Page 99 of Of Curses and Courtship

“Don’t be silly. We are not like mortal royalty, y’know. Fae live to be thousands of years old—we’re not expected to keep a single lover. Then again, finding someone new while you’re still betrothed… thatisscandalous.”

I groan. “That’snotwhat happened. Will you help me with the laundry, or are you here solely to harass me?”

“You’re right. I can do two things at once.” She picks up the other end of the white sheet and pins it on the drying line. “Tell me what happened.”

It’s hard to tell if Helena’s curiosity is her adoration of palace gossip or her concern for me. Something soft flickers across her features, and despite her aptitude for yapping and trickery, I trust her.

“You mustn’t tell a soul.” I drop the wet fabric, leaving the sheet to blow in the wind, and move closer to Helena.

“Of course, I won’t.” She peers at me earnestly. “Who do you imagine I’d tell? You’re the only one I share secrets with.”

I exhale and shake my head, wiping away the sweat collecting on my forehead. “Princess Minetta deceived him. They were engaged based on a lie, and she was, in a way, pretending to be me.”

She blinks. “Sorry, I don’t follow.”

“I danced with him at the ball—all night, until I ran away.” I tuck a stray hair behind my ear. “Princess Minetta must have said something to make him believe it was her. I don’t fully understandwhatwas said, but…”

“Thatisquite scandalous. What a little schemer.”

I nod and return to the washing, desperate to keep my hands busy. “Believe me, I was as shocked as you are. What princess would want to pretend to be me?”

“Then you and the prince have truly…?”

My face flushes with warmth. “That’s a private matter.”

“You’re in love, aren’t you? And I’m sure you’ve already made love?—”

“Stop it!”

Though it is no laughing matter—engagements have ended, and lives have turned upside down—I find joy giggling over the gossip with my friend, as though it is a simpler situation.

EMYR

“How could you behave so recklessly?” my father spits. “We were so close to breaking the curse. So close!”

As expected. I’ve only begun to tell them the news, and they’re already outraged.

My mother falls onto a chaise lounge and drapes a hand over her face. She’s not fainted, but by gods, she is fantastic at pretending as if she has. I have long grown accustomed to her dramatics, and now, I am above them—though some would argue I inherited them myself.

“Perhaps you ought to direct that question at Princess Minetta,” I drawl. “She’s the one who tricked me.”

Tibalt chokes back laughter. He stands at the door, asdutiful as ever, and as always, my parents ignore him. There’s nothing to protect me from here, but I find comfort in having someone on my side.

“I simply do not understand.” My mother lets her hand fall. Look at that, she is already up. “She was at the ball—I remember her.”

“It does not matter.” I lift my hands. “I will not marry her. We’ve already agreed—shehas agreed—she will return home tomorrow.”

“You did not speak to us about this,” my father says. “How childish. How foolish.”

“I’m in love with someone else.” I cross my arms. “If you wish to break this curse, I must be allowed to marry her. You must not repeat your parents’ mistakes. That is the very point of this curse, is it not?”

I look out the window, begging for a glimpse of the sun, anything to energize me into telling the truth.

“Who?” My father gives Tibalt an accusatory stare. “Is it?—”

Tibalt holds up both hands. “It was not me, Your Majesty. I would not agree to a betrothal. Not the marrying type.”

“Ah…” My father scoffs. “Good. Better that it is not one of the employees.”