I realized I’d been blind to all of the support around me. There were so many reliable people I could turn to.

Emotion welled up inside my chest, a deep affection for someone who only existed in my memories. It was an affection I decided to share with the person in front of me instead. “Thank you for everything, Mother.”

Queen Henrietta’s expression instantly froze. Those narrowed eyes of hers snapped wide open.

I recoiled in surprise. I didn’t think I had said anything to offend her, but perhaps...?

Her Majesty made an indiscernible but decidedly unladylike sound as she thrust her fan open. She covered the majority of her face with it and averted her eyes. “I was reprimanding you for your behavior. What lady in her right mind would thank someone for that?”

“Right,” I agreed, shrinking back.

His Highness turned his back toward me, trying to stifle his snickering, which earned him a reproachful look from his mother. She barked at him, “This would have never happened if you’d taken proper care of your political opponent in the first place. By dressing Elianna up so brilliantly, we’ll squash all talk of Norn. You can thank me for that.”

His brow quirked. “Why, thank you for bringing that up, Mother. I was already equipped to deal with the military faction if needed. In fact, I already prepared a hot new topic that will attract people’s attention and draw it away from Norn as well. Let’s be honest, you were merely using this as an excuse to engage in your hobby of dressing Eli up.”

“Such a disrespectful child. Just because I’m the one who drew out Elianna’s charm doesn’t mean you need to be so jealous. It’s unbecoming,” she sneered. “If you’re that bitter, why not simply admit the truth?”

“Excuse me? Why would I be bitter over you and your silly hobby? They say you can’t judge a book by its cover and that seems to be doubly true for you.”

The queened huffed. “Oh? And what, pray tell, are you trying to imply?”

“The dresses you choose for her are always horribly garish. Only someone who enjoys girlish dress up games would pick out such gaudy outfits,” His Highness accused.

“You have some nerve,” she scoffed as the two launched into verbal warfare. Tensions heated, and no one even tried to stop them. “It suits Elianna perfectly. Why quibble as long as she looks beautiful in what she wears?”

I was being dragged into this conversation for some reason, but I couldn’t follow along. My brain was wracked with confusion as I shrank away from the two. Prince Theodore, who was stretched out on one of the sofas, beckoned me over with his hand. I hesitated, but I eventually slunk away from the battlefield to join Prince Theodore and His Majesty, curtseying before them.

The king’s iron blue eyes softened as he smiled. In contrast, Prince Theodore’s ultramarine eyes danced with mischief. They each complimented me on my dress.

I couldn’t help feeling nervous; this was the first time I had ever worn a red dress like this, and I was going to be presenting it at the Holy Night’s Banquet—the largest evening party of the year. Fortunately, the prince’s words had inspired some confidence in me, and with the entire royal family praising the dress, I was starting to finally feel up to the challenge.

After I returned their compliments with a smile and some words of gratitude, His Majesty leaned forward expectantly. “Elianna, now that you have started to call Ettie ‘mother,’ what will you be calling me?”

“Um...well since you’re the king, ‘Your Majesty’?”

His face fell in devastation.

Prince Theodore grinned over at me in amusement. “Eli, when you introduce me to other people, you can just call me your refined, gentle, and charismatic uncle.”

Uh...?

“What utter nonsense are you spewing?” the prince snapped at him. “She can introduce you as her lonely uncle that will probably die before he ever finds himself a match.” His Highness looped an arm around my waist, pulling me away from Prince Theodore and over to sit with him on the opposing sofa.

Queen Henrietta settled herself down straight across from me and shot the king a cold look from behind her fan. “Chris and I have spent four whole years making progress with her. Why don’t you try to invest the same amount of time before you start with your absurd expectations?”

His noble brows sank in disappointment. “That seems an awfully steep mountain to climb just for her to change the way she addresses me.”

Meanwhile, Prince Christopher and Prince Theodore traded jabs with one another as they usually did.

“Well, Chris, if I do die in the throes of solitude, it will no doubt be by your hand. This is already a busy time of year, and then you had to come to me with some top secret plan you wanted me to oversee. I felt sorry for all those in the Pharmacy Lab. They were working like possessed madmen to finish in time.”

