Page 119 of Brighter Than Gold

“No, I appreciate her honesty,” I said, stifling my laughter. He shook his head as though exhausted with his sister. She ostentatiously rolled her eyes at him.

“Honesty over what?” Carithia asked as King Dornan and his family joined us. She was dressed in a stunning crimson gown; I couldn’t draw my eyes away from her. I noticed she had snared Darian’s attention as well.

“Well?” she repeated.

“Just children being precocious is all,” I answered for the both of us. “How is your sister?” I asked.

“Doing as well as can be expected after pushing out an entire human from her body. Miserable about being dragged out of bed for this contrivance.”

“I can only imagine.”

“Well, you won’t have to imagine for long,” she said glancing down at my belly, renewing my fear of actually birthing my baby. “Those nerves can wait for another day,” I answered, trying to convince myself, more than her.

Darian’s face had gone the same shade as Carithia’s gown at the turn in conversation, and he cleared his throat uncomfortably.

“Oh, don’t be so sensitive,” Carithia sniped. “Surely someone has explained to you how babies are born?”

I wanted to laugh again, both at Carithia’s blunt honesty and Darian’s clear aversion to the subject matter. I felt suddenly very lucky to have these two beside me, all of us the next generation of rulers of the Realm. Or wives to them, I mitigated woefully.

It wasn’t long before King Warrick and Princess Cressida joined us, the tiny baby bundled in her arms. I waited back as the other more familiar ladies crowded her to get a glimpse of the new Prince. My heart melted when I did see him, perfect pink lips, chubby cheeks, and eyelashes that would make any girl jealous. He slept quietly in Cressida’s arms, his tiny fingers dancing over the edge of the blanket while he dreamt.

“He looks like you,” I whispered to Cressida.

“Do you think?” she asked, rather hopefully.

“Absolutely.”

There was a sudden shift in the energy of the room, when a line of men carrying boxes entered, flanked on either side by guards. The men, all wearing the grey and blue palace uniforms of the service staff, formed themselves into a line, and the royal families approached. I felt Kaspian’s hand lay gently on my back.

“What are in those boxes?” I asked.

“Crowns, my love. Worn for any official event.”

Kas ushered me forward, and stood in front of the glossy wooden box. Each King inherently knew which box contained his crown, and at the exact same moment, the staff opened the boxes to reveal them.

My eyes traced down the line as the Kings reached in and pulled out the headdresses. Each was unique, different heights or designs, but all were solid gold.

“Is it centered?” Kas asked me after he’d lain it on his head.

“Not quite. May I?”

He knelt slightly in front of me so I could adjust it.

“Gods, it’s heavy,” I remarked, settling the crown perfectly straight on his head. He gave a small chuckle.

When the Kings were settled, four more boxes were brought forward, and everyone stood at attention as Queen Dornan and Aldridge stepped forward. When the moment came, only their boxes were opened.

I felt entranced by the closed wooden box in front of me. There was a crown in there that was meant formeto wear one day, and the thought suddenly terrified me. I looked down the line at Cressida, who stood smiling in front of her box, excited for the day she would get to wear that prodigious symbol of nobility. This was a young girl who was apparently much braver than I was.

“One day soon,” Kaspian said, interrupting my reverie. I was relieved he mistook my trepidation as marvel.

Shortly after, we were being hustled towards the exit, awaiting our official announcement to climb the steps to the newly erected dais. We could hear the roar of the excited crowd that had gathered. Kaspian and I would be walking second, after King Aldridge and his family. The volume of the crowd intensified as they made their entrance, and Kas and I were ushered out next.

My heart leapt to my throat when I looked up to see Callan, dashing, in his general’s uniform standing tall and watching over the proceedings. I bit the inside of my cheek to curb my smile, he looked every bit the rigid, intimidating prick I’d hated in the beginning.

I’d nearly forgotten how nervous I was, but suddenly Kas was tugging me by the hand as we made our way onto the raised stage. There were far, far more people surrounding us than I had anticipated, but Kaspian pulled me in close to him and I remembered to smile. He kissed my cheek for the sake of the crowd, and they erupted with cheers.

“They love you,” he crooned into my ear, and somehow, I became slightly less nervous.

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