Chapter 85: The Scholar and the Bees
Julian had not expected the date to be like this.
He had not, if he was being entirely honest with himself, expected much from it at all. He had won the competition. Additional time with the Princess was the reward. He had accepted this with the same measured practicality he applied to most things and had presented himself at the flower garden at the appropriate time, in the appropriate attire, with the appropriate disposition.
What he had not accounted for was the particular quality of the Princess's company.
She was beautiful. That was not in question. She was articulate, she was charming when she chose to be, and she understood the mechanics of conversation well enough to maintain one indefinitely.
And yet.
Julian had walked beside her and felt nothing that he could identify as attraction. Not the slightest suggestion of it. It was somewhat concerning — not because the feeling was absent, but because he was so aware of its absence.