“But they did finish in time, which is excellent,” said the prince. “This will breathe life into the Azul Region. Surely they understood the great purpose in their labor.”

Prince Theodore sighed in exasperation. “You know, you could benefit from talking to a holy man. He might have some harsh words for you, but perhaps you could beg him to teach you the meaning of ‘compassion.’”

“I’m wounded, Uncle, truly. Compassion is exactly what I was showing you. You’re a deadbeat, and I was still kind enough to send some work your way so that you might demonstrate your worth to us.”

“Compassion indeed,” Prince Theodore drawled with amusement. “In that case, I should get my reward for all that hard work from Eli.”

“What?!” His Highness snapped. “What nonsense are you spewing? Aren’t you a bit young to be going senile already?”

“Come now, it’s nothing to throw a fit over. I’ll just tag along with you both for that trip you were scheming. Interfering in your time together will serve as good entertainment for me. Besides, I’m the only one Eli can truly discuss books with, anyway.”

“How would you like to be kicked in the face by a horse, Uncle?” The prince’s threat was so menacing it crept through the air with ill intent like a toxic cloud.

In contrast, Prince Theodore seemed just as jovial and carefree as ever.

I was also able to enjoy listening in on His Majesty and Queen Henrietta, who were conversing as they only did amongst their private circle. It warmed my heart to be included, and I was reminded once again that the royal family was welcoming me in with open arms.

Suddenly, I remembered my father and brother. Once the new year started, this would be the norm for me. My home was here at the palace now, rather than the house I had been born and raised in. I couldn’t help but feel anxious about all of the people I was leaving behind—my father, my brother, and our household servants. At the same time, if Lady Anna would do us the honor of marrying into our family, it would be a great relief to me. It was a selfish thing to hope for. I had no idea how she actually felt about my brother. Still, however far off that future might be, I was sure it would be perfect if things turned out that way.

His Majesty interrupted my thoughts by saying, “Elianna, I heard how tirelessly you worked for the people of the Azul Region. I would like to commend you for your achievements, of course, but if there’s anything I might grant you as a reward for all you’ve done...please, enlighten me.”

“I couldn’t dream of it.” I hurriedly shook my head, firmly refusing him. I still wasn’t sure that I had actually accomplished anything, despite my best intentions.

All I had done was use the seashells to make pigment, but it was the queen who then utilized that to dye my dress. I did believe the color that came from the Milulu Clams could eventually be valuable, but trends like that always faded eventually. Besides, dyeing was a well-renowned specialty craft in the Tor Region already. Even if the Azul Region did produce a stunning dye, in the long run, it was still a far cry from what was necessary to guarantee them financial stability in their daily lives.

When I tried to claim it didn’t even work as a basic solution to the current issues, Prince Christopher interrupted me with a smile. “Perhaps you’re wrong about that.” He explained, “You found one other type of ink as well, didn’t you? I decided to make use of that. It will be yet another specialty of the region after tonight.”

“What?” I stared at him in disbelief.

“It will be a surprise for later,” he assured me with a mischievous grin. “My father’s absolutely right that you’ve accomplished a lot. Don’t be so modest. If he’s offering a reward, take him up on it.”

“Still,” I hesitantly protested, but everyone else was clearly urging me to back down and accept the king’s reward. With great reluctance, I finally said, “Can I truly ask for anything as my reward?”

His Majesty gave a magnanimous nod. “As the king of Sauslind Kingdom, I swear I will grant whatever request you make, as long as it is within my power to do so.” He sounded less like a proud monarch and more like a father waiting to humor his daughter’s demands.

I still felt guilty for asking anything of him, but since he was offering, I summoned the last of my courage to blurt out, “Once the Holy Night’s Banquet is over...I would like some time off, if I may?”

“Time off?” His iron blue eyes blinked back at me.

For some reason, Queen Henrietta’s face lit up. She held her fan over her mouth as she gave a calm nod. “Splendid idea, Elianna. The designer of your dress also had some other ideas in mind we could try out. It would be good for us to visit the companies in the capital occasionally as well. Merchants from all over the continent are gathered in Saoura right now. It’s a good opportunity to get our hands on some rare fabric.”

