Kassida
I smoothed my dress for what must have been the thousandth time as the servants opened the door to the dining room. The hall was dim, the only light coming from a candelabra and a fireplace. In the center of the room was a single table. The rest of the space was filled with large, plush, couches and chairs, giving the room a far more intimate feeling than it had ever had before.
My eyes traveled over each of the faces, lingering on my brother and uncle who were conversing quietly, their heads drawn close together. The rest of the space was taken up by the vassals of the Crown who were having their own conversations over glasses of wine. I looked around for my other siblings, but none had been able to attend on such short notice. Being the youngest sibling, and still yet unmarried, I was the only one still living in the palace besides the King.
"Ah, here she is," Isidore said, waving me forward as he looked up. His demeanor shifted from mild annoyance to exaggerated warmth. My stomach roiled.
"Your Highness," I murmured, curtsying before him.
He took my hand before stepping back so he could take in the fine, dark green, gown Corsica had selected for me for the evening.
"My, don't you look stunning? If only your future husband could see you tonight."
A few of the other people in the room looked up at my brother's words and my eyes connected with those of someone I had very much rather not seen yet. His cold gray eyes hid his emotions so well, but I could read his shock in the hard lines of his jaw and the muscles in his hands that were desperately trying not to break the crystal he held.
Isidore followed my gaze with his own, his eyes hardening almost imperceptibly when he realized who I had seen. "Ah, yes, Archduke DeKosta, come greet our crown jewel! Doesn't she look lovely?"
Though only 30, himself, Calix DeKosta had already assumed control of his family's power but he had been a thorn in my brother's side ever since. As High Commander of the Eastern Army, he was one of the most powerful men in the Kingdom and had the respect of knights and soldiers, alike. He also happened to be one of the single most handsome men on the entire continent. And I wasn't the only one who knew it.
"Of course, your Majesty. As always, she is a vision."
I dropped my eyes and did my best to remain calm and poised, not wanting to give away the fact that his attention made my skin prickle with desire.
"Your Highness," he murmured, leaning in and kissing the back of my hand. The feeling of his warm lips on my knuckles made my entire body flush. "It's been too long since I've seen you last."
I swallowed hard and met his eyes again. "Yes, it has."
He held my gaze for a moment longer, the muscle in his jaw tightening, before stepping back and bowing to me low enough that his black hair fell into his eyes. As he straightened, he combed his hair back with his strong fingers that were scarred from fighting.
"Well, we can't expect such a noble knight to stray too far from the battlefield, now can we," Isidore said as he put a hand on my shoulder.
Calix's eyes flashed to Isidore's with something resembling a warning. "Not when my King's interests are in such constant danger."
Isidore's grip tightened slightly, though it was the only sign that he'd picked up on the underlying subtext of the Archduke's words. "Well, the DeKostas have always been such loyal royal servants," Isidore said, reluctant to let anyone else get the last word. His comment seemed to hit home with Calix, who simply canted his head in Isidore's direction before straightening his spine. At full height, he was nearly a head taller than my brother, a fact that had never ceased to irritate the King.
"Yes, well, we really should get started on our meal," Uncle Frederick said as he stepped up beside me, clapping Calix on the shoulder. "The night is young and I, for one, am starving."
As if on cue, the servants began moving around the room, pulling out the chairs and placing napkins and utensils. Calix bowed again to Isidore and me before giving Uncle Frederick the tiniest of smiles.
"As you wish, your Highness."
He moved to take his seat across from me, his gaze not straying from mine for a moment.
"So, tell me, Lord DeKosta, what brings you to the capital? Last I'd heard you were busy chasing down rumors of spies," Lady Barcroft said from Calix's right, not even bothering to hide the want in her gaze. Even with her husband sitting just to her other side. Of course, he was too busy staring down the dress of the servant girl serving me to notice. I tried not to roll my eyes in disgust.
Calix sighed and shifted in his seat a little as the servants moved around him, serving him wine and placing the first course on his plate.
"They're not rumors, Lady Barcroft. We caught two men inside the Ustralt Wall just last week with crudely drawn maps of the capital's interior."
"Oh," Lady Barcroft gasped, "what did they do when you found them?"
I glanced at Calix out of the corner of my eye, trying to see his reaction. If his face betrayed anything, it was boredom.
"Claimed innocence as all spies and assassins do," he said nonchalantly.
"How did you handle the situation," Countess Lobeck asked from next to her husband. She, too, had been casting lascivious glances at the Archduke all evening and was currently leaning so far over her soup bowl that her breasts were nearly covered in lobster bisque.
