Page 78 of Of Curses and Courtship

I was an easy child to rear, considering my aptitude for learning, but the one thing I rebelled against was the need for marriage. It was not meant to be my duty, anyhow. Not at thestart. My parents already had an heir, and they didn’t expect to have another child. It was always supposed to be my brother, not me.

It would be a lie to say I am not pleased at having a weekend to myself…

A weekend without my betrothed.

My parents would have accepted me marrying anyone, but marrying someone of Minetta’s stature makes them all too pleased. That may be why I feel a chill up my spine whenever I stand at her side.

“I suppose you are right.” She forces a smile. “I should not be so selfish.”

Minetta does not seem happy, even when she accepts my halfhearted half-truth. My stomach churns, a combination of nerves and disgust—at myself, and at what I will say next just to appease the person I am supposed to be falling in love with.

“Once we are wed, we will have plenty of trips—just the two of us.” I chuckle. “Well, and Tibalt. I rarely go anywhere without him.”

“I am looking forward to those days.” She tugs on my collar and pulls me closer, planting a soft kiss on my cheek. Her touch is stiff, as though we are performing a dance we are untrained in. “Hurry home to me, my love.”

I clear my throat. “Yes. I will.”

It’s not as if I have another option.

“Your Highness.” Tibalt saves me, as he often does, opening the carriage door. “We should leave. We do not want to travel once the sun has set.”

Sundown is when the curse is at its worst, but we should be able to make it to the Mercury Palace by then. My parents believe it is a diplomatic trip, but it is more than that. The palace has a book I need, and I intend to obtain it.

I step into the carriage and give Minetta a small wave. It’sembarrassing to display such affection in front of my friends. Pink is likely painted across my cheeks, and I have a feeling it remains even when the driver begins leading us along the cobbled path—stones painted orange and yellow that would have once looked so lovely in the sun.

“She seems quite smitten,” Ophelia says. “I assume that means all is well, Your Highness?”

Ophelia wears a new riding habit—or at least an outfit I haven’t seen before. It’s pristine, made of light green fabric that complements her wings. Her rosy cheeks and curious expression draw me in, even though my betrothed is lingering not far behind.

They both deserve better than me.

I sigh wearily. “It’s as well as can be, Miss Ophelia.”

The driver may be within earshot, and even though Tibalt knows nearly as much as Ophelia does, I can say no more.

“We’re going to the Mercury Palace, yes?” Ophelia says. “I’ve never been there—not even close. How long shall we ride?”

“A mere day,” I say. “It’ll be quite a long ride, but once we are there, we have a place to stay for the night. They are our allies.”

“I know nothing of alliances, but I suppose that’s good.”

“If they weren’t our allies, we wouldn’t be able to visit with so few guards,” Tibalt says. “Having an alliance means we are safe, within reason.”

“I see.” Ophelia looks down at the book on her lap—the book I gave her in the library. She’s learning more about her magic after all. “We must see how I fare on such a long trip. An experiment of sorts.”

There are certainly more comfortable places to be than a jostling carriage. Time passes, with silence and polite conversation, and the sun begins to set. As the light disappears below the line of trees, inch by inch, my nerves spike.

It’s unreasonable to believe the curse would follow us this far, but my fears are unshakable.

It didn’t go well the last time Ophelia and I were alone in the dark, and I don’t wish to risk her life again. She’s curled up in the corner of the carriage, with her wings tucked away, and she looks so soft. Ophelia has the heart of a healer, even if she doesn’t know how to use her gifts.

I’m not strong enough to keep her safe, yet I fight the urge to protect her as we move along the path.

We arrive as night falls,and I find comfort knowing the curse did not follow us. Although the halls are unfamiliar to Ophelia, I hope she can find comfort in them as well. This is her first time in an uncursed fae land.

The Mercury Palace is smaller than ours, without nearly as much fanfare, but it also lacks the shadow of the curse. Despite the simple decoration, I can’t complain as we are led along plain stone walls. There is sun here—or there will be once it rises. Even in the dark, there’s joy and laughter. The royals of this land drink and feast, and though we neglect the invitation to join, hearing their merriment through the walls offers me a sense of comfort.

It’s as though their joy may rub off on us.