“Excuse me?” His Highness’s elegant smile evaporated as he huffed in disapproval. “You can’t be serious, Mother. Why do you think I labored day and night without reprieve for the past couple of weeks? Even the civil officials suffered alongside me, working incessantly so we would have extra time after the holidays.”

Prince Theodore stared back at him, horrorstruck. “You actually think you have the right to make such complaints...?”

Right as Her Majesty and His Highness were about to launch into another round of bickering, the king gently held up his hand to stop them. “Are you certain you only want some time off?” he asked.

I studied his face before responding, “Yes. Actually, you see...”

It all started yesterday.

As I busied myself fulfilling my formal duties and making preparations for the Holy Night’s Banquet, Lady Sharon suddenly paid me a visit, accompanied by Lady Elen. It was a brief meeting. Apparently, after spending a night to consider her actions, Lady Sharon had decided to come and apologize. Perhaps it was a result of her own stubborn personality, but she seemed to be doing it begrudgingly.

“I may have...gone a bit too far,” she admitted. “Perhaps I said too much when I got heated. My behavior was unbecoming. So...I apologize.” Lady Sharon bravely bowed her head. The way she handled herself wasn’t as perfectly ladylike as one might expect, but she seemed sincere enough.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she explained what had led her to reflect on her actions. “To tell the truth...I don’t like how I look. People laugh at me for my curly red hair and freckles. I always admired Lady Mireille for her fair skin and beautiful blue eyes. To me, she was always the ideal princess. But after hearing your story and everything else you said, I realized it wasn’t right to force my ideals and values on other people.”

“What part of what I said?” I tilted my head at her.

Her lips flared in a pout, but she acquiesced and explained nonetheless. “I knew there were commoners living in poverty, but I never tried to understand what their daily lives were like or how they spent time with their families. Similarly, I only ever looked at how popular Lady Mireille was on the surface. I never tried to understand what her true desires were. That made me realize, I was no different than that dirty, rotten concubine or that cunning duke house.”

Lady Sharon was right. She had tried to push her own wishes and ideals on everyone else without regard for how the person in question actually felt. Part of being nobility was playing the role you were given, but in spite of that, Lady Sharon was actually trying to understand what Lady Mireille truly wanted. For that, I thought Lady Mireille was truly blessed.

Right as I thought that, Lady Sharon suddenly blurted out the same thing. “You are truly blessed to have the protection of Sauslind’s people, Lady Elianna.”

The earnest way she looked at me made me genuinely happy. My lips naturally softened into a smile.

Lady Sharon’s cheeks flushed as she jerked her chin away. “Even so, Lady Mireille is no less amazing and wonderful!”

“Indeed,” I said. Both Lady Elen and I giggled.

Still sulking, Lady Sharon reached down and plucked something from her luggage. “I’d like to give you this as an apology. I...said some very disrespectful things, and I learned a lot from our conversations.”

I sucked in a breath as I fixated on the object in her hands. It took effort to glance between Lady Sharon and Lady Elen and ask, “Are you certain?”

Lady Elen offered a graceful smile as she said, “Please consider this the dukedom’s way of apologizing and congratulating you on becoming the next crown princess, Lady Elianna.”

Lady Sharon kept a flat tone as she explained, “I am only lending this to you. Once the Holy Night’s Banquet is over, I intend to return straight back to the Miseral Dukedom. I’m concerned about Lady Mireille. So you’ll have to read it before then. I’m taking it back with me whether you finish it or not.” I didn’t hear what she said after that, which included, “Although you could always come with me...”

I was filled with delight, as if I’d been reunited with someone I so admired but had given up on ever seeing again. I took the logbook into my trembling hands and squeezed it to my chest. “Oh, I swear to you, Lady Sharon! I will absolutely finish reading this before you return to the dukedom! Thank you ever so much. Truly, thank you, Lady Sharon, Lady Elen!” I was so blinded by my emotions that I forgot my manners as a noble lady as I showered them with gratitude.

The two stared at me in shock, but I was too distracted to see their faces. My heart was hammering away in anticipation of the unexplored world that lay between the pages of this book.

“...and that is why I would like to take time off, Your Majesty,” I finished.

