I said. Perhaps a little more to hear that Vincent would be representing some of her grandmother's voice on the council, but she was more tenderhearted than she gave herself credit for too. And then, as if it was her voice speaking through me, I offered, "The two of you should take dinner with us when it suits you."
Vincent brightened a little. "We'd be very happy to do so, I'm sure. Ah! I see Hector."
I saw Bryony too, searching the room for me, and I made my goodbyes to the older Chosen, heading for my princess.
"Incoming," I murmured, dipping my head down to Bryony's ear, my eyes narrowed on the tall man approaching us from the opposite direction.
Bryony's vague gaze turned to follow my stare, and I glanced down to watch her shift between confusion and then a sudden and surprising embarrassment. Color rushed into her cheeks, and her eyes flicked away from the man and back again. He was tall, handsome, and fairer than Wendell. He was also irritatingly familiar looking, although I couldn't place why.
"Your Highness," the man said, and I studied the many medals on his dark jacket as he bowed shallowly.
"Prince Holden," Bryony said with an equally shallow curtsey, her lips twisting nervously as they both rose. "How…how very kind of you to travel so far. And so soon after…"
It clicked at last, and I let out an inappropriate choking sound as I struggled not to laugh. Here was one of the fools Bryony had dismissed so abruptly after her choosing ceremony. I searched the crowd around me and jerked my head as I found Wendell, urging him to us.
"Holden, did you ever even leave Kimmery?" I asked, and I smiled through Bryony's elbow jamming lightly into my ribs.
The prince glared back at me. "I did, although I feel I've spent more time on that road this year than at home."
Bryony's blush deepened as Wendell joined us, wrapping an arm around her waist and gaining Holden's glare. "I really do apologize for my confusion at the choosing, Your Highness. I was quite overwhelmed and—"
If it had been me, I would've been wholly disarmed by Bryony's delicate sweetness—or at least I liked to think so—but Holden only puffed his chest and raised his stare above her head.
"My family still desires a friendly alliance with Kimmery, and so I'm back to try my luck with the younger princess. They say she is amenable," Prince Holden declared. "And that she has much appetite."
"Camellia?" Bryony said in a barely restrained squawk.
"Unless it is your intention to take on more Chosen of royal blood?" Holden finally stared down at Bryony.
For half a second, I tried to imagine how we would fit this man into our number. Bryony would tame him, no doubt, just as she had with Aric, Daniel, and I. He was proud like I had been, and prejudiced against her just as Aric was. He was also apparently desperate to have a better position than a lesser prince of a small and unprosperous kingdom.
"It is not," Bryony answered crisply, chin high, and Wendell and I shared a brief glance of relief.
Holden's jaw gritted, and he nodded once. "Ah, I see her now, excuse me."
Bryony's eyes widened as he marched away. "Oh dear, do you think we should warn him?"
"I think he deserves what he gets," I said in a low mutter.
"This may become a bit of a scene," Wendell whispered. "Your sister is…"
We turned and watched Prince Holden approach Camellia, who was, quite publicly, holding one of her Chosen and forcing him to rut her up against a marble pillar.
"She looks…ill almost," Wendell added as we watched Holden weaving his way through the crowd.
"Not ill," Bryony said darkly. "Holden is right. Camellia has a great deal of appetite. Less and less of anything else it seems."
I'd taken as little notice of Camellia as I could, but the girl did seem to be changing. She was paler than I remembered, and she'd been visibly tense all through the public parade and funeral as if she'd made her best effort to restrain herself up until now.
"Should we do something? Urge them somewhere more private?" Wendell asked, frowning. "People are taking notice."
"No, let her make a fool of herself," I answered.
"She had some princes in her first batch of Chosen, but they left within a few months," Bryony murmured, frowning and watching. Camellia's head tossed in something between pleasure and frustration. It was obvious the moment she caught sight of Holden's approach.