Raisa looked up, startled, unable to organize her trader face in time.

“I knew it,” Mellony said miserably. “You’re in love. It’s Micah, isn’t it?”

“It’s not Micah,” Raisa blurted.

“You don’t have to lie to me,” Mellony said, blotting at her eyes. “You miss him, and you’re worried about him, and that’s why you’re so moody and…and distracted.”

“You’re wrong,” Raisa said. “It’s just that there—”

“I know you don’t want anyone to know because Father is against it, and Grandmother, too. I kept thinking that he might notice me, if…if he weren’t so focused on you, but—”

“I am not in love with Micah Bayar!” Raisa practically shouted.

Mellony blinked at her. “If not Micah, then who?” she asked, mystified.

Raisa hesitated, groping for a way to unsay what had already been said. And then plunged recklessly on. “It’s Han Alister,” she said simply. “I’m in love with Han. Not Micah.”

Mellony’s eyes widened. “Really?” she whispered, her face a study in surprise and relief.

Raisa nodded. “So if you think Father and Grandmother disapprove of Micah, this is far worse in their eyes.”

“Oh, Raisa!” Mellony threw her arms around her, dampening Raisa’s cheek with tears. “I’m so happy for you! Don’t worry. I’m sure it will work out somehow.”

Raisa hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Mellony,” she said, when they finally broke apart. “I hope you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right,” Mellony said. “They have to see reason. After all, it was a bit of a scandal when Mother married Father. They’ll just have to let go of their old way of thinking.”

They’ve held on to that old way of thinking for a long time, Raisa thought. Still, Mellony’s optimism was catching.

Mellony rose and paced back and forth. “Oh, I should have known—why didn’t I see it? He’s so handsome, and…and wicked at the same time. You can tell he’s worldly, with that scar and everything. Missy and Alicia and Caroline have been flirting with him for months. He’s always polite to them, but it never goes anywhere, and they can’t figure it out. We never guessed.”

Good, Raisa thought. I’m glad we weren’t that obvious.

Mellony settled back down on the seat next to Raisa, took her hands, and leaned in close. “Who else knows?”

“Nobody,” Raisa said. “Just the three of us. And nobody can know—it’s too dangerous. We have to keep it a secret for now—promise?”

“I’ll never ever tell,” Mellony said, dimpling. “Are you lovers? No, don’t answer—you don’t have to. But that’s so romantic, a queen and her bodyguard, like in a story.” She fingered the ring Han had given Raisa for her coronation. “Is this his ring? Are you betrothed?”