“Think what you will, but I’m not the thief,” I said, glaring after the back of my uncle’s hunter green doublet.

“At least I can find comfort in the fact that you look like a daft fop as well.” She huffed, scanning me head to toe. “How long do I need to be in attendance? The sooner I can take my knife to this dress, the sooner I’ll regain my vision.” She lifted a finger and waved it in front of her nose the way Ketner, our healer, tested a seafarer’s sight after a hit to the head. Then she pressed her palm to her gut and sucked in a shallow breath. Her eyes narrowed to slits. “If I faint, you aren’t to lay a hand on me. I’ll get up when I’m good and ready.”

I sighed. Not only was Lou incredibly impatient and reactionary, she had an impeccable penchant for dramatics—something she and Edgar shared. “This is the throne’s commemoration dinner to celebrate our joint efforts to end the war. It’s something you’ll need to get used to if you want your efforts funded by King Delphi.” I held up my hand to make sure Lou let me finish debating my point. “And since you already won me as your prize, you ought to show some appreciation.”

Lou’s mouth dropped, but before she could say more, little feet tapped against the marble floors behind me, and I turned.

“Rye, Rye!” Princess Savina shouted. She burst into the room in a loose, royal blue dress rife with frills that swished around her little legs. She hoisted the material above her ankles to pick up speed. With eyes the color of sapphires, hair as red as fire, and porcelain skin that glowed as radiantly as the sands of our beaches, she appeared as bold as she spoke. She was gunpowder packed into a five-year-old shell. She stopped half the room away, her gaze washing over me. “It’s true. You’re home!” she squealed, then took off toward me again at double speed.

I braced myself for impact. Savina threw herself into my arms, clinging like a cub to its mother’s back. “I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered, her heart thumping against mine.

“And I you, Little Rose.”

She pulled back so she could see my face, a dimple appearing in her right cheek when she smiled. “Are you home for long?” Her small hands squished my cheeks, and she went slightly cross-eyed as she stared me down.

I tapped her on the nose. “Not long enough.”

Her lips tipped downward, and her dimple disappeared. “I’ll be sad when you leave again.”

“So will I, Little Rose.”

Savina’s focus moved a fraction to catch Lou for the first time. “Who are you?” she asked, releasing her death grip. I lowered her to the floor.