“I don’t believe it! Father couldn’t have done this!” I froze, clenching my fists. “I’m not going to this humiliating display!”
The news hit me like a thunderbolt, too shocking to accept. A messenger had arrived from Jarl Vseslav, and this time, there was no escaping him.
“Stop this nonsense at once and sit down. You need to listen to me.”
I hadn’t seen Mother this angry in ages. A servant told me they’d been searching for me for over an hour, raising quite a commotion. The princess had always disapproved of her daughter galloping around on horseback like some village boy, but today’s escapade seemed to be the final straw. She impatiently nudged me toward a chair and forced me to sit.
“Milena, what you call a disgrace is actually a tremendous honor! Your father has worked for years to secure Vseslav’s alliance, and now the jarl himself has remembered us.”
“You mean he’s remembered me. Why? Isn’t there someone else he can marry his son off to?”
I brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. The mere mention of marriage stirred a deep rebellion within me, but Mother refused to hear any of it.
“Not marry! Not yet, at least. For now, it’s just a betrothal, and even that depends on your luck…”
“So I wasn’t wrong. It’s like some kind of market, isn’t it? Except it’s girls on display for Radomir’s approval. I’m not going!” I shot to my feet. “Everyone knows he keeps a harem of captives and offers blood sacrifices to dark gods! He’s a barbarian!”
“All the better!” the princess cut me off. “Have you ever seen bears at the fair, dancing to a gypsy’s tune? A beast can always be tamed! Besides, don’t believe every rumor you hear. The Radich clan doesn’t perform sacrifices—that’s nothing but a tall tale. And you know, when I first came to your father’s house, he seemed like an uncivilized brute to me too. Did that stop us from finding happiness? The important thing is that you make a good impression.” Her voice softened, as it always did when she needed to persuade someone. “Radomir is young, handsome, and strong—a man who will soon take his place as ruler. And trust me, that’s no small thing!”
So that was the hidden truth! The jarl was gravely ill, and he must have wanted to secure a bride for his son as quickly as possible. This news stung even more, but it also sparked a faint glimmer of hope.
“What about Daryna? She’s unmarried too, and a year older than me!”
“Of course, she’ll be at the viewing as well, along with your cousins. But I’m hoping they’ll choose you,” Mother said sharply, and I immediately understood why.
No doubt they’d be looking for the most beautiful maidens to be the ruler’s son’s bride, but there wouldn’t be anyone quite like me among them. Because of my unusual eyes, Father affectionately called me “Wonderbloom”—one eye green as malachite, the other a piercing blue. As a child, I endured endless teasing for it. The other children came up with all sorts of cruel nicknames, and some adults even whispered that the prince was raising a changeling or a witch.
Over time, the harsh words faded, but the difference remained. Perhaps that’s why Mother pinned her hopes on me. A unique beauty… it was bound to intrigue. And Radomir, as the stories went, always chose the finest of his captives for his pleasures—surely he’d grown tired of them by now.
I barely held back tears. Fine, have it your way. You say I must make a good impression? I doubt Radomir will want a bride as “obedient and submissive” as I plan to be! He’ll have his hands full with me, that’s for sure! The thought brought a small measure of calm, and I took a deep breath to steady myself.
This was the only loophole I could exploit without angering Father. If I openly defied him, he’d lose patience and send me off to some remote convent—“If you don’t want marriage, live as a hermit!” But if Radomir chose someone else, I’d be free of any obligation.
“So, you’d better hurry,” Mother interrupted my bitter thoughts. “Go change your clothes.”
“This has to happen today?!”
The princess barely restrained herself from raising her voice.
“Not just today—right now! The jarl’s messenger is already here with direct orders to bring a bride from our family. And since the journey is long, we can’t afford to delay. The forest roads are dangerous at night, so don’t dawdle. Go to your room at once!”
Mother strode to the door and opened it, making it clear the conversation was over. I was supposed to return to my chambers, but I had no intention of rushing. Instead, I climbed the stairs and paused by a window adorned with stained glass.
From here, I could see the bell tower I’d once climbed on a dare with my brothers, the river, and the endless steppe where I could ride for hours. Was I really expected to trade all this for the stifling halls of Vseslav’s house? My eyes stung with resentment at the hand fate had dealt me. Fine! Everyone expects me to tremble at the mere thought of Radomir—fat chance! I’m not the type to bow to some northern bear, especially when my future depends on me alone.
Let him choose Daryna or one of my uncle’s daughters. Any of them would be thrilled with such a match, and I’d gladly step aside! With these thoughts, I pushed open the door to my room and couldn’t believe my eyes. Several maids were already waiting, having brought a chest of garments, jewelry, and even heated water for a bath. They set to work on me as if I were already a bride, soon forcing me to part with my beloved riding clothes.
How uncomfortable I felt in this lavish blue gown with long sleeves, though I had to admit it was stunning. Embroidered with silver thread and adorned with pearls, it complemented my fair hair, which they braided and covered with a sheer veil. The only person I could exchange a word with during all this was Orysa. She’d served me for years and sometimes felt closer than a sister.
At that moment, she stood by the window, suddenly bursting into giggles and blushing furiously.
“Oh, look at him! He’s like a bear!”
Against my better judgment, I peered out the window too, only to turn away in irritation. I couldn’t have described him better myself! The guest strode across the courtyard with a broad gait, his towering frame and heavy fur cloak making quite the impression. Confidence radiated from him—he already carried himself like the master of the place, and that only annoyed me more.