To tell the truth, even as I was being thrust to and fro attending to my royal duties, half of my heart had remained behind in my room, bewitched by Ship Captain Vigo’s logbook. I still had anxiety about the impending evening party, but I couldn’t help praying it would end quickly. The moment it was over, I could finally read my beloved books—finally meet Ship Captain Vigo himself! If His Majesty would grant me some time off, it would be a wonderful, blissful reprieve.

“There are many other books I would love to pore over as well,” I confessed. “So many that have piled up over the weeks and months... I would love to read them all. If you might grant me the time to do so, there is no greater reward I could ask for, Your Majesty.” Before I even realized what I was doing, both of my hands were clasped together as I practically pleaded with the king.

Both Queen Henrietta and Prince Christopher gawked at me. “She’s actually begging him,” they both murmured. Unfortunately, I was already too preoccupied with my request to pay them any attention.

His Majesty gave a strained smile and nodded coolly. “Very well. As king, I hereby grant you, Lady Elianna Bernstein, temporary reprieve from any duties you might have. I permit none to interrupt you during your time of rest. You have my word.”

I was so thrilled I couldn’t help blurting out in excitement, “Thank you so much, Your Majesty!” My heart was already taken by the mountain of treasures awaiting me in my room. It had no interest in the evening party still to come. Thus, everything that transpired after that seemed blurred and distorted, as if a mental wall separated me from whatever happened around me.

Queen Henrietta barked at the king, “You are too soft on her!”

“Not nearly as soft as you,” he argued back.

“But the Gral Villa has a lake with swans, and I thought it’d be the perfect trip before our marriage...” Prince Christopher mumbled dejectedly.

Exasperated, Prince Theodore shattered the last of his poor nephew’s dreams by saying, “Alas, Chris, you longed for something fleeting.”

~.~.~.~

As our names were read, the prince and I stepped inside the party hall. Immediately, the crowd erupted in a wave of excited whispers and palpable excitement. I almost shrank away in anxiety, but His Highness’s firm grip kept us moving forward.

Part of the fuss was the mixed reactions to my red dress. There were those whose eyes were captured by the stunningly vivid color, but there were also those whose brows were furrowed in dismay at the audacious display. Gossip on either side gradually faded as I trailed further into the room. Despite some thinking it ostentatious, when the light caught my dress, it wasn’t obscenely gaudy—the color remained bold without being overly intrusive. Perhaps my frozen expression helped to silence the onlookers; my nerves had gotten the best of me, and I couldn’t even force a smile.

Admittedly, I couldn’t be as stunning as a whole garden, but as the prince had said, I could be a single blooming rose—one who proudly displayed its petals, dyed with the illustrious pigment of Corba Village’s Milulu Clams.

His Highness wore his usual dazzling smile, looking even more proud than he normally did. That was enough to soften the stiff expression on my face.

In the gaps of nobles lined up around us, I glimpsed two people who had recently been the subject of much scrutiny: the elderly Earl Dauner and his plump viscountess daughter. She was clad in the same atrocious gown she’d worn the other day. It had a bold, plunging neckline with a panel of plum-colored lace fixed inside.

I spotted no trace of her daughter, Lady Matilda. The prince had mentioned leaving her in a cell overnight to reflect on her actions, but given that she was a noble lady, I couldn’t see him being allowed to do something like that so easily. It wasn’t as if her actions had directly threatened people’s lives. No doubt she’d been thoroughly reprimanded, but was it really so extreme that she’d decided not to attend? Or perhaps she was concerned with the social standing of her family after the incident. Regardless, she wasn’t present.

While I felt conflicted over this development, Queen Henrietta proceeded a few steps in front of me with her chest puffed out triumphantly. She was gloating at the viscountess, the latter of whom was grinding her teeth in frustration as she glowered at my dress. The elderly earl tried to hide his own resentful sneer, but he lacked the control to fully mask his emotions. Now that he was no longer a proud, influential military figure, he seemed anxious about how the prying eyes around him might perceive him.

Queen Henrietta harrumphed as she marched past, and the prince squeezed my hand as he swallowed back a laugh. I had my own thoughts on their immaturity, but out of respect for the royal family, I would keep those impressions to myself.

