***

  Rowena had a few ideas and had heard rumors about the main palace of the Sunflower Court, but entering it after stepping out from her carriage was another experience entirely.

  It turned out the complex was not just named for its gold-washed exterior, but for the extensive and intricate patterns of sunflower floor murals that spread across the floor and crawled up the columns that held up the high ceiling. These murals framed massive paintings spread across the ceiling in a realistic style, featuring scenes from Lapanterian history. From King Sebastian’s leadership at the Battle Kairon Aoun, to the ascension of Lapanteria’s first monarch, King Flavonius, at the Battle of Crownpeak.

  Such finery was accented with gold fixtures and crystal chandeliers that played dancing lights over Rowena and her party’s dress as they marched in. Already, the guests were seated on chairs on opposite sides of the Sunflower Court’s Grand Hall, awaiting the bride.

  The herald took a breath as Georgia handed the herald their invitations. He gave them an interested glance, mostly suppressed by his professionalism, before he raised his trumpet, played a quick tune and bellowed, “Announcing, Crown Princess Rowena of Erisdale, Lady Jessalise of Erisdale and Lady Gwendiliana Sparrowpeak of Alavaria!”

  Rowena’s gaze flattened as the eyes of the guests fell upon them, but she didn’t stop as she moved through the door and down the hall to the dais at the very end.

  Prince Alastor rose from his golden throne to meet them as they approached the end of the hall. Rowena supposed that he would be considered handsome. Under his silver prince’s crown were thick curling brown locks that framed a large, if delicately pointed nose and high cheekbones. His jaw and mouth leant him to an easy, friendly smile made more casual by the light brown beard sculpted to cover his lower chin and to form a moustache.

  He descended the dais where the throne was to bow to Rowena. She matched him with a curtsey, equally low. It would not be good to be too deferential to an equal royal, no matter how fine his palace was decorated.

  When they rose, he was extending her hand, which she took and shook firmly.

  “Welcome, Your Highness. I hope your trip was not too hard?” Alastor asked.

  “It was not, Your Highness.” Rowena stepped aside to show Jess. She was carrying a small, elaborately decorated dark blue and silver box. “A small gift for your wedding day.”

  Jess opened the box to show Alastor a dagger of solid gold adorned with rubies and sapphires. While wholly impractical, the expensive gift was a statement in and of itself, intended to show Alastor both Erisdale’s wealth but also power.

  Yet Alastor merely nodded. He smiled at Rowena as he accepted the gift and made a motion of examining it but his eyes were showing no true interest.

  “It is a handsome gift, Your Highness. Thank you. I welcome you again to the Sunflower Court. I am sure we will have much to discuss after the ceremony.”

  Rowena nodded. “Of course. Thank you for hosting us.” They exchanged bows and curtesy’s once more before they parted and Rowena found her seat.

  “Something’s wrong,” Rowena whispered to Jess the moment she sat down.

  “You saw?” Jess asked as Alastor greeted Gwen. He had much the same moderately disgusted disinterest.

  “He paid no attention to what I said. Perhaps it was just pleasantries but we are one of his most important neighbours,” said Rowena.

  Gwen soon joined them, frowning as well.

  “You noticed too?” She asked.

  “Yeah. He didn’t seem to care that he’s meeting Lapanteria’s most powerful neighbours. I can’t figure out why, though,” said Rowena.

  “Oh that too but he’s gloating. At least I think he is. He smirked at your back when you weren’t looking something fierce,” said Gwen.

  “At me? But why me. I’ve never met him and…” Rowena’s train of thought was interrupted as the ceremony began.

  The wedding was being done in the typical Lapanterian fashion where the bride would be escorted in and a hand fasting ceremony occur. Rowena rose to her feet with her friends as the bridal procession entered.

  That was when her blood ran cold as whispers started to abound.

  “Wena dear, why are your pennants being held?” Gwen asked. For at the front of the procession of attendants were two armored knights carrying red Erisdalian banners.

