Lady Death's Diary: Chapter 9

Bellcrest’s summers are as hot as its winters are icy. During the Festival of Bells, however, no one in the capital seemed bothered by the sweltering humidity. Businesses closed and makeshift wooden stalls opened, lining the streets and selling everything from patterned headscarves to sugar-spun bells. Bridges of brightly colored ribbons draped between lampposts to create a maze of color overhead. Actual bridges crossing the Afron River closed to carts and carriages to make room for a multitude of fair games, most of which cost only a half-moon to play but all of which were rigged.

While the children challenged each other to throw steel rings onto empty milk bottles, adults were more excited for the yearly contests. There were six competitions total, one for each of the castle bells, ranging from pie baking to horseshoe throwing. The winner walked away with a hefty prize purse and bragging rights (the latter being perhaps more important to contenders).

Theo had insisted that we attend my least favorite of the tournaments: The Tower Climb. Not that I held anything against the event itself. Tivall Tower just happened to stand right next to the square where I’d been repeatedly executed. Also, I hated heights. The very thought of willingly scaling a tower left me nauseous.

“I didn’t expect it to be quite so tall,” fretted Letty. She squinted into the sun’s glare to take in the full height of the solitary stone giant that dominated over the buildings encircling it. “What happens if one of the climbers slips and falls?”

“Someone cleans the cobblestones,” said Theo.

Letty took a step backwards and almost tripped over one of said cobblestones. I grabbed her shoulder to help stabilize her, making a mental note to talk with Councilor Venuda regarding potentially repaving the square. Venuda's parents had been cobblers and still lived in Bellcrest; I’d long since discovered that she was the most likely amongst the Councilors to agree to public works projects. 

“Participants know what they’re doing," I told Letty. "In the hundred-year history of The Climb, no one has ever died.”

“Yet,” said Theo.

“Still,” protested Letty, “it’s so dangerous.”

I shrugged. “Climbers use picks to affix their harnesses to the tower after each floor. Even if they slip, they’d only fall a short distance.”

“Their ropes could snap.” Letty tapped the base of the tower with her lace parasol, newly purchased from a nearby vendor’s wagon. “And the stones are so uneven.”

“Uneven stones make it easier to get a handhold,” came a voice from behind us. “Despite Lady Vitrula’s claim, the harnesses are primarily for show. None of the climbers wants to take the time to affix their picks and risk losing the lead.”

Xander contemplated the tower with a faint grin as if recalling a fond memory. His red hair plastered to his forehead in the heat, and his suit sleeves were rolled up to display surprisingly muscular forearms for a diplomat.

“Neglecting your duties, Lord Brant?” I asked lightly. “Yet you so eagerly scorned our invitation.”

Xander gestured to a nearby stand, where a rotund man with a shaved head was perusing through a stack of second-hand books. “Ambassador Leonidas insisted on witnessing The Climb personally. He couldn’t believe such a tradition really existed.”

“Even though his own guide was crowned its champion two years ago?” said Theo.

“I may have mentioned my past victory. He called me a moros.”

“You climbed Tivall Tower yourself?” asked Letty breathlessly. “Weren’t you afraid?”

Xander bowed, causing Letty to color prettily at the attention and give him a wobbly curtsy back. “I was young and foolish, and someone said I couldn’t do it.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “At the time, I was more stubborn than scared.”

I prepared to pointedly ask whether his family had approved of his participation when another newcomer joined our conversation. Someone whose unexpected presence caused all the air to rush from my lungs. I’d climb the tower myself to avoid this moment. This meeting wasn’t supposed to meet yet. 

It was too soon.

“There you are, Vitrula,” said Loren. “I heard you'd returned to Bellcrest.”

His voice fell flat and annoyed, probably due to the fact I hadn’t bothered to visit him yesterday. For someone who so rarely had a second to spare for me between horse races and fox hunts, he certainly sulked whenever I was less than attentive. Normally his tone would have concerned me, given my vested interest in keeping him happy in order to avoid execution—but I was too preoccupied attempting to calm my breaths to care overmuch.

Curses. The only reason that I’d agreed to attend the festival was to keep him and Letty separate. My fists clutched at my sides, crumpling the lightweight skirt of my dress. I used my involuntary grip to raise lift a flawless curtsy.

“Loren,” I spoke with manufactured cheer. “How delightful we cross paths! I was preoccupied yesterday seeing my family settled.”

“You still should have stopped by.” Absorbed with airing his grievances, he failed to notice Letty standing on the other side of Theo. I savored the additional seconds. “It reflects badly upon me when my fiancée disappears. Even Armond commented on your continued absence.”

I barely restrained myself from grimacing. “It’s hardly disappearing to attend my own father’s marriage, and I only returned yesterday.” I blinked a few times, the way I’d seen ladies at Court do when they wanted to appear charming.

“Something in your eye?” muttered Theo.

Xander arched a brow at me as if seconding the question. I ignored them both. The best method to appease Loren was to tell him whatever he wanted to hear. Xander could judge after he had died seven times. Now that Letty was at Bellcrest, maintaining Loren’s good opinion was more my concern than the opinion of a relative stranger. Still, my cheeks felt hot. “I missed you ever so much,” I added for good measure.

Loren opened his mouth to reply then froze.

I recognized the look; it was the same enthralled stare each time he first laid eyes on Letty. His eyes closed several times in rapid succession and his lips twitched upwards twice before finalizing on an overly toothy smile. He moved closer and bowed to her, lower than he ever had to me. Theo, who stood between us, he completely ignored.

