I rolled my eyes but blushed at the compliment. It was strange though, in the few weeks since I‘d arrived here, I’d been treated as a chess piece by some, a parasite by others, a curiosity at best. I was so… lonely that the barest of compliments felt like a treasure… pathetic.
“Where did you go?” he asked, squeezing my hand.
I met his eyes and despite the mirth there, there was more, something he was desperately trying to hide – a quiet desperation I could only see because it mirrored my own.
“I’m not sure, but maybe you shouldn’t show me so much sympathy. This is probably not something that King Caleb would forgive easily.”
He shrugged like he couldn’t care less and for a minute I believed that. “You know this world works differently and had you grown up here, you and I would have been matched by our parents, so if I want to show some kindness to someone who could have been my betrothed, I’m allowed to.”
I chuckled at that. Betrothed, arranged marriage – what a ludicrous thought. As if I would ever agree to something so backward. “You’re quite good looking,” I admitted. “It wouldn’t have been too bad,” I added, playing along.
His grin returned. “Don’t I know it.”
I rolled my eyes – at least something was similar to the other Kings – he was conceited as shit. I was about to retort when my father appeared beside me.
“Esmeralda –” he greeted me; his voice so cold I was surprised I didn’t freeze on the spot.
“Father –” I replied, matching his tone.
His lips turned into a fine line; his nostrils flaring. He was angry with me but doing his best to hide it – appearances were everything for him, that much was clear. I was poking an angry bear; I knew I was stupid and reckless and yet I couldn’t help myself.
He grabbed my wrist and squeezed it painfully, plastering a fake smile on his face before turning toward Antoine. “I’m sorry Antoine but there are a few people I need to introduce my beautiful daughter to.”
Antoine bowed his head. “I understand.” He turned to me. “A bientot, my chère.”
“Don’t think your lateness is forgotten, Esmeralda,” my father whispered angrily as he tugged at my wrist to follow him. “I’ll deal with the consequences of your disrespect at the end of the night.” He pressed his hand on the small of my back, nudging me forward. “But be the perfect socialite daughter tonight and I might settle for a lighter punishment.”
A punishment that wasn’t deserved or warranted I thought as the blush of anger crept up my neck. “Yes, father,” I enunciated through grinding teeth.
He directed me to a couple standing by the side of the room. The husband was tall, with pale blond hair and friendly looking brown eyes beaming at us as we approached. I didn’t know the reason, but the man seemed to be genuinely ecstatic to meet me.
His wife had the blackest hair I’d ever seen with eyes so pale blue they looked like ice, especially in contrast with her hair and with the cool indifference she used to detail me.
“My dear Esmeralda!” the man exclaimed, reaching for my hand as if he’d known me my whole life. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”
I forced a polite smile as he kept my hand in his, rubbing it with his other. “Nice to meet you.”
I looked at my father who nodded approvingly down to me.
“Esmeralda, please allow me to introduce you to our family’s oldest friends, James Astor and his wife Jacklyn.”
“You look so much like your mother, it’s uncanny.” James beamed with appreciation. “Don’t you think, dear?” he added for his wife’s benefit as he kept his eyes on me.
I glanced at her. “Indeed,” she replied coolly, but her dislike of the fact was unmissable. Seriously, what was it with this town and its people hating me on principle?
As for looking like my mother, yes it was true, it was something I was immensely proud of but these days, it constituted a hindrance more than anything else.
“Oh, have you met my son?” James asked, his good humor still in place. He turned his head, looking around, but I already knew well who his son was – he had his father’s hair and features and his mother’s mesmerizing eyes – I knew Satan just fine.
“Ah Caleb, here you are.” He gestured toward me. “I believe you’ve already met Esmeralda Forbes, haven’t you?”
Caleb looked at me with smooth features, bowing his head ever so slightly. It was strange to look at him without his perpetual scowl on his face. “Esmeralda,” he greeted me, his voice as smooth as velvet. It lacked its usual bite of disdain. One thing was sure, he could fake it just as well as the rest of them. Was it something they learned in kindergarten? Appearances 101? It had to be tedious to never be yourself.
I smiled politely. “Caleb, lovely to see you again.” Yep, two could play this game.
“Has my son been kind to you since you arrived?” James asked cheerily.
I threw him a side glance, that man was taking delusional to a whole new level if he thought his son had some kindness in him.
I forced a bright smile. “Of course, Sir, Caleb has been nothing but helpful and nice.” I met Caleb’s eye, my smile never wavering. “Thank you, Caleb, for being you.” And showing me how hateful you all are.
Caleb narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, probably wondering what my end game was. Truth be told I had no end game, I knew that ratting him out wouldn't serve my cause – firstly, because I was a woman and he was the heir – secondly I genuinely didn’t care what he could say to me, I’ve heard people say they were above it all and in this case I really was.
James Astor laughed, “Marvellous! I knew I could count on you, son.”
Caleb stood straighter, still detailing me with suspicion. “Of course, Father.”
My father sighed beside me and I realized he was as bored by the exchange as I was. “If you’ll excuse us, there are a few additional people I need to introduce my lovely daughter to.”
Lovely daughter. It took all my willpower not to laugh at that one and as I met Caleb’s eyes his lips quirked up which I met with a half-smile on my own. Did we just share a secret smile? I couldn’t even be sure it really happened as he rushed away to join my glowering brother on the other side of the room.
“Esmeralda, if you will,” my father added extending his arm for me to take.
And for the next couple of hours my father introduced me to people I forgot as soon as we walked away but I did what he asked, showed decorum and respect – I was seriously surprised by myself and as the evening progressed, my father seemed to relax a little too.
The only other people I remembered that night were the Oppenheimers, Taylor’s parents. Her mom was just as stunning as I expected her to be, petite, light brown hair, jade eyes. Her adoptive father was all darkness, dark eyes, dark hair – he looked so terrifying and so contrary to all the lovely stories of a smitten man and loving father Taylor was telling me.
The rest of the evening was boring after my father did his dutiful fatherly introduction and his cheesy little speech on how he felt blessed to have his child back that made me nauseous – a part of him missing blah blah and all that crap he returned to his own business talk, his dutiful father act quickly forgotten.