“I’m worried people will discount Uncle Reid, given his association with a Coroan who abandoned her country.”

“A Coroan who married one of the best men in Isolte, you mean.”

I smiled. “He really was. Still, I wonder if I should simply stay away.”

“Uncle Reid asked for a united front. You and Etan are doing wonderfully so far, and that speaks volumes for the strength of our family, despite how small it is. And besides, the animosity between our countries is exaggerated. Trust me. It’s like when everyone came to visit the Coroan court. Did it seem so bad?”

I squinted, remembering. “No. It wasn’t blissful or anything, but it seemed like there were some genuine friendships that reached across the border.”

“Because there are. The kings like to talk, and there will always be people who are prejudiced against foreigners. For Quinten, I think it’s part of how he maintains power—the illusion that we need someone like him to protect us from someone like you.”

I giggled. “I am pretty threatening.”

“But you’ll see. People who feel like that are in the minority.”

I hoped with all my heart that was true. I knew these people existed, but maybe, just maybe, they were dwindling.

I hung my head, suddenly feeling the need to confess. “Would you hate me if I told you I was in that minority once?”

She smiled. “Not at all. Past tense. Done and gone.”

I kissed her cheek. “Let’s go.”

We walked into the main room where everyone was waiting. Mother was pacing. Uncle Reid and Aunt Jovana were talking quietly by the fire, and Etan was lounging in a large chair.

At the sight of us, he sat up a little taller. His usually sullen face transformed for a moment into something that looked almost pleased.

“Oh, girls,” Mother said. “You both look lovely.” Beside her, Aunt Jovana looked so pleased to see us that her eyes were brimming with happy tears.

“That’s everyone. Are we all ready, then?” Uncle Reid asked.

Scarlet and I nodded, and Etan hopped up to come and escort me to the feast.

“You know,” he began, “you could almost be mistaken for a lady.”

“It’s a shame that no amount of velvet could make you look less like a scoundrel.”

“A scoundrel?” he replied, testing the word. “I can live with that. Here,” he said, offering me his arm, that hint of a smirk still on his face. I took it, falling into our place as the last of the family members to walk out the door.

“Listen,” I began quietly, “I know Uncle Reid wants us all together, and Scarlet loves me too much to tell me to stay behind, but I trust you to be honest. If you see I’m getting in the way, say so, and I’ll go.”

He looked down at me soberly. “I would. You know I would. But I think Father is right. Quinten tends to motivate by fear; it would be refreshing, I think, to see that people could be motivated by something else. Hope, kindness, common human decency.”