That evening, Bradshaw was gathered with Arienne and Cormick in Monarch Hold’s library, one of the quietest places in the city, and Bradshaw’s preferred haunt. Arienne spent most of her days here studying the Mending Arts. Cormick appeared uncomfortable surrounded by the shelves reaching all the way up to the two-story ceilings. He rarely read instruction manuals, let alone books.

Arienne had kept her composure when Bradshaw broke the news to her. It looked like at any moment; however, her defenses might falter. All of them were on edge.

“Our family has no leader,” Bradshaw began. “I am not of age, and Arienne is unwed.”

“Uncle Max told you nothing of who will succeed him?” Cormick asked. “Or did he deign you old enough at the age of twelve?”

“No, he did not. And I am thirteen, Cormick.”

After a deep breath, Arienne said, “Please, you two, not right now. Father would want us all to get along.”

“So, who will rule Monarch’s Hold, sproutling? Since you were the only one deemed important enough to hear his wishes.”

Bradshaw struggled for a time, wondering how much he should tell Cormick, or let Arienne hear.

“Father… He gave me a warning. He told me there was an imminent threat to the kingdom. He said we must be prepared and that… Webber and Lancaster must be united once again.”

“You lie,” Cormick spat back at Bradshaw. “Those words would never pass the proud lips of Maxwell Webber!”

“Our father told me it was time for us to forgive the Lancasters!”

“You weren’t alive for Gilbrand’s execution, I was!”

“You were an infant!”

“Regardless, true Webbers will never forgive anyone with the surname Lancaster! My father, he- he…” Cormick stormed out of the room before emotion threatened to overwhelm him.

Arienne wiped away a file of marching tears with the heel of her wrist. “I should have told him. I hate the thought of hurting Cormick, but…” She collapsed on the cushioned recliner at the base of one of the bookshelves. “This has gone on for too long.”

“How long have you known?”

“The messenger raven delivered the acceptance letter a fortnight ago.”

“Bellmuth?”

“Bellmuth.” Arienne smiled. It had been her first choice.

Bradshaw returned her smile, understanding why she had waited so long to tell Cormick, hearing the news himself felt like the end of the world. He considered telling Arienne what else their father had told him before he passed but decided against it. Instead, he chose to sit down next to her on the cushioned recliner.

“Father wants me to marry some stranger I have never met. For what, for peace? We are at peace now.”

Bradshaw could not understand it himself. The two of them spent a long time thinking together.

“When will you be leaving?” Bradshaw asked, not ready to hear the answer.

“The ship sets sail a week from tomorrow.”

More time passed, and Bradshaw thought about Ethan not for the first time since they met.

“You know,” Arienne said, “if I married Colton… one day that would make me…”

“The queen?”

“Is that so? I had never considered that.”