Hours after Jayden and his men went to the Militia’s barracks, Caesar started cleaning and decorating the house for the Yeltane Festival while Mina helped with the list of the things they needed to purchase. When Caesar asked Mina to write down the ingredients to make fruit shaped cookies, she remembered how much her mother loved festivals, especially the Flower Festival celebrated in Ora Dorei two weeks before the Yeltane Festival. When Mina was six, her parents took her to Ora Dorei. Her uncle and his family also came. Next to the big city was a forest with Singing Trees, and in the middle of them lived the oldest hag of the Zuvell continent. Many claimed that the old hag killed all who dared to put a foot inside the Enchanted Forest. Somehow, during the festival, Mina got separated from her family. She remembered wandering around Ora Dorei, and somehow, she ended up deep inside the forest. If Mina closed her eyes, she could still hear the trees singing and the old hag asking her what she was doing in her woods before grabbing her left wrist and dragging her deeper and deeper into the Enchanted Forest. Someone saved her and took her back to her parents. For years, Mina dreamed of her savior’s eyes because it was the only thing she remembered about him, but when she moved into her uncle’s house, the dreams stopped, and she forgot what those eyes looked like. Mina hadn’t thought about that memory in a long time, but the approach of the festival and Jayden’s mention of Ora Dorei had those long forgotten memories surface. And then there was something about Jayden’s eyes she couldn’t put her finger on. She had seen blue eyes before, but not like those of Jayden. They were almost unique, with the gold ring inside them, and Mina could swear that she had seen similar eyes before. But when?
Caesar finished arranging the flowers he picked earlier from the garden. He put the vases around the Drawing Room before starting to clean the windows. “Excited about the festival, Andarra?” he asked Mina.
All the young ladies from Athea, especially the single ones, looked forward to the Yeltane Festival. Those who did not receive an invitation to the masquerade ball held at the Royal Palace were invited to other parties. Everyone received one, well, everyone except Mina. When she turned fifteen, she didn’t receive a single invitation, while Rosalyn and Hugo had been invited to many balls. She felt devastated. On the festival days, Rosalyn asked Mina to help her get ready. While Rosalyn and Hugo went to balls and Duke Tedric went to play cards, Mina had to remain home with Juicea, Rosalyn’s maid. When invitations didn’t come the following year, Mina knew no one wanted the half-gypsy Duchess at their parties during the Yeltane Festival—or any other festival—to ruin their fun.
Mina put the writing quill in the ink bottle and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “After my parents’ death, I stopped celebrating the Yeltane Festival. They died a few days after the festival.” It was not because of that, but she didn’t want to tell the truth to Caesar.
Ceasar stopped cleaning a window. “Perhaps we should not celebrate it,” he suggested. “The Commander would hate seeing you unhappy on a day when we are supposed to celebrate love and mates. I am sure he would happily do whatever you like during that day to see your beautiful smile.”
Mina tilted her head. “You think I have a beautiful smile?”
Caesar blinked and looked confused. “I am sure I am not the only one who has noticed how beautiful you are. But when you are happy, your eyes sparkle with joy.” Aksel’s growls came from somewhere inside the house. “What?” Caesar asked in a loud tone. “I have eyes, you know! I am not the only one to talk about Andarra’s eyes or smile! You and the Commander said her smile could light—” Aksel growled louder. “Fine, I will keep my mouth shut!”
A thrill of pleasure blossomed inside Mina’s heart. Hugo and Jayden had been the only men to tell her she was beautiful. But she never expected Caesar to say the same thing. “Thank you,” Mina said and blinked away some unshed tears. Even if it was just a lie, she appreciated their words. “About the festival, I want to celebrate with Jayden and you, Caesar. And the other ocxoas.”
Caesar chuckled. “I am sure the Commander would want to take you to the masquerade ball and proudly introduce you as his wife.”
Mina chewed her lip. Why would the King invite a bastard and a half-gypsy to his ball? “I am not sure we will be invited,” Mina said and shrugged.
“You better get dresses and shoes ready, Andarra. The main forces of Nodor will reach the capital soon. You and the Commander will be invited to many parties. When the mansion is ready, you will have to organize many tea parties and card game nights.”
Mina’s mouth went dry, and her heart roared in her ears. She knew nothing about parties. How was she supposed to organize one? Her shoulders dropped. She would embarrass Jayden not only because of her skin but with her lack of knowledge.
The front doorbell rang twice, and Caesar muttered under his breath. “If it is your uncle or the princess, I have instructions from the Commander to not let them in,” said Caesar before going to see who was at the door.
‘Not even Rosalyn?’ Mina thought. ‘Surely Jayden would want to see her if he still loves her. He might be angry at her now, but what if he forgives her? But Rosalyn would never give up on her title of princess. And Jayden—’
Mina took a deep breath and wondered where all her insecurities about Jayden came from. Since the day he asked her to marry her, he barely mentioned Rosalyn, and when he did, it was only to say bad things about her. But with Mina, Jayden was kind. The previous night, after they returned from the Ruxman Mansion, Jayden spent a lot of time kissing and touching her while murmuring sweet words into her ear.
Caesar returned to the Drawing Room and resumed cleaning the windows. “Lady Ivy came for a visit. I let her in.”
