Page 19 of Markets & Mooncakes

"I suppose it is something I need to think about."

"Yes, but not now. I don't think I'm against it, but I also don't want a baby tomorrow," he promises.

"I don't think I'd be able to give you a baby tomorrow," I point out. "They need time to grow."

His amused smile lights up his entire face. "It's an expression, Evie."

"Oh. Right." I take a deep breath. "How do you feel?"

"Intimidated," he admits. "I thought I would have more time to get used to knowing that my life is going to change, but now it's here, so I've got to face it."

I bite my bottom lip. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Making your life more complicated."

"You're worth it," he promises. "And it's not like either of us knew what we were getting into at eight."

I laugh at the thought. "If I had, I'd have made you a paper crown."

"And I would have worn it with pride. I love you, Evie. Even if that means that I have to learn more things than I ever imagined I'd need to know, and deal with balls and ambassadors, and whatever else."

"I love you too," I respond. "And I like the idea of having you with me when I deal with all of that."

"I'm glad." He reaches up and brushes my hair out of my face before leaning in to kiss me.

I close my eyes and let myself disappear into the kiss, tasting the sweetness of the marshmallow on his lips and realising that it's not been very long since we were baking together. Everything is going to change, but maybe it will be for the better.

Chapter 8

The throne room is illuminated by gas lamps that are too bright and are already giving me a headache. I don't know if it's the gas itself, or if it's the way the lights flicker, but I sometimes wish that we could go back to candles, even if I know that they're not as good.

The room is full of nobles who are here to see the arrival of the Shengdanese ambassador, and the noise is intense even from them just standing. I don't know how anyone is dealing with it, because I'm certainly not.

And neither is Ember, judging by the way her claws are digging into my shoulder. I reach up to settle my dragon with a piece of dried beef from my pocket, hoping that Mama isn't going to be too annoyed by my choice. Not that she can really say anything when she's the reason I have Ember with me in the first place. I would much rather not have her on my shoulder for this, it adds another level of complication to being at court.

"Will you stop fidgeting?" Veronica mutters from beside me.

"It's Ember."

"All right, then stop your dragon from fidgeting."

"I'm trying." And I'm getting progressively more infuriated by the situation. If I have to bring Ember to court again, then I'm going to insist on having some kind of padding under the shoulder of my dress because her claws are sharper than I anticipated. I can't imagine that the castle's seamstresses are going to be particularly pleased about the fact they'll have to fix my dress either. Normally, I'm wearing simpler day dresses when I carry Ember around, and they're harder to damage and easier to fix.

The doors to the throne room open, and I let out a sigh of relief that this part is going to be over soon. I'm sure Mama won't expect me to bring Ember to the banquet if the ambassador has seen her now. And if she does, then maybe I can put her in a fire somewhere and let her have fun in the sparks.

"His Excellency, Lord Sun Zizhen, ambassador of the Emperor of Shengda," the herald announces, his voice filling the room and successfully silencing the attending nobles.

Not that it's quiet. With so many people in one room, it's impossible for it to be, and the sound of swishing fabric and clanking jewellery is enough to set my teeth on edge. I have no idea how either of my sisters are managing to keep their faces as perfect masks.

A man in vibrant red and gold silk strides into the room with a grace I don't think I've often seen before. Even if the herald hadn't announced him, I would probably have been able to guess that this man is important, and I'd maybe even manage to guess that he's from Shengda, which is somewhat impressive for me. I can't always tell based on the fashions people wear, but the robes from Shengda are fairly distinctive, mostly in how beautiful they are.

A younger woman follows him in a similar silk robe embroidered with flowers. Her dark hair is pinned up with dangling hair ornaments that look beautiful, but would infuriate me if I tried to wear them. I can't imagine having something knocking against the side of my head all day. Then again, from the way the woman is moving, they don't seem like they're doing that. Maybe they're angled just right so that they don't. Or she's learned to ignore them.

"Is that the daughter?" I ask Veronica under my breath.

She gives me an exasperated look. "How should I know? I haven't met her before."