Page 121 of Of Curses and Courtship

Soup always comes first.

While I’m not in the most talkative of moods, Emyr has no trouble filling the blank spaces. He speaks to me of his arcane studies, a topic that is his greatest passion, but it is close enough to the subject of curses that I have to bite my tongue to keep from ruining our time together.

Emyr invited me here, to a beautiful candlelit dinner. I mustn’t wreck it with reminders of the pressure that rests on our betrothal. But it burdens me, and I can’t stand being the only one to carry it. He’s never seemed so carefree.

I push the asparagus soup around my bowl and bring the tiniest bit to my mouth.

“What’s wrong, my love?” Emyr asks. “You don’t like the soup? Be truthful. I will have it returned to the kitchen, and they’ll prepare something else for you immediately. Potato leek soup, perhaps. That’s your favorite, is it not?”

“Emyr. You must stop. This soup is enjoyable.” And I know the cooks in the palace work hard, considering I’m friendly with some of them. I would never give them moreneedless work to do. “There’s no need to go to such extremes.”

“You consider this extreme? I would do far more for you than ask the cooks to plate you a new bowl of soup.”

“But it’s unnecessary.” I give him a halfhearted smile. “All is well.”

“It isn’t.” He leans in, his eyes glistening with something—perhaps fear. “You’ve barely spoken. Are you still upset about the party?”

“I was not upset—simply out of place, and no. That’s no longer bothering me.”

But I’m lying. Minetta’s words still follow me.Halfling. She said it as if it were a taunt, a threat. At any moment, Princess Minetta will run to his parents, and I’ll be banished from the palace. She’ll marry him instead.

The fae, high and common, will continue attacking and dying.

And I still don’t know how she knows what I am.

“You’re never out of place as long as I am here.” He brushes his foot against mine, and the simple contact stills my beating heart.

I look up from my bowl. “Do your parents know I am a halfling, Emyr? Have you told them?”

His face goes white. “Well, no?—”

“Good. That’s for the best. I don’t wish for them to know.” My spoon clatters into the bowl, splattering bits of soup onto the white cloth. “It’s only that I am afraid theydoknow. Somehow, even Princess Minetta knows.”

His eyes narrow. “Princess Minetta is conniving. I will have a word with her.”

“No! Please, don’t. We’ve already done her great harm?—”

“She has done me great harm—usgreat harm.”

I flinch. “Perhaps you’re correct, but I don’t wish anyone to have ill will for our marriage.”

“She will. I’m sorry to state the facts bluntly, but we can’t do anything to persuade Princess Minetta to support our union. It’s pure jealousy, nothing more, and her opinion doesn’t matter to me, nor does it truly matter to my parents. You must believe that. We all have a common goal.”

To break the curse. But if I’m the halfling in the prophecy, am I truly capable of that?

My shoulders relax. I’ve been tense all evening, but he offers me some comfort, even if he can’t remove the entirety of the burden.

“Tell me what this is truly about,” he says, with pressure behind his words. “I wish to marry you, and for us to spend the rest of our long lives together. What Minetta has to say on the matter is not of any importance, and I’m certain you already know that. There must be something else that is creating this fear.”

“It’s that I am a halfling.” My lower lip trembles. “If your parents discover my secret, they may not allow you to marry me.”

“Ophelia.” He takes my hand, squeezing it hard. “There is nothing they can do to keep us from marrying. Please agree with that. We will make our own decisions. Gods above—we’ll elope, if needed.”

“You know what?” I nod and laugh, willing the shadows to be cast away. “Yes. Skipping the wedding entirely sounds preferable.”

“Doesn’t it?” He smiles a crooked smile. “I love you, my future queen. Our wedding is for us, and us alone. Minetta is not allowed to ruin that. She already stole so much time from us.”

“I suppose you’re correct.”