By the end of the night, Regina’s feet were decidedly sore but her heart less heavy. The ball had ended only after she and Artem had danced for almost an hour together, talking and laughing and shutting out the rest of the world, however impolitic it might be.

Actually, Regina was startled by how little they had been interrupted, given how many powerful nobles were in their company. But whether it was due to her family, Artem’s own, or even the sheer joy she and Artem took with one another, the other nobles left them in peace.

Now, back in front of her door, she looked at Artem to say goodbye, even though she was reluctant to watch him leave.

“This was,” Regina softly said to her intended, “a completely unforgettable evening.”

She was not even lying – between the poisoning, the racing around, and the fear of death, she was sure to revisit this day many times in her future nightmares.

Yet in between the exhaustion and fear, there had been moments of true joy… and as Regina stared at her gently smiling prince, she knew just who to attribute those moments to.

“Thank you,” Regina finally said, “for giving me so many happy memories.”

“I hope,” Artem softly said, “that perhaps we can share an even happier one now.”

Regina’s heart fluttered at that, especially as she leaned forward and felt Artem’s trembling hand gently cup her cheek –

Only to be interrupted by her father’s bellow of, “What do you two think you are doing?”

With a gasp, Regina watched both her parents rush onto the scene, before Regina’s mother sighed and said, “Regina, you know that we need to discuss accounting before you start disheveling your very expensive dresses.”

Thinking with some horror about what had happened every time she had accidentally torn one of her outfits, Regina immediately turned toward Artem.

“You should probably go,” she told him, “away from my room. As fast as possible.”

In a sotto voice for Artem alone, she added, “Mother can get creative when it comes to using knives and discussing the cost of carelessness with outfits.”

Luckily, for all of his eccentricities, Artem could catch a hint as fast as anyone else. Thus, with a smile and a bow for Regina and her parents, Artem beat a surprisingly dignified retreat.

That left Regina with her parents, who stared at one another before her father said, almost wistfully, “You looked so grown up this evening.”

“Well,” Regina wryly pointed out, “I am one-and-twenty.”

“We know that,” Regina’s mother said, looking odd as well. “We mark your birthday every year.”

Regina did not know what to say to that – especially since they had pointedly not celebrated her birthday ever since her sister died. So what in Carcosa did this marking mean?

Finally, with an uncomfortable smile, Regina said, “I should go and rest now. It has been a very long day.”

Her parents exchanged a look before her father said, “All right. Let us know if you need anything.”

Knowing she would do that approximately as soon as the Poisson family stopped being obsessed with fish, Regina awkwardly smiled and nodded.

Then, she slipped into her room, closed the door and –

Instantly felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at the mountain of presents before her.

For a moment, all Regina could do was glare at the mass of gilt and finery as though it were a series of traps ready to explode as soon as she looked at it strangely.

“Am I supposed to open these now?” she asked no one in particular, wracking her brain to try and remember what the royal protocol about engagement presents was. “I know these must be from the noble families who attended the party – but does that mean I should unwrap them now? Or do I wait for others to see me unwrap them tomorrow? Also, I have to write down who gave me what so I can write thank you cards and –”

Feeling exhausted with life, Regina slumped against the door and closed her eyes.

After all, she was just an inbred shut-in who had not even stepped outside of her family’s estate and neighboring town for the first twenty-one years of her life.

How is she supposed to navigate the politics of this situation – especially when actual dukes and princes are involved?!

Indeed, though Regina thought she had been admirably strong today, this pile of presents was somehow becoming her breaking point.

She was even beginning to develop a throbbing headache, one that was getting worse and worse as she thought of how her family or the Alpins or the nobles would react if she did not remember just what to do or who to send cards to –

Until Regina’s eyes snapped open as she realized something new.

“As I went on throughout my day,,” Regina softly said, “the palace must have been on high alert. With so many distinguished and high-ranking nobles about, the Alpins know that there’s plenty of opportunity for mischief as well. So if anything, the palace would be extra careful about public spaces, including what food and drinks people are served – especially where the royal family is concerned.”

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Yet even so, poison could be introduced in a situation where there is an unusual disruption… like a royal engagement party where many new people come in bearing many new gifts.

…Gifts such as the one she was staring at now as her headache only grew worse and worse and worse.

Regina looked down at her fingernails – which were not yet discolored but would soon be if this continued – and cursed.

Then, feeling panic clawing at her, Regina turned around to lock the door behind her before she grabbed a chair to secure the door even further.

After all, she needed time to do something so audacious, it would be a miracle if her own family didn’t murder her afterwards.