As the king and queen arrived at their dais, the prince and I followed their example and turned to face all of our guests. Prince Theodore joined us as well. Per tradition, his escort was an elderly lady, an extended member of the royal family.

His Majesty cast his gaze around the hall, his sonorous voice booming as he thanked the gods for a year of peace and stability. He also expressed his gratitude for everyone’s hard work and prayed the coming year would be just as prosperous. Finally, he bellowed, “Now, play the music!”

At his instruction, a brilliant melody filled the room. We followed the king and queen onto the floor and began the first dance of the night. As I’d anticipated, my dress spread out around me like the petals of a rose in bloom. My stomach was knotted with anxiety the entire time, but the satisfied look on Her Majesty’s face was so flattering I couldn’t help but smile too.

A chuckle slipped past His Highness’s lips as he watched me. His eyes then suddenly turned contemplative. “Eli, I’m sorry.” His abrupt apology left me staring blankly up at him. He still had his usual smile plastered on his face, but I could hear the remorse in his tone. “I made that promise with you when we started all of this, but I haven’t even kept it recently.”

As I stared back into the depths of his eyes, feeling like they might suck me right in, I recalled what he’d told me four years ago: “Lady Elianna, you need only stay by my side and read your books.”

He had made good on that promise. Lately, however, between princess training with Queen Henrietta and my official duties with the Holy Night’s Banquet, I’d had very little free time.

Still, that’s not his fault, I thought. I needed to tell him as much.

“I was the one who made the decision to be by your side. Everything I am doing right now is necessary to achieve that, so...you needn’t worry. I am doing my utmost,” I said, growing more insistent the more I spoke.

His Highness smiled. “I know. I’m very well aware of how hard you work for my sake. Although, the fact that I didn’t realize you were pushing yourself too hard makes me feel like a failure as your fiancé.”

“Oh, no...” I started to protest.

“Not to mention I couldn’t keep my promise to you, either. You’ve had to just bear through it all. My mother was right. I really am an incompetent prince.”

“I think you’re a dashing prince,” I blurted before thinking. As those blue eyes stared back at me, I felt the heat rise to my cheeks and finally tore my gaze away. My blush extended all the way up to my ears, almost as if the dye from my dress had seeped into my skin. “You’re utterly amazing—more than I even deserve. In my eyes...you’re the best prince in the world.”

Suddenly, the air around us seemed to glow and sparkle. Heat poured in from the prince’s hands, one at my back and the other firmly gripping my hand. As we spun around, he casually leaned closer, whispering into my ear. “Say that again, Eli.”

“Once was enough,” I insisted.

He chuckled, looking genuinely overjoyed. “Eli?”

I lifted my gaze to find affection welling up in his.

“I love you, Elianna.”

For a moment, my eyes lost focus. This was an evening party in the palace, and we were in the middle of the opening dance. Perhaps I should have considered the time and place a bit more before we started this conversation. I was so shaken my feet were frozen to the floor.

Nonetheless, His Highness cleverly took the lead, pulling me along with him as if nothing had happened. He had the same laidback expression as always, which made me wonder if those words a moment ago had just been an auditory hallucination. As if sensing my doubt, he turned a smile toward me so full of affection I had to suck in a breath. Now I was convinced I hadn’t just been hearing things.

“I’d like a reward, too,” he said.

I blinked back at him.

There was something warm and inviting in his next words. “I’d like to have some of your time. Am I being too demanding?”

“No,” I said, “that’s fine.”

“Truly?”

“Of course.” I nodded, still feeling like I was hovering high in the clouds as I stared back at him.

A devious grin surfaced on his lips for a split second before disappearing. The moment it was gone, he was back to beaming at me in his usual charming way. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Why did I feel like I’d just fallen into a demon’s trap...?

Once my dance with the prince ended, I took turns with a number of foreign diplomats and ambassadors. Our talks together revolved primarily around my dress. I told them every detail I knew, and they hung on my every word, impressed by what they heard. Word of the pigment spread amongst the attendees.

