Page 25 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
The Royal Family
*AZADEH*
Itry not to relax too much and not to feel too safe here, or I might end up disappointed because this all sounds too good to be true. Seeing the king in person joke around with his children and dote on them is heartwarming. I can’t even remember the last time my father hugged me or talked to me.
And I don’t even know my mother.
The food is delicious too, different from what I am used to. It’s made for the cold weather with freshly hunted meat and plants that grow in these lands. Once we have finished dining and the maids—omega wolves—as Prince Caelan explains to me, take the plates away, we chat for a while.
“Princess,” Flinn, the mischievous one of the triplets, starts.
“You can call me Azadeh,” I tell him. “This goes for all of you.”
“I like this,” the king says. “But only if you drop the titles and formalities too.”
Oh dear, what did I get myself into? But I was the one to suggest it, so I can only nod. “I can at least try.” I pause. “Sorry, Pri-… Flinn. What did you want to ask?”
“What do you like to do in your free time?”
“I read a lot,” I admit. “And study.” As the gifted princess who was locked away, I didn’t have much to do. So, I tried to read and educate myself as much as possible. “And I liked tending to the gardens.”
“It’s a pity you know how to horse ride,” Alana sighs. “I already begged Dad to let me teach you in case you can’t.”
“Alana is our best horse rider,” Gillean says proudly.
“I think you can still teach me some tricks,” I admit. “I haven’t been riding in many years.”
“And you, Simin?” Alana asks.
Simin was completely entranced by the whole situation. She didn’t expect us to dine with the whole royal family - at home she was never treated as much more than a maid by everyone else but Shayan and me. This type of acceptance is all new to her, and I can almost feel her anxiety next to me. “I… I don’t know how to ride, just the basics,” she says shyly. “Today was just a necessity. But I have never learned it.
Alana perks up. “I can show you.” She turns to the king. “You wouldn’t mind, would you?”
“Absolutely not,” the king beams. “Azadeh’s friends are ours. Little Simin, you should take Alana up on her offer. It will be fun.”
Simin is terrified of horses but swallows down her fear and nods. The fact she made it through yesterday and today on a horse’s back shows how persistent she can be. But I doubt she planned on sitting on the back of a horse again. “Thank you, Princess Alana.”
“Goddess,” Alana chuckles. “No one calls me princess, dear.” She turns to face Shayan. “What about you, General?”
Shayan chuckles. “I don’t think I need riding lessons, Princess Alana, but thank you for the offer.”
“Oh, Alana, you really have a thing for these slightly gruff men or women, don’t you?” Flinn comments, making the whole room either groan or laugh. “Watch the goddess mate you to someone younger than you,” he teases.
Alana chuckles. “Well, I assume the moment I find my mate, it won’t matter.”
“Are you really not nervous that they might not live up to what you dreamed of?” Kilah asks. “I have such specific expectations. I’m sure you have them also?” While sounding like a light comment, there is something in Kilah’s tone, something slightly judgmental. If I caught it, I’m sure the others did too.
Flinn looks like he wants to say something, but Alana beats him to it. “Of course I have dreams. I think everyone does, but they are very vague. I’m sure reality will be different, but it doesn’t mean it will leave me disappointed.”
Kilah crunches her nose. “Are you seriously telling me you wouldn’t mind if your mate was of lower rank?”
“That’s the least of my concerns,” Alana says.
“Come on, now you are lying,” Kilah says.
It looks like the king is about to chime in, but before he can do so Nevyn speaks. “I, for one, hope that my mate can play chess. I like that game,” he says in all seriousness. He looks so shy, but there is a hint of resolution in his eyes.
He managed to loosen the tension though.