“Prince Loren Eldin Tivall.” Loren introduced himself and paused, awaiting Letty’s response. As heir to the throne, he was accustomed to having people presented to him. I couldn’t recall the last time he’d been bothered to state his own name.

Letty blushed and curtsied back. Given that she’d come to Bellcrest early, she hadn’t yet been versed in proper Court etiquette. After a moment of awkward uncertainty, she bobbed a second curtsy. A choking sound emitted from Theo besides her, whose own face was becoming almost as red as Letty’s in his effort not to laugh at the faux pas. It would fall upon me to make introductions. Fate had a cruel sense of irony.

“Your Highness, my stepsister, Lady Letticia,” I said. “I believe you’ve already met my brother, Lord Theodorus.”

Theo shot me an annoyed look at my use of his full name. “A pleasure to see you again, Your Highness,” he said with a curt bow. “It’s been too long.”

“You must be glad to be back from Fengal.” Loren acknowledged his presence with a brief flick of his eyes before returning them to Letty.

“Anterdon, Your Highness,” corrected Xander. His hands were clasped tightly behind his back. For some reason, whereas Loren had barely acknowledged my brother’s greeting, Xander’s interjection caused him to tear his attention away from Letty.

“Lord Brant.” Loren’s face mirrored Xander’s dour countenance. “How . . . unexpected to find you here. With my betrothed.” His ice blue eyes lingered once more on Letty before landing on me. “I suppose you two met due to Vitrula’s little hobby.”

‘Hobby’ was how Loren referred to my apprenticeship with Delphine. Odd that he knew of Xander’s parentage, given Xander’ reluctance to disclose it. Worth investigating later; Emilia would take the case in return for a few evenings off. My lady’s maid was by far my best weapon of espionage in this life, and I had no doubt that she’d handily unearth some satisfyingly scandalous revelation.

For now, however, I’d promised to keep Xander’s secret.

“Lord Brant and my brother work together at the embassy in Anterdon.” I ignored Loren’s implied question on how we had met, widening my eyes in my best impression of Letty at her most innocent. “What a small world, that you’re friends as well!”

Xander smiled at me, gratitude relaxing his stiff expression. “A small world indeed,” he agreed. “But much as I’d love to continue our conversation, duty beckons.” He nodded to where Ambassador Leonidas appeared to be animatedly haggling with a red-cheeked bookseller. “Theo, ladies. Your Highness. If you’ll excuse me.” He bowed briskly and left to go save his charge (or rather the bookseller, judging from the violent chopping motion that the Ambassador was making with his hands).

The tension between Loren and Xander dissipated with the latter’s departure. The former immediately refocused on my stepsister. “How are you enjoying Bellcrest?” he asked. “Has Vitrula begun arrangements for you debut?”

“Oh, I couldn’t—,” began Letty.

I cut her off. “No doubt my stepmother will wish to oversee Letticia’s debut herself.”

“Nonsense,” said Loren gallantly. “It’s unfair to expect Lady Letticia to languish at Court without being able to attend the social scene. As Vitrula’s sister, you’re practically family and should be introduced immediately. Don’t you agree, my dear?”

My insides recoiled at his casual, artificial, affection. In my first two lives, I’d been deeply touched by his dedication in looking out for my relations. No longer. “It’s customary for the lady of the household to arrange all Court introductions,” I demurred.

“As Tru says.” Letty’s slumped shoulders belied her agreement. “I’m supposed to be presented until after I turn sixteen.”

“But you must wish to attend balls and go on picnics,” insisted Loren. “It’s my duty as prince to see you enjoy your time at Court.” His smile was dazzling. Loren wielded his dimples the way knights mastered swords, and few women were capable of parrying his charm when he had his mind set on something.

“I don’t wish to be an inconvenience.” Letty nibbled her lower lip. Even her indecisiveness was obnoxiously charming.

“Well, I intend to enjoy my stay,” announced Theo. “Would be a deuced shame if Letty was the only one left out. Between the three of us, arranging a debut will hardly be any work at all.”

My teeth grit together until I worried my companions would overhear their scrape. This couldn’t be happening. The love affair between Loren and Letty might be inevitable, but I’d bind myself in eternal servitude to the Silent Fourth before I helped to facilitate their relationship.

“Do you even realize how much work a lady’s official introduction to Court entails?” An entire month before my own introduction had been taken up simply preparing an appropriate wardrobe, from ballgown fittings to half a dozen trips to the haberdasher. Letty would need dance lessons and etiquette tutoring as well. “Good” manners weren’t sufficient at Court; perfect manners were expected. There existed a thousand and three ways to offend someone, from misordering their titles to tilting one’s fan the wrong direction.

Not only was I disinclined to assist my stepsister spend more time with my fiancé, I had my apprenticeship to worry about. Delphine’s tutelage would be wasted if I was too busy playing chaperone to practice.

“You went through it without Father or I present,” said Theo. “How hard can it be with Prince Loren’s sponsorship?”

 “Which I’ll gladly provide,” agreed Loren readily.

Our debate dragged on well into the tournament. Only Letty ended up paying attention to The Climb itself; the rest of us were too busy arguing her fate. Her soft exclamations and sharp gasps as participants scaled Tivall Tower were but a backdrop to our increasingly heated dispute. By the time a gangly commoner collapsed into his sweetheart’s arms after being declared the victor, the matter was all but resolved in the minds of Loren and Theo. My cogent objections had been, as too often the case when arguing with young men, vociferously overruled.

Letty would make her official debut one month hence at Loren’s birthday ball. I was to arrange the entire affair.