There were many within Sauslind’s nobility that held negative biases toward Corba Village (like Lady Matilda). Their brows drew in disapproval as they heard where the pigment originated. Prime among these, and protesting most loudly, were the two from House Dauner. They spoke as if they were an absolute authority on the matter, wailing about how disgusting the Azul Region was. Their criticism of my dress and the queen for backing me was suggested but never truly spoken. The two had absolute conviction in their beliefs, and for them, this was a rallying point they could use to rebuild political power after being knocked down a peg.

Unfortunately for them...

“The color is delightful. I would love to present such pigment to the king of my country.”

The diplomats and dignitaries praised the dress, expressing their interest in importing it back to their countries as gifts for their monarchs. This quelled the voices of criticism, and soon House Dauner was alone in their negative sentiments.

At one point, I found myself surrounded by such a dense gaggle of young noble ladies I couldn’t move an inch. The Ashen Nightmare was a distant memory for them, since it had happened fifteen years ago. They didn’t share the older generations’ prejudices. Instead, they were genuinely curious how they might obtain a dress like this as well.

In a rare display, Queen Henrietta vacated her seat to join me and spread word about the pigment of the Milulu Clams. Countess Eisenach approached to pay her respects to us during all of this. When she heard about how Her Majesty and I had collaborated to create the dress (though my contributions had been indirect), she sighed with envy. “It’s now looking like engagement talks with my son have fallen through. Isn’t there an adorable daughter-in-law I can find lying around somewhere?”

Does she think of a daughter-in-law as some fallen piece of fruit she can just pick up off the ground? I wondered.

Queen Henrietta seemed to be in good spirits as she held her fan over her mouth and said, “Glen is a member of Chris’s imperial guard. He needs to fix his eyes on the future. I’ll do what I can to help in that regard.”

It seemed Lord Glen still had many more trials ahead of him.

My brother also came over to pay his respects, escorting Lady Anna on his arm. She was adorned in a stunning indigo blue gown with elegant lace embroidery. It had a subtleness to it that fit her personality perfectly and was pleasing to the eye.

I wasn’t sure why, but she looked slightly frustrated as she mumbled under her breath, “I lost the bet...”

When I glanced at Alfred, he gave me his usual tender smile. Our conversation went from the pigment of the Milulu Clams back to the Totti Cave paintings. “You found something amazing,” he said. I was genuinely happy to receive such praise from him.

The tie Alfred was wearing matched the navy blue hues of Lady Anna’s eyes and dress perfectly. When she looked over at him, her cheeks colored with a faint blush. My heart warmed as I watched them, and I couldn’t help imagining where their relationship might lead in the near future.

As I exchanged words with those who came to greet me, my cousins and aunt charged over and surrounded me, demanding to know why I hadn’t told them about the pigment sooner. I stared back at them, dumbfounded. Apparently the ladies of House Storrev had already ordered an array of different colored dresses for the new year. Instead of canceling and ordering new ones with the pigment, they started discussing what red-themed decorations and adornments might best suit their new garments.

They were very adamant about not wearing the same color of dress as me, claiming it would “lose its novelty” if they did. Whatever that meant. Their lively energy surrounded me, keeping me preoccupied until the banquet was well over halfway over. By that point, my aunt had pulled me away from Queen Henrietta and to a group of middle-aged noblewomen.

“Elianna...”

When I glanced back, I noticed a bunch of young noblemen standing around, though the prince’s presence as he appeared before me seemed to overwhelm them.

“Preparations for tonight’s special reveal are complete. Come with me.”

“All right.”

As we started to pull away from the crowd, he turned his dazzling smile to the other noblewomen. “You ladies look beautiful tonight. Care to join us? I can promise you a sight that will take your breath away and make your heart pound like it never has at any banquet before.” He beamed with confidence.

Laughter carried on behind us as the noblewomen followed, creating a wave effect as the young noblemen around them joined in. In turn, the young ladies who had been eyeing those men were swept up by our movement as well. As our large group made its way across the floor, others turned their attention to us. By the time we made our way onto the balcony facing the royal gardens, the entire venue was trailing behind us and piling out into the cool night air.

“Sorry, it’s a bit cold out here,” His Highness whispered. He stood at the front of our group, smiling gently at me as he placed his hands over my exposed shoulders in hopes of providing a little warmth. Feeling his bare skin against mine made my pulse quicken. He pulled me closer, trying to protect me from the chill in the air.