"What is one supposed to do with spies and assassins? Execute them, of course."
"And did you do the deed yourself," Lady Barcroft pressed, her voice growing high and breathy.
"Of course. In times like these, those of us in power must see to it that the job is done, lest those we care about pay the price."
Both Ladies followed Calix's gaze to me, their own expressions hardening even though they were each twice his age and married. My heart pounded in my throat as I forced myself to turn my attention to the bite of food that was struggling to go down my throat.
"You are a true Knight, Lord DeKosta," Sir Tannis said, nodding in approval and oblivious to the unspoken words being thrown like daggers around the table. "Our Kingdom is safe in your hands."
Calix took a long sip of his wine, his eyes boring into mine. Isidore looked between us, his face reddening as his patience wore thin.
"Yes, indeed," Isidore finally spoke up. "We are all very grateful to have such a loyal servant to the Crown. However, tonight is about my dear sister. I have wonderful news! The King of Echillion and I have agreed to unite our countries through marriage. My lovely sister, Kassida, will be wed before the next full moon to their esteemed Crowned Prince, Damien."
The table burst into congratulations and cheers. Lady Barcroft and Countess Lobek each gave me smug looks of satisfaction as they raised their glasses to toast my upcoming nuptials while Calix simply stared at me with barely contained horror.
"You mean Echillion's "Bloody Angel"," Calix asked, directing his fiery gaze at my brother.
"Indeed, I do. Why?"
"You can't be serious."
"Excuse me?"
"You mean to sacrifice the life of your innocent sister to the most barbaric man in the region."
I could see the anger growing in my brother's eyes as the other nobles around the table quieted, waiting for his response.
"She's hardly an innocent, Lord DeKosta, and you would do well to remember your place. You are speaking to the King of Airythia, not the man you used to spar with in the courtyard."
Calix's nostrils flared, but he inclined his head to Isidore. "I apologize, your Majesty, but I fear you have failed to see the wisdom in the council you have been given."
Isidore slammed his hands down on the table, making the silverware and plates rattle. "Are you implying I am not capable of leading this Kingdom? That I don't have the ability to make decisions on my own?"
"You misunderstand me, your Majesty," Calix said, his voice growing colder by the second.
"No, you have made your opinions clear."
"You have forgotten what it is to be a Knight."
"How dare you."
"And how dare you!"
"Stop it, both of you," Uncle Frederick interrupted, pushing his chair back from the table. "This is a celebration. Your Majesty, perhaps it is time you retire for the evening."
"I agree," Calix said, draining the rest of his wine and setting the glass back down on the table. He rose to his feet and bowed. "Your Majesties, Ladies and Sirs, my apologies. Goodnight."
Without waiting for a response, Calix left the room. Nobody dared to breathe until the sound of his heavy footsteps disappeared down the corridor.
"Well," Lady Barcroft started, fanning herself, "I never knew a Knight and a Lord could be so passionate about matters of State."
"Indeed," Countess Lobek said with a girlish giggle.
The rest of the dinner continued without interruption, but my mind was far from the conversation. I kept replaying the conversation with Calix and the way he had looked at me. It was strange. He had never seemed interested in me in the past, and yet, there was no mistaking the desire and longing that had flickered in his eyes.
I was grateful when the meal ended and I was able to slip away. A plan had started to materialize in my mind and I had to act on it before I lost the nerve.
"Corsica," I called, not needing to look behind me to know she was following.
"Yes, your Highness?"
"Has Lord DeKosta left the palace yet?"
"No, my Lady. He is staying in the West Wing tonight so that he may return to the battlefield first thing in the morning."
"Excellent. You are dismissed for the evening."
"But, your Highness," she started before I cut her off with a raised hand. I turned and took her hands in mine.
"I am planning on something tonight that could get both of us severely punished if anyone found out. I am capable of getting myself to bed unassisted and I would prefer it if you remained ignorant of my future actions. For your own sake."
Corsica searched my eyes for meaning and I watched as realization dawned on her. Her eyes widened and she gasped softly. "Your Highness...you don't mean to...?"
"I will do whatever I can to take my future into my own hands and I believe that Calix DeKosta might be the answer to both our prayers."
Corsica stood silent for a few moments before finally dropping her eyes to the floor as she bowed her head. "Yes, my Lady. As you wish. I will greet you at first light tomorrow."
"Thank you, my friend."
She jerked her face up to look at me, tears rimming her eyes before she ripped her hands away and hurried down the hall. I watched her until she turned the corner, then hurried to my chambers.
My decision was made and if only I could get Calix to agree, it was going to be a long night.