Chapter 173
Sitting next to the queen for the morning meal wasn’t nearly as difficult as it had been the night before because Rona was chatting with Nill on her other side and hardly even looked at Kit. Not having to pretend she wanted to grab the crown from atop her mother’s head and run off with it made it easier to eat her eggs.
Eli did look better, but he was obviously still in pain. Kit tried not to stare at him too long because the last thing she wanted was to bring her mother’s attention to the fact that Kit was aware he was hurting. So... she spent her time looking at the other men, trying to decide what to do with each of the ones she hadn’t Roomed yet. Until her eyes fell on Pierce.
He was sitting next to Zane and across from Asher, and they were having what appeared to be an amicable conversation. Kit wondered what could possibly be going on inside of his head. Did he truly think that the queen could manipulate the Choosing enough for Pierce to become Kit’s husband? He had to understand that she didn’t have feelings for him. It was a pity he didn’t give up and go home.
Rona’s utterance from the night before came to the forefront of her mind. Regardless of the way Eli dismissed it, Kit still thought it was curious. Why would her mother just assume that she didn’t like Pierce because he was too rough?
She believed he was getting information from the queen. There were enough circumstances where he knew things he shouldn’t—like how to get out of the maze—that made her confident that they were in cahoots. If her guard had never seen him enter the queen’s chambers, how was he getting there? The queen certainly wasn’t throwing on a maid’s outfit and coming to him.
Lost in thought, she almost missed the silly face Cassius made at her. Kit’s eyes had already flittered away from him by the time she realized what he had done. When she looked at him again, he was feigning innocence, and she almost laughed. The only reason she didn’t was because she didn’t want to explain to her mother what was so funny. It was none of her business.
After the meal was over, Kit decided to speak to Cassius. Perhaps he could help her decipher what her mother may have meant by her comment the night before. While he didn’t know the queen or the castle like Eli did, Cassius seemed to think differently than the others, and there was a chance he could have an idea Kit hadn’t thought of.
A few other gentlemen wanted a moment with her, so by the time she was free, Cassius was gone. She decided to try his room and headed that direction, two of her guards trailing her, and her ladies following along, likely assuming she was headed to her own room.
Since he had been Roomed, Cassius was given much better accommodations than the smaller quarters the other Representatives slept in. His new room was just down the hall from Kit’s, larger than his first room, with nicer furniture and décor. Kit had been in it a few times over the last month, but most of the time Cassius still visited her in her own chambers. Still, it was nice to have a change of scenery sometimes, and his window looked out over a nice green space.
His liegemen, Ral, was coming out of the room as Kit approached. “Good morning,” Kit said, thinking this may be the first time she’d ever spoken to the man. “Is Cassius in his room?”
“Good morning, my Princess. Yes, he is,” Ral, an older gentleman with an elaborate mustache replied. “I’m certain he’ll be happy to see you.”
She nodded and then knocked on his door, just as her ladies stopped nearby, questioning expressions on their faces. “You may go.” Kit smiled, and they looked grateful to have some free time.
Cassius whipped the door open as if he knew it was her and greeted her with a crooked grin. “If it isn’t the most beautiful woman in the realm. Lucky me.”
Even after nearly two months of hearing such statements gush from between his perfect lips, Kit still hadn’t grown used to his uniquely charming personality. She felt a deep blush take over her cheeks. When she could speak again, she asked, “Do you have a moment?”
“For you? I have all of the moments.” He swung the door wide and gestured for her to come in.
There was no antechamber, but the room was large enough that the bed was set back away from the door. The comforter and linens were all a sky blue that matched the upholstery on the two armless chairs next to the fireplace. The first time Kit had come by, Cassius had mentioned the shade reminded him of her eyes.
They stood inside the doorway for a few seconds as Kit tried to decide how to word what she wanted to say, and Cassius waited with his hands on his hips, a curious expression on his face but not rushing her.
“May we sit?” she asked, gesturing toward the chairs. Again, Cassius made a sweeping movement with his arm, and Kit crossed and sat down, spreading her pink gown out around her legs. Cassius sat as well, the same expression on his face. Kit cleared her throat.
“Would you like some water, Princess?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine.”
“No, I am. Really. It’s only... I’m not sure how to say what I want to say to you, that’s all.”
He cocked his head to the side. “If you hadn’t already Roomed me, I’d be afraid you’d come to send me home.”
“Oh, no. No!” She reached for his hand, and he leaned forward to give it to her. “It’s nothing like that at all.”
“Good. Because I wouldn’t go.”
She giggled, despite the fact that her first thought was of Merek, though she was sure he didn’t mean to bring back bad memories. “No, you see... my mother said something odd last night, and I’m trying to decipher what it might’ve meant. That’s all.”
“I see. And you needed to think about it here, where there are less distractions?”
“No, you’re quite distracting.”
“Thank you—I think.”
Kit giggled again. “No, I want your help. It’s just... it seems a little silly when I say it aloud, that’s all.”
“I doubt that, Princess. Let’s hear it.” He smiled at her reassuringly, and Kit thought perhaps he already knew what she wanted to say. Either that or he was just readying himself to find a way to assure her she was right in thinking the way she was—regardless of what she said.
