Page 103 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
“Is that enough to label one heartless?”
“It is when I’ve asked you nicely so many times,” he murmured. “Do you realise how few people are permitted to address me by name?”
“How would I know that?”
“You’re one of five, and four of those are my family.” He tilted his head so that our noses almost brushed. “The title of ‘Your Highness’ puts me on a pedestal. It’s one that’s used by people who must walk one step behind me. You will be my wife, Alicia. The only place you will walk isbesideme, never behind me.”
Oh.
I thought he was just being a stickler, and honestly, I was kind of teasing him by addressing him in a such a way.
I never thought he put so much weight behind his name.
“Okay,” I said softly, reaching my free hand up and laying my palm against his cheek. “I’ll stop teasing you, Kalon.”
He turned his face into my hand and kissed my palm. “Go to bed now.”
“I will. Make sure you don’t stay up too late yourself.”
“As you wish.” Kalon paused in the doorway, looking back. “By the way, I’m looking forward to seeing your handkerchief.”
Oh.
Oh, bugger.
I smiled. “As you should be.”
“Goodnight, Alicia.”
“Goodnight, Kalon.” I watched him go, and when I was sure he was completely out of earshot, I grabbed the nearest throw pillow and shoved my face into it so I could scream.
How could I have forgotten somethingsoimportant? I couldn’t even blame it on a gap in Alicia’s knowledge, because this was somethingIknew from my past life.
The Imperial Family hosted two hunts every year—one in the spring and one in autumn during the harvest festival celebrations. At each hunt, it was customary for ladies to offer an embroidered handkerchief to their partners or young lords they were interested in as a symbol of good luck. It was an act that sparked many couples each year, and many of the hunters returned and offered their catch to the person who’d given their handkerchief if their interest was reciprocated.
During the autumn hunt in the book, Alicia had offered Kalon her handkerchief, but he’d rejected it. Instead, he’d accepted a mere ribbon from Lillia because that was all she’d had at the time. It’d been a huge blow to both Alicia’s pride and heart, having been utterly humiliated and publicly rejected by her husband.
For a married man to accept a handkerchief from a woman who was not his wifeorhis immediate family, such as his sister, was a great insult.
But now, in this timeline of the book that I was living in, Kalon had all but asked for a handkerchief from me, and he was affectionate and touchy with me in a way that contradicted everything I thought I knew about him.
Never mind going to bed early.
I would be staying up all night embroidering a bloody handkerchief.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The Capital
“Allie!” Vivi burst towards me and wrapped me in her arms, squeezing me so tightly that I thought I might explode. “I missed you!”
“I can’t breathe,” I gasped, patting her sides. “Vivi!”
“Oh, I’m sorry!” She pulled back and gripped my upper arms instead, obviously looking over every inch of me. “You have all your appendages—at least I assume so. You do have ten toes still, don’t you?”
“Lady Vivian Trelawney, what kind of person do you think I am?” Kalon asked from the doorway, casually leaning against the doorframe. “Alicia, I know I said I pay no mind to the gossip about me, but you may have to enlighten me after all. I was unaware that your closest friend believes I may have cut off your toes.”
Vivi froze, but she quickly regained her composure and released me to drop into a curtsey. “Your Highness. Forgive me. It was rude of me to entertain such baseless rumours.”
