It took me a while to disentangle myself from Zadina’s arms.

  Once I had enough space to breathe, I introduced her to my maids.

  “Everyone, this is Sister Zadina, a Paladin of Lumus.”

  To my surprise, Beatrice spoke up in earnest. “Good Sister Zadina, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Our Lady must value herself more! We can’t lose her.”

  The fervent intensity flashing in her eyes frightened me.

  So far, I had forced myself to ignore the taste of their souls.

  I knew Beatrice was concerned for me, but the extent of her concern had caught me in a blind spot.

  Zadina crouched over the boy still thrashing on the ground. She pulled his hands from his neck and placed her glowing hand over it.

  Finally, the jerking motions stopped, and Jacob sat up, coughing.

  Zadina gave him a moment to catch his breath. He rubbed his neck, his chest heaving.

  “Armiger Jacob, you are to apologize at once to Lady Josephine de Bloomcrest,” she commanded, gesturing back toward me.

  “Bloomcrest?!” The color drained another notch from Jacob’s face. “Of course… I’m sorry for the offense, Most noble lady. I didn’t know your station.”

  The crowd buzzed in the background.

  “Bloomcrest, blue hair… Isn’t that?”

  “Didn’t realize the Blue Flower looked like that!”

  “Too bad about the scar.”

  “That thing is still bleeding!”

  “Is she wearing a crown?”

  I, however, seethed over Jacob’s words. “And if I were a station lower, or a commoner, then your actions would be just?”

  Gasps rippled through the crowd. My eyes caught their shocked faces.

  Is it my question that’s so outrageous? Or that I’d even consider calling myself a commoner?

  Jacob had a dazed and confused look on his face. “Then… there’d be no offense to your rank.”

  “Then you’d trample upon those below you? And that is just?” I swiveled my head to Zadina. “Tell me, Sister, does Lumus not have compassion for the weak and wretched? Or will the light only embrace the strong?! And will only those with standing be absolved?”

  For a religion that spreads through missions, it must have doctrine for the masses; it must reach for the common denominator.

  I knew it all too well. I had seen it at play. I had been part of it. I was naive enough to be the one preaching for so many lifetimes. I had used the voice as an accomplice.

  Zadina jolted at my words.

  “You… are right. His light reaches all, even the blind. That is written. Lumus will embrace all who turn to him. His warmth will absolve the damned, the crippled, and the forsaken!”

  She clutched at her chest as she recited what must have been verses. Then, she sank back down.

  “Too many of us have spoken the words, and not walked them.”

  The rhetoric was so eerily familiar. The cadence, the meaning, it resonated against the pained memories of the past, so very much like the words I had incanted with hope.

  All around us, everyday people in their workday clothes and rags sank to their knees.

  I turned away.

  I don’t want this. I don’t want this at all.

  “Eeeek!”

  Esther and her friends screamed as they were pelted with vegetables amidst angry boos.

  A couple of the boys rushed over to shield them, but the rest glanced warily at Zadina, who still had her full attention on me.

  “My Lady Leticia will be here soon! And you will all pay for your insolence!” Esther shouted hysterically at the crowd.

  “She’s here!”

  A cry rang out from the back of the crowd. It echoed, and the sea of onlookers parted before a group of mounted knights in armor. They rode in wedge formation, leading the way for an extravagant golden carriage.

  At the tip of the wedge rode an old, grizzled knight with ashen-hair and scar-ravaged face. Behind him, riders held raised spears flying banners of rippling red with the embroidered golden dragon of Avatince: The Royal Guards.

  The fact that Leticia had a royal escort was interesting.

  I was never offered that. Which spoke to the power dynamic between Queen and Consort.

  She has work to do.

  Though I suppose I was secluded back home. And Captain Soren did offer to escort me with a group of knights today, which I had politely declined.

  That would make too much of a scene.

  The large spoked wheels of the carriage rolled to a grinding stop over cobbled stone. The guards brought over a step ladder. A young girl stepped out wearing a velvety cream-colored gown with a wide skirt.

  Her golden hair reflected the sunlight. It was braided into a spiral cone-like structure that reminded me of a beehive. Mine was just a simple bun, tied up high so that it got out of my way.

  My girls wanted to do more, but today was supposed to be their day.

  The grizzled knight offered the girl his hand and guided her down the steps. This must be Leticia. Two boys emerged after her: first a tall green-haired boy, followed by a younger grey-haired boy; both had golden eyes. Cheers erupted at the sight of them and they waved back.

