“Is that Radomir?” The girls rushed to the window to get a glimpse of the guest, and the head maid had to rein them in. She hissed at them, urging them to get back to their tasks.
“No, that’s Sigurd, the jarl’s trusted envoy. There’s no need to gawk!”
“But how will Radomir choose a bride if he hasn’t even seen her?” one of the girls persisted, still glued to the window. “Doesn’t he care?”
“I’ll have you mind your tongue if you keep asking foolish questions!”
Of course! Only in fairy tales does a prince ride across the world to find his bride. For the son of a jarl, such things are beneath him. According to Father, Vseslav was growing weaker by the day, so he must have feared leaving his lands without an heir and protector. That’s why he sent a messenger in his stead.
Hearing this, Orysa snapped out of her daze and began fastening the baubles onto my dress. The ornaments shimmered softly against the blue fabric, and a flicker of admiration passed through her eyes. I, on the other hand, clenched my teeth. Everything felt so heavy, cumbersome, and unnecessary! Even these river pearls, an heirloom from my grandmother—a symbol of purity and innocence—felt like a burden.
I was nearly ready when a sudden thought struck me. The ring!
“Bring me my jewelry box!” I ordered Orysa. “There should be a ring with a clear stone in it. I want to wear it!”
“But it’s so plain…” she drawled, clearly disappointed.
“Exactly. It’s just what I need.”
I wasn’t about to reveal the whole truth, for this was my secret. Grandmother had given me the ring when I was a child, promising it would always protect me. According to her, the stone would cloud over if someone used magic against me, it could detect poison in wine, and—most importantly—it had the power to grant one cherished wish. And I already knew what mine would be: above all else, I wanted to avoid marriage to Radomir.
As I mulled over this, the door creaked softly, and the princess entered, looking tense and impatient.
“Out!” she snapped at Orysa, and the girl, along with the other servants, slipped away silently. Mother’s cold eyes scanned my attire. “Finally, you’re ready. The moment you’re called, go downstairs immediately. I trust you haven’t forgotten how to behave?”
“No, Mother. But even if I slip up, everyone will just think it’s nerves. I remember what happened last time suitors came. A girl of marriageable age is supposed to be shy and anxious, isn’t she?”
“And you don’t care at all?” Mother crossed her arms, clearly displeased with my response.
“Not entirely, but you can’t expect me to faint with joy, can you? I’m only agreeing to this viewing for your sake.”
I sighed heavily and obediently moved toward the door. Before I could even step over the threshold, I heard excited chatter and voices from below. I hadn’t seen my cousins since we were children, so I didn’t recognize them at first. Then, by her fiery red hair, I realized one of the elegantly dressed girls was Nastya, and the one practically hanging over the banister was Ivanka. My uncle’s younger daughter couldn’t contain her excitement and was trying to peek into the hall where the guests had gathered. My arrival interrupted her little adventure.
“Oh, it’s you, Milena,” Ivanka straightened up and looked me over from head to toe. “We thought you wouldn’t show. It’s not proper to keep people waiting!”
“The important thing is that you didn’t dawdle,” I replied with a smile as genuine as her greeting. I even regretted that we weren’t outside the estate, where I’d once pushed this cousin into a patch of nettles.
She hadn’t changed much since then—still round-faced and plump, like a farm girl, and just as sharp-tongued and envious. Among us, only Daryna carried herself like a true future ruler: full of natural dignity, tall, slender, with a thick dark braid. She stayed out of our childish games, keeping her distance from the banter.
“Has Radomir arrived yet?” Nastya squeezed between us, taking her sister’s spot. “Have you seen him?”
“Isn’t he here? I thought it was just the jarl’s envoy,” I said, the news making me startle for some reason.
“Of course he’s here!” Ivanka snorted, looking at me as if I were daft. “Sigurd is only here to seal the agreement with the jarl’s stamp, though he’s no small fry himself. He’s the right hand of the jarl!”
“So maybe he’ll find himself a wife here too?” I said pointedly, looking at my cousin and barely stopping myself from wishing her that very fate aloud. “I’ve heard the Radich clan allows a man to take multiple wives.”
I don’t know how that little fabrication slipped out, but it was worth it. Two wives at once?! My heart did a little dance when I saw Ivanka’s face stretch in shock. For entertainment like that, I could endure her venomous remarks a bit longer. But just then, the head maid joined us.
I didn’t pay much attention to what she was saying. All I gathered was that we were to follow her and behave as befits women of a princely house. As for the viewing itself, I had only a vague idea of what to expect, but I soon realized I hadn’t been far off in my assumptions. While the guests were entertained in the main hall, I and the others Radomir wished to see were led into an adjoining room.