So, with another stream of curses that would have sent innocent Artem’s head spinning, Regina rushed forward to open the nearest window –

And began to throw each and every priceless engagement present she received out of it.

Indeed, Regina thought it was a credit to her efficiency that she was able to throw all the presents out with great speed, even as people began pounding at her door and begging her to open it.

Regina was actually holding the last present in her hands when she finally heard poor Artem roar, “Regina, my beloved – stand back!”

Artem then used his magic to shred her metal door to little more than splinters –

Just as Regina threw the elaborate bouquet of flowers out the window and then herself at him.

“Artem!” Regina cried, already feeling one headache fade while another took its place in his embrace, “you are here at last!”

“Of course I am,” Artem gently said, though he looked baffled by her actions…

As did her family, his kin, the guardsmen, and apparently, all of the dukes and marquesses and other powerful nobles that Carcosa contained.

Regina cursed whatever luck brought every bloody person of any importance at all to her room to see her be humiliated.

Yet with maniacal cheerfulness, Regina focused on Artem and said, “Darling, you must be wondering what I am doing!”

“Yes,” Regina’s father dryly interrupted even as Artem looked at her with deep concern. “It is safe to say that we are all wondering that.”

“What I am doing,” Regina said, eyes fixed on Artem alone, “is making sure that I belong to my beloved Artem alone!”

Everyone in the room leveled a confused stare at her but undeterred, Regina barreled forward.

“This evening,” she cried, “has taught me how deeply I cherish Artem – so the only presents I want come from him. Nothing else has value to me – so I needed to discard them instantly! They needed to be gone from my sight before they – they – they sickened me!”

That last part was literal – Regina was now sure that her instant headache from entering the room had come from one of her many engagement presents being drugged.

So what better way to make sure she would not be drugged through a future present except to make sure only sweet, innocent Artem would be allowed to give gifts to her?

Even though Regina was aware she must seem like a lunatic to the most powerful nobles in Carcosa, Regina grabbed Artem’s lapels and said, “My dearest Artem alone will be my source of future joy and hope. From now on, I will only accept presents from his hands!”

A quick scan of the crowd revealed that most of them seemed to think she had gone completely insane.

However, the sudden joy on Artem’s face told her that he accepted her absurd words with far more grace than they deserved.

“If you will only accept presents from me,” Artem said, taking hands in his, “then I will give you everything you please. Let me demonstrate to all what you will receive from me!”

Then, to Regina’s wonder, all the metal in the room detached itself from the floor paneling and wainscoting and even the broken door –

Only for Artem to craft a magnificent series of presents that reflected each of the major noble families in Carcosa.

There was a beautiful metal tree to represent the Nevilles, a hideous feet fish mask to represent the Kuzeys, a statue of a fish gracefully leaping front a fisherman’s hand to represent the Poissons, an elegant fan to represent the La Belles –

And finally, Artem placed a bouquet of metallic roses to represent the Burens between Regina’s fingers.

“Though my bouquet does not have the sweet fragrance of real flowers,” Artem softly said, “they will last far longer as a tribute to your beauty.”

Then, looking shy even as the crowd beyond him looked astounded at his casual display of power, Artem asked, “Do these presents please you, my magnificent falcon?”

Torn between being touched at Artem’s gifts and worried at the murmurs from the crowd, who seemed strangely agitated at Artem’s display of power, Regina managed a smile.

“You grant me too much honor, my prince,” she said, even as she heard nobles behind her whisper ‘I had no idea he could make more than shiny trinkets’ and ‘the king’s power was actually inherited by both princes.’ “Truly, I am not worthy –”

Yet before Regina could say anymore, she felt both of Artem’s hands move to cup her face.

Before she could even react, he had maneuvered them into the kind of passionate kiss that Regina had been imagining for weeks.

Regina had never thought to experience her first true embrace in front of her family, royalty, and the most important nobles in Carcosa in a way that broke all the social rules she had ever had to follow.

Yet as Regina melted into Artem’s passionate kiss and pressed her body to his, she decided she did not care.

After all, the world owed her one moment of pure bliss after all that she had experienced.

However, even as Regina relaxed into Artem’s gentle embrace, a horrifying thought came to her.

Why, Regina thought, did my family, the Alpins, and all the important nobles of Carcosa know to come to my room at this moment?

That was when Regina realized that her would-be assassin must have wanted all the royals and nobles of Carcosa to witness the state of her body after she was poisoned…

…And she had no idea what her enemies would do now she had thwarted their plans once more.