Page 92 of Enchanted Heir
“While normal humans live to their eighties or nineties, the Enchanted usually live well into their hundreds. My great-grandfather to year one-hundred-twenty.”
I thought on that. I wasn’t sure Krew and I would ever have a future, but if I didn’t take his magic and also become Enchanted, I’d die before he would. By twenty or more years. What a morbid thing to realize. Considering both of us were at risk of losing our lives far earlier than that with the king around. Just outliving the king would be a feat at this point. It wasn’t really a pressing issue, but I still tucked the information away for later.
“Where are we going first?” I asked as the Nerede wall creaked open.
“Your mother’s bakery,” Krew smiled. “She has requested tea before we all take the carriage to the location of the festival.”
I snorted a laugh. “You say that like it’s a building, when really it’s a bonfire in an open field.”
He shrugged. “Yes, well.”
I laughed again. “Don’t be so stuck up, My Prince. You’ll see. The people of Nerede know how to throw a party.”
* * *
“I’ve neverin my life had pork so delicious,” Owen murmured from next to me around a mouth full of food. My mother had insisted Owen eat with us, since she knew him well by this point.
We were sitting at a picnic table at the Harvest Festival, the food being served off to the side of the large fire already crackling against the orange and purple sunset. Naturally, Krew and I were asked to be the first to eat, the people of Nerede not wanting to offend His Royal Bratness.
It was a typical Harvest Festival, but also not. I noticed straight away that everyone was far more dressed up than usual. Which was fine, because Krew and I were dressed nicely so we didn’t feel as overdressed. But I also knew normally we all bundled up in coats and wore whatever was warm.
Fortunately, we were graced with an uncharacteristically warm fall day.
“He isn’t wrong,” Krew said from the other side of me.
Watching the two of them devour their food was too much for me. They’d been stuck in that castle too long if they couldn’t enjoy a good barbeque. I tipped my head back to laugh.
“Is all the bread here from you, Mrs. Demir?” Krew asked my mother, sitting across from us.
“Yes, Your Grace. I hired help from the orphanage all week. We pulled some long hours, but we got it done.”
I knew what the Harvest Festival brought. It brought fun and time with friends, but it also brought achy hands and feet. I knew she’d be feeling it all next week as she recovered from a busy week. Since she had back problems on occasion, doubly so.
“Well thank you,” Krew said with a smile.
“Yes, thank you,” Owen added.
“As soon as our makeshift band members finish eating, the dancing will begin,” I explained. “The wine will be passed around also.”
“We also brought some wine,” Krew added.
I leaned in to whisper, “Because you wanted to help or because you were worried you’d be poisoned?”
He winced. “Yes.”
I laughed again.
People were always watching us, I had noticed it the moment we arrived, but it didn’t help that there were three guards standing beside us at all times.
I gestured with my head toward them. “Are those three going to dance together while we dance just to stay close to us?”
One of the king’s men snorted, obviously not happy with my statement.
“Who said we were dancing, love?” Krew asked playfully.
I squinted at him. “We are definitely dancing. You’re the best dance partner I’ve had for a Harvest Festival, so we’re dancing all right.”
Owen snorted. “That is only because you have not danced with me.”
