Page 12 of Gifted to the Alien Prince
Was the prince actually...amused?
The queen sipped from her wine glass. “Isabelle, I think you would enjoy browsing through our Froskael Bazaar. I would be delighted if you and Thadron would accompany me tomorrow."
"Thank you, Queen Akora, it sounds like fun." I accepted with a smile that matched her own.
Thadron set his spoon down. “I can’t. I need to go over the arms inventory.”
“I thought you asked Cryostrum to do it,” Lucian stated. “That’s why he’s missing dinner.”
“A good master at arms always checks his work, even those assigned to others.”
Lucian gave a wave of dismissal. “You can do that when you get back from the bazaar.”
“Listen to you two,” the queen admonished, her tone good-natured, but no less authoritative. “Talking business in front of the guests.” She looked towards the rest of us with apology. “You’ll excuse my sons. Usually they have enough manners to get through dinner.”
As the conversation drifted to other matters, my thoughts lingered on Thadron and the gift I had for him. The more I saw of the royal family he belonged to, this world of elegance and order, a book of fairy tales seemed like the worst gift. A master at arms and prince deserved something more significant, more mature.
Once dinner ended, the queen and Lucian made their exits first. Then Thadron came around to escort me from the dining hall and back to my room. I wanted to see if I could read something in the archives but the time change from the trip here caught up to me. At the door to my room, I covered my mouthas I yawned. “Looks like you’re stuck shopping with us girls tomorrow.”
Thadron folded his arms. “This is where my diplomatic duties end.”
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
“I haven’t been part of the Starlit Songs in years.”
“Well, I’m sure it won’t be hard for you to pick it back up again.”
“You don’t understand. I don’t care about the winter festivities.” He walked away from me, voice trailing after him. “I’d rather be doing anything else than this ridiculous waste of time.”
Chapter Five
ISA
Morning light spilled across Glaciara in when we set out for the market. I was bundled in the heavy coat and boots the Wanderstar Fleet issued me before leaving on the trip. I had extreme doubts about the thin layers of fabric but something in the technology worked to regulate my body temperature, keeping me warm against the frigid temps. The Glaciarians with me, Queen Akora and Prince Thadron, wore light long sleeve knits as though we were out for a spring walk.
Thadron was silent as he led the way into the bazaar.
I couldn’t stop replaying his words from the night before.A ridiculous waste of time.His tone had been sharp, cutting through the warm memories of dinner. Part of me wanted to brush it off. He could be tired, or maybe he wasn’t a fan of shopping trips. But another part, the part that had watched his stiff posture and guarded expression all evening, felt there was more to it. For someone so deeply tied to his people, why did he seem so disconnected from their traditions? I didn’t know what bothered me more, his lack of enthusiasm for the festivities or the nagging feeling that his distance was hiding something. None of it was really my business. That’s what I wanted to believe as I kept telling myself. But I guess that overachiever streak in me refused to go away. I wanted to see what was behind that icy exterior.
Snow-encrusted stalls towered around us. Vendors showed off their wares of cosmic minerals that glinted under the planet’sdistant sun. The air buzzed with the chatter of sellers and buyers. Scents of spiced incense wafted through the air, mingling with the rich aroma of what had to be roasted nuts.
"Have you ever tried a glimrin twist?" Thadron asked, his voice cutting through the din with surprising cordiality.
I wasn’t expecting him to show interest in the bazaar. Then again, he did love his holiday desserts. “I haven’t. But Lucian claims you’re the pastry expert.”
He wrinkled his nose. “My brother sometimes confuses his role of crown prince with court jester.”
“C’mon. I think it’s cute you like to eat pastries.”
The space between his brows grew smaller as he gave me a strange look. The next half seconds stalled as I realized I referred to to Glaciara’s royal ambassador and master at arms as cute. I looked around. Who all heard me? Queen Akora was some paces to the side, looking at colorful cloth. The guards flanked us, their stoic faces staring off in the distance.
“This way.” Thadron pointed toward a stall where steam rose in delicate curls. The vendor twisted dough into ornate shapes before plunging them into vats of boiling syrup.
I took interest in how the glimrin twists were formed. After they were doused in the syrup, the vendor took out a metal canister and sprinkled what looked like crystallized sugar.
"Here." Thadron handed me one after requesting two. His fingers brushed mine in the exchange. The pastry was warm against the chill. Once it was no longer too hot to eat, I tasted it. The sweetness of the glimrin berries exploded with the first bite.
"This is delicious," I said, savoring the treat.