Galen gave Ranka a hug, his chin bumping against her collarbone. He had forgiven her so easily, which only made her heart hurt more. But she supposed that was part of what made him a good prince—and an absolutely terrible king.

“Try not to kill Percy,” he said.

“No promises,” Ranka said dryly, and hugged him back.

Galen moved to say goodbye to Percy, and suddenly his posture grew shy. He cleared his throat. “Well. I, ah, I’ll miss you, Percy.”

“Oh, you will, won’t you?” Percy laughed, and before Galen could react, he swooped Galen into a hug that lifted him clear off the ground. Galen yelped—but didn’t protest. Something wry glittered in Percy’s eyes as he set Galen down and bent to kiss him on the forehead. Galen squeaked, and Percy smirked, whispering something in his ear that made the prince blush furiously.

A throat cleared.

Aramis stood in front of Ranka.

All the courage Ranka had been trying to muster drained out of her.

“Hello, Princess,” she said softly, and then winced. “I mean, my queen. I mean, Your Grace. I mean—”

“You can keep calling me Princess. I don’t mind. I like how it sounds in your voice.” Aramis looked to the sea, her expression faintly troubled. “So you’re truly leaving, then?”

“Ah, yeah.” Ranka rubbed the back of her neck. “Hence the boat.”

“But why?” Aramis burst out. Her eyes widened. She clearly hadn’t meant to ask it like that.

“After what happened… and you’ve been so busy… and we… I don’t know,” Ranka sputtered. She refused to look at the water. If she did, she was certain her face would be bright red. She hesitated, and added weakly, “I thought you’d be happier with me gone. I thought…” She swallowed. “I thought you wanted me to leave.”

“You thought—oh, Ranka.” Aramis looked up at Ranka through her lashes. Her voice came out soft and slow. “And if I wanted you to stay?”

“Oh.” It had never occurred to Ranka that Aramis might want her here. That after all the pain Ranka had caused, the newly crowned Sunra queen would desire anything but distance.

“I thought you wanted to leave,” Aramis admitted quietly. “There is… so much to rebuild. So much is broken. I am so terrified, all the time, that I won’t be strong enough, wise enough, brave enough, for what they need. I know you’ve suffered. I know you’ve fought enough for a thousand lifetimes. A better person would tell you to go. To leave this city behind, disappear, and find the rest you crave. The anonymity you deserve.” Aramis chewed her lip, her eyes searching Ranka’s face. “But I am not a better person.”

Ranka was fully going to pass out.