Page 68 of Crown of Ellova: Vol 1

There are no windows to the outside, but the constant trickle of fae leaving the library lets us know dinner is soon. “Shall we pack up?” Nueena asks.

We leave the cozy study and head down towards the entrance. Tavien and Nueena stop to speak with many of the librarians.

Leon watches the busy library break for the evening meal as we leave. “It’s wonderful here. So peaceful and full of life.” He doesn’t have to say it; the wistfulness in his voice makes it clear what he is thinking. Ellova is a kingdom unlike Adreania in everyway. Here everyone is cared for, none left to starve or suffer alone.

Leon and I are alone outside next to the dimly lit portal tree, waiting for Nueena and Tavien. “Hopefully Adreania will be a better place soon. They will see through Grayden’s lies. Once the cure is ready and all those you helped are healed, you can tell them of a different way to live. Adreania could learn much from Ellova, from my culture. You could be the one to show them.”

Leon nods. “Grayden will hold on to whatever power he has by whatever means necessary. If you come back with me, we could show Adreania a different way. I?—”

I cut him off. “Now is not the time.”

With my fae sight I can see his fist flex in frustration. “You deny something that is rightfully yours now. The crown sits on your head.”

“You act as if I can just walk in there and demand the throne. Grayden has an army who will still obey him. I was never meant to be a queen. I would probably hate it anyways. Lyrora would be a kind queen or they could elect new leaders.”

“Izadella, you would make amagnificentqueen. Any kingdom would be extraordinarily lucky to have you lead them. You snuck into a dangerous realm where you would have been killed if you were discovered to bring food for those who needed it. Went to a castle cursed with hatred to get coins so those who didn’t have much could survive. Do you not see how much bravery, how much heart that took? The compassion, the fortitude. All beautiful, admirable qualities to have in a queen.” He whispers the last part, eyes shining with pride.

My knees shake at the way he is looking at me, with such reverence and admiration. The hope in his eyes is nearly blinding; it warms and terrifies every part of me.

“Let’s just focus on the elixir, all right? Then we can decide the next steps. I wish to help Adreania; I do. I don’t wish to see its citizens killed in a war over a crown that I have. My father was Adreanian, and my cousin and all she cares for are Adreanian, but for now—” I take his hand in mine.

He stares down at our intertwined fingers and squeezes.

“—this is all we can do. Hopefully it will be enough to convince them I do wish to help. I want to see a thriving kingdom ruled by someone who cares for them. This is the first step.”

“Adreania will be forever changed because of you, Izadella.”

I squeeze his hand back. “Because of all of us.”

Because of us.

CHAPTER 28

The palace is a flurry of activity as we make our way to the dining chamber, greeted by the mouthwatering scents of meat roasted in open flames, and fresh bread smothered with butter and dusted with cinnamon.

Round tables with silk cloths of every shade of green in honor of the court that provided our food are set with golden forks and knives and huge goblets. Nueena and Tavien fill their plates and walk off to sit with Viella and Hiliyah.

Lillian comes and takes the Forger’s Journal again to secure it for the time being. The rest of the tables are filled with students eating after lessons, families dining together, and friends greeting each other before sitting down. Some scattered fae sit alone to read a book or knit.

“Everyone eats together?” Leon asks, watching honeyguards sit with scholars.

We all nod and make our way to the vast rows of food on display.

“We do occasionally eat in our private dining rooms, but most evenings we share meals here, together,” I answer him.

A few fae males stand in line before us, gathering their choices. I hand Leon a golden plate before turning to him in a whisper.Though I am near enough hearing would be no issue, he moves closer so my lips brush his cheek when I speak.

“I have dried meat and cheese from Adreania back in our rooms too if everything is too sweet, but give whatever you want to try a taste,” I say it slowly, allowing myself to savor my cheek on his.

Giant shells from the Elbasan Sea are heated with enchantments to hold a vast spread of this evening’s steaming fare. Sizzling lamb stew with roasted purple carrots, flower petals over peas, and cheese-covered rolls with cooked dough made of corn.

Taking a slice of a spiral, flaky pastry filled with cheese and spinach, I add it to my plate of duck crisped with spiced butter, carrots drizzled with spicy honey, fried rice molded into a sphere, and a hearty scoop of seared zucchini. I add more spices I’ve brought back from Adreania to try to fight the sweetness.

The long table shifts from meats like maple pork and rainbow trout with the head still on, to brown bread and wild rice dishes, to the end filled with desserts. Most desserts are not my preference, considering how sweet the other foods are, but I’m partial to the shortbread cookies with jam and add a couple of those to my plate.

A tray of Nueena’s favorites, little jiggling lemon cakes, are placed out and I grab a few for her.

Leon’s plate is piled high and he looks at everything with a greedy expression. Most of his plate has vegetables on it. Grilled asparagus with fatty pork meat wrapped around it, its juices dripping on his smashed rosemary potatoes and dark greens in a dill sauce. Carved pieces of duck are laid out next to long fire-roasted squash and chicken stuffed with sweet spinach.

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