Even so, it’s been a decade, and the House of Sigmond can never return to what it was before it was brought down. It’s been a decade too long. Zen looks entirely too alone on the stage, in front of the emperor. “Do you, son of Ricardius Sigmond, whose forefathers served the crown until the last of
“It gives me a great sense of security, to have the House of Sigmond standing with the church and the crown, especially in such uncertain times.” The Emperor has settled back in the throne, and an attendant has taken the key from me for safe-keeping. That should be fine, I hope, given it was right
“This Banquet has turned out so interesting already,” Arzen continues “The Archbishop was just telling his Majesty about the gift Lady Dinah has prepared for this day.” He doesn’t turn his face to us, nor do I turn my eyes to look at him, but I can just hear his stupid haughty smile in his voice.
I curse under my breath “I’m not ready yet!” “You’d better be.” The Empress is standing above us before I can blink “Your Majesty!” I stand hurriedly to curtsy “You said it’d be just after this song ends, but it hasn’t yet— “It takes time to move everything into place.” The Empress says, her voic
He steps back, as gently and easily as he’d enveloped me in his frame, and once his shadow is gone, I’m left standing alone in the bright light of the moon. Was that a pep talk? Right now?! I walk the rest of the distance and stand at the podium, my face still warm. But it doesn’t matter! He’s righ
The ending paragraph seems like the most normal anyway! “The same occurred for the next 12 nights, and as the sun arose on the 13th morning, the other gods looked upon the two lovers and to remind them of the difference in the station of a goddess and a mere mortal, turned him into a hideous beast
When he says nothing, finally, I wretch my gaze to Zen. In the pale moonlight cutting through the small new leaves and web of branches, I can see both his arms wrapped around his stomach. Is he… shaking? Zen bursts out laughing. He’s laughing so hard, and so unrestrained for a moment, I even forg
“I have a question.” Just as Dinah sits down, she looks up with dark eyes gleaming with curiosity. I take a seat by her side. “Go ahead.” She leans back as much as she can, until her feet hang slightly above the floor of the gazebo. The fur of the cape brushes her jawline, and Dinah looks ahead i