“U-Um, yes...” I felt a bit flustered at our close contact in front of so many people. I thought about protesting, but someone else cut in.

“I am looking forward to seeing what entertainment you cooked up with Theo,” said the king.

Her Majesty gave a haughty snort. “I doubt it’s anything as grand as the dress I had designed for Elianna.”

Unruffled, the prince replied, “Keep your eyes peeled. You’re in for a real treat.” There was something mischievous in his expression as he motioned down at Prince Theodore to begin.

Several fir trees had been carried into the royal gardens, though they were currently covered with black sheets. Prince Theodore nodded to the soldiers standing around them as he said, “Kill the fires.” Following his command, they smothered the nearby flames.

The garden was bathed in darkness for a moment, until the fabric was yanked off the trees. Gasps rang out from the crowded balcony as people looked on in wonder. Even I found myself choking on the frozen air as I sucked in a breath, shocked at what I saw.

Shining faintly upon the trees were drawings of birds and butterflies. It was like something straight out of a fairytale. The drawings almost seemed to be dancing, the way they hummed with light.

“Just what...is this?” His Majesty gawked.

I had a feeling I knew. “Your Highness, don’t tell me this is...?”

“That’s right, it’s the luminescent ink you created.”

“Luminescent?” the king echoed, curious.

I shrank a bit under his gaze.

When I first set out to create ink using the Milulu Clams, I sought the cooperation of the herbalists in the Pharmacy Lab. None of them carried the same prejudices as Earl Dauner and his ilk. They were all medical scholars researching how the people in Corba Village had survived the Ashen Nightmare. They had already looked into what the villagers’ dietary habits were, what the climate was for the region, and what unusual customs, if any, were practiced there. They were trying to pin down anything that could work as a cure or treatment for the plague. Naturally, they had already conducted an examination into the Milulu Clams as well.

They were at a deadlock in their research when I requested their help to create the ink. They were happy to oblige, seeing it as a welcome distraction. When I brought the clams to them, we found some with scaled insects who had taken up residence inside. Remembering how these had been used for pigmentation in makeup before, I decided we should try using them for ink as well. Some minerals from the Azul region had gotten mixed in during the process, but since these were just samples, we weren’t too concerned about the contamination.

What resulted was a milky, pure white ink that left absolutely nothing visible behind when you used it on paper. We were certain it was nothing more than a failed product and set it aside. Just a few days later, rumors started about there being ghosts in the capital’s Pharmacy Lab.

“It comes drifting into the middle of the lab every night,” people said.

“It’s the spirit of an herbalist who died in the middle of their research, full of regrets.”

“No, I heard one of the researchers was so obsessed with their work their emotions manifested in the form of a phantom that now haunts the place.”

All sorts of gossip made the rounds, but the true cause of people’s paranoia was the ink. The mix we had concocted somehow became visible in the dark. Our true aim was to recreate the same ink that had been used in centuries past, so it was mere coincidence that we stumbled across this discovery. I couldn’t think of any purpose luminescent ink might serve, however, so I had explained the source of the ghost rumors and handed my samples over to the prince. After that, I’d completely forgotten about the incident.

The prince briefly summarized all that had transpired before going into the specifics about the glowing reliefs we saw before us. “According to the researchers, the source of this light is a substance called phosphorescence. They had never seen it in liquid form before, though. The Azul Region is well known for their handicrafts, so I had them draw pictures of birds and butterflies on the outer shells of the Milulu Clams and then paint the insides as well. That’s what makes the drawings look as if they’re popping out of the darkness.”

His Majesty nodded thoughtfully. “So that’s how you did it.”

“Um,” I cleared my throat, feeling a bit quizzical, “when I gave you the ink, there wasn’t very much of it. Not nearly enough to accomplish something of this scale.”

“Indeed, it wasn’t enough. I had to enlist the herbalists to mass produce it. Since they had worked with you to create it in the first place, they were the only ones who knew how to make it.”

“That makes sense,” I mumbled. How he’d managed to get them to create so much in such a short amount of time still mystified me, but I got the sense I was better off not asking.

