Page 60 of Lost Heir
The ladies made quick work of setting the table with an array of fragrant dishes. As they worked, my gaze settled on Ronan, a mix of gratitude and affection warming my heart. The fact that he remembered my fondness for wine made this moment even more special.
“I can't believe you went all the way to the capital just for this.” I picked up the jug and uncorked it, taking a deep whiff of the fruity aroma.
“If it’s for you, I’d traverse the uncharted North. Nothingis impossible,” he said, his tone and expression as serious as I’d ever heard it.
The area North of Valoria and Keldara was known as theuncharted North, where civilization hadn’t settled. The lands were vast and largely unknown. Many went on expeditions there and never returned. As such, the area was shrouded in mystery to all those in Asteria.
“I would never ask that of you,” I said as I poured myself a cup of wine.
“But for you, I would,” he said, his crimson gaze intense.
His declaration stirred something deep within me, a mix of awe and fear at the lengths he was willing to go for me. The uncharted North was a place of legends and unknown dangers, yet here Ronan sat, ready to face it all for my sake if I asked.
I reached across the table and clasped his hand. “Let's hope it never comes to that.” I squeezed his hand gently. “I couldn't bear the thought of you in danger because of me.”
Ronan's grip tightened, his thumb caressing the back of my hand. “I know. I feel the same way. If you were ever to get hurt because of me, I … I don’t know what I would do. I would lose my mind.”
“That won’t ever happen. I’m going to get stronger. More powerful. Just wait and see.”
Ronan frowned. “You’re already powerful, Leila. You don’t need to push yourself just to—”
I shook my head lightly. “I’m not. I simply have some untapped potential that I want to learn how to use. It’s no big deal.” I offered a broad smile. He smiled in return, but I sensed his uneasiness. “I’ll be fine, Ronan. I promise.”
He eyed me carefully. “If this is because of last night, you don’t have to—”
I shook my head again. “It’s not because of that. Caelanis getting out of hand, and I should have put a stop to it back in the Central Plains. I can’t sit back and wait for him to escalate things anymore.”
I knew he wanted to give me a big fat ‘I told you so’, but he valiantly restrained himself. There was a lot I should have listened to Ronan about that I now regretted. All I could do at this point was move forward and find solutions.
“Your Highness?” Tessa approached after the ladies finished placing the last plate of food on the table. “Before you start eating, please let me test the food.”
I frowned. “Pardon?”
“For poison,” Tessa clarified.
I knew people tested our food for breakfast, but I had no idea Tessa was doing it for lunch and dinner. I waved her off. “There shouldn’t be any problems, Tessa. I—”
“Your Highness,” she interrupted, “I have to.”
Ronan cleared his throat. “Let her do it, Leila. It’s her job.”
I reluctantly nodded as Tessa approached with a small plate and utensils. She picked at every dish, eating a portion of each and tasting them for poisons. The whole situation made me uneasy. I didn’t want to put Tessa in any unnecessary risk.
After a moment, she stepped back and nodded. “Everything is fine, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Tessa,” I mumbled as she excused herself to give us privacy.
Under the midday sun, we enjoyed lunch and stayed to innocent, light topics. He didn’t broach the subject of Caelan further, nor did I explain that I planned to learn blood weaving. I didn’t know what Ronan’s reaction would be; I preferred to find out once the damage was done.
Throughout our meal, Ronan reached for my hand andheld it, cementing our status and making our affection obvious to any who passed by. Soon there would be gossip, and that gossip would spiral back to my parents. Then, we would wait and see what happened.
As we finished our meal, a bevy of court ladies whisked our empty plates and jug of wine away, leaving us alone. Ronan cleared his throat. “Leila … there’s something I have to tell you.”
My brows raised at his grave tone. “What happened?”
He shook his head. “Nothing serious, but I received a letter from my father. He wants me to return to the Grasslands as soon as possible.”
My brows shot up to my hairline in surprise. “Why? Did something happen?”
