The Broken Daughter (The Cursed Kingdom Book 1): A New Adult Royal Fantasy by Samantha Shaye

Author:Samantha Shaye [Shaye, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Aymeri inhaled sharply as she looked at herself in the embellished mirror that was slightly taller than she was. A few moments earlier, Jorlyn had dressed her to utter perfection, the way her mother would have for the joyous occasion. No longer was she in the dark color of mourning. She boldly and proudly wore the crimson color of her kingdom. As she smoothed the anhari—the traditional dress of Treoles—she smiled softly, imagining what her mother might say if she were present. There was no doubt she would be signing her daughter’s praises while the princess blushed and asked her to stop. She might have insisted she had the most beautiful daughter in all the land. But all Aymeri saw when she looked in the mirror was a plain, rather ordinary princess. Yet there was nothing ordinary about the way her life was panning out.

She had hopes that it would get better after the day was done.

A light, rhythmic knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts. She had grown accustomed to King Drystan’s knocking habits over the past weeks, and wondered what would happen when she no longer heard them. After all, he had to go back to his kingdom sometime. He couldn’t live with her forever.

“You may enter, King Drystan.” She turned toward the door in anticipation, her hands folded in front of her stomach.

As the door creaked open, Drystan took her breath away. His emerald wool tunic that reached below his knees was trimmed with gold silk embroidery that seemed to make his light eyes glow as if he captured the moon within them. His shoulder-length blond hair was pulled back, and on his ring fingers were the most beautiful sapphires she had ever laid her eyes upon. As he entered the room, he was toying with a rather large square box.

He let out a breath and whispered, “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on, Princess Aymeri. Your eyes put my sapphires to shame.”

Heat rose into her neck and cheeks as she turned away from him before he could see her blush. In the weeks she had spent with him, she had never known him not to be honest with her, yet his compliment caught her by surprise. She may have been quick to judge, but she didn’t think he could be so romantic. He just seemed hardened by life and hardships.

“Too late. I’ve already seen the color in your cheeks.”

She bit back a smile, but she couldn’t hide it from her voice when she responded. “If I didn’t know any better, King Drystan, I would think you were trying to court me.”

“And if I am?”

Her stomach felt as if she had swallowed a dozen butterflies, more than when she had instinctually touched him when they were eavesdropping on her balcony. “No one has ever laid eyes on me before, King Drystan. Let alone spoken to me so boldly as you have. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”

“Looking at me is a start, Meri.

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