  Only those weren’t quite Erisdalian.

  “That’s not my family’s banners. Those are the old ones!” Rowena hissed as she recognized the grey mountain device on the banners.

  “Those are my house’s banners,” Jess gasped.

  They both knew what that meant even as the bride in a gold and white silken dress, strode into view and they heard the herald finally announce her.

  “Announcing Lady Veina, hero of the western front! Court Mage of Lapanteria. However, she is also known as Princess Forlana of House Grey of Erisdale!”

  Rowena stared. Her entire body numb as Forlana strode out, escorted by handmaidens and guards. Her white dress resplendent with delicate crimson embroidery. She walked tall, serene with just a slight adjustment in gait due to her prosthetic foot.

  Behind the lace veil, Forlana was smiling. Her glee was unmistakable especially as she passed Rowena and her party.

  “Wena,” Jess asked.

  “What,” Rowena whispered as the wedding ceremony began.

  “What do we do?”

  “Nothing. We get past the ceremony, the reception and then get to our quarters.” Rowena turned to her guard. “Lycia, tell Colonel Sun, put the brigade on high alert. Prepare escape plans.”

  Gwen’s eyes widened. “Surely—”

  “Lapanteria has betrayed us, Gwen. They now have a claim to annex Erisdale,” said Rowena, her eyes glued onto the dais, where the prince and heir of Lapanteria now held the hands of the woman who claimed her kingdom.

  ***

  The setup became all the more clear when Rowena and her party came to the reception.

  “They put me next to her,” Rowena whispered, noting the card on the high table bearing her name. At least Jess was beside her, but the person she really had to speak to was Alastor.

  “Oh this. is going to be excruciating, and we can’t leave,” Jess muttered.

  “Nope. But we can try to get some information. How did our diplomats not notice her?” Rowena muttered.

  “We didn’t have a picture,” said Jess matter of factly.

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  Gwen glanced at Rowena. “Couldn’t you have—”

  “I don’t know her well enough to focus it,” Rowena whispered. She examined the seating placards. She had seconds before the recently married couple were going to arrive, but an idea popped in her mind when she noticed that Gwen was to be seated next to Alastor.

  “Gwen, can I switch with you?” Rowena asked.

  “Absolutely,” Gwen said.

  Jess blinked. “Wena?”

  “We need to respond immediately. Alastor and Lapanteria have crossed a line. Depending on his response, I might have to ask my parents to mobilize.”

  “Mobilize—Erisdale is going to war?” Gwen squawked in a hushed tone.

  “We would never start a war, but we do not intend to be caught taking a nap. I need to make that clear to that bastard” said Rowena. She swept up to the high table and plucking the card from the table, handed it to Gwen, who gave her her card and made her way to her seat.

  From across the table, Jess, lips bunched, grabbed Rowena’s hand. “You got this. You have nothing to be nervous about.”

  Rowena briefly squeezed her best friend’s hands, her palms feeling clammy under her touch. “How am I hiding it?’

  “Well. You got this,” said Jess, smiling.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the approach of the newly married royal couple and their procession. “I love you,” Rowena whispered.

  Jess blinked, frozen for a moment. Then, she leaned in and before Rowena could react, planted a kiss on her cheek.

  As Rowena felt her cheeks burn, Jess grinned.“I love you too and will always love you. Do what you have to do.”

  She let go and strode for her seat, leaving Rowena briefly grasping at air as she settled down. Touching the cheek where her girlfriend had kissed her, she couldn’t help but smile.

  “Princess Rowena?” asked a voice to her right.

  Rowena schooled her expression and glanced at the girl. SHe was a little younger than Rowena with familiarly high cheekbones, pointed nose and dark brown eyes. This familial resemblance gave her a hint as to who she was talking to. Her cleft lip, a slight indentation that dug into her upper right mouth, confirmed it.

  “That I am. Do I have the pleasure of speaking to Her Highness Princess Sallene?

