Enchantment (The Kingdom Chronicles Book 5) by Camille Peters

Author:Camille Peters [Peters, Camille]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rosewood Publications
Published: 2020-06-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

I restlessly paced the corridor outside the room where His Majesty was meeting with his advisors. I hadn’t had an opportunity to speak with him since yesterday when he’d freed me from the vines, for despite our plans to spend dinner together, pressing news had arrived in the form of an urgent missive which had locked Briar in his study for the remainder of last evening and into this afternoon. I ached to see him and find a way to help ease some of his burdens, but I hadn’t had the chance, for he’d skipped breakfast and gone straight to his meetings, where he’d been cooped up the entire day.

It was now late afternoon. I paced the hallway outside his study so that I could see him the moment his meeting finished, ignoring the confused looks coming from the guards standing rigidly in front of the doors.

My pacing took me to the end of the corridor to a door I didn’t recognize, which meant that whatever lay beyond it remained unexplored. Desperate for a distraction, I inched it open, allowing the golden lantern light from the corridor to pour inside and illuminate the walls, which were filled with frames. I’d discovered a portrait gallery.

I was eager for a closer look. I cast a tentative glance towards the guards at the other end of the hallway. When they made no move to stop me, I grinned and pattered inside. The curtains were drawn, keeping the room shrouded in darkness. I tugged them open and sunshine poured in, bathing the dozens upon dozens of portraits lining the walls of past royalty.

The current royal family’s portrait hung in the place of honor at the center. I ventured closer. It appeared to only be a few years old. My attention lingered on Briar’s handsome face before brushing over his brother to take in the familiar friendly features of the king and the cold beauty of the queen before settling on the two missing princesses.

I wasn’t sure which was Princess Gemma and which was Princess Reve, for both shared similar features, although if I had to wager a guess, the pale, sickly looking princess was Princess Gemma. I took in the princess whom I’d inadvertently impersonated—she was quite a beauty. Despite our similar coloring, it was a wonder the late king had mistaken me for her.

Footfalls sounded behind me. I spun around to find Briar, his expression haggard with exhaustion. “I’m sorry,” I said hastily.

His eyebrows rose. “What do you feel the need to apologize for?”

I motioned around the gallery. “The curtains were drawn. I shouldn’t have…I’m sorry. I was just curious.”

His perplexity gentled, a welcome sight after the strain I knew he’d been under since yesterday. “It’s quite alright. You’re free to explore any part of the palace that isn’t locked.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? What secrets does Malvagaria’s king feel the need to keep behind locked doors?”

His lips quirked at my teasing before he sobered. “Not my secrets.” He said nothing more as he glanced around the room, his expression wistful.

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