Daphne hesitated. "Well... things are improving. We’re actually here because I wanted to see you, and to get a change in scenery." She lowered her voice, "It was difficult to remain in Vramid when things had changed irrevocably between us. I felt like I was going..."
"Slowly off your rocker?" Cordelia guessed, squeezing Daphne’s hand in comfort. "It can’t have been easy to remain in your kingdom when nearly every brick in the castle remained the sa, but your relationship was the one that underwent such an upheaval that you’re now a permanently changed person. If it were , I’d feel like I was getting mocked by the gods."
"Exactly!" Daphne nodded fervently, heartened that Cordelia could understand her.
Unfortunately, so of her mories of Vramid were tainted by past events. Daphne feared that if she continued to stay, she might end up resenting the kingdom she called her ho. It was better to leave it temporarily before it suffocated her with past mories of happier tis.
"Things only improved recently between us, when we made the attempt to step outside of the palace." She recalled their date at the winter fair and a small smile blood on her face. "I thought a change of scenery might do the both of us so good. And of course, I had to visit the mont I heard about this tournant! Tell everything."
"What’s there for to say? I’m sure Jonah must have told all of you the details," Cordelia said. "He’s been a part of it from the very beginning."
Of course, Cordelia would have preferred Jonah to join as a contestant instead of acting as a re organizer behind the scenes and as an added level of security, but she could still ensure her final goals were t at the end.
"He has?" Daphne asked, surprised. "He didn’t ntion a single word to in all our letters!"
Cordelia snorted. "If he had, your husband would have been on the first dinghy sailboat out of Vramid. But if he didn’t inform you, how did you know?"
Daphne giggled at the ntal image before answering her, "News spreads fast. Your people near and far are looking forward to this event."
As they walked, the excitent in the street was as palpable as the scent of the salty ocean. Screams of delight and elated cheers echoed through the air, and children ran barefoot next to the guards, uncaring of the slippery cobblestones. Vendors called out for Cordelia.
"Princess Cordelia! I have the newest silks!"
"Princess Cordelia, who is your favorite contestant?"
"Princess Cordelia! Who is that beautiful lady next to you?"
"They certainly are... exuberant," Daphne observed with a bright grin. "Who knew my best friend was this popular?"
"Shut it you, let’s hurry and go back to the palace," Cordelia grumbled, but the back of her ears turned red in embarrassnt. She didn’t yell replies at the vendors, but she waved a hand at them, causing them to screech louder in excitent.
Daphne noted that for all Cordelia claid that she wanted to hurry back, her footsteps were slow as she made sure to respond to as many people as possible. Daphne giggled behind her hand; her best friend was more soft-hearted than people realized. Hopefully, she could find soone good for her.
To Daphne’s surprise, there were also plenty of people yelling for Jonah. n and won alike were frantically waving their hands, hoping to attract his attention as they scread.
So of their words were very sweet, while others were downright perplexing.
"You’re so handso!" The young maiden that shouted it dissolved into giggles with her friends.
"Marry , or you can marry my husband! We can share!" A couple scread together, their clasped hands raised over their heads.
"Grandma loves you~" An old lady shot him a lascivious wink.
"Please beco my wife!" That was yelled by a burly man, and others cheered his gall.
Daphne turned around to see Jonah’s face turn a bright burnished red.
"What on earth?" Atticus exclaid incredulously, "Does everyone here want a piece of you?"
Jonah shook his head, "No, they’re just joking―"
"He’s very popular here," Cordelia interrupted, with a twist of her lips. "It’s not every day Nedour gets a foreigner that’s so good-looking. Just look at his shade of hair! No one had ever seen such fine golden hair before you ca," Cordelia said to Daphne.
Daphne could see her point― from what she saw, most people in Nedour had hair in various stages of dark blue, almost black.
"I’m just a novelty," Jonah said hastily. "Nothing special really. Can we please walk faster?"
Daphne took pity on him and quickened her pace, dragging Cordelia along, and Jonah gratefully trailed behind them.
"The first ti he walked next to , everyone thought he was sent here as a foreign tribute to beco my concubine," Cordelia added smugly.
Atticus scowled, "That’s utterly preposterous!"
"Of course." Cordelia nodded in agreent, a wicked glint in her eyes. "He deserves to at least beco my first husband, not a re concubine."
Jonah choked. "Princess Cordelia, don’t make such jokes!"
Atticus’s face darkened further, but thankfully, he did not start an argunt with Cordelia. Thankfully, the crowds dispersed as they got closer to the palace― and it was no wonder, for the ground had gotten steadily steeper the more they walked.
Apparently, the castle that housed Nedour’s royal family was situated high atop a rugged cliff, right at the horizon where the land t the tumultuous embrace of the sea.
"We’re here," Cordelia finally said, depositing them right in the hallway of her palace. "Jonah, escort them to their rooms. I need to go and check on the preparations for the event. I’ll see all of you at dinner later."
Daphne nodded, and Jonah led Atticus and her down a series of winding walkways and up yet another two flights of stairs, before stopping outside a white stone door.
"Here it is," Jonah said cheerfully. "She gave you the room with the best view."
"I’m sure," Atticus muttered, and Daphne elbowed him, but even Atticus had to eat his words when he caught sight of the scenery beyond their balcony. The blue-green waters of the ocean stretched as far as their eyes could see, mirroring the clear blue skies above.
Daphne could hear the sound of the waves crashing against the base of the cliff, their rhythmic lody echoing through the room. If she paid attention, Daphne could hear the cries of seabirds mingling with the distant roar of the waves.
"This is incredible," Daphne murmured.
"I told you so," Jonah said proudly as if this palace belonged to him as well. "Get so rest. I’ll go and check and see if there’s any place for Nikun. The other participants are staying in the West Wing of the palace."
"He seems awfully comfortable here," Atticus grumbled bitterly as Jonah left. "She hoodwinked him with the ocean!"
Daphne rolled her eyes and leaned further out the balcony. With her magic, she need not fear drowning in the crashing waves below.
"To be fair, the ocean is very attractive. I wouldn’t mind staying here for a long ti."
Atticus stumbled back as if she had struck him.
Daphne hastily added, "I was joking, Atticus."
"I knew that," Atticus muttered, but his shoulders were still tense. Daphne decided to change the topic.
"Do you want to explore the palace? I wonder who are the other candidates participating in this tournant?"
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