  “You do,” Sallene extended her hand which Rowena shook deftly. “I believe Lady Gwendiliana was supposed to be sitting here. You wish to speak to my brother?”

  “Yes. I wish to make Erisdale’s current position clear,” said Rowena.

  “I hope you do,” said Sallene. She spotted something over Rowena’s shoulder and turned away. Rowena, forcing herself not to rush, slowly turned to meet the approaching Prince Sebastian and his new wife.

  Alastor let go of Forlana and strode forward to Rowena. “Your Highness! Thank you for your handsome gift and for coming to my wedding. I hope we will have an enjoyable dinner and reception.”

  His arms were open, inviting Rowena to a hug, but she didn’t budge. Instead, she extended her hand.

  “I hope we will, Prince Alastor. We have much to discuss,” she said, deliberately not smiling.

  The dining room seemed to grow silent as Alastor held his arms for a brief moment, before his mouth pressed together in a thinner smile. He bowed, taking Rowena’s hand and kissing her knuckles.

  “I am sure we will.” He pulled Forlana’s chair back and she sat down next to Jess, before he pulled his chair back and sat down. “Well, what are we waiting for! Let the festivities begin!”

  ***

  Rowena’s table faced the rest of the main dining room where the guests sat amidst a series of round tables attended to by servers. She could not therefore, make a fuss.

  Thus it was necessary for her to wait for meal to begin in earnest, with guests in their cups and enjoying the food, before she could speak to Alastor.

  Even so, she could tell keen-eyed courtiers and nobles were watching. Princess Sallene was one, watching out of the corner of her eye. Forlana, the new queen, was the other, disguisng careful glances behind cheerful smiles and giggles at her new husband’s compliments.

  Alastor was also waiting for her to make the first move. He chatted with Forlana, talking about the wedding, the ceremony, how quickly it had been put together, but how nevertheless smooth and grand it still had been. The pair touched hands several times, gently interlacing each other’s fingers, or bumping shoulders. It did make Rowena wonder if Alastor actually did had feelings for Forlana.

  As the band started up again to a new song and Alastor took a bite from one of the main courses, a delicious chicken coated with a mushroom-cream sauce, Rowena leaned in.

  “Your Highness, what is your intention in marrying a traitor to Erisdale and a bastard of the crown?”

  She would have smirked as Alastor nearly choked, but there was no time for mirth and her patience was exhausted. The princes coughed into the handkerchief Forlana quickly proffered. When he’d wiped his mouth, his easy smile was strained.

  “What can I say, Your Highness? I fell in love with Lady Forlana. You do know how love drives people—”

  Snip, Rowena cut her chicken with her knife. “And it has nothing to do with the fact she has made claims on Erisdale’s throne? Nothing to do with your recent demands for Erisdalian land and to revise the Treaty of Athelda-Aoun?”

  Alastor grinned and shrugged. “I cannot imagine why you would think that way, Your Highness.”

  Rowena’s eyebrows rolled as the fury that had been building since Forlana had appeared clenched every muscle in her body. Her vision narrowed, until she could only see Alastor’s face and Forlana’s watchful gaze behind him.

  “Slow down, Rowena. He’s just trying to get a rise out of you,” hissed Tristelle.

  Rowena forced herself to grab her cup, feeling her blood rush as she took a sip, knowing her bracelet would detect any poison.

  “Are you not aware that your wife has a warrant in Erisdale for her arrest? She was witnessed to be attempting to assassinate the queen, my mother,” said Rowena.

  Alastor turned to Forlana, smiling brightly as he leaned in as if examining her. Forlana, still smiling, rolled her eyes and planted a peck on his cheek. Alastor, mouthed a quiet thank you before turning back to Rowena.

  “It surely must be a different Forlana. My wife is a hero of Lapanteria, who defended the western provinces from robbers and bandits. She’s surely not that criminal you are looking for. Rest assured, if we do come across her, then we will hand her over.”

  Blinking, Rowena digested the lie, the anger sparking once more but it grew with another emotion.

