Page 32 of Blood Weaver
That caught his attention, and he turned his gaze to me. “What are you trying to say?”
“What I’m saying, Your Highness, is that I’m pretty sure the King and Queen of Valoria would not accept a courtesan as the Crown Princess,” I said straightforwardly.
I hated thinking like this. Selene more than deserved to be a Crown Princess, but I also knew our parents, and they would never allow it. Especially our mother. Marcellus might be able to persuade our father, but our mother would be next to impossible, and she had the final say on our marriages.
As the first son, Marcellus was next in line for the throne. His marriage in particular was of great importance.
His expression darkened and I watched his hands curl into tight fists. I’d angered him.
“How dare you?” he exclaimed, catching the attention of those around us when he slammed his cup of wine down on the table. “Do you think you know my parents’ wishes more than I do? The prince?”
I sat back and calmly sipped my wine, taking no offense to his words. “Am I wrong?” I questioned with a raised brow.
He took a deep breath and then his eyes darted to Selene, then back to me. He seemed to be grappling with his feelings and the realities of his elevated life.
“No, you’re not,” he admitted begrudgingly, his tone deflated. “She may not be able to be my first wife, but I can take her as my second.”
I glared at him. “No you can’t. That’s not fair to her.”
He sighed. “You’re right … but that doesn't mean I have to like it.”
“I understand,” I replied softly. “Feelings don’t abide by the rules and obligations of royalty. But there are consequences to your choices, especially when it involves the future of Valoria.”
Marcellus took a long drink of his wine. “I just … I've never felt this way before. Every time I see her, it's like my entire world is drawn to her.”
I watched him with sympathy, torn between my desire to see my brother happy and the need to protect Selene from possible heartbreak. “Your Highness, if you truly care for her, you need to be careful. Falling for a prince, especially the heir to the throne, can be a dangerous game. She's vulnerable in ways you can't understand.”
He looked at me with pain-filled eyes. “I would never hurt her.”
“It’s not just about you,” I said gently. “It’s about your family, the court, the politics. It’s about the expectations of a kingdom. If rumors spread, Selene could be in grave danger from thosewho would seek to use her to gain power, or from those who would want to remove her as a threat.”
Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair. “It’s so maddening. Why does it have to be this complicated?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “That’s the price of royalty.”
We sat in silence, each lost in our thoughts, while lilting music and the sounds of the pleasure house continued around us.
He turned his attention back to the stage. Selene danced gracefully, and her beauty and charm were evident to everyone present. “I need to think about this – truly consider what I want and what I’m willing to sacrifice.”
I wanted to counter his comment, but from the fixed set of his chin, I’d already given him plenty to think about. If I said any more, I might push him too far. Even though I was talking to him as his sister, he didn’t know who I was and only saw me as a commoner. In this guise, I couldn’t overstep my bounds.
The prince was entranced by Selene’s beauty, but he didn’t know her well enough to be in love with her. Eventually he would get over his infatuation and move on. At least I hoped he would.
“Have you ever seen any of the merfolk?” I asked as he continued watching Selene.
He shook his head. “No. Since they reside in the Luminar Sea by Keldara, I’ve never had the opportunity.”
I frowned and tilted my head. “Have you ever left Valoria?”
He shook his head again. “No. This is my first time venturing out of my homeland.”
“But … I thought the King and Queen sent both you and the princess out of Valoria during Keldara’s invasion?”
“Only my sister,” he confirmed. “I stayed in Valoria.”
My head started to spin. I’d lived my life believing we were both sent out for our safety, but if what my brother said wastrue, it was only me. Why? It didn’t make sense. In fact, it only introduced more questions to which I didn’t have the answers.
I took a deep breath and tried to process this revelation. What could have possibly prompted such a decision from our parents? Was I in more danger than Marcellus during that time? It would lend credence to what Sir Edric warned me about. Maybe he was right, after all.
