Chapter 48 The Messenger Returns

Chapter 48 The Messenger Returns
There was no time to dally over what to wear as they grabbed a blue dress with white lace. Pearls were the first jewelry her hands touched, deciding for Lucy as to what to wear. 

Patricia styled her hair in a flurry, and quickly they were out the door. 

Sapphira met them on the way to escort them to the throne room. 

The Duke of Camden was waiting outside the doors to the throne room for them. At their approach, he offered his arm to her, and she quickly took it, allowing him to steady her. “Shall we learn our fate together?” He asked.

It was the first time Lucy realized the Duke might actually be nervous. An unsatisfactory result would not go well for him in the Osteryian court. “Together,” she smiled, but her heart was pounding. 

The court had already gathered, making Lucy wonder how the vampires had made it so quickly. The lights glistened off their jewels as they were dressed in their court finery. Their attention snapped to hers as they walked into the room. 

She kept her gaze fixed on the throne that remained vacant. The king had not arrived. Lucy saw a few knights flanking the Duke, but there were no humans present. 

The Duke led them next to Lord Garrick, who waited at the end of the dias. He nodded in greeting but said nothing. 

Lucy noted he looked tense as well. Could he be worried by Osteryia’s reply? 

A group arrived shortly after, a mixture of humans and vampires. Lucy assumed that the messenger must be among them. They stepped to the side, not too far from her. 

The air shifted as the king made his entrance. The vampires stood at attention as the monarch walked in with a wave of curtseys and bows following his steps.

His face was void of any emotion as he stared straight ahead, right to his throne. He was seated when he looked around the room. 

He gestured in annoyance to the messenger as if he were already bored. One of the courtier vampires stepped forward as the messenger extended the parchment in his grasp. The Osteryian royal crest was etched on the wax seal that enclosed it. 

The courtier passed the parchment to the king with a bow. The king broke the seal without a care. His eyes scanned the words as Lucy held her breath. The duke beside her did the same. 

“We have an agreement.” The king said, not projecting his voice as he looked at the messenger. 

The duke let out a breath, and a round of applause went up in the room. 

Lord Garrick stepped forward to take the piece of paper from the king to examine it himself. He seemed pleased by the news. 

“We shall plan the wedding at once, on the next full moon.” The Lord said as he walked back to the Duke.

It began to sink into Lucy that it was official.

“The treaty must have seemed satisfactory to King Thadeus since it returned with no demands.” The Duke tried not to seem surprised, but was failing as he looked over the document. 

“Or you did your job well.” Lord Garrick complimented the human. 

Others came up to Lucy to offer their congratulations. The sheer surprise on many of their faces made Lucy think they had not believed the treaty would go through. Still, it had to be sealed with a wedding and a bedding. A bedding. 

Lucy’s heart raced at speeds unknown to her, and the blood drained from her face. She had never thought about being intimate with Caen. Her only thoughts had been survival. 

Her nursemaid had left her with a limited knowledge of the relationship between husband and wife. 

In her spiral, her eyes drifted to Caen, but she found that he was already looking at her with an indecipherable expression. 

Diverting her eyes, she tried to think of other things and engage in conversation with those around her. 

Bethias had been near her for most of the time, but eventually slipped off to speak with some nobles, leaving Lucy alone. 

In the absence of Bethias, Lady Calenda smiled as she approached Lucy. 

Even with a smile on her face, Lucy could see there was something she did not like behind it. 

“What blessed news.” The vampire said to Lucy, not bothering to curtsey. Since she did so boldly inform the court, Lucy knew she was outranked at the moment. 

In response, she gave her own curtsey. “It is indeed.” 

“You humans are fragile little things. We will need to keep a close watch on you to make sure nothing happens.” Calenda clicked her tongue. 

“How kind of you.” Lucy smiled. 

Calenda looked her up and down as Lucy held her head high with a mask of indifference. 

The vampire's eyes held many unspoken words that Lucy could only imagine were not at all kind. 

“Jasmine.” She called. “Come congratulate Lady Lucy.” She beckoned her daughter over as Lucy stifled a groan. 

“Lady Jasmine,” she said, barely bending her knees. 

The vampire did not miss the gesture, but she thought better of causing a scene. 

“I don’t think we have been formally introduced.” Calemda’s daughter said. 

“That is true. I have not seen your family at court for some time. I hope all is well.” Lucy feigned concern. 

It seemed to ruffle their feathers, making Lucy think there was more to the story, but before she could pry any further, the elder of the two whisked them away. Some excuse of needing to speak to a friend was given, and then they were gone. 

Caen slipped away during the flurry of activity that came afterwards. When others approaching her dwindled, she made her own escape.

She didn't want to speak to anyone but refused to stay in her chambers, as the walls seemed to press in on her. She threw off the dress she had been wearing and quickly dressed in her riding gear. 

It was hasty and did not fit properly, but she did not care. She needed fresh air. 

The grooms were startled when she approached, as it was earlier than she usually arrived. They quickly saddled Dulcie as she waited without a word. She mumbled her thanks as she took the reins and climbed into the saddle. 

She steered Dulcie out towards a meadow with a big tree. The cold night air calmed her nerves. They reached the tree, and Lucy climbed down, allowing Dulcie to graze around her. She walked around, looking at the tree. Finally, when her breathing seemed to steady, she sat down with her back against the bark, watching the horse eat grass. 

No knights were accompanying her, giving her the illusion of solitude, but she was sure there were vampires in the shadows that she could not see. 

The tree behind her shook, and leaves fell onto her head, causing her to sit up. 

When her eyes adjusted, she saw a figure standing in the branches. 

“You and your trees,” A voice spoke. Caen.