The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1) - Kiera Cass Page 0,47

you meet King Quinten?”

She shrugged. “There isn’t much to say. I have been at court with my parents since I was a child. The court is large, so we didn’t truly cross paths until a few years ago. That was that.”

I cast a knowing look at her. “That sounds close to my story. Amazing what can happen when you leave the country for a palace.”

“True. The castle had all but been our home for years; we only left it to travel.” A whisper of a smile crept onto her lips. “I’ve been to nearly every country on the continent,” she boasted. “My parents wanted me to see the world.”

“I envy you. You already know how small my world is.”

She nodded. “Maybe your king will be more adventurous, take you to meet the princes of each land. It will serve you well; there is an education that can only be received through travel.”

For the majority of my life I’d had no reason to think that I needed to see anything more than the hills near Varinger Hall or the sunrise on Colvard River as it cut by the capital. But meeting people from across the continent was enlightening, and now I ached to know more.

“I hope so. What about you? Do you hope to finish this education? Go to those final few countries?”

Her smile faded. “The king is most preoccupied with his kingdom.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but I assumed, whatever it was, it gave them cause to stay close to home. Coroa, at least, wasn’t much of a journey.

“It makes me miss my parents,” she said in a voice so quiet I almost didn’t hear it. When I looked at her then, she didn’t seem so much like a queen anymore, but more of what she was: another young girl trying to make her way in the world. “I have little trinkets from our trips. . . . This necklace,” she said, touching the silver oval tied around her swan-like neck. “My father got me this in Montoth from a little gypsy woman by the side of the road. I have a feeling she didn’t make it, if you catch my meaning.”

I nodded, wondering whose neck it had been around once upon a time.

“She was a nice lady, though. Fiery. My father gave her more than she asked. He was kind like that.”

“Then I would very much like to meet him one day.”

Valentina kept her eyes on the horizon and her hand on her necklace. “I wish you could. I wish you could have met both of them.”

I sighed, knowing I’d just ruined what was shaping up to be a great conversation. “I’m very sorry.”

Her gaze went over to the king. “So am I.”

I didn’t understand the sudden tinge of anger in her tone, but I didn’t have long to dwell on it. In the distance the maids were arriving, trays of delicacies in their hands.

“I’ve heard you have an interest in foreign cuisine. I took the liberty of having some dishes made especially for you.” I gestured to the approaching army of servants and watched as her face lit up.

“You did?” Her tone was incredulous.

“Yes. I . . . I wasn’t misinformed, was I? You certainly don’t have to eat any—”

“No, no! I’m thrilled!” She exclaimed as tray after tray was set on our blanket. “I know this one,” she said. “You usually make these for Crowning Day, right?”

“Yes. I tried to get a few things that were unique regionally and then a few associated with Coroan holy days. These pies over here? They’re for the solstice and have golden syrup in them.”

She picked up one of the treats and popped it in her mouth. I was adventurous with most things, but strange foods always gave me pause. I admired that, even in this, she plowed forward.

“Delicious. And these?” She went from plate to plate, asking questions and eating as much as she could stomach. When her smile was unguarded, she looked younger, more hopeful. In this tiny moment, I saw a Valentina that had not been present in the Great Room or on the jousting field. She was a clear beauty; even when she was frowning it was undeniable. There was something about this face that made me understand how she could be placed on a throne, be adored by the masses.

But then I thought of some of the comments the Eastoffes had made and realized she didn’t seem to be adored in that sense.