Page 39 of This Witch Is Not Wicked

I finally chanced a glance at Enid to see amusement flashing in her eyes. “Please tell me more about how it fits me,” she said.

I took another drink of my ale, and thankfully, this time there was no choking. “I think I’ve said enough about your dress.”

“Why is everyone so surprised to see you?” she asked suddenly, glancing around the tavern. “That lady at the apple cider cart said the same thing as Myrna.”

I traced my finger around the rim of my glass. “I don’t get out a lot. I’m busy between healing and potions and all the expectations on my shoulders.”

“Why don’t you just stop doing what everyone is expecting of you?”

I gaped at her, a nervous sweat gathering at the base of my neck. She made it sound so easy. “Because I don’t want to let anyone down. Have you never felt that way?”

She took a sip of her ale. “I’m used to letting people down, to being a disappointment. I guess I’m immune to it now.”

The glow of the firelight lit her green skin. Her lips were a rosy red, her cheeks with the faintest blush on them. She looked lovely. “I don’t think that’s it,” I said.

“How could you possibly know that? I’m telling you, I’ve disappointed almost everyone in my life.”

Sadness tinged her words. It was barely detectable, but I hated thinking that anyone had made her feel like a letdown. “That’s their problem. Not yours. You’re confident. You know who you are. That’s not something a lot of people can say, Enid. Everyone’s always pretending, making themselves into something they’re not. You don’t do that. You are who you are and if anyone doesn’t like it, too bad for them.”

She swallowed thickly. “How do you do that?” she asked finally, voice soft and quiet.

“How do I do what?”

“Shine a new light on everything. Make me look at things in a different perspective. It’s annoying, and you need to cut it out.”

I laughed, but my heart squeezed. Had no one ever complimented her before? “I guess ever since Lor disappeared, I started feeling like I needed to brighten everyone’s moods. Wolfe completely retreated, blaming himself for what happened to our brother. Cillian got crowned high prince shortly after Lor’s disappearance, and he was not ready for the responsibility. My parents were not only grieving a lost son but also worrying about two other sons.”

I still remembered how much our family dynamics shifted after we thought Lor had died. We’d stopped feeling like a family, and I’d hated it. I’d wanted to bring us back together.

Enid stayed silent, just staring at me with her umber eyes, waiting for me to continue.

“I was the one who pulled everyone out of their misery. I got us to start having family dinners again.” Wolfe had refused to come, but it was still better than nothing. “I reminded everyone about the good things we still had to hold on to. And it helped. Slowly, my family healed. I guess ever since then, I feel like I need to keep doing that. I need to keep making everyone happy or we’ll fall back into that pit of despair.”

It seemed like Cillian was already doing that, and I didn’t know why. But maybe doing these house calls would help brighten his mood.

I took a deep gulp of my ale and shot Enid a shaky smile. “Anyway, I’m sorry I keep doing that with you.”

“Don’t be,” she said quickly, and the way she said it—so sincere, all the annoyance gone—made me determined to compliment her more. She leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Since you love how much I don’t conform, does that mean I’m allowed to threaten anyone tonight? Like those men who have been glaring at me since I arrived?”

I glanced over at them, and she was right. Everyone else in the tavern had moved on from Enid’s presence and was now enjoying their drinks and food and conversation. But the group of men by the hearth, all of them part of the royal guard, stared at Enid with angry scowls, muttering to each other.

My blood boiled. She was just sitting here, enjoying her evening like everyone else, and they had the audacity to act like this simply because her presence made them uncomfortable.

“I’m going to say something.” I moved to get up, but Enid put her hand over mine.

“Don’t,” she said. “I can take care of myself.”

“Trust me, I know you can take care of yourself. Let me take the heat for this.”

“You’re the likable one.” She glanced down at her hand, still covering mine, and snatched it back, folding it in her lap. “We can’t both be unlikable or this plan will never work.”

I sat back with a huff and crossed my arms as the men continued to glare. “Well, if they’re going to stare, then let’s give them a show.” I waggled my brows.

Enid’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Come here.” I pointed at my seat.

“On your lap?” she whispered.