“Hmmm,” the queen muses. Viv glances to me, and a light blush colors her cheeks. I’m uncertain what exactly is happening. Is the queen trying to imply Vivienne chose her outfit for me? I’m lost amidst the unfamiliar dynamic. The queen drops the subject, although I’m less than enthused when she turns her sharp attention toward me.

“So, Jace, you play football for a living?” Evelyn asks me.

I shift nervously. “Yes, ma’am, I do.”

A small group of waiters enter the dining room from a hidden doorway to the left of the fireplace and set small plates of salad in front of each of us.

“And you live in South Carolina?”

“Yes, I moved there when I was drafted.” I keep my voice calm, but I’m sweating under the scrutiny.

“Do you like living there? I found it to be rather humid.”

I’m tempted to mention how Marcedenia’s climate feels remarkably similar, but I refrain. “It’s definitely warmer than I was hoping for.”

“Had you never been there before?”

“Uh…” I glance to Viv. She’s fiddling with her silverware. “Once. Viv took me.”

“You two went to South Carolina together?”

“We spent a weekend there, yes.”

The queen pauses, and I take the opportunity to shove my mouth full of lettuce.

“How long have you been playing football for?” Vivienne’s father jumps into the conversation.

I swallow hastily. “Since I was four,” I respond. “It’s sort of a rite of passage where I’m from.”

Another server enters the room and begins pouring white wine in each glass. A second server follows him around the table, carefully pouring water in the second crystal goblet in each place setting. I’m fairly certain it’s the same girl who retrieved Viv from the pool earlier; although I’ve seen so many new faces today, I can’t be certain. The number of people who work here is overwhelming. The female server fills the king and queen’s glasses and then moves to Vivienne’s side.

I’m certain it’s the same girl when I see her hands shaking nervously, recalling Vivienne’s possessive tone at the pool earlier. She fills the glass with sparkling water but jerks nervously as she moves to set it down in front of Viv’s place setting, sending a few droplets of fizzy liquid flying onto her arm and dress. Vivienne starts in surprise, so I lean over and wipe the water off her bare skin with my napkin.

“I’m sorry—sorry, Your Highness—” the girl stutters.

“It’s fine,” I jump in. “Could you please bring me a glass of still water instead of sparkling?”

The girl jumps to attention, taking the request as an opportunity to scuttle from the room.

Vivienne sends me an amused glance before grabbing her own napkin to dab at the damp spots on her dress. “She already has a crush on you. There was no need for that,” she whispers to me.

The girl reappears, clutching an identical goblet filled with flat water. She sets it down carefully in front of me.