Page 6 of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

“Oh, this area is charming, and everyone is so nice! You will see tomorrow when we go shopping,” Thea said, stopping before the grand staircase. “All the bedrooms are upstairs, and I think Killian has finished preparing your room. Let me show you where you will be staying. After you.” She motioned for me to go up.

Once we had climbed the steps to the second story, she opened the door to one of the rooms. “I know this isn’t Clairborne Palace,” she started.

“No, this is perfect,” I assured her as I walked inside and looked around.

As expected, the accommodations were far less spacious than my quarters at the palace. A wide bed dominated the room, with nightstands on each side, and a tufted bench at the foot. A vanity with a mirror lined one of the walls, close to the door that led into the bathing chamber and wardrobe.

“Truly, this is more than enough.” I smiled at Thea, trying to put her at ease. Having a smaller room didn’t bother me at all. While I appreciated all the comforts of being a royal, I wasn’t fond of all the fuss.

“I hope you enjoy your stay here.” She smiled back. “Do you know how long you will be staying?”

“However long it takes to unlock my powers.” And become strong enough to help reinforce the wards.

Something flickered across her features I couldn’t quite catch. “Well, since you didn’t bring any help with you, I am at your service.” She curtsied. “My bedroom is right next to yours. Tom’s is the one next to mine, and Gray’s is farther down the hall. Killian stays in the butler’s quarters.”

“Does no one else live on the estate?” I asked, my brows lifting in surprise.

“No, Your Highness. I mean, Emelin. Gray prefers a small inner circle. It’s just the four of us. Well, five of us now, including you.”

“I see,” I said low, feeling like an outsider intruding on their lives.

She cleared her throat. “Do you need help unpacking?”

“I don’t think so, but thank you for offering. I could use a few minutes alone to freshen up after the ride.”

“Of course. It’s almost dinner time. Please join us downstairs whenever you’re ready.” With one last smile, she slipped out the door.

The moment she was gone, the muscles of my neck and shoulders relaxed, and I released a long exhale, plonking myself down on the bed. When I had awakened this morning, I’d had no idea that I would end up here, in this room at Bradford Manor, with an oppressive feeling of dread about the fate of my kingdom. With a heavy sigh, I rose from the bed and walked over to my bags sitting on the floor by the vanity. I retrieved my journal and ink supplies from one of them and perched on the stool before the mirror. I couldn’t wait to document the events of today to help me process what had transpired, but doing so would have to wait. Setting my diary and the ink on the vanity, I gave my reflection a nod of encouragement.

“You’ve got this,” I murmured before I left the bedroom.

Everyone was already in the dining room by the time I had made my way downstairs, and they all rose from their seats when I walked in. Gray stood at the head of the table with Killian by his side.

“Your Highness,” the butler said, stepping away from Gray to pull out a chair for me immediately to the lord’s right.

He remained standing as I sat down, and everyone else followed suit. Thea sat next to me while Tom occupied the seat across from me, to Gray’s left. Uncomfortable silence ensued as Killian filled my glass with wine and scooped some salad onto my plate before sweeping from the room. Taking a sip of the wine to relieve my suddenly dry throat, I dared a peek at the lord over the rim of my glass. His profile was stern, his expression unreadable, as he picked at his food. I shifted my gaze to his adviser and nearly choked on my drink. His expression was easy to read, and it was one of disdain.

“Why did you decide to train here and not with Lady May?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Tom,” Thea said through her teeth, giving him a pointed look.

“We have been through this,” I said calmly, setting my wine glass on the table. “Lady May is training my brother, the future king. I figured that instead of pulling her away from devoting her time solely to him, I would train here.”

“Thea said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. What exactly spurred your decision?” Tom continued my interrogation.

I glanced at Thea, who glared at him, her eyes blazing.

Gray kept eating, seemingly unbothered by how his adviser was speaking to me.

Scrambling to come up with a response, I took another sip of my wine. I didn’t owe them an explanation for my decision, but I wanted to provide one, lest they suspect that something was wrong with the wards.

“I decided to train here because I have recently broken off my engagement and wanted some time away from the capital,” I said before forcing the wine down past the lump in my throat.

“You have called off your engagement?” Thea gasped next to me. “Why?”

My cheeks burned as everyone at the table stared at me. Even Gray had stopped eating and lifted his gaze to my face. All I wanted to do was curl into myself and disappear. Instead, I clasped my hands in my lap and lifted my chin.

“The reason doesn’t matter. What matters is I’m here now and I will make the most of my training.”