  It was Tomas and Anthony.

  I turned to make my getaway. This could only be trouble.

  But my girls were still transfixed by the princes. Claire was waving at them, her honey-colored hair bopping as she shouted.

  Esther ran over to Leticia, pointing at me. “My Lady! That tramp there dared impede our access to the dress shop. She trampled on your servants and incited the rabble against us.”

  The crowd rained boos and jeers. The old knight, obviously the captain of the guards, stepped forward and glowered at the onlookers. With his scars and fierce eyes, it was a look that could send grown men cowering. But instead of scattering, the crowd closed ranks, forming a wall between me and the guards bristling in shining plate.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “They’re going to take her!”

  “Protect the flower!”

  “She walks the words!”

  This is going to get ugly.

  Returning to my spot beside Zadina, I shouted, “everyone calm down! These men are servants of the Crown, and they mean me no harm. Please let them through.”

  As the thicket of people thinned, the old Captain’s eyes found mine. A flicker of recognition passed between us—he was one of Anthony’s guards at both the parties where I had made a scene.

  He acknowledged me with a dip of his head. And then in the next instant, Anthony’s eyes found mine as well.

  Shit!

  He saw Zadina next to me, and then spotted Jacob still getting up from the ground.

  Those golden eyes sparkled. He threw his head back and burst out laughing. “Oh, Esther, I can’t believe you pissed off the daughter of the Prince of Ice and you’re still standing!”

  Esther’s panicked eyes widened, retreating further behind a guard. “That’s her?!”

  “Yes. The Blue Ice Tulip. The Child Demonslayer. The Purifying Flower. Like I said, can’t believe you’re alive.” Anthony still shook with laughter.

  Stop making up names for me!

  I wanted to reach over and shut him up, but there were too many people between us.

  “But she’s supposed to be only five!” Esther protested.

  Anthony threw his hands up in the air. “I keep telling Mother she looks my age. So we’d be the perfect match, right Tomas?”

  The golden-haired girl, Leticia, finally broke her silence, snapping at him. “Your Highness, you will NOT disrespect me!”

  A young foreigner around Jacob’s age, with straight, black hair tied up in a ponytail stepped up beside Leticia. His black eyes drilled hard into the prince.

  Anthony waved the two of them away. “Yes, I know. Mother and all.” He shoved Tomas forward. “Go on. All yours.”

  “Jo… sephine!” Tomas ran to me. The guards moved as one. Shields and spears interlocked, shoving back the tide of people that still lingered. A path was cleared before him.

  Zadina stepped aside and dragged Jacob, who was still staggering, out of the way.

  He leaped at me and hugged my waist. His head was now below my shoulder. It seemed I had outpaced him.

  He’s not at his growth spurt yet.

  “Your Highness, there’s no need to cry.”

  My hand shot out, and Beatrice quickly placed a handkerchief in my palm. I was very much aware of all the eyes on me.

  “You said that you’d be safe, and look what happened to you.” He looked up at me, not letting go. “I didn’t realize it was this bad. Why is it still open?” Tomas sniffled as I dabbed at his eyes.

  “It’s a curse. I know it looks awful. You’re free to cast me aside. I won’t mind.”

  “Never, Jo! You are still the most beautiful!”

  My hand froze against his cheek. I wasn’t sure how to react to that, but I could definitely sense the intense, searing gazes of everyone fixed on me, including my maids.

  Like Anthony’s, the bar above his head was now yellow, but I didn’t taste any saltiness over his soul.

  He is just an innocent kid.

  “No need to be so loud,” I admonished him gently. “I’m still yours. Like I promised.”

  I tried to keep my voice low, but Beatrice was too close, and her gaze was burning into the back of my neck.

  “Such a heartwarming reunion. I didn’t realize the two of you were so close.” Leticia glided gracefully toward us, flanked by her guards, including the foreigner.

  The tension had drained from the crowd and they quickly made way.

  She glared back at Anthony, who was idling behind her. “It certainly makes me envious, dear, beautiful sister.” Her azure eyes shot over to Esther, who shrank even more.

  Turning back to meet my steady gaze, she declared, “Let me introduce myself, I am Leticia of Dawnport, the intended for the Crown Prince. I apologize for the troubles those under me have caused.”

  Is this a sincere apology?

  My attempt to read her drew a blank. There were no overt emotions on her face. No sharp tastes emanated from her soul. Nor did it shine intensely, especially compared to the dark-haired foreigner beside her.

