cember 2

art ordered in an authoritative voic

the same, he had banished any thoughts

Lo

wed awk

sig

sly, quit it. We are House

obles bowed to the king? She shook her head. This was the tim

rushed them down the stairs and into the

It seemed to run in the family. The luxury car was like a to

g!" Duchess

d down imm

ne seemed particularly interested in anyone else. They might have been in a vehicle of

er tongue where grandfather was concerned? All they ever did was fight about the same things anyway. He wanted her to

t the University of Rosa, she would be assigned an advisor for her book next month. Did she

ce. Unfortunately for Zoey, it was all but quiet in her head. Duke Arden had as

have believed this yesterday, Zoey now knew something was amiss. If he really meant only to talk with her and then send her on her

It told her, as her eyes darted back and forth b

astounded at the sheer volume of people all dressed to t

spectacular view of the shimmering blue river and its surrounding trees and hills. It was truly a beautiful place and Zoey imagined it might be even more

nnounced, just as the members of the House of Ard

the women to their seats, being eager to do their due diligence, say brief greetings as

coronation of the now king. He would have disappointed the king in a similar m

aximus. Henry's reign up until now had been somewhat volatile, owing to his

or and Arden, all of Terres Somnia was somewhat divided. To this day, t

mnia alight with war even now, five years after his coronation. No, the busi

him according to the best of their ability. After doing so, they would go back and find other friends and acquaintances to pay simi

Condor family tree was a discussion that could and

ased upon evidence of the Condor bloodline not intersecting with the former king's. This did not take, bu

pproached the royal table. It was well known and rather expecte

as all Duke

enry s

you, dear

y. I'm here to be assured of my busines

Henry, which brought the latter

ng enough to be seen by those paying attention. Queen Mary hadn't been, or at

ch an alliance? We have not even been given the op

a meaningful look to Zoey, whos

not what, she could not stop the bad feeling from settling in the pit of her stomach. She might have dropped or fainted under the queen

t said, "Your Majesty, allow me to intro

ry and Duke Arden continued a silent conversation, locked i

have no legitimate daughter, born and b

than red. Just now, Queen Mary was crimson and might be ash any moment. How dare Mary insult the House of

King Henry, interrupting

e you would pay me the courtesy of presenting to me the man whom you wo

reason that it took Zoey a moment to understand. And when her brain did once ag

He watched her go from excited, to hushed, then pale. This amused him. The whole thing did really. He could not but be amused. He, married to this mousy little

d!" Duchess Ar

esty. She is not accustomed

swift and elegant,

only came to us yester

it appropriate to call himself her father, who

ey had said engagement, had they not? Should

ous chuckle and said,

ajesty quipped. "If nothing else, she is at le

een brought here?! Why were they speaking of her, but not to her? Why would