  Pure, cold, disbelief.

  Was he not taking her seriously? Did he not realize what was going to occur next, what she had to as Princess of Erisdale, would have to do?

  “Prince Alastor, if you do come across this criminal, you must hand her over immediately,” said Rowena.

  “Didn’t I say we will?” Alastor asked, squeezing Forlana’s thigh quite suddenly. Rowena noted that the sudden motion made the rival princess flinch, but her smile snapped back on so quickly it was as she had never felt that discomfort.

  He didn’t notice, however. All his smile and suave charm was directed at her.

  Taking a breath Rowena straightened and tightened her voice. Remembering lessons from Morgan on how to project her voice and authority quietly, she pitched her tone low, just above a whisper.

  “Let me make it clear, anybody—any organization found supporting this criminal would not be seen as merely insulting or inconveniencing Erisdale, they would be seen as fostering an existential threat to my kingdom and our respond would be proportional to that assessment.”

  Forlana wasn’t smiling any more. She was frowning, deep in thought. Yet, at Rowena’s steelly tone, Alastor only chuckled. Letting go of his wife, he rested his chin on his hand. “Surely she cannot threaten Erisdale? You have a prosperous and rich kingdom that makes hundereds of gold rings off your industry and your trade deals with us. Not to mention you have an impressive military for your kingdom’s size.”

  “Lady Forlana has made a claim on Erisdale’s throne, in effect, upending everything we’ve built over the last seventeen years. Her co-conspirators have harmed the wellbeing and property of thousands and kidnapped me when I was a baby. We will never stop seeing her as a threat to Erisdale, lest she swear to give up her claim and face charges for attempting to kill my mother.”

  Alastor’s smile faltered for a moment, but he hid it with a chuckle. “Those are steep demands, Your Highness. Are you serious about that? All for one woman that we do not have?”

  Something snapped in Rowena. Before Tristelle could hold her back, Rowena stood quite suddenly.

  “I was there when Forlana’s conspirators tried to kill my mother. I was the baby that was kidnapped by her mentor, Benjamin of the former Scarlet Order. My life has been irrevocably altered by her actions and the actions of her acocmplices and you dare insinuate I cannot recognize her?”

  “Oh, Your Highness, why are you being so grim? You are ruing the mood of this wedding reception!” Alastor whined, picking up his cup.

  Rowena, knowing all in the dining room was watching her let out a small sigh. She wasn’t sure how she stood so still, she felt like she was about to explode.

  “So that is your response?”

  “There’s nothing to respond to, Your Highness,” said Alastor, idly taking a sip from his cup.

  Rowena held Tristelle, hesitating for a moment before she raised her voice.

  “Well let me give you something to respond to. From this day forth, the Kingdom Erisdale considers Lapanteria as intending to claim the Erisdalian throne and annex our kingdom. Erisdale also considers you in breach of the extradition treaty pertaining to criminals and thus, will not honor it any further! Further sanctions and measures will follow until the threat to Erisdale is resolved.” Rowena bowed, pushed her seat back and strode for the exit.

  Alastor stared at her for a moment before sitting up.

  “You can’t do that!”

  Rowena looked at him over her shoulder as she walked to her friends.

  “I am Rowena Congrey, Crown Princess of Erisdale, the Lost Princess Found Again. I just did this. Should you wish to negotiate, you merely have to invite me from the mansion. Good evening, Your Highness.”

  Rowena looked at Forlana, who’d also risen to her seat, one hand holding the back of the chair. Her grey eyes were hard, flat and her mouth was set.

  “I wish you an enjoyable wedding night. I hope he’s worth it,” Rowena said, allowing herself a smirk.

  Forlana flinched her lips twisting as she scowled. Rowena left her standing as she extended her arm. Jess, doing her best not to grin, hooked her arm around hers.

  It was a good thing she did because as Rowena walked, Forlana hissed, “Sweet dreams, Your Highness.”