I almost dropped my water glass. He looked so genuine, sounded so convincing, as if he might actually care how I felt. A laugh bubbled in my throat at the thought.

He had stepped in to fight Razel for me, and so far, he’d shown me every courtesy since arriving, but caring seemed more than a little unlikely.

“It doesn’t help that I never know which prince I’m talking to,” I replied. “You’ve been practically civil. You’re about due for a flippant comment.”

I expected sarcasm but instead found him weighing me with thoughtful eyes. “I don’t want to be your enemy, Anthia.”

I froze. Surely, I hadn’t heard him right. “What?”

He drew a finger along the intricate design in the tablecloth. “I meant what I said in the carriage. I’m not quite so bad as you think. The things I said to you in Rhodaire—” He stopped, jaw clenching as if to hold back the words. In the end, he simply said, “I regret them.”

I bit my lip. My instinct was to believe him. Kiva always said I was too quick to trust people. She was right, but sometimes I was too. Her mother had raised her to question everything and doubt everyone. I always told myself she was doing as she was trained, that she was being protective. But listening to myself talk with a boy who was supposed to be my enemy, feeling myself begin to trust him, I doubted myself.

“You don’t believe me,” Ericen said.

“I don’t understand you. Your mother hates me. She hates Rhodaire. All Illucians do. How could you want to be friends?” Razel had organized Ronoch for revenge. The last war between our kingdoms before I was born had claimed my father’s life, but it had also resulted in the death of part of Razel’s family. Her father hadn’t lasted long after, and she’d been crowned queen as young as Caliza had been. Didn’t Ericen care about any of that?

As much as I hated Razel, hated Illucia, that much I understood. Her need for revenge was the same one that burned in my chest every time I looked at her.

Ericen held my gaze. “I’m a Vykryn, and I’ll be Valix after my mother. I serve Illucia, and I serve her.” He spoke slowly, as if choosing his words carefully. “But I don’t condone what she did to Rhodaire, or Jindae, or the Ambriels. I don’t believe the world is ours to take.”