Ivy entered the Drawing Room with a little basket in her right hand. She looked around before her eyes fell on Mina. “Is Aksel home? I baked some cookies to thank him for getting me home safely last night,” Ivy said while she put the basket on the coffee table and sat next to Mina.
An evil smile appeared on Caesar’s face. “Aksel, a stunning young lady, is looking for you!” he shouted as loud as he could. A growl echoed inside the house, startling Ivy. Mina was starting to get used to hearing Aksel’s moody growls. “Where are your manners? You should never make a lady wait, especially one as beautiful as Lady Ivy!” Aksel growled again. “Your loss then! I will whisk her away while I eat all the cookies!” Caesar teased.
Heavy steps sounded in the hallway, and a man threw curses faster than an archer released arrows during a battle.
Aksel appeared in the doorframe wearing a pair of pants and rapidly buttoning his shirt. Ivy’s cheeks turned pink, but she covered them with her fan. “Lady Ivy,” he said, giving her a curt nod. “Caesar, if the Commander doesn’t make you guard the mansion on the festival night, I will!” He sounded angry.
Aksel sat on an armchair, facing Mina and Ivy, his brows furrowed. He rested his elbows on his knees, interlocked his fingers, brought them to his mouth, and stroked his bottom lip with his thumb.
“I’ve brought you cookies,” Ivy said to Aksel. “I didn’t know which ones you might like, so I made a variety.” She looked at Mina and then at Caesar. “You can eat some as well!”
Mina found the entire situation amusing. Ivy had never been interested in a man for more than five minutes before Aksel.
Aksel looked at the basket as if it was something vile. “I don’t want any misunderstandings between us, Lady Ivy,” he spoke, his tone icy. “You and I can never happen. I can’t give you the life you are used to!”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “I brought you cookies, not a bracelet!” Aksel furrowed his brows and tried to protest, but Ivy huffed. Mina stifled a laugh with her hand. “Eat the damn cookies! I spent all morning baking them!” she snapped at him. Aksel’s eyebrows went up. “They are ‘thank you,’ not ‘marry me’ cookies!”
Caesar laughed. “If you don’t marry her, I will!” Aksel growled. “Stop growling and eat the cookies before Lady Ivy changes her mind and gives them all to me!”
Ivy fanned herself. “Next time I visit Mina, I will bring cookies to you,” she said to Caesar.
“No!” Aksel said loudly before grabbing a little cake and eating it. Ivy giggled, and he narrowed his eyes before taking another one.
“These are very good!” Mina said after eating one as well. She remembered the food she wanted to make for Jayden. She ate a few more before she stood and grabbed Ivy’s hand. “While the men finish the cookies, let’s make dinner. You are invited!” Mina said while dragging Ivy out of the Drawing Room and taking her to the kitchen.
Caesar and Mina had spent part of the morning chopping the vegetables and the meat and getting the spices ready. Jayden told Mina he didn’t know if he could make it on time for dinner, but he would try.
“What do I do?” Ivy asked once both had aprons on top of their dresses.
Mina was checking the fire. “Start making the bread. Caesar will come to help us any time now. He hates when someone uses his kitchen.”
Ivy searched inside the cupboards for a big bowl and kettle to boil some water. “I like Caesar. He looks nice.”
“What about Aksel?” Mina asked, curious as she started working on the lamb stew.
Ivy bit her bottom lip. “Gods! He is so manly! I am going to make him marry me!” Ivy vowed.
Mina did not doubt Ivy would obtain what she wanted. And if Ivy wanted Aksel, then, one day, he would become her husband.
As Mina said, Caesar came into the kitchen sometime later and helped the two women make the food while Aksel sat silently at the table.
It was almost dinner time when Jayden and the others returned home. Mina and Ivy were setting the table while Caesar and Aksel were bringing the food when Jayden entered the dining room and went to Mina, put his big palms on her hips, he spun her around and kissed her. Mina tried to push Jayden away, but her strength was no match for him.
“Commander!” Caesar said in a loud tone.
“He is fine!” said Andres. “His ocxoa needs his ma—” he stopped speaking, probably noticing Ivy inside the dining room. “The Commander just missed his wife, that’s all.”
Jayden stopped kissing Mina and put his mouth close to her ear. “I am sorry if I took you by surprise, but I needed a moment with you.” Mina nodded. He lifted his head, and his eyes rested on Ivy. “I didn’t know we had a guest.”
“If you weren’t busy shoving your tongue down Andarra’s throat, you might have noticed Lady Ivy earlier,” Caesar said, and Jayden growled.
Mina blushed. “Jayden, this is Ivy. She is my friend.”
“Any friend of Mina’s is also my friend,” Jayden said to Ivy. “You are welcome in my house always!”
“And you are the famous Commander. At least you recognized a good woman when you saw her and married her before someone stole her from under your nose!” said Ivy.
Aksel looked at an invisible speck of dust on his shirt.
Einar’s loud voice came from down the hall. “Commander? What do I do with the little demons you brought home? Don’t you dare—!” A pause. “He just peed on me! I am done! Arald, you take them! I am going to get changed!”
“He bit me”! Arald hissed.
Jayden rubbed his eyes with his index finger and thumb and muttered something under his breath.
Mina tilted her head. “What demons?”
Jayden looked at her and smiled. “I have a surprise for you!”