There was a moment of awkward silence in the carriage at Dani’s admission. She hadn’t intended to tell him about that, she didn’t know why she had. It wasn’t like it was relevant anymore. She was all grown up now, making her own mistakes and getting in her own messes, and it wasn’t like there would be any wild animal attacks in the city. But sometimes at night she still woke up to the memory of screams, and that familiar-but-not-familiar voice telling her to run.

She shivered, suddenly cold, even in the warmth of summer. “So. What’s this mage gonna do, eh? Work on breakin’ the spell that binds us?” Dani tapped her bracelet, an eyebrow raising. “Ya that eager ta be a bachelor?”

Wulfram let out a laugh, deep and genuine. “It isn’t that, and it isn’t that I don’t like you. I hope you know that.”

“Then what is it, eh? I ain’t sayin’ that I want to be your wife or anything like that, but why don’t you want to keep the marriage?” She knew the reasons, she was a commoner from the Rats Nest, and he was a prince. Everything boiled down to that, didn’t it?

Wulfram looked across the carriage at her, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees, hands clasped between them. He took his time answering, which made her fidget and pick at the shiny little button again. There was a thread loose, and if she gave it a little bit more encouragement it would probably come off.

Just when she was about to tell him to just admit it already, he spoke, his voice soft and serious. “I won’t pretend it doesn’t have anything to do with you being a commoner. I won’t lie to you like that, but I will tell you that it isn’t a personal preference that makes me need to seek someone else for a wife. I am the crown prince, I’ll be the one who inherits the crown, and the responsibility of running the kingdom. My wife will inherit the duties of the queen, which is much more than sitting around bearing children and showing up at parties. The queen is as much a diplomat as the king, if not more so. She governs the softer side of things, the issues that concern the people. She tries to make sure that peace treaties are made and not broken, tries to make sure that people are fed and orphans are taken care of. It’s a good deal of responsibility, and can be very hard.”

Well holy shit, a serious answer from him. She stared at him, words slipping out before she really thought about it. “Must be even harder since a lot of men don’t want to listen to women.”

Wulfram smiled ruefully and nodded. “I have noticed that tendency in many men, yes. But to be fair, many women don’t listen either. I could think of one particular example, rather recently in fact, of a woman who refused to relinquish a bottle of wine. Even though it had obviously upset the dead and they were actively pursuing us.”

“That was one time, and that wine was really good.” Dani blushed, fighting the smile that wanted to form. “And I seem to remember a man promising to get me a bottle of wine after he threw my bottle at the skeletons anyways.”

“Of course you would remember that.” Wulfram laughed. “I am a man of my word, I’ll get you some nice wine to replace what you lost.”

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“I mean, the skeletons didn’t even stop chasing us after you threw it, it might not have been the wine they were after.” She gave in to the smile, leaving the thread holding the button to the cushion alone.

“I suppose it’s possible they were after something else, but I doubt it.” Wulfram said. “And we got away from them. And now you’re apparently a dressmakers apprentice? How did that come about? You really didn’t strike me as the dressmaker type.”

Dani’s shoulders slumped slightly, and she shrugged. “Didn’t have much choice really. If I get caught stealin’ again Reshi said he’ll turn me in himself.”

She glanced up, trying to catch his initial reaction to the news. His eyes had widened slightly, and he sat up straight once more, shocked perhaps? At least surprised, and he wasn’t trying to hide it either. She had expected him to put on a poker face, or diplomatic face she supposed. Did nobles play poker?

“Your own father said that?” His voice was hard, and his face creased into a frown.

“He wants me ta stop stealin’.” Dani shrugged, looking back down to that one button. “Ain’t Reshi’s way ta be subtle, not when he can get the same thing by bein’ direct.”

“But still, to turn in his own daughter...” Wulfram shook his head, and raised a hand. “No, I apologize. I don’t know his thoughts on the matter, and to be fair I would prefer you stop stealing as well. It’s a dangerous line of work, and illegal for good reason. How would you feel if someone stole something you had worked hard for?”

Dani let out a snort of laughter. The only thing of real value she had right now were her clothes, and if someone was that hard up she supposed that they needed them more than she did. “Ya gotta have something to steal to worry about that. But I catch your meaning. You don’t have to worry about me stealing anymore, I ain’t going to. Thanks to you too many people would recognize me anyways.”

And that just had to make the damn man smile. “I warned you about the attention of a queen. This is only a small fraction of the attention you would have if our marriage persisted. Do you still think you could handle it?”

Dani crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes slightly at him. “I can handle anything ya throw at me. A little attention never hurt anyone.”

The carriage rolled to a stop, and Dani felt a jolt of fear. She glanced out the window, staring up at the tall iron gates that separated the palace from the rest of the city. She hadn’t thought they had been in the carriage long enough to get to the palace already! Dani swallowed around a lump of dread in her throat as the gates swung open on silent hinges, and the carriage rolled through into the palace beyond.

The difference between the Rats Nest and the palace was like night and day. For one, there was just so much damn space! And there were plants everywhere. Carefully manicured bushes and trees grew along the outside of the main courtyard, providing shade to carriages passing underneath them. The heady scent of flowers filled the air, and as she watched petals gently drifted down past the carriage window. She opened the curtain wider to get a better view, but immediately ducked back when she saw other people.

“Shit, what are people gonna say? What are they gonna think of me?” She barely registered that she said the words out loud, nervously brushing her fingers through her hair. Everyone was dressed so damn fancy, even the servants were dressed well! They all wore vests in the dark stormy blue of the kingdoms coat of arms, with matching pants or skirts. And plain white shirts that seemed as if they would be impossible to keep clean.

The noble sorts though, they really took the cake! They wore so many different colors and jewels, even the men! Wulfram reached out to gently take her hand, meeting her eyes with a soft smile.

“They will wonder who this beautiful woman is arriving with the prince. I give you my word Dani, you have nothing to be afraid of here.”