I was also annoyed that the arrangements at my table changed. Now it was Nora, Sebastian, Matilda, Henry, Ceawlin, Olivia, Jaxon, Kristof, Cerdic, and I. I wasn’t a fan of my husband—even if we were having problems—being booted because Ceawlin crashed the party and was staying for them. Plus, I hated Henry.
“We informed our people who were already here raiding that it’s all hands on deck and hold off on anything else to help,” Matilda told me.
Henry sighed. “You’re spoiling her. She will never learn how to be competent if you coddle her, My Princess.”
Kristoff looked like he was planning what utensil to throw in his chest while Jaxon coughed on his drink. I had a much different reaction, chuckling under my breath before giving him an amused look.
“Oh, I don’t think you’re in a position to lecture about how not to spoil the young ones.” I pointedly looked at two of his children who were misbehaving every other second and selfish fuckheads. “And this hit a level of bullying even they couldn’t foresee with their years of experience. So, I think this one wasn’t my incompetence, but I’m not so devoid of reality that I’m unable to admit we could have done better.”
He raised a condescending eyebrow at me. “And what will we get for our help? No, you’ll just accept it, of course.”
“I’m also very generous.” I focused on Matilda, making it clear Henry should keep quiet. “Thank you for that. If you liked the alligator appetizer, I’m told there is still an overpopulation of them in New Orleans. Lorenzo or Adam can show your people where to find some to make the next ship leaving if you wish? Or they’re pulling in sharks like the ones we’ll be having tomorrow.”
“Both would be lovely, thank you, Inez,” she accepted, giving Henry a look to shut it. Wow, did she really have nothing but troubles at her side and children? That was a hard pill and terrifying situation to ponder when I was about to tie two more men to me.
Nora agreed to the same, giving me a supportive look to hold it together. Sebastian was less than amused as well as he genuinely liked me and got to know me. Henry was just… A dick. Probably because of what happened with his daughter, but I hadn’t started any of that and I was marrying his son so really, stuff it.
Nick managed to get more cheesecakes made, but not enough for everyone to still have two with the topping trays. He added an individual trifle which sounded insane to make for so many people, but when your helped move faster than air displacement, that cut slightly back on assembling time. He was smart about how he did it, serving half the trifle first and half the cheesecakes.
Which gave them time to bring back the toppings tower and reload it before switching what halves got what desserts. However, we needed more towers before tomorrow as we were doing the gelato tastings.
“We’ve got the factory working as we speak, and we’ll have more than enough to help Nick out,” Cerdic told me, seeming to know where my head was. “We’ve also got probationary coven members finding more towers, plates, glasses—all of it. We can worry about washing fourteen million dishes after the parties, but for now, we’ll get it done.”
“Hanna suggested a more relaxed idea for the next two days, which I think has promise given this is not what any princess normally does,” Matilda offered. “Have brunch as planned, but from there, keep bringing out food or opening stations of food in the castle so it’s not this many people at once, but nibbling throughout the day. Start with morning drinks and—”
“Let it be one longer fancy summer party sort of atmosphere,” Kristof cut in, giving me a look he agreed. “Make it like the plan was to cut loose in the last summer of the apocalypse as we plan on next year being the post-apocalypse.”
“Smart,” Nora praised. “Even more so that Inez will be outside with the tree, being with nature, and the root of who we are, even with the carnal relations. It might turn into more of a court orgy, but well, why not?”
“We’re seriously cleaning the pool after the guests leave,” I drawled.
It was a good idea though, given the setup of the castle. Darius had designed it to be a circle as I had seen, but with five diamond towers so the whole castle looked like a five pointed star from above. Eventually, there would be fences and better security, but right now, in between each tower was something outside for the castle. Well, not on either side of the entrance tower, but there could be.
The other three were designated already. First was going to be the gardens we didn’t have set up yet. Second was the terrace, which was huge and actually connected, either to the gardens or the third area, which was my super swank, resort-sized pools. Yes, pools, as I had multiple. And hot tubs. One was a cold pool too. But some flowed into others and even actually wrapped around the side of the tower and met up close to the terrace.
Ultimately, the plan was to put in fountains and waterfalls and more, but that was more frivolous and cosmetic given the castle was the only thing we had done and people were spread out all over. We needed some other housing, and now I liked the idea of that first circle
