"Your Grace, My Lady Rhosyn," Edrien casually greeted them, a hint of mischief in his eyes and she knew he was playing with an idea.
The air between them quickly became awkward. It felt like there were a hundred things she wanted to say, but Rhosyn couldn't voice a single one of them with the duke hovering so close.
There was a line, and while she hung on Karsyn's arm as his betrothed, she was on the other side of it from Edrien.
Karsyn dipped in slightly, as if he'd normally lean close to whisper something into her ear. "I should go find where Lord Dowly got to," he muttered. "I won't be far."
And simply enough, he bowed to Edrien and disappeared across the hall. With his exit, a weight lifted and Rhosyn found she had no words to say anymore.
"They say you came from his house with him," Edrien's voice dripped venom and she could see she was wrong about the mischief from before. "Wanted to get some practice in before the wedding? Or just selling more of our secrets?"
The attack struck and Rhosyn could feel rage ripple through her. She'd never faced Edrien with anger like this before, having to defend herself from him, not even after Winter Festivities.
She could feel her mask slip on and the way she rolled her shoulders back, and Edrien knew her well enough to know what that meant.
He snarled.
"Where's your betrothed?" Rhosyn asked instead, and felt her fury scratch at her throat.
Edrien's brows rose, as a bitter smile slid into place.
"She's getting ready still, you know princess'—"
"No, but I know princes'."
Silence cut across them for a brief.
It felt wrong to fight him, even with bitter words. He was her constant and she knew this was hard for both of them. It was the way their storybook ripped at the seams, pulling in two different directions.
Rhosyn exhaled, feeling the rage inside her snuffing out instantly. "Ed..." she said, but strangely her voice sounded meek—something even she'd not heard before.
His expression softened and for the first time in an age, she could see her prince.
"Rhos," he sounded just as equally soft and regretful.
His jaw tensed and a hand fisted. If Rhosyn hadn't perfected her court-hall face, she would probably be doing the same.
"I've missed you," Edrien breathed and her heart sang the same tune.
"I missed you too, Ed." Rhosyn took a step closer to better hear him. "It's been a long one without you..." She bit her lip.
He read her nervous tick, concern twisting in his expression. "What happened?"
"Elin... Drank poison and is unconscious," she admitted, the words crawling over her.
"The north?" he instantly asked, tossing a look over her shoulder, and she guessed he was looking at Karsyn.
"No." Rhosyn tilted her head and eyes rolled upward. "Well, that's what they say..." Then she felt stupid for even believing it, of course they'd deny it. Standing here with Edrien now made it seem so obvious.
"And you believed them?" he scrutinised and sighed heavily. "I don't like you going up there—it's too dangerous."
His hand brushed hers and Rhosyn noticed how different it was from Karsyn's, and then shoved the thought down before she could admit she had it.
"You should just stay here," Edrien whispered, weight in his words as much as in his eyes. "Like we promised before—to be together."
But the words skimmed an idea that made bile scorch the back of her throat. There was meaning laced around the phrasing that she didn't feel comfortable with, and when she didn't respond immediately, Edrien took a step closer.
Urgency thumped against her chest, anxiously announcing to her its worries, and she had a bad feeling she shouldn't be here right now.
"Rhos," he breathed, long and deliberate.
"You're getting married," the words fell out of her mouth, faster than she could pull them back.
"That doesn't matter." And meant it.
A distant echo called to Rhosyn, you'll always be my Rhos. Innocent words from an innocent time suddenly feeling like the sword they martyred themselves on.
Nothing will stop that, not even a queen.
"I'm getting married," she exclaimed, her mask shattering as she stuttered in disbelief of what she found herself in the middle of.
"You don't have to," Edrien explained casually and Rhosyn found herself retreating.
This was insane. She must be mistaken. Blowing it all out of proportion. But something whispered doubt, and strangely, it sounded like the most logical thing in the room.
"I should return to my betrothal's side." Rhosyn stepped out of Edrien's reach, curtsied and fled.