The door swung open, and Prince Zawne stood in the threshold. We had met before as younger people. Not much about him had changed. He still had a handsome smile, a full head of hair, smooth bronze skin, and a certain warmth about him. Zawne was just like the man I constantly saw on my visin, the man in love with Lordin.
“Welcome,” he said. “Lordin is waiting in the parlor for us. She is a touch tired. I guess she didn’t sleep well last night. But come in. Our home is your home.”
“Thank you, Zawne,” I said as I followed him into the foyer. He was polite, and I liked that about him.
As we moved through the hall, he made small talk to make me feel more comfortable. Maybe he had noticed how nervous I was. “Sud Cottage is not so grand as VondRust Palace, where I grew up,” he said, “but it is cozy. Lordin and I love living here. Because there aren’t a zillion rooms, we feel more connected, closer to each other at all times.”
“That’s nice,” I said, recalling the tour of VondRust that his brother, Jaken, had kindly given me just before I’d moved into the lavish apartment in its grounds, provided for me by the king and the queen. It was their principal residence and administrative headquarters with at least ten music rooms, fifty grand ballrooms, twenty-six kitchens, and hundreds of offices and meeting rooms for councillors and other important people. “It’s such an honor to be invited here. Congratulations on your engagement!”
“Thanks. We’re thrilled,” Zawne said. “How about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
“Nope. I’ve got too much on my plate right now with the company.”
Zawne talked about being with Lordin as though it was all he cared about in life. I found myself a touch jealous that I didn’t have that same love. And like so many times over the past year, I found myself thinking about Roki. I wondered where he was. I wondered if he had found somebody new.
Inside the parlor, Lordin lay on a large, plush sofa with her eyes half-shut. I was surprised when she perked up at my entrance, shone her bright white teeth at me, and said, “Welcome, Kaelyn. I am so glad you could come.”
“Me too,” I told her. Then I bit my lip hesitantly and said, “You’re even more stunning in person,” feeling an instant wash of embarrassment after I said it. But it was true. With her strong jaw, pointed chin and big blue eyes, Lordin was as cute as a button. No wonder Zawne was crazy about her!
“I appreciate you saying so,” she said. “Please, Kaelyn, take a seat.”
Lordin gestured to a chair across from her sofa, and I sat down. Zawne sat down beside Lordin, and I smiled as she slithered into the nook of his armpit and nuzzled her head against his chest. It looked cozy there. I thought for sure she would fall asleep.
“Are you all right?” I asked. Lordin looked fatigued beyond reason. I noticed her eyelids were a touch red, as if she’d been crying.
“Yes, I am quite all right. Sorry, Kaelyn, I just didn’t get enough sleep last night.” Lordin spoke with heavy eyelids, purring into Zawne’s side like a cat. “But you, dear.” She smiled. “You are beautiful, a true daughter of Gaard.”
Now I was the one blushing. Could she mean it, that I was beautiful? Had Lordin never looked in the mirror?
“We should get to business,” I said, suddenly awkward and clumsy. “You sent a letter saying you have a proposition for me. What is it?”
Lordin tried to speak but was arrested by a long yawn. Zawne answered in her stead.
“We have been watching what you’re doing with GMAF,” he said. “And truth be told, we love it. We love it a lot. With Lordin’s new position as my betrothed …” He squeezed her thigh, so intimately that it made me blush.
“Sorry.” Zawne cleared his throat. “With Lordin as my wife-to-be, the fact is we may be raised to the status of king and queen. There is also a chance that I will become the next clan leader of Shondur. If that happens at the coronation next year, Lordin and I must relocate out of the capital and back to my native land.”
I could already feel where this was going. I was anxious. Could they really want me to …?
“We need someone strong, capable, and upholding of Decens-Lenitas to take over Lordin’s charitable works,” Zawne explained. “As the head of your own foundation, with your high-profile lineage and the fact that you’re unwed and, sorry to say it, have a low chance of being queen, we want you to begin transitioning Lordin’s beloved projects over to GMAF. This means a ton more funding, more manpower, a bigger office, more responsibility, and more ways you can change Geniverd for the better.”
“Yes,” Lordin said, sounding so weak I was surprised she had the energy to speak, “my work must continue. It is imperative that you take over from me as the lead on all my charity projects and volunteer organizations. I want this very badly, Kaelyn. It is important to me that you make the decision now. I need to see you’re committed to helping the people. Only then can I …” She licked her lips and choked back emotion. Something was definitely bothering her, something other than lack of sleep. “Only then can I rest well tonight,” she finished.
Whatever bothered Lordin had no effect on Zawne. He was all smiles, caressing Lordin’s back, stroking her hair. He loved her so much!
“I say yes!” I declared, way too loudly. I was nervous and had lost control of my voice. It cracked as I said, “I mean, that would be acceptable, Lordin. I really appreciate the opportunity and your trust in me. As the most beloved woman in the kingdom—and the most visinized—your
