Chapter 19 Ridgetop Honors Chapter 19 Ridgetop Honors . : A 59 ' +10 Free Coins Emperor Aldric chuckled , the sound echoing among the waiting courtiers . " Princess Aurora once again lives up to every story ever whispered of her skill . And Fiona , as well , has earned our admiration . Let each of them receive a proper reward ." A gift from Emperor Aldric was an honor heavier than gold . Fiona dipped in the saddle and said , " Thank you , Uncle Aldric ." Princess Aurora followed with an elegant bow . " Thank you , Your Majesty ." Emperor Aldric turned toward Xavier , eyes crinkling with approval . " You have a talent for instruction , Xavier . In time , I may ask you to guide the princes and princesses of the court . " " Your Majesty flatters me , " Xavier replied , his tone steady and neither humble nor proud . Fiona stole a glance at him , wondering when he had arrived to witness the match . She could imagine worse futures than tutoring princes and princesses . A future promotion to royal preceptor would bring respect , a generous stipend , and - most importantly - a calm life . Searching the crowd , she found Vincent and Yolanda exhaling the same relieved breath , and her own shoulders loosened in quiet sympathy . The bout against Princess Aurora had thrust Fiona into sudden prominence , a name now murmured beyond the campfires of the hunt . Once she had been free to linger in forgotten corners . At that moment , every movement drew notice , and because Princess Aurora had asked for her company , the opportunity to meet Xavier alone vanished like mist at sunrise , Had circumstances been kinder , Fiona would have liked to hear how a man of so few words chose to compliment her . Riding beside Princess Aurora on various excursions , Fiona absorbed new tricks of the rein and stirrup , each lesson sinking deep into muscle and memory . One morning , they reached the summit of a low ridge , where Princess Aurora unfurled a travel blanket and set out pastries , intent on resting above the rolling forest . " Tell me , have you accepted a proposal yet ? " Princess Aurora asked , curiosity bright in her eyes . 1/4 14:39 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 19 Ridgetop Honors Fiona shook her head . " Not yet . " : 59 +10 Free Coins " So there is someone you fancy ! " Princess Aurora exclaimed , leaning conspiratorially close . " Is it that Mr. Xavier ? He looks the sort who would keep you smiling . He may seem aloof by day , but I wager he is quite ... pleasurable once the lamps are out . " Bold words indeed ; had Fiona not carried the memories of a married woman in her bones , she might have flinched beneath such frankness . She touched the bridge of her nose , the only reply a silent , ladylike smile she hoped would satisfy Princess Aurora's playful interrogation . Princess Aurora tilted her head , the chain of emerald ornaments at her temple chiming softly as she moved . " Tell me , Fiona - do you know why I traveled all the way to Duflana to pick myself a husband ? " " Why ? " Fiona asked , genuinely puzzled . Princess Aurora let out a low , knowing laugh , then leaned closer as though sharing a forbidden court secret . " In Brorchester , the sages whisper that Duflanan men are unmatched when nighttime curtains fall . The men in Brorchester may look impressive , yet they collapse like embroidered cushions the instant things grow serious . Only a man with a waist as taut as Lord Soren's can truly master a woman's body ." The image struck Fiona without warning - sheets tangled , moonlight spilling across Soren's bare shoulders . Heat flooded her face until even the tips of her ears burned , and she ducked her head , praying Princess Aurora would not notice . With a flourish , Aurora produced a slender bottle wrapped in snow - white silk . " Come , I brought something worthy of a stolen afternoon . This is a type of wine reserved for the Brorchester throne - lychees harvested in May form the base , while the first dates of July lend their perfume . Apart from the tribute sent to His Majesty , this bottle is all that exists . " Fiona had never cared for wine . Duflanan ladies were trained to avoid alcohol , yet rebirth had sharpened her hunger for unfamiliar sensations . Why not taste a little adventure ? She lifted the tiny crystal cup , its rim catching late - spring sunlight . " Then I shall gladly accept , Princess Aurora - thank you ." The first sip burst across her tongue with the crisp sweetness of freshly peeled lychee , as if a cool spring bubbled in her mouth . When the liquid slipped down her throat , a shy heat blossomed , carrying a whisper of fermentation that urged another taste . Entranced by the contrast , she drained one cup , then a second , then a third before the warmth behind her ribs turned languid . Fiona , unskilled in such indulgence , drifted into a rosy haze 2/4 14:39 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 19 Ridgetop Honors without realizing she was drunk . 69 +10 Free Coins Princess Aurora , ever the reckless spirit , matched her swallow for swallow and soon tumbled past the edge of consciousness . High on the mountain slope , the two women reclined beneath whispering pines , utterly content . Down below , the camp dissolved into panic as dusk painted the sky crimson . When attendants discovered that both Princess Aurora and Fiona were missing , their faces blanched the color of paper , and they sprinted to deliver the dreadful news . Public alarm was forbidden ; Emperor Aldric quietly ordered several princes to search the mountain under the cover of night . Ulrich's heart tightened the instant he learned Fiona had vanished into the wildening dark . The Sixth Prince , Zephyr , laid a steady hand on Ulrich's shoulder . " Ms. Fiona strikes me as someone who keeps her wits about her . Besides , Princess Aurora knows a measure of swordplay . Most likely , they simply lost their way ." Ulrich bowed in gratitude , yet anxiety still clawed beneath his rib cage . After a hurried conference , the search party split , each man vanishing into a different artery of the forest . Soren and Xavier chose the steep path upward ; the latter's worry for Fiona matched Ulrich's breath for breath . Two trails soon forked beneath a moss - covered archway . The moment Soren angled toward the right , Xavier's voice cut through the twilight . " If danger finds them , Lord Soren , I beg you -save Ms. Fiona first . " The request bordered on treason , placing a noblewoman above a royal princess . Soren lifted his eyelids a fraction , eyes dark and unreadable , yet gave no answer . After a short silence , Xavier added , " If you grant my plea , Lord Soren , I will offer my service as your adviser , Hear me - follow my counsel , and you will never regret it . " Trading a future career for the safety of one woman was hardly a rational bargain . Still , Soren caught the glint of opportunity and , after a brief nod , accepted the gift laid at his feet . Soren pushed on for several hundred more paces , boots crunching through underbrush that Chapter 19 Ridgetop Honors +10 Free Coins grew ever thicker where the summit caught full daylight . His passage startled birds and small game ; feathered flashes burst from the canopy , and somewhere ahead , Princess Aurora's mount answered with a restless , high - pitched whinny . 3/4