Page 89 of This Prince Is Not Charming

“Well, hello, lovelies.” Marsten stepped up next to me, wearing a yellow sundress.

I turned. “Where did you get that?”

“I found it in my mother’s wardrobe. Some of her old clothes that we didn’t get rid of after she passed.” He stuck out his leg and struck a pose. “What do you think?”

“It’s fabulous. I think you’ve found your new style.”

He straightened, eyes alight with excitement. “I think so too. My legs were made for short dresses.”

“I volunteer to disappear,” Meera called out. “End the trial now. Take me.”

Marsten rolled his eyes. “Oh, stop being so dramatic.”

His gaze veered to me and narrowed. I shifted on my feet. “Someone had a good night.”

“She was with the prince, so I highly doubt it,” Meera said.

Marsten’s mouth stretched into a smile. “Yes, do tell about your night with the prince.”

“No.” I raised my chin. “I can’t. It’s too filthy for Meera’s delicate ears.”

Marsten clapped and squealed. “I knew it. I knew you two had feelings for each other.”

“I’m not delicate,” Meera said, ears perking. “I just don’t feel the need to tell everyone everything. Do I go into detail about my intimate interactions with other cats?”

“No, but I’d actually be okay hearing about that,” Marsten said as Meera glared.

I patted Meera on the head. “I’m sorry, but, well, you two are my friends, and that’s what we do with friends. We tell them things.”

“What positions?” Marsten ticked off his fingers. “Where? Oh! And how big was it?”

Morton cleared his throat from where he sat on a cushioned bench by the window. “That was ten minutes of my life I will never get back.”

“For once I agree with the bookwyrm,” Meera mumbled.

Morton spread out his wings behind him. “Welcome to trial number five, which happens to take place in my favorite room of the castle.”

“Please don’t eat a book in front of us,” Meera said.

By this point in the trials, Morton must’ve been used to all the jabs because he didn’t even blink; he just continued on as if Meera hadn’t spoken.

“Your trial today will be simple.”

Marsten rolled his eyes. “Yes, that sounds completely true.”

“Knowledge is power,” Morton said. “It’s also the key to unlocking the past. Today you’ll be searching for a book, one where true love’s kiss breaks a curse.”

I wrinkled my nose, unable to think of any books off the top of my head that fit that description.

“A book?” Meera asked. “What does that have to do with being queen?”

“Can’t we just declare Ceri the winner?” Marsten asked. “She definitely won last night,” he murmured, and I elbowed him.

“Unfortunately, that is not how these trials work. You must find the book because a good queen is not just the heart of the people but the soul.”

With that, Morton disappeared, and we all turned and looked at each other.

Marsten dropped into one of the armchairs sitting in front of the shelves. “I’m just going to relax. Ceri is clearly the one meant to win this all and become our queen. Might as well just let her.”