“Verdana welcomes Aeradian’s royalty to our home,” my father booms. “We celebrate the kindness of King Lester for remaining neutral in our fight against Baelliles. We honor his wisdom and his reign. Tonight, we acknowledge our future as kingdoms and people who can trust and appreciate each other!” Wild applause spirals through the ballroom, and Lachlan finally smiles at me.

He’s so disturbingly handsome.

Although the feast is absolutely brilliant, I stop eating long before I’m satisfied to avoid bloating in this tight dress. I don’t want to be uncomfortable as I dance with Lachlan. I play with what’s left of my food and decide to ask the kitchen to send my leftovers once I’m back in my chamber. Just then, a pea pelts my cheek and lands on the table. I touch my face and look around to see Teddy watching me with a wide smile.

“So, the Verdanian Princess is all grown up! I can’t believe it’s been nearly seven years since I saw you last,” she says.

I pick up my wine glass and grin. “Shocking indeed to see how the two of you have grown over the years. Tell me, what is your age now? Fifteen?”

“Sixteen in two months,” she winks. “Which makes Lachlan near thirty. Isn’t that right, old man?”

I turn to face Lachlan, who shifts in his chair and sends a shy smile. “Not quite, Teddy. You’re off by a few years.”

“You’re nineteen now?” I ask him and sip some wine.

The way his cheeks flush at my question, I might have asked him how many people he’s bedded. He stares at his half-empty plate and slowly moves his knife around the rim.

“Twenty, actually. I’m two years older than you, by four months and twelve days. You were born during Verdana’s second snow of that year under the Flore constellation, and I was born just on the cusp of spring to summer.” His eyes catch mine for a moment, and he looks flustered. “Of course, I only know that because of the records in our library. I didn’t intentionally search for your name! I mean, I did, but not in an intrusive way. I search everyone’s names. Well, maybe not everyone, but enough people for it to not be unusual that I searched yours.”

I cover my mouth to mask my breaking smile.

Lachlan clenches his knife so tightly I’m afraid he’ll snap it in half. “I did deduce the time difference between our dates of birth, though, so that happened. I don’t know why I’m telling you this. I did the same thing with you and Braizen! He’s a year older than you. A year and two months, seven days…”

Lachlan trails off, and his eyes skirt to his sister. A plea for help.