Page 167 of The Call of Crimson
A wide grin splits my face. “That would be perfect. Can you wrap it up and have it delivered to the castle, please?”
“It would be my pleasure,” she replies, already moving.
I stroll through the rest of the shop, admiring a gown here and there, but find nothing else that truly grasps my interest.
“Are you ready to return to the castle?” Rowina asks when I find her a short while later.
Her arms are full, gowns of deep blue, black, and purple hanging from one arm and fur-lined leggings hanging from the other.
“Do you need any help?”
“No, Emery has it handled,” Rowina says, dropping her pile onto the counter, followed by a heavy bag of coin.
My brows furrow. “That seems like a hefty sum for all of that.”
Rowina shuffles me out the door, throwing Emery a wave over her shoulder as we step outside.
“That’s because I pay her well for the lengths she must go to get those leggings into the castle for me.”
My brows raise and my eyes widen in confusion. “You pay for your own leggings?”
Rowina scoffs. “Surely you didn’t think you were the only one subjected to my mother’s archaic views on female attire.”
“Actually, yes,” I reply. “I thought it was a personal attack on my comfort, or at the very least an attempt to turn me into the perfect lady-like bride for Ayden.”
“Don’t hear this the wrong way, but you aren’tthatspecial, Breyla.” She pats my shoulder, laughing softly. “I’ve been smuggling pants into the castle for over a decade.”
“And you haven’t shared your secrets with me before now, why?” I ask as we climb into the awaiting carriage.
“What do you think I was doing today? Half those leggings were for you.”
“You are officially my favorite Mordet sibling.”
A wicked grin tilts the corners of Rowina’s plump lips. “Oh, I know. I’m very good at what I do.”
Ignoring her innuendo, I dare to voice the question that’s been eating at me since we left Collin’s shop. “Darian’s father said he had three sons. Why haven’t I heard about them before?”
Rowina stiffens, but quickly smooths her expression. “His youngest brother, Tiberius, is too young for court. He usually stays at home with their mother.”
“And the other?”.
“Malcom is…” she pauses, searching for the right words. “He’s no longer with us.”
“Oh, I’m very sorry.” My tone softens, betraying the regret I almost feel for asking these questions. “What happened to him?”
Rowina worries her lip between her teeth, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “That’s really not my story to tell.”
Sensing I’ve treaded in unwelcome territory, I reassure her, “Forget I asked. It was not my place.”
Her shoulders relax, the tension in her muscles uncoiling. The rest of the ride back is filled with trivial chatter, but I can’t help wondering what piece of the puzzle I’m missing when it comes to Darian.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
BREYLA
Golden patches of sunlight cast shadows through the room, warming my face and every other surface they touch. I’ve been awake for hours, but haven’t mustered the will to extract myself from the comfort of the covers. Ayden had given me the morning off from any training, physical or otherwise, and I had spent all of it in bed.
He claimed it was because we were attending a council meeting today where the topic was the increasing number of attacks, not just within Prudia, but across the entire continent. The countries were tearing themselves apart, and something needed to be done.
