Page 44 of Never Ever After

“I’m glad you joined us,” she says warmly, then gestures at the girl beside her, whose generous curves are draped in a gown of pink brocade. “This is Mengli.”

As I greet them, their eyes dart to the entrance. I turn to see Lord Liuming entering the hall. He scowls at the sight of me, then abruptly stalks away.

Daiyu gnaws her lip. “I’m sorry for what they did to you. I tried to talk Lord Liuming out of it, but he’s related to Lady Wang, who still believes you’re a thief. As a younger son, he won’t inherit his family’s wealth. He’s trying to gain favor with her to secure a slice of her inheritance.”

“By insulting me?” I ask.

“Those unhappy with their own lives tend to take it out on others.”

“Not everyone.” I won’t excuse him. “Unkindness is a choice.”

Mengli sniffs. “Did you hear His Highness imposed a fine of a hundred gold pieces as recompense for insulting you? Lord Liuming will need to beg his father for aid.”

How cunning of the prince to turn an insult to me into an opportunity to enrich his treasury.

“Your dress is beautiful. It looks like Mina’s work,” Daiyu tells me as she adjusts the collar of her own gown.

“She took one look at me and decided I needed help,” I say with a laugh.

Daiyu sighs. “I wish Mina had time for me.”

“You don’t need help; you’re beautiful in anything you wear,” I tell her honestly.

“Thank you. You are lovely too.” Graciously, she extends my compliment. As she and Mengli exchange glances, Daiyu adds, “We heard a rumor that you are one of His Highness’s chosen consorts?”

I smother a curse, keeping a blank smile on my face. “If that were true, wouldn’t His Highness announce it?”

“I told you it was false,” Daiyu’s friend interjects, looking at me just as most do here, their curiosity tinged with disdain. “If anyone secured an offer from His Highness, they’d be clever enough to declare it before he changes his mind.”

“Yes, they would,” I say forcefully, ignoring the slight. If I can guard Prince Zixin’s pride, I just might keep my head.

As Lord Chao calls loudly to an attendant for more wine, Daiyu wrinkles her nose. “Why does the Lord of Thorn Valley drink so much?”

“Can he remain sober long enough to participate in the tournament? He won’t be much of a challenge to General Xilu,” Mengli says.

“I hear Lord Chao is more than General Xilu’s match,” Daiyu remarks.

Mengli grins, a dimple appearing in her cheek. “I also hear he chases any girl who looks at him too long.”

“Who looks at him with his advisor there?” Daiyu replies.

I follow her gaze toward Jin. As though sensing us, he turns—but we drop our heads abruptly. If he didn’t know we were talking about him, he does now.

“Do you… like him?” Something pricks like a pin pushed against my skin.

Mengli rolls her eyes. “If you haven’t noticed, Daiyu likes everyone.”

A loud sneeze breaks through the noise of the crowd—from General Xilu. As he sneezes again, he shakes his head like he’s trying to clear it, his eyes reddening. One of his attendants offers him a handkerchief, but the general shoves him away, gesturing furiously at the vase of peonies on his table. The young attendant swiftly removes it, his body trembling.

Daiyu scowls. “I don’t like everyone. Definitely not General Xilu.”

“Isn’t he the most celebrated warrior in the Iron Mountains?” I ask, recalling Princess Chunlei’s dislike of him.

“He’s good with a sword, at winning battles, but his temper is vicious. I’ve seen him strike his attendants for less than those flowers. Though they do make him uncomfortable, it’s no reason to act as he does.” Mengli leans over to whisper, “Maybe that’s why he looks especially grim tonight.”

“He always looks grim,” Daiyu replies. “More so since Princess Chunlei is making her distaste of him clear.”

“Is he aiming too high?” her friend wonders.