No, I wasn’t the boy you hoped for. No, I didn’t become queen. And yes, I shamed our family publicly. But why does any of this matter? The games of court will put you into an early grave if you let yourself be swept up in them. You are still members of one of the strongest family lines in Coroa. You still have land and assets that put you above the majority of the country. And you still have a daughter who desperately wants to be in your lives. Please consider coming to my wedding. If not, I will wait until you are ready to see me again, trusting that this day will come. I may be poor in many other skills, but I’ve become exceedingly talented at hoping.

Two days from now, five in the evening at Abicrest Manor.

With all my love,

Your Daughter Hollis

Thirty-One

“WITH THIS RING, I TAKE thee, Hollis Brite, as my wife. With my body, I swear to you my loyal service. With my heart, I swear to you my unending faithfulness. And with my life, I swear to you my devoted provision, for as long as our God should deem.”

The ring that Silas made himself slid down my finger. After all the jewels I’d worn over the last few months, I asked for something simple, and though he disagreed, he delivered. Once the thin golden band was in place, I turned to face him, ready to recite the vows myself.

“With this ring, I take thee, Silas Eastoffe, as my husband. With my body, I swear to you my loyal service. With my heart, I swear to you my unending faithfulness. And with my life, I swear to you my devoted provision, for as long as the gods should deem.”

The slightly larger ring settled into perfect place on his hand, and finally, I was married.

“You may kiss your bride,” the holy man said.

As Silas bent down to kiss me, the ceremony was over, and applause went up around the room. The main hall in Abicrest Manor was surprisingly full. Neighbors from several estates had come to meet the Eastoffes for the first time. Many knew me from my youth or shared time at the castle, and they seemed very curious to see the person I’d chosen over a king.

The Eastoffes even allowed their staff, who had worked so tirelessly to make the manor presentable, to stand in the back for the ceremony, and I noticed happily that when some of them moved to pass out goblets of ale, their peers were the first ones to receive them. And there, in the middle of my guests, were my parents.

They weren’t smiling. In fact, as the room was applauding and receiving drinks for the toast, they appeared to be arguing under their breath. I let it go. For better or worse, at least they’d come.

“A toast,” Lord Eastoffe began. “To such wonderful neighbors and friends for supporting us as we settle in Coroa. To an absolutely perfect day for the happiest of celebrations. And to Silas and Hollis. Hollis, we have loved you from the start, and we are thrilled to have you join what has become the most scandalous family in Coroa, you poor, swindled girl.”

The room laughed at this, myself included. I knew exactly what I was getting into.

“To Silas and Hollis,” he finished.

The room chorused the words back, lifting their glasses. In an elegantly rehearsed move, the strings started up as the drinks came down, and everyone moved around the room to mingle.

“I have a sister, I have a sister!” Scarlet sang, crashing into me for a hug.

“Me, too! My whole life, I’ve wanted siblings. Now I get three in one day!” Saul wrapped his arms around my waist, looking to fill whatever space Scarlet left open. And when they were finally done, Sullivan crept over, blushing wildly, and hugged me, too. To my surprise, it wasn’t just a quick embrace. He held on to me, palms flat across my back, breathing steadily, and I held him back, wondering if he needed to be hugged like this from time to time but was too shy to say so.

He pulled back, smiling. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you. And thank you for my headpiece; I love it!” Sullivan’s little project in the outbuilding that he’d rushed to hide was his wedding gift to me. The golden headpiece was quite brilliant, sitting smartly on my head with two tiny hooks to hold a veil down my back. Furthermore, he’d placed tiny loops in the front so I could string flowers into it, too, and the result was stunning. This would be what I wore every Crowning Day for the rest of my life.

He gave a little nod before stepping back. Silas nudged his brother’s arm, their own way of communicating, and everything—everything—was perfect.

“Come here, wife,” Silas, said, pulling me away. “I want to greet your parents before they find an excuse to leave.”

Bypassing every rule of etiquette I knew, Silas walked right up to my mother and embraced her. “Mother!” he announced, and I stood back, trying not to laugh at the horrified expression on her face. “And Father,” he said, reaching out for a handshake. “We’re both so happy you could be here today.”

“We may not be able to stay for long,” my father said quickly. “We’re planning to head back to Keresken tomorrow, and we need to oversee the packing.”

“So soon?” I asked.

“We prefer our lodgings at the palace,” Mother said plainly. “Varinger just echoes.”

I supposed a house that big with so few people in it would leave one feeling rather small.

“Promise me you won’t go before the dessert. Lady Eastoffe has ordered apple cakes, and apparently it’s Isolten tradition for one to be crumbled over my head for luck.”

Mother laughed, and I counted that rare event as a wedding gift. “You’re going to be covered in crumbs?”

“Yes. But I figure I get to eat some of the dessert before anyone else, so I can’t complain.”

She shook her head. “Always looking on the bright side.” Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before speaking again. “I wish I’d been able to appreciate that more.”

“There’s still time,” I whispered.

She nodded, tears in her eyes. I could see she was still broken from everything that had happened, but it also looked like she wanted to move forward. I hoped there was still room for me in her heart.

“We’ll stay for the apple cakes,” Father promised. “But after that, we really do have to go. There are . . . things we have to tend to at the castle.”

I nodded. “I understand. Will you tell the king how happy I looked? And that I wish him the same happiness?”

Father let out a long breath. “I . . . I’ll say what feels appropriate in the moment.”

That wasn’t the answer I’d wanted. I’d hoped for a better future for the king, for his blessing on mine. Apparently, my parents didn’t think this was a possibility.

I curtsied and let Silas lead me away. “I wanted them here, but that was hard.”

“Everyone’s adjusting,” he assured me. “Trust me, this will smooth itself out.”

“I hope so.”

“You can’t frown like that, Hollis. Not on your wedding day. If you don’t cheer up, you’re going to force me to ruin the surprise.”

I pulled him to a stop, watching that satisfied smirk on his face. “Surprise?”

He started humming.

“Silas Eastoffe, you tell me right now!” I demanded, pulling on his arm. He laughed until he decided to end the suspense.