“Is Harea one of the ladies?” I tease. “Because I think she’d prefer to visit your room instead.”

“Gods. Please make a good impression tonight, so some poor Aeradian servant will have to endure you and spare me my remaining years.”

“Love you too, Nurse Lydia.”

She closes the door, and I launch myself to the standing mirror in the corner. I hold the gossamer gown against my chest and swish the skirts back and forth. “It’s such a pleasure to see you again, Prince Lachlan.” I bow my head to the glass. “Oh! A dance? Of course, Your Highness. A dance would be quite lovely.” I prance around the room as if Lachlan is next to me. We execute our steps flawlessly, and the entire hall murmurs at how picturesque we look together.

“You’re a wonderful dancer; I had no idea.” Another spin, and the crowd coos even louder. “What’s that, Prince Lachlan? You wish to make me your wife and take down the Baellilean kingdom together? Why, I’m not sure what to say!”

I turn again, making sure the hem of my dress flies up into the air, then I press my back against a wall. I glance up, then lower my eyes. “I suppose, since you’ve wooed me with your superior dance skills, I’ve no choice but to accept.”

I smile as I see Prince Lachlan kiss the top of my hand and lead me to the dais, to a new world. One where Verdana is, at last, safe.

I look amazing in the gold gown Nurse Lydia picked, I must admit. And from the expressions on some faces, as I pass through the ballroom, I can tell I’m not the only one who thinks so. King Lester and his children stand on the dais at one end of the room. Behind them, steps lead up to my father’s throne, where he sits and watches me, smiling.

I haven’t seen Lachlan or Teddy since the incident, but we’ve written several letters. For a time, Teddy and I wrote to each other about our plans to escape together to the Osinean Kingdom, where we’d become ladies of the court, drink copious amounts of wine, and visit the male brothels at each turn of the week. Then her letters changed drastically. She used words that I didn’t understand and wrote about subjects in such depth that I could hardly keep up. I still sent her notes of admiration, but as for long letters, it’s been years.