Murmurs filled the hall as Cynthia bluntly interrupted the king, pushing through the crowd to join her brother.
"She… really is something else."
"The king can't even say anything because she's a princess. What kind of princess acts this rudely?"
"The rumors say that…"
The gossip continued, but Cynthia, the subject of their whispers, paid no mind. She was used to this kind of talk.
"How have you been?" Alistair asked with a gentle grin once they young couple had greeted him.
"I'm doing fine," Cynthia replied, flashing a bright smile, which only deepened Lucian's confusion.
"Is she really doing well?" Lucian wondered.
He felt uneasy about Cynthia's response to her brother. He feared another war could break out if she voiced any complaints, even though there was nothing to complain about.
No one had mistreated her, no one had hit her, she wasn't starving, and she was well-dressed with maids attending to her every need.
