Page 122 of Of Curses and Courtship

“I am.” He lets go of my hand. “Eat your soup, darling. Let’s speak of better topics—like your wedding gown.”

I glare. “You’re not allowed to see it.”

“Does that mean you have already picked one out?”

“Well… no.”

“What a shame.” He sighs in longing. “I can’t wait to see what a vision you are on our wedding day. You must hurry and choose a gown.”

“And you must learn patience.”

The tension of our dinner easily dissolves into banter. I can recognize Emyr’s attempt at comforting me. He wants me to feel that I belong here, and I know he truly longs to marry me. Those things should be enough.

Why, oh why, is the burden still on my shoulders? It presses harder and harder, forcing me into the ground, until I’m afraid I’ll land in the deepest layer of the Hells.

CHAPTER THIRTY

OPHELIA

The shadows are taking me. I can’t sleep, and I can’t marry Emyr. I can’t be here—not for another second.

It’s the dead of the night when I sneak out of Emyr’s bedchamber. Each step is shaking and erratic, as is my heart when I stand at the door, my fingers pressed to the cool wooden doorframe. Emyr is sleeping in bed, as peacefully as one can be.

His chest rises and falls, and his hair is splayed on top of his silken pillow cases. He’s sweet, his lips softly parted to allow gentle air through. As much as I long to crawl back into bed and pretend all is well, I can’t.

This is how I’ll remember him.

I must go. I must leave him without a word or a letter and escape to a place where he can’t find me.

It’s not the right thing to do—or perhaps it is. My being here won’t help. How can I be the one to bring ruin to the land, and the one to save it? It makes little sense.

The prince must have another true love. It mustn’t be me. It’s not Minetta either, but there is someone else. Someoneelse will break this curse. Perhaps the sorceress will save everyone, as the prophecy claimed. If mortals could have been so wrong about the evil fae, maybe they were about the sorceress as well…

But were they wrong about me? About the halfling? I can’t say.

I go to my bedchamber and throw all I can into a bag. Gods. When did I begin owning so manythings? I have too many dresses and little room for everything I must carry. In the end, I take only the things that matter: one plain morning dress and the ring Emyr gave me.

While I’m leaving without saying goodbye to him, there’s one person I must bid farewell to.

The maid’s bedchamber was once my place of comfort. It was where I could hide away with Helena and giggle through the night. It was the only place I couldn’t be asked to work or clean. Emyr even visited on occasion. Our little room is filled with memories that I’ll hold onto.

It’s late. No one is here to question me when I creep into my old bedchamber without a word. My bed is still vacant, but someone will soon take my place. I hope they take my place in more than one way. Helena must find new friends—new people to bring her the joy she brought me. That’s my wish for her, and if I can truly grant wishes, I hope this one comes true. Perhaps she should find love, too. I think she would like that.

“Why’re you here?” Helena mumbles, opening an eye. “I can feel you watching me, y’know. Just about scared me enough to wet the bed.”

I shake my head and press my lips together. Even on a night like tonight, Helena can make me laugh. “You don’t seem so terrified.”

“I’m too sleepy to emote.” She sits upright. “Is something wrong? Don’t tell me—you’re fighting with your prince.”

My prince. She once called him that to tease me, but it’s true now. He’s mine, and I am his. Despite this, I must let him go… letusgo.

“No, no,” I say weakly. “He’s as lovely as ever.”

“What else could cause you to disturb me at this hour?”

My lower lip trembles. “I’m afraid I must leave regardless of how lovely he is.”

“Leave?” She blinks away sleep. “This must be a dream. I can’t even pretend to understand what you’re saying.”