His Highness continued, “With Uncle’s help, I also had the royal family’s crest inscribed on the front of the store serving free mulled wine. Word of it should already be spreading among the people. We’ll be keeping this ink under the royal family’s control for the moment, since we’re still looking into possible uses, and we want to make sure no one abuses it.”

The king stroked his chin. “Seems like a fine idea. Incidentally, is this also your solution to combat the steep price jump for firewood and charcoal in the winter?”

“Correct. Every year as the Holy Night’s Banquet approaches, night grows longer and costs for those resources soar. Poor and underpopulated villages have been complaining about it. By making this a specialty product, I’m hoping we can reduce those expenses for people. I did have a few other ideas in mind as well...but this one was thanks to Eli’s ingenuity.” The prince smiled over at me.

Queen Henrietta seemed simultaneously exasperated and amused as she said, “And by doing this, you and Elianna will be even more popular with the people.”

“No doubt about that,” the king agreed, exchanging looks with his wife as they smiled between them.

I was still standing there dumbfounded, not entirely sure how my discovery of glow-in-the-dark ink had led to this.

Meanwhile, the foreign diplomats and dignitaries were all astonished at this revelation and eagerly began asking us questions about it. The prince left the king and queen to deal with them, pulling me to a less crowded spot. I found my gaze wandering and somehow spotted Earl Dauner and his daughter vacantly staring out at the scene in the garden.

“I feel bad for doing this without your permission,” the prince suddenly interrupted, “but I used the exclusive sale rights of this ink as a bargaining chip to win over the Dorud Company. I have no plans of running an autocracy, and in fact, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have people criticize my policies. Without their critiques, I wouldn’t realize the flaws in what I’m doing.”

Intense emotion swelled in his eyes. “That said, when a person’s views are clouded by bias and they think extolling praise on the military supersedes the importance of flood management, then I cannot allow them to remain in a position of power. Especially not when they mistakenly take those corrupt values for strengths. I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble because I took so long in dealing with him.” As he apologized, his gaze was just as earnest as it had been the other day.

I quickly shook my head, and his lips cracked into a smile. “Anyway, Eli, your latest discovery proved extremely helpful. Thank you.”

“Was I truly able to be of use to you?”

His Highness’s eyes danced with amusement. “Of course. I have no doubt the pigment from the Milulu Clam and the luminescent ink will be a sensation. As interest grows throughout the country, so too will the need for bridges across the Azul Region. I do wish Marquess Bernstein would grant us a more substantial budget for that purpose, but...he’s a stingy one.”

Hearing about my father’s work made me smile.

The prince reached over and gently cupped my cheek. “You’re like the wind that pushes my sails forward. Thank you, my dear, sweet Bibliophile Princess.” He planted the softest of kisses on my forehead as if I were his treasure.

Embarrassment and joy bubbled up in my chest as I replied in kind. “I’m glad I was able to be of use to you, my beloved prince.”

His blue eyes blinked once, staring at me. Right then, something tiny and white began fluttering down between us.

“Ah, it’s snow,” the people around us gasped.

Drawn by the sound of their voices, the prince and I turned our eyes up at the sky. It was a marvelous sight; the glow of the ink from the fir trees illuminated the white flakes dancing all around us.

His Highness turned his kind smile toward me. “Let’s do this again at the next Holy Night’s Banquet. I’m looking forward to another year together with you, my soon-to-be wife.”

There was only one way for me to reply to that. “As am I, my soon-to-be husband.”

I was so happy in that moment as we grinned at one another. I had no way of knowing the trials and turmoil that would await me. Nor could I have foreseen that the pigment from the Milulu Clams would come to be referred to as “Azul Red” and would spread not only across Sauslind but the rest of the continent as well.

~.~.~.~

A few days later, Lord Glen triumphantly regained his freedom after engagement talks were dropped, and he stopped by to secretly ask me a question. “About that piglet from before...what actually happened to him in the end?”

I stared blankly back at him. He had a slight blush on his cheeks, likely embarrassed to be bringing this up, but his eyes were earnest with a desire to know the end of the story. Lord Glen was an honest man, as a member of the imperial guard should be, but he also had a hidden boyish curiosity. I suspected that was what drew so many women to him.

Finally I smiled and said, “That’s a story for another time.”