  His soul was bright, holding a mixture of flavors, the most prominent being pepper with an undertone of salt. His narrow, slanted eyes were fixed on my wrists, which were thankfully covered by long sleeves that extended down the back of my hand to a finger loop.

  I looked at his wrists in turn. They were covered by scale arm-guards.

  Our eyes rose. His black met my purple. His eyebrow twitched. Suspicion flickered.

  Another Reincarnator?

  Questions swirled in my mind.

  Was he from Orlina? While his armor was obviously foreign, it didn’t look Japanese.

  Could he be the hero from a sequel? Or even an expansion?

  Our eyes quickly parted. Leticia was watching me expectantly, and I didn’t like the way Anthony’s eyes were tracking the two of us like a hawk.

  No need to blow his cover if he wanted to go incognito.

  “A pleasure to meet you, Sister. I am Josephine de Bloomcrest.”

  That seemed to earn a startled look from the foreigner, a blossom of confusion in those dark eyes.

  I ignored it.

  “I accept your apology; let us consider the matter settled. Perhaps we could speak in a less… noisy setting? We can discuss our mutual grievances.” I shot a glance over at Anthony.

  I need to learn how to play this game better.

  Leticia followed my gaze and smiled knowingly. “That would be delightful. I have heard so many fantastic things about you, Sister.”

  Her eyes moved from her servants to the attendants standing nervously in front of the dress shop. She ran a long finger along her curved jawline. “It seems my girls have rudely disrupted your shopping excursion. If you will have us, why don’t we shop together? Then we can talk at our leisure, and pick out dresses together. There’s an event that would benefit greatly from your attendance.”

  “I… was actually here to pick out dresses for my maids.”

  Another sprinkle of murmurs rippled over the crowd.

  “Perfect. I will compensate by purchasing those. But you…” She pointed down at my simple dress. “...definitely need something from here.”

  My girls, standing to the side, gave me exasperated, ‘I told you so’ looks.

  After the commotion settled down, I exchanged farewells with Zadina.

  “Oh, you were Josephine’s guardian.” Tomas had to tilt his head way back to look up at the large woman.

  “My apologies for not being able to keep her safe, Your Highness.” Zadina placed her hand to her chest and bowed.

  “Jo does what she wills. But she’s safe now.”

  “You’re wise beyond your years, Your Highness. The Pontiff tells me he’s rather impressed by you.”

  She turned to me and those piercing eyes were taking me in again. I tried hard not to taste the salt of her soul.

  She hadn’t betrayed me, but the implications of that salt disturbed me.

  “He wishes to talk to you as well, my Lady.”

  No, absolutely not.

  “I will have to decline, good Sister. I will see you another time.”

  I was turning to go back to the store when a tug came at my arm.

  “Jo, you promised me a kiss, a real kiss, remember?” Tomas whispered up at me, but in the silence that had settled, his voice traveled.

  The maids raised their heads like birds having spotted prey. The onlookers who were streaming away turned back. Leticia’s eyes glinted. Anthony’s eyes glowed.

  I hadn’t explicitly promised him a kiss. He just demanded it. But I guess I didn’t refute him either.

  “We’re in public, Your Highness. It wouldn’t be proper.”

  Footsteps congregated around us. The old captain led three others up to us and turned their backs, forming a partial wall. Leticia winked at me—mischievously or maliciously, I couldn’t tell—but she sent in a few of her maids to join that wall.

  Then my maids ran over as well, closing the curtain of guards and maids around Tomas and me.

  Betrayal!

  Tomas leaned in, his round cheeks flushed, and his lips puckered. His eyes were squeezed shut.

  Why should I be the one initiating this?

  I had thought that if there was no passion, [Virtuous] would allow for it. I had kissed Ben, and even Zadina on the forehead before.

  This should be no different!

  But I was stuck in place. I couldn’t bring myself to even lean forward as Tomas patiently waited for me with closed eyes. I didn’t even know if it was [Virtuous], or if I was simply so broken that I couldn’t manage even a simple kiss on the lips.

  A presence surged up from the depths. She took hold—of my hands, my neck, my face, and finally, my lips.

  She grabbed his arms, pulled him up to me, and pressed my lips against his.

  His warmth was spreading up through my lips when that child retreated, darting back, laughing, and giggling.

  A little giggle from her escaped through my lips as I pulled back.

  Tomas opened his eyes, giggling as well. “Yes, it tickled a little.” He took my hands in his